The event, held on Saturday morning at the Royal Park site, saw 30 children sign up to become butterflies.

There were prizes for the sparkliest, most realistic, most creative, and best-dressed family.

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Senior curator of natural sciences David Maynard said it was important to get children into natural sciences early on in life.

"Today is one of our children's days related to the Butterfly Brilliance exhibition. Over the last week-and-a-half, we have had a number of activities for adults and a couple for kids, but today is definitely all about the kids," he said.

"We only need to influence one of these kids to get interested in science and our job is done.

"There are so many career opportunities for kids these days, we want to see some of them turn into natural scientists."

Mr Maynard said the natural sciences sector did not have enough taxonomists - a person who describes and groups new organisms into categories.

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"Going forward we will need more of them ... all I want is one of these little kids to turn into the next natural scientist," he said.

The Caters won the best-dressed family award for all attending in costume, as even five-week-old Huxley joined in the dress-up fun.

Ms Cater said the parade was Huxley's first official event out.

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