Did you know that there were real dinosaurs in Queensland? And you can find them on the Dinosaur Trail QLD!
Karen Ghidella did a road trip in Outback Queensland and tells us about the best holiday ever! (Watch the video too!)
Digging for Real Australian Dinosaurs in Queensland
As a Mum of twin 5 year old boys, there have been quite a few ridiculous things Iโve said over the years. โDonโt lick the dinosaur bones kids, theyโre 95 million years old, itโs a little grossโ. I think this one tops it.
We’ve been on the hunt for real Australian dinosaurs. We returned home from our 14 day road trip through Outback Queensland with a handful of fossils and a huge bucket full of rocks. Theyโre hidden away and ready to examine for fossils on a rainy day.
Up until a year ago I had no idea that Queensland has the worldโs only recorded dinosaur stampede, that you can dig for REAL dinosaur fossils, that OUR country has an attraction thatโs real, thatโs fun, thatโs educational, that tops anything youโll ever see and do at Disneyland!
Andโฆ I had no idea that this city chick (whose idea of โroughing itโ is a staying at a motel that doesnโt have room service) could actually do this!
I took along my friend Shakira (a Mum from my kidsโ school, I accidentally called her Anastacia for 6 months after meeting her and she never corrected me, so I figured sheโd be able to put up with me for a few weeks). We took our kids, left our hubbies at home and explored the outback with not much more than a tent, our clothes and several bags full of random stuff that we really shouldnโt have packed.
Australiaโs Dinosaur Trail
The Dinosaur Trail is the name of this amazing attraction, itโs situated several hours north of Longreach and itโs a bucket list item, a family holiday must do.
Itโs made up of lots of mini attractions scattered between three towns: Winton, Richmond and Hughenden, and itโs only a 1, 400km from Brisbane!
The BEST Dinosaur Games for Kids – click here
Winton Qld – Dinosaur Paradise
Winton is a fun town with an amazing history, a place, the home of the waterhole used as inspiration for Banjo Pattersonโs Waltzing Matilda, and the North Gregory Hotel, where he first performed the song. If you head 2.5 hours north east, youโll be able to visit โWalkabout Creekโ, remember the hotel from Crocodile Dundee? Australiaโs Dinosaur Trail starts at Winton, a 2 hour drive from Longreach.
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton
Itโs here that youโll be able to join a guided tour and get up close and personal with Australiaโs largest dinosaur fossil collection (and meet Banjo, Australiaโs most significant and complete carnivorous dinosaur). If you were wondering why my children were actually licking dinosaur fossils, you can blame the tour guide for this little incident as he cheekily explains โthe quickest way to determine if a fossil is a dinosaur fossil or some other animal is to lick it, if it sticks to your tongue itโs a fossilโ.
Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways, Winton Outback Qld
Also in Winton is Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways, the worldโs only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede.
Here we were thinking that the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Uluru were our biggest national monuments and tourist attractions. Hello! Iโd think that seeing a 95 million year old dinosaur stampede with footprints of over 3,000 Australian dinosaurs would kind of trump the others. Given itโs the only one on the planet and all.
Richmond is where you can find dinosaurs in Queensland
Donโt worry about the heat, they obviously strategically placed their gorgeous free water park in the middle of town for crazy tourists like us. After the dig, youโll be able to cool down on the main street, but onto the highlight of everything dinosaursโฆ the dinosaur dig!
Fossil Hunting Site Tour, Richmond
No, itโs not a sandpit at the museum, no, itโs not a little fenced off area thatโs been setup to allow visitors to have a playโฆ this is real dinosaur digging people!
A word of advice, please donโt use the phrase โdinosaur huntingโ if you have young children, as we drove along the dirt road heading towards the dig area the children were suddenly quite silent. One of my children asked โummm, Mama, are they friendly dinosaurs, will they eat usโ? โThey are dead sweety, remember, donโt lick the bonesโ.
