Where to see a dinosaur in Queensland
List
By Kim Barnard
Dinosaurs have forever been a source of fascination for the young and old, and learning about these prehistoric giants, and how they once roamed the earth, is an exciting and educational experience for all ages. Lucky for us, Queensland has a whole lot of prehistoric history to discover.
Beneath Queensland’s surface are several links to Australia's prehistoric past; in fact, Queensland is the only known location of a dinosaur stampede worldwide. Dino footprints and remains can be viewed in all corners of the Sunshine State—from city centres to the outback.
Here are the best spots to discover dinosaur history in Queensland.
Eromanga Natural History Museum
Nestled in Outback Queensland is a museum housing Australia’s largest dinosaur—a 95–98 million year old titanosaur. Cooper, named after Cooper Creek and Cooper Basin where its remains were discovered, is one of the most significant fossil finds in Queensland.
Besides witnessing this one-of-a-kind replica, at Eromanga Natural History Museum you can go on a guided tour, learn to prep fossils, and join fossil digs. Book the Dinosaur Insider’s Package for next-level dinosaur discovery in Queensland; it involves a two-night stay at the gorgeous onsite accommodation and a full-day discovery experience (airport transfers and continental breakfasts are included).
The fun isn’t over once you’ve delved into the world of dinos; this museum also holds the world's largest megafauna and a variety of micro fauna from nearby Eulo. These specimens are believed to be a staggering 50,000 to 100,000 years old.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton
Australian Age of Dinosaurs
This not-for-profit museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, so make sure you dedicate a whole day to exploring this place.
If seeing dinosaur fossils isn’t enough, why not dig some up? Dig-A-Dino is a week-long adventure where you spend five to six days fossicking for fossils. All meals are included, as well as a day trip to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs laboratory, collection room and canyon. All participants must be 18 or over and spaces fill up fast, so book well in advance.
The museum is also committed to being eco-friendly–some of their eco initiatives include a museum-wide recycling program and building infrastructure in harmony with the natural environment.
Dinosaur Stampede National Monument, Winton
Dinosaur Stampede National Monument - Lark Quarry
This monument is the world’s only evidence of a dinosaur stampede, and it took place right where it’s displayed, in Lark Quarry Conservation Park.
Marvel at the 3,300 dino footprints that are moulded in rock and imagine what life was like when dinosaurs roamed the planet. Housed in an impressive solar-powered building, this monument is so jaw-dropping it was the inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s infamous movie Jurassic Park.
A must-do for dinosaur discovery in Queensland.
Kronosaurus Korner, Richmond
Visit Australia’s premier marine fossil museum to observe almost 1,150 specimens from Richmond and the surrounding areas of north-western Queensland.
The strength of Kronosaurus Korner’s collection lies in the Early Cretaceous (aka 100–115 million year old remains); there’s dinosaurs, marine reptiles, pterosaurs, birds, fish and more.
Want to get your hands dirty? Sign up for one of their digging adventures, where you can visit a fossil hunting site and search for pieces of history.
Riversleigh World Heritage Site, Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park (currently closed)
Riversleigh World Heritage Site
The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh, alokgn with Naracoorte in South Australia, were inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1994 for their outstanding representation of the evolution of Australian mammals and the quality of their fossils, which are preserved in limestone. The Riversleigh section, which covers 10,000 hectares, is located in the southern section of Boodjamulla National Park in north-west Queensland.
The Riversleigh fossil deposits are among the richest and most extensive in the world, with some fossils dating back 15 to 25 million years. It's home to exceptional prehistoric relics in a continent whose mammal evolutionary history has been the most isolated and most distinctive in the world. It includes the first records of many groups of living mammals, such as marsupial moles and feather-tailed possums, as well as other unique and extinct species such as the 'marsupial lion'.
The area open to the public was one of the first fossil deposits found, and you'll have an opportunity to view many fossilised mammals and reptiles first-hand.
Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre, Mount Isa
Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre
The Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre in Mount Isa showcases the fossils from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, some of the most significant fossil deposits worldwide that tell a unique story of the evolution of Australia’s wildlife.
In the newly renovated and upgraded centre, some of Riversleigh’s most unique fossil finds are exhibited with innovative interactive displays. Let the palaeontological experts tell you their stories of Riversleigh in the movie theatre or wander through an impressive diorama to see what this ancient world looked like 25 million years ago.
Flinders Discovery Centre, Hughenden
Showcasing fossils from around the world and the Hughenden area, Flinders Discovery Centre is a fossil-enthusiast’s dream.
Learn about the fossils derived from animals such as dinosaurs, marine reptiles, shells, molluscs and fish, and have a history lesson on how nearby Porcupine Gorge National Park came to be. You couldn't miss the main attraction if you tried - ‘Hughie’ is a huge life-size replica of a Muttaburrasaurus that was found in the Flinders Shire.
Queensland Museum, Brisbane
Photo by @travellust.mama
The Lost Creatures exhibit in the Queensland Museum is the perfect place to meet some of the state’s oldest inhabitants. Reconstructions, fossils, 3D modelling and touch-screen monitors tell the story of these prehistoric giants and the challenges they faced at a time of major upheaval for the species and the world.
Be sure to bring your camera to snap the massive life-size structure of a Muttaburrasaurus langdoni!
This exhibit is free, and found on level two of the museum.
Emu Ridge Gallery, Kuranda
Photo by @kurandavillage
Want to witness the only life-sized Allosaurus dinosaur in Queensland? Take a trip to the quaint town of Kuranda.
The 9-metre replica, entangled around a staircase, has been visited by people from all over the world, including investigator paleontologists.
When your neck is tired from looking up at the dino’s tremendous height, browse the dinosaur eggs, fossils and gemstones that are also part of the Emu Ridge Gallery.
Australian Dinosaur Trail
Want to visit four attractions in the one trip? Pick up an Australian Dinosaur Trail pass to save some money. This pass includes a guided tour of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum and Dinosaur Stampede National Monument, as well as entry to Kronosaurus Korner and Flinders Discovery Centre.
Australian Dinosaur Trail passes can be purchased at any of the four attractions and visitor information centres.
