May 7th marks National Dinosaur Day, and if that doesn’t give you an excuse to stomp around in excitement, we don’t know what will! Australia’s prehistoric past is dino-mite, with fossil-rich outback towns and immersive museums, while global sites offer everything from real-life digs to towering T. rex encounters.
So, grab your (figurative) shovel – here are the top 5 places in Australia and the world to see, dig, and roar your way through dinosaur history.
Top 5 Dinosaur Adventures in Australia
🦖 1. Australian Age of Dinosaurs – Winton, Queensland
Home to the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, this outback gem offers guided tours, fossil prep programs, and jaw-dropping views over the “jump-up” mesa.
🌐 australianageofdinosaurs.com
🦕 2. Dinosaur Stampede National Monument – Lark Quarry, Queensland
Imagine 3,300 dinosaur footprints frozen in time. This site captures the only known record of a dinosaur stampede. It’s like Jurassic Park… only real and minus the mayhem.
🌐 dinosaurtrackways.com.au
🦖 3. National Dinosaur Museum – Canberra, ACT
A hit with families, this museum boasts one of the largest permanent collections of dinosaur fossils and models in Australia. Perfect for a dino-day indoors.
🌐 nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au
🦕 4. Eromanga Natural History Museum – Eromanga, Queensland
Meet Cooper, Australia’s largest dinosaur! This hands-on museum offers behind-the-scenes tours and the chance to assist in fossil prep.
🌐 enhm.com.au
🦖 5. Kronosaurus Korner – Richmond, Queensland
More marine reptile than land dino, but no less impressive. This museum lets you get your hands dusty at a working dig site.
🌐 kronosauruskorner.com.au
Top 5 Dinosaur Adventures Around the World
🦖 1. Dinosaur National Monument – Colorado/Utah, USA
This prehistoric playground lets you see real dino bones still embedded in rock walls. Combine it with white-water rafting or hiking and it’s a fossil-fuelled adventure!
🌐 nps.gov/dino
🦕 2. Royal Tyrrell Museum – Alberta, Canada
One of the world’s top palaeontology centres, this museum showcases more than 130,000 fossils. The dino skeletons here are nothing short of epic.
🌐 tyrrellmuseum.com
🦖 3. Jurassic Coast – Dorset, England
Stretching 95 miles, this UNESCO-listed coastline is where Mary Anning found her famous ichthyosaur. Perfect for scenic fossil-hunting strolls.
🌐 jurassiccoast.org
🦕 4. Zigong Dinosaur Museum – Sichuan, China
Built atop a massive fossil site, this museum is a window into the Jurassic of East Asia. It’s also one of the world’s largest dino museums.
🌐 zigongmuseum.com (Site in Chinese – best viewed with translation enabled)
🦖 5. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio – Trelew, Argentina
Home to Patagotitan, one of the biggest dinosaurs ever discovered, this Argentinean museum is a South American palaeo powerhouse.
🌐 mef.org.ar
Feeling inspired to dig into dino territory? Whether you’re in the Aussie outback or abroad, there’s a Jurassic adventure waiting just around the corner. National Dinosaur Day is the perfect excuse to channel your inner child, fossil-fanatic, or adventure-loving traveller.
Happy Dinosaur Day! 🦕🦖