We could have spent the whole day here, I was convinced I was going to find myself a 10 metre long dinosaur fossil (I just didnโt have enough time), but much to the childrenโs delight we left with several fossils โฆ. And DINOSAUR POO! Yes, 95 million year old dinosaur poo!
Kronosaurus Korner
Kronosaurus Korner is a spectacular museum that is perfectly structured for kids, thereโs plenty to look at and even a lot of things to touch and do.
Right in the corner, next to the kids play area, there are experts ready to identify your dinosaur digging treasures. One of the staff told me about the 7 year old who found ancient ichthyosaur bones. Whatever! My dinosaur poo is way cooler. Pffft.
The BEST Dinosaur Games for Kids – click here
Hughenden QLD
We went to Hughenden to visit the Hughie at the Flinders Discovery Centre. Heโs the famous life size replica of the Muttaburrasaurus.
However, if youโre a budding photographer (or just like photos of your kids), head up to Mt Walker at sunrise or sunset with your wine and cheese and enjoy the most spectacular sunset youโve ever seen. Itโs an amazing opportunity to take some beautiful photos of your children.
Other places on the way
If youโre planning on visiting the Australian Dinosaur Trail via the scenic route (which Iโd thoroughly recommend), here are the best of the best locations to stop along the way.
Mitchell
Before driving to Bonus Downs Farmstay, we called into the Great Artesian Spa at Mitchell. We melted in the warm water whilst the kids tried to convince us to โcome on overโ to the cold side.
At Bonus Downs Farmstay we were greeted by the beautiful owners, Madonna and Lyle. Iโll always remember that lovely couple as the ones who first showed us what country hospitality was truly like.
At the farm you can go canoeing, visit the woolshed (even sleep in it), help feed the chickens, eat in the Smokehouse, go on a tour to the middle of nowhere for a campfire and the most amazing damper youโve ever experienced. (In regards to damper, I have a childhood memory of Mum making one when we were camping at Birdsville. It was so damn hard that Dad decided to drive over it with the 4WD in an effort to break it. No luck). So whilst my standards for damper may not be that high, it was truly amazing. Sorry Mum.
Blackall / Tambo
On the way to Blackall we called into Tambo Teddies where I bought a beloved โBickie Bearโ for each of my kids. They were dutifully named โSteveโ and โFloppy Woppyโ and have been firmly embedded as a part of the family ever since (when the kids were sleeping in the back seat, they acted in a dual role of comfort item and sleeping pillow).
Thereโs heaps to do in Blackall, but unfortunately we arrived a little late due to the hospitality at Mitchell and Tambo, so we promptly checked in to Blackall Caravan Park, where we setup a tent for the very first time. Donโt go looking for food, eat hereโฆ and make sure your kids take a look in the โDunnyโ next to the eating area. Surprise!
Longreach Qld
There was an upside and downside of Longreach. The upside is that there is more to do than you can imagine is possible in outback Queensland.
We stayed in a two bedroom villa at Longreach Tourist Park. Itโs a place with a restaurant (with a kids room), with lots of different accommodation options, and very central to all of the action.
Whilst youโre there, here are some amazingly fun things to do with the family:
QANTAS Founders Museum
We visited the very interactive and hands on museum then headed outside for a tour on the Boeing 747 and 707, have your photo taken holding up the engine and learn some fun and interesting facts as you tour through the whole plane. Shhhhhh, they told us that they donโt dump the contents of the toilet mid-flight. That was totally a rumour.
Kinnon & Co. Thomson River Sunset Cruise Experience
I want to tell you about the fantastic sunset on the paddle wheeler whilst sipping on wine and eating nibblies, the outdoor movie theatre on the Thomson River, and the campfire with the hilariously funny show featuring a bush poet and a 4 year old with a whip. I just canโt. It was all so much fun. But I just canโt get past the stew they served for dinner. My mouth is watering thinking about it.
Kinnon & Co. The Cobb & Co Experience
We rode on a stagecoach, ate amazing food, watched a classic movie in a bush theatre that I canโt quite describe, and it all ended with a live show (which was hilarious). They have the stew here tooโฆ go for round two.
