Updated in October 2026, this Coffs Harbour Butterfly House guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Coffs Harbour Butterfly House is a family attraction at Bonville, south of Coffs Harbour, with a butterfly glasshouse, a dinosaur forest and mazes. A dinosaur forest with six life-sized moving dinosaurs and daily dinosaur shows is now part of the visit. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current admission prices, the show times and the Monday closures during school terms.
Quick facts: the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 2pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Open Mondays in NSW school holidays. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $39. Concession $35. Child (3 to 16) $19. Family (2 adults, 2 children) $107. |
| Address | 5 Strouds Road, Bonville NSW 2450 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free on-site parking. The Butterfly House is south of Coffs Harbour, off the Pacific Highway. |
| Typical time needed | About 1.5 hours |
The Coffs Harbour Butterfly House opening hours
The Butterfly House is open from 10am to 2pm all year round. During NSW school terms it is closed on Mondays. During NSW school holidays it is open seven days a week, except Christmas Day. It is also open on most public holidays.
The butterflies are normally more active between 10am and 2pm. Light, temperature and humidity affect how active they are, so the opening hours match the best viewing times. There are no seasonal changes to the opening hours.
Dinosaur show times:
- 11am: the big dinosaur show.
- 12 noon: the baby dinosaur show.
- 1.30pm: the big dinosaur show, the same show as at 11am.
The big dinosaur show depends on the weather, because the dinosaur cannot roam around in the rain. Shows are subject to change without notice.
The Coffs Harbour Butterfly House ticket prices
An adult ticket to the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House costs $39. Tickets are bought at the door. No online booking is needed, and there is no limit on the number of tickets each day.
- Adult: $39.
- Concession: $35.
- Child (3 to 16 years): $19.
- Family (2 adults and 2 children): $107.
- Each additional child: $15.
Admission includes entry, the shows, the Butterfly House attractions, both mazes and the dinosaur park. It does not include merchandise, food or drinks. All prices include GST.
Yearly Passes give 12 months of unlimited visits. Adults pay $55, concessions $45, children (3 to 16) $30 and a family of two adults and two children $130.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
The Butterfly House is at 5 Strouds Road in Bonville, a village south of Coffs Harbour. It is reached by car from the Pacific Highway.
- By car: drive south from Coffs Harbour on the Pacific Highway, then follow signs to Bonville and Strouds Road.
- By bus or taxi: public transport to Bonville is limited, so check local bus services or use a taxi.
- From Sawtell: the village of Sawtell is a short drive away, about 4 km in a straight line.
Phone the Butterfly House on 02 6653 4766 if you need directions.
Parking at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
Free parking is available on site. The car park is at the Butterfly House on Strouds Road, and there is no charge.
Visitors with assistance animals can use most of the park. Assistance animals cannot enter the Butterfly Glasshouse, as explained below.
How long to spend at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
Plan about 1.5 hours for a visit. This covers the glasshouse, the dinosaur forest, one dinosaur show and the mazes. A group visit with a talk, a tour and the maze takes between 1 and 1.5 hours.
Visitors who stay for a meal at the café or for a second show may spend longer. The park closes at 2pm, so arrive in the morning.
Accessibility at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
Assistance animals are welcome in 95% of the park. They cannot enter the Butterfly Glasshouse because of strict biosecurity measures. Flea and tick treatments shed chemicals that are lethal to butterflies and other insects.
A companion or staff member can help you into the glasshouse while the assistance animal waits outside. Plan ahead and phone 02 6653 4766 if you need help.
Shoes are required throughout the park. Phone the park to ask about paths and access for wheelchairs and prams.
What to see at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
The Butterfly Glasshouse is an indoor subtropical rainforest. Hundreds of live Australian butterflies fly around visitors. Guides answer questions and explain the butterfly lifecycle. The glasshouse is warm, and the butterflies are most active from 10am to 2pm.
The Dinosaur Forest is a newly built outdoor area with six life-sized dinosaurs that move and roar. The glasshouse also has fairies that you can spot flying among the trees.
Visitors meet four baby dinosaurs every day. A life-sized dinosaur appears in a presentation daily, weather permitting.
The outdoor maze suits young children and adults alike. Visitors hunt for hidden answers to butterfly questions. Admission includes both mazes.
The café serves light refreshments and homemade food in a quiet setting. The gift shop sells souvenirs and gifts for butterfly lovers.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed on the property. No eskies may be brought into the park.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The 11am dinosaur show is the first of three each day. The park closes at 2pm. |
| Crowds | There is no limit on daily tickets. Tickets are sold at the door, so you can arrive without a booking. |
| Layout | The glasshouse, dinosaur forest, mazes, café and gift shop are all in the one park. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the entry. Staff may inspect bags on entry and exit. |
| On-site logistics | Shoes are required. Do not bring outside food, drinks or eskies. Animals on leads may enter the park and café but not the glasshouse. |
Frequently asked questions about the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House open on Mondays? | Only in NSW school holidays. It is closed on Mondays during school terms. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House? | No. Buy tickets at the door. There is no limit on daily tickets. |
| What time are the dinosaur shows at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House? | 11am, 12 noon and 1.30pm. The 12 noon show is the baby dinosaur show. |
| Is the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House suitable for children? | Yes. It has a dinosaur forest, baby dinosaurs, mazes and fairies. Children aged 3 to 16 pay $19. |
| Are dogs allowed at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House? | Animals on leads may enter the park and the café. No animals are allowed in the glasshouse. |
Things to do near the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
- Bongil Bongil National Park: a national park of forest, estuary and beach close to Bonville, with bushwalks reached from Tuckers Rock Road.
- Sawtell: a coastal village south of Coffs Harbour, about 4 km from the Butterfly House.
- Elite1 Paintball: a paintball venue at 44 Strouds Road, on the same road as the Butterfly House.
- North Coast Regional Botanic Garden: a garden beside Coffs Creek, near the centre of Coffs Harbour.
- Big Banana Fun Park: a theme park at 351 Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour, with a water park, rides and a toboggan.
Alternative attractions
- Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary: a wildlife attraction near the Jetty precinct in Coffs Harbour.
- Solitary Islands Aquarium: a small aquarium of local marine life at the National Marine Science Centre, just north of Coffs Harbour. It is open at weekends and in school holidays.
- Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout: a lookout at Korora, north of Coffs Harbour, with views over the coastline.
- Dorrigo National Park: a World Heritage rainforest park about an hour from Coffs Harbour, with the Skywalk lookout.
- Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve: an island reached by a breakwater at Coffs Harbour marina, with views of the Solitary Islands.
More New South Wales travel
Other New South Wales travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Bago Maze visitor guide: What to expect at Australia’s largest hedge maze.
- Mid-North Coast beach guides: Burgess Beach in Forster.
- Byron Bay beach guides: Wategos Beach, Tallow Beach, Broken Head Beach, Belongil Beach and Whites Beach.
- Cape Byron Lighthouse visitor guide: Including crucial parking information and the Cape Byron Walking Track.
- Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary visitor guide: Including ticket prices, hours and what to see.
