Australian Age Of Dinosaurs

Perched atop a mesa on the remote Lasseter Highway, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs is a world-class museum and fossil preparation laboratory that feels like a real-life Jurassic Park. This working research facility showcases the continent's most significant dinosaur discoveries, including the massive 'Banjo' the sauropod and the ferocious 'Australovenator'. It's a must for any traveller fascinated by prehistory, offering a hands-on glimpse into palaeontology amid the stunning Red Centre landscape.

Highlights & What to See

• Collection Room: Marvel at the world's largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, including the near-complete skeleton of Australovenator and the massive sauropod Diamantinasaurus.
• Fossil Preparation Laboratory: Watch volunteer preparators painstakingly extract bones from rock using tiny tools – you can even book a 'Dinosaur Dig' experience to join them.
• Dinosaur Stampede: Walk the life-sized trackway of the 'Dinosaur Stampede' at nearby Lark Quarry (part of the museum's extended experience), where thousands of footprints were left by a panicked herd.
• Outlook and Walking Trail: The mesa-top location offers sweeping 360-degree views of the outback; a short trail leads to a replica dinosaur nest and interpretive signs.
• Gift Shop and Café: Pick up a cast of a dinosaur claw or a local opal, and refuel with a bush-tucker-inspired pie or a cuppa.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allocate a full half-day (3–4 hours) to do the museum justice: allow 1.5 hours for the guided tour of the Collection Room and lab, plus time to explore the outdoor exhibits and take in the view. If you want to add the Lark Quarry dinosaur stampede (20 km away), plan for a full day. The museum is best visited between April and October to avoid extreme heat; mornings are quietest.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Winton – The nearest town (about 20 km east), home to the Waltzing Matilda Centre and the historic North Gregory Hotel.
• Lark Quarry Conservation Park – Just 20 km west, this site preserves the world's only recorded dinosaur stampede footprint surface.
• Bladensburg National Park – A scenic 30-minute drive north, offering red sand dunes, ancient river red gums, and excellent birdwatching.
• Longreach – About 2 hours east, the gateway to the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum.
• Barcaldine – A historic town 1.5 hours east, known for the Tree of Knowledge and its role in the labour movement.

Please check official sources for current details.