The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is located a few kilometres out of Winton in Outback Queensland and is the largest collection of Australia’s biggest dinosaur fossils.
The museum is part of Australia’s Dinosaur Trail, a series of attractions spread over three towns – Winton, Richmond, and Hughenden. Winton’s attractions include the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, as well as The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.
The best experience can be had by joining the guided tour through the Fossil Laboratory, Collection Room and the Dinosaur Canyon. The tours start on the hour with the last tour starting 3 hours before closing time.
Fossil Preparation Laboratory
The Fossil Preparation Laboratory is the most productive in the Southern Hemisphere. You can see fossils being prepared for research and display and explained how dinosaurs are found and extracted.
The laboratory has additional displays of massive sea shells and plant fossils. A femur from a Sauropod is open to be able to touch and feel a dinosaur bone fossil.
The Laboratory guided tour takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Dinosaur Canyon Tour
The Dinosaur Canyon Tour takes you a couple of kilometres away from the main centre. It is an outdoor display although there is a shelter with toilets and drinking water.
The walk is along a pathway with railings passed a series of galleries, displays, and lookouts. The dinosaur stampede exhibit, it is the main photo for this article, represents the dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry.
The views from the lookouts are worth going on the tour themselves, with the beautiful natural landscapes and red outback colours.
The tour is about 90 minutes including the shuttle bus from the main centre out to the shelter.
Collection Room Tour
The Collection Room Tour is at the centre with guides telling about Australia’s largest carnivorous dinosaur, known as “Banjo”.
Its scientific name is Australovenator wintonensis, obviously derived from Australia and Winton where it was discovered. It is an Australovenator wintonensis that attacked in the dinosaur stampede fossils in Lark Quarry.
Another is a Sauropod named “Matilda”, the same dinosaur of the fossil you can touch in the Laboratory tour. The guides describe why these dinosaurs are important pieces found in Australia.
The tour includes a watching a documentary about how fossils are put together for displays.
Dinosaur Combination Passes
There are package deals for the entry passes available to save a few dollars if you are planning to go to other dinosaur attractions.
The first package includes entry to the dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry, another attraction considered as part of the Winton dinosaur attractions.
If you are doing the full dinosaur trail, you can get the 4 attraction ticket, including entry to Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond and the Flinders Discovery Centre in Hughenden.
Links
https://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/