Australian Stockmanโs Hall of Fame
Whilst there are a lot of interactive things for the kids to do, including a play area, if you can step back from the kidโs stuff and actually take time to read the information and stories youโll leave with a new respect for this country we call home, and the people in it.
Outback Stockmanโs Show
Itโs funny, every second is entertaining, the property is beautiful with heaps of room for the kids to run around while you have a drink. But the foodโฆ why oh why donโt you deliver to Brisbane?
But there was one big downside of Longreach. I had to deal with the tears (and one tantrum) when I told my kids it was time to leave.
Barcaldine
We were in the town for a few hours, the kids loved the Tree of Knowledge, a famous tree connected to the 1891 Shearerโs Strike. They played on what Iโd call a โxylophone chairโ which was nearby. It was constructed as a part of a public art works programme (I rocked out a pretty cool โMary had a little lambโ, the kids were in awe of my superb talents).
We headed to Lara Station to spend the rest of the day and camp overnight. I wanted to stay there for a week. The wetlands were stunning, and there was an Artesian Spa โSwimming Poolโ. I eyed it off but I couldnโt find my togs. I said one word to Shakira โUndiesโ? She gave me the nod. There was no need to shower that night.
The view of the wetlands was spectacular.
I spoke to Jo about her plans for the place (which sound like a little piece of heaven), I reached for my pen and paper so she could draw me a diagram but sheโd already bent down and started drawing up her plans in the dirt. I smiledโฆ this is one real outback chick, amazing woman that one.
Arcadia Valley
We checked in at the Arcadia Valley Escape. As we were approaching we saw a โsmallโ homestead. Shakira and I were in absolute shock as we walked around and attempted to count the number of beds and bedrooms. We failed. The place is a beautifully setup maze, itโs huge! The brochure says it sleeps 11 people, the kids had the best hide and seek game of their entire life.
If youโre thinking about a bush Christmas or Easter with the extended familyโฆ look no further.
While youโre there, go on Wallyโs Station Tour, visit their Outback Movie Theatre, head to the Carnarvon Gorge and engage in all of the โback to natureโ activities that are available.
Roma
Only a 5.5 hour drive from Brisbane is Roma. We checked into the Bungil Creek Motel, this place is like an Oasis to visit just before returning home. Itโs obviously 4 star, if you visit the restaurant order one of everything! It also has a kidsโ playroom with glass walls so you can easily supervise children from your table.
Just down the road was the Big Rig Museum, one of the most child friendly museums Iโve seen in my entire life. Next door we had some chill out time feeding the ducks and playing in the playground before heading home.
Best. Holiday. Ever. Cannot recommend heading out to Outback Queensland for a little authentic Australian dinosaur discoveries!
So, on your next family holiday, ditch Disneyland, go hunting dinosaurs in Queensland. Go lick some 95 million year old dinosaur fossils with your kids!
This article was published in Issue 13 of our print magazine, December 2015/January 2016.
Hi, I am looking at doing this with the kids and was wondering if you had any more details on the dino dig (tour name etc) as from what I’ve seen on their website it is geared for adults staying a week or so at around the $3000 mark. Def more interested in the experience you were offered! ๐
They do offer a range of tours out of Kronosaurus Korner, however, if you just pop into the museum and have a chat to them, they’ll tell you where to go and you can do it yourself. It’s likely you’ll find something, even if it’s just a tooth! The museum sells a little guide / book and also small pick axes. If take your treasures back to the museum when you’re finished they’ll identify the pieces for you, so you know what you found!
Hi Jo,
Our writer went in winter and we recommend booking in advance during peak season (winter). You don’t need a 4×4 but some of the roads are dirt and long! Janine (Editor)
Hi
What time of year did you go? Do you recommend booking accomodation in advance or finding along the way. Do you need a 4×4 for the roads outback?
Many thanks ?