DINOSAURS
Opposite page: Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton Left top: Hughie the replica Muttaburrasaurus at Flinders Discovery Centre Left bottom: Eromanga Natural History Museum Below: Penny the Plesiosaur at Kronosaurus Korner
F
ast forward 95 million years and scientists are slowly piecing together the bones of Outback Queensland’s history.
With a dinosaur trail in the heart of the outback, along with traces found in the north and south west pockets, here’s how we recommend taking a paleo tour of Outback Queensland.
1. ENCOUNTER THE MARINE GREATS Become mates with ‘Krono’ the Kronosaurus queenslandicus and ‘Wanda’ – Australia’s largest fossilised fish at Kronosaurus Korner Museum in Richmond. Back when these two dinos roamed the land, you would have been standing in an inland sea – even though the red dirt covering the town today makes it hard to believe. Step back in time with a theatre presentation that brings the long-gone watering hole and prehistoric creatures back to life. Home to not just the largest prehistoric marine creatures and fossilised
fish, Kronosaurus Korner also has what’s considered one of the bestpreserved dinosaur skeletons. You can see paleontology in action and witness fossils being prepared in real-time through glass windows into the preparation laboratory or become a paleontologist for the day at their free fossicking site.
2. W ALK THROUGH A DINOSAUR STAMPEDE Shiver with Jurassic Park levels of spinechilling eeriness as you spot 3,300 giant stone footprints at Lark Quarry Conservation Park. Just 115km south west of Winton you’ll find the world’s only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede, dating back 95 million years. This extraordinary piece of Australian dinosaur history occurred when up to 150 small carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs were stalked by a large meateating enemy of the dinosaur world. Spooky!
OTHER THAN FOSSILISED FORM, VISIT THESE SPOTS TO SEE DINOS ACROSS THE OUTBACK: ■ Pose for a photo with the giant Muttaburrasaurus replica in Muttaburra ■ Follow the footprints outside the North Gregory Hotel in Winton (where you can also sit down to dine with a dino-inspired meal) ■ Snap a shot of you with the massive marine reptile guarding the entrance to Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond
outbackqueensland.com.au
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