MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 1 September 2009

Get up close with the crocs and bugs at Butterfly Creek!
 

Do you love animals and want to learn more about caring for them? Ever dreamt of being a zookeeper? Maybe even a famous crocodile wrangler like Steve Irwin!

Everybody’s dreams start somewhere, even our chief croc keeper Brian started out looking after the farm animals….now he looks after two of New Zealand’s largest predators, our giant salt water crocs, Scar and Goldie.

Butterfly Creek’s Junior Keeper Programme gives you the opportunity to be a keeper for a day. You will learn what it is like to be a zookeeper; cleaning, feeding and monitoring the animals…and getting the best seat in the house for the croc encounter!

This programme runs in the school holidays, 9.30am – 3.30pm and with spaces limited to 4 a day, it is guaranteed to sell out fast. Cost is $100 per child, includes a light lunch and is suitable for ages 7 – 12yrs. Younger children can be catered for if accompanied by an adult.

What about the big kids?

Mum and Dad feeling a bit jealous? We have also launched our Ultimate Behind the Scenes Tours, so the big kids amongst you can enjoy a close up experience too.

First we will show you how we keep our tropical Butterfly House hot and happening all year round, mounting pupae, setting out feeding plates and caring for the reptiles and birds.

Then it’s on to the Greenfingers Bugs About Exhibit to find out how you feed a tarantula and hear what we are doing to help save NZ’s largest insect, the Giant Weta. You will have a unique chance to spot these amazing creatures in our off-display area, part of the Wetapunga Captive Breeding Programme which we manage in association with the Department of Conservation.

You will also learn how to look after baby alligators and waterdragons, and get a real close up view of our croc keepers wrangling our salties.

Tours run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 10am – 11.30am and cost $110pp.
Crash at the Creek!

Butterfly Creek is now offering the chance to have a nocturnal adventure with the bugs and reptiles. Get a group together, bring your torches and see what our crocs get up to at night!

Start with a BBQ dinner in the courtyard (optional), then your host will take you on a guided tour to see everything from the cute and fluffies in the farmyard, to the big Aussie crocs and then the creepy crawlies in the Greenfingers Bugs About exhibit. Finish the tour with an eel feeding frenzy in the wetlands area, then off for a hot drink, snack and a DVD in the Buds Room before settling down for the night. A yummy breakfast awaits you in the morning, then enjoy an early morning walk through our tropical Butterfly House and croc area.

We have options for small groups (minimum 12 pax) all the way up to 100 pax  for school or scout groups who fancy camping at the Creek.

For more information on any of these new experiences, please check out our website www.butterflycreek.co.nz or call us on 09 275 8880.

Butterfly Creek…..we just got meaner!

About Butterfly Creek:

Butterfly Creek opened in 2003 and has quickly established itself as one of one of Australasia’s most exciting and colourful attractions.

Butterfly Creek is home to Australasia’s premier Tropical Butterfly House, a stunning exhibit area housing 700 free flying exotic tropical butterflies, tropical fish, birds, turtles and reptiles; all in a temperature controlled environment. 

As well as the newly arrived crocs, Butterfly Creek also hosts New Zealand’s only baby alligators and a unique range of other attractions, including:

● “Greenfingers Bugs About” with the largest collection of tarantula in NZ as well as Lily’s Cockroach House and a host of other fascinating bugs - including NZ’s largest insect, the giant wetapunga. (you’ll only see this mighty insect at Butterfly Creek).

●“Pirates Below” an aquarium area with New Zealand’s largest fresh-water tropical and marine coral tanks

●Buttermilk Farm interactive farmyard, and

●The Tip Top Red Admiral Express Train

Butterfly Creek is open daily 9am – 5.30pm and is the ideal all-weather attraction
 

Mends

© Scoop Media