DINOSAUR KINGDOM

Take a trip into Australia’s prehistoric past. There are plenty of ways to indulge your inner palaeontologist in Outback Queensland. Fill an entire weekend – or longer – with these prehistoric giants.

LARK QUARRY CONSERVATION PARK, NEAR WINTON

Explore the site of ancient hunter and prey interaction with a walk through the fossil remains of a dinosaur stampede caused by a carnivorous theropod stalking over 150 chicken-sized coelurosaurs and emu-sized ornithopods.

BARCOO

You’ll be yelling Crikey! when you see the life-sized replica model of the Isisfordia duncani – a giant ancestor of the crocodile, displayed along with a 100-million-year-old Bulldog Fish and fossilised fauna, flora, reptiles and birds from the region.

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Meet Titanosaur ‘Cooper’, Australia’s largest dinosaur (aged 95 to 98 million years old); get handson with a visit to a dinosaur or megafauna dig site; or learn how to prepare ancient fossils in the lab. With accommodation available on-site you can stay awhile too.

AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS MUSEUM, WINTON

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Travel through time at the world’s largest Australian dinosaur fossil collection that includes ‘Banjo’ and ‘Matilda’, two of our most complete dinosaur skeletons. Tour the exhibits, preparation lab and March of the Titanosaurs exhibition, and walk through Dinosaur Canyon with its life-sized dinosaur replicas. There’s also the Gondwana Stars Observatory, one of the country’s best places to view the night sky.

THE STONE HOUSE, BOULIA

Visit this collection of marine reptile fossils to delve deep into the Cretaceous Era and the ancient inland Eromanga Sea in which these fascinating marine creatures once swam.

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Encounter the marine greats and see palaeontology in action at this incredible museum housing almost 1,150 unique fossil specimens from the Richmond area. Browse the displays, watch fossils being prepared in the laboratory or become a palaeontologist for the day at their free fossicking site.

Nature and history come together at the World Heritage-listed Riversleigh fossil deposit. Discover the ancient ancestors of our native wildlife, from the largest freshwater crocodile to feather-tailed possums and kangaroos with sharp teeth.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OUTBACK QUEENSLAND’S DINOSAUR ATTRACTIONS, PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE: OUTBACKQUEENSLAND.COM.AU /CATEGORY/DINOSAURS

FLINDERS DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MUSEUM, HUGHENDEN

Say Hi to ‘Hughie’, a life-sized skeletal Muttaburrasaurus and explore the impressive international fossil collections, interactive displays and Australian dino bones found on digs in the area.

MUTTABURRASAURUS INTERPRETATION CENTRE, MUTTABURRA

Muttaburra’s greatest claim to fame is the fossilised skeleton of the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni found by local Doug Langdon. The land living, plant eating dinosaur lived 100 million years ago and is celebrated with a statue – don’t forget to have your photo taken with this Queensland giant!

RIVERSLEIGH FOSSIL DISCOVERY CENTRE, MOUNT ISA

Immerse yourself in the interactive displays of important finds from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area at the Outback at Isa museum; walk through the diorama for a sense of how the area looked 25 million years ago; learn from palaeontologists in the movie theatre; and take a guided tour of the fossil laboratory.

Top 5 reasons to meet a dinosaur this year

1. Get up close and personal in the lab to learn how the fossils are repaired and documented; or do some hands on fossil sorting with your enthusiastic fossil guide at Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre

2. Visit the Flinders Discovery Centre to check out an impressive fossil collection and a great light and sound show which will introduce you to nearby Porcupine Gorge –make sure you check out the Muttaburrasaurus fossil!

3. Learn to work on fossils with museum-trained technicians and measure up against Australia’s Largest Dinosaur ‘Cooper’ at Eromanga Natural History Museum.

4. Visit awe-inspiring marine creatures such as ‘Penny’ the Richmond plesiosaur and take a sel e with ‘Krono’ Kronosaurus queenslandicus – a 10 metre, giant marine reptile at Kronosaurus Korner – who knew that the Outback used to be home to an inland sea?!

5. Check out the “March of the Titanosaurs” exhibition at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs – housing Australia’s bestpreserved sauropod tracksite and stay for the evening to experience the Gondwana Stars Observatory.