About Franklin Farm
Franklin Farm is a fifth-generation family business that has grown celery since Sid Franklin started in Mt Roskill in 1906; the family moved to Waimauku in 1961, and Luke and Jasmine Franklin took over in 2020. They still harvest celery year-round, and each summer they open two neighboring sites on Taha Road to visitors: sunflower fields at number 167 and a butterfly house at number 145, which had its first season in summer 2025.
The sunflower fields usually open from Boxing Day until mid-February, with seasonal blocks of wildflowers, mustard and phacelia and a farmyard where you can pet and feed the animals. Sunflowers can be cut yourself ($3 a stem or $10 for four) or bought pre-cut. The butterfly house runs longer into the season, with hundreds of monarchs, native admirals when breeding allows, butterfly releases, dahlia and zinnia gardens, a maize maze, bunny cuddles, bouncy castles and pick-your-own spray-free sweetcorn when ready.
Summer hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 4pm, and Friday to Sunday 9am to 8pm, with the sunflowers open until sunset; it is closed Tuesdays and open public holidays. No booking is needed: pay on arrival. Entry listed on the site is NZ$15 adults, NZ$10 children 3–14 and NZ$45 for a family, with an Ultimate Farm Pass covering both sites. Coffee and food trucks come on weekends and holidays, and picnics are welcome.
Lavender Hill in Riverhead is about 20 minutes east, so you could take a morning lavender tour and save the sunflowers for the long Friday-to-Sunday evenings.
What to do
- Walk the sunflower fields, Boxing Day to mid-February
- Cut your own sunflowers or buy pre-cut stems
- Walk among hundreds of monarchs in the butterfly house
- Fill a bucket with dahlias and zinnias
- Feed and pet the farmyard animals
- Pick spray-free sweetcorn when in season
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Sunflower fields usually Boxing Day (26 December) to mid-February, Southern Hemisphere summer; the butterfly house stays open later
- Hours
- Summer: Mon, Wed, Thu 9am–4pm (last entry 3:30pm); Fri–Sun 9am–8pm (sunflowers until sunset); closed Tuesdays; open public holidays
- Admission
- As listed October 2026: adults NZ$15, children 3–14 NZ$10, under 2s free, family (2+2) NZ$45 per site; Ultimate Farm Pass for both sites NZ$25 adults, NZ$15 children, NZ$80 family; flowers and produce extra
Good to know
- Dogs
- Not allowed on general open days except Doggy Friday in the flower fields; service dogs welcome any time
- Accessibility
- Flat site with mostly concrete paths, some grass and a little gravel; mostly wheelchair and stroller friendly
- Reservations
- Walk-in
- Payment
- Eftpos and cash; cards and contactless carry a surcharge
Tips for your visit
- Bring secateurs or strong scissors and a bucket; sunflower stems are tough (secateur hire is offered).
- There is little shade, so bring hats and sunscreen, and wear shoes because of the bees.
- The farm closes on heavy rain days; check their social pages before you go.
- Carry some cash in case the card terminals act up.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Hill · about 20 minutes away
Lavender Hill in Riverhead is about 20 minutes east; pair a booked lavender tour with an evening in the sunflowers on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Getting there
Questions
When are the sunflowers out at Franklin Farm?
The fields usually open from Boxing Day to mid-February.
Do I need to book?
No, pay on arrival during open hours. Only private evening sessions need booking.
Can I bring my dog?
Only on Doggy Fridays in the flower fields; service dogs are welcome any day.
Is there food?
Cold drinks and ice blocks are sold, food trucks come at peak times, and you can bring a picnic.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Auckland Countryside, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
