Age of the Dinosaurs

Just outside Winton sits one of the best surprises in the outback — the Australian Age of Dinosaurs. Perched high on a mesa with endless views over the jump-up country, it feels like you’re walking into another world.

We started with the March of the Titanosaurs, a boardwalk winding over a huge slab of fossilised footprints. You can literally trace the steps of creatures that walked this land 95 million years ago. The scale of it is mind-blowing — you almost expect something big to come thundering over the ridge.

From there we wandered through Dinosaur Canyon, a striking outdoor exhibit with life-sized bronze dinosaurs scattered along the cliffs and gullies. The mix of art, landscape, and storytelling made it easy to imagine the place teeming with giants.

The final stop was the fossil preparation laboratory, where volunteers and staff painstakingly chip away at rock to reveal ancient bones. Watching someone uncover a femur that’s been hidden for millions of years is humbling — and a little addictive.

If Winton has a crown jewel, this might just be it.Read more