Central Queensland and Rocky roar to life for Dinosaur Week:
Dr Scott Hocknull shares Deep-Time stories during Queensland Dinosaur Week - May 4 to10
Central Queensland’s pre-historic history is set to star during the inaugural Queensland Dinosaur Week which runs from Monday 4 May to Sunday 10 May, anchored by National Dinosaur Day on 7 May, while Dr Scott Hocknull, Principal Research Fellow in Applied Palaeontology & Palaeotourism at CQUniversity (an Education Partner for the event), and widely regarded as one of Queensland’s most influential palaeontologists, is hosting a series of events! Imagery here
Queensland Dinosaur Week organisers have worked with the Regional Tourism Organisation, Capricorn Enterprise to promote the Dig the Tropic drive itinerary which shines the light on Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast, and features the Capricorn Caves, Capricorn Dinosaur Park and Koorana Crocodile Farm (see more below).
The state-wide week-long celebration features 29 events across 15 Queensland locations celebrates prehistoric discovery, science, and regional storytelling will bring together fossil-rich communities, world-class museums, researchers, tourism operators, and families to showcase Queensland’s globally significant dinosaur, marine fossil, and megafauna heritage.
A driving force behind the state’s most significant fossil discoveries, Dr Hocknull who is also the principal palaeontologist at both Eromanga Natural History Museum and Capricorn Caves, has spent decades in fieldwork, research, and museum leadership, connecting deep-time science with real-world communities and shaping Queensland’s palaeo-tourism story. His work highlights some of the state’s most spectacular fossil sites including:
- Winton – Dinosaur bones and 95-million-year-old footprints
- Richmond – Giant marine reptiles from the Eromanga Sea
- Eromanga – Home to Australia’s largest dinosaur
- Mount Isa – Riversleigh’s World Heritage fossil deposits of ancient mammals and megafauna
“Queensland preserves one of the most extraordinary and diverse fossil records in Australia,” Dr Hocknull said. “From giant titanosaurs to marine reptiles and Ice Age megafauna, the Queensland Dinosaur Week and the Trail shows that it’s a statewide palaeo narrative written across the landscape. When most Australians think of dinosaurs, they picture Hollywood blockbusters or far-flung fossil fields overseas. But if you want to stand where giants actually walked - or swam - you don’t need a passport.
You need a Queensland road trip. More than 100 million years ago, much of Outback Queensland lay beneath the vast Eromanga Sea. It was a place of giant marine reptiles - ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and formidable ocean predators - whose fossils now emerge from red dirt landscapes hundreds of kilometres from the coast.”
In the Central Queensland region, audiences can get involved in Queensland Dinosaur Week through the following events:
- Mon 4 May 10am – 12 Noon – Trilobites and Dinosaur Tracks – The BIG Palaeo Story of the Mt Morgan Region with Dr Scott Hocknull. FREE EVENT. Mount Morgan School of Arts Building. https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1561185?embed
- Saturday 9 May – 10am - Time Safaris’ Prehistoric Zoo Walking Tour. FREE Led by passionate palaeo storyteller and author Phil Hore, this unique experience brings the ancient world to life by connecting today’s animals with their prehistoric ancestor Time Safaris Prehistoric Zoo Walking Tours – Rockhampton - Dinosaurs Experiences Australia
- Sunday 10 May 10am – 12 Noon – Queensland’s BIG Palaeo Stories – Dinosaur Hunting and Deep-Time in Capricornia. FREE Join Dr Scott for a special closing Dinosaur Week event as he celebrates Queensland’s extraordinary prehistoric heritage and the important role Rockhampton and Central Queensland have played in shaping Australia’s globally important palaeontological story. James Lawrence Pavilion, Rockhampton Showgrounds https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1561198?embed
With the launch of The GREAT Queensland Dinosaur Trail Pocket Guide, the Capricorn Coast takes its place in this statewide adventure — connecting communities and bringing prehistoric wonders to life.
“The Capricorn Coast Region is where Queensland’s prehistoric story comes to life — from ancient coral reefs now revealed as limestone caves to landscapes shaped over millions of years. It’s a place where deep time meets real experience,” said Mary Carroll, CEO of Capricorn Enterprise. “‘Dig the Tropic’ brings that story together in one unforgettable drive — inviting visitors to explore, discover and connect with a side of Queensland they never expected. It’s more than a road trip; it’s a journey through time.”
DIG THE TROPIC – WHERE DINOSAURS MEET THE SEA
From Rockhampton to the Capricorn Coast, Dig the Tropic is a drive experience that brings Queensland’s prehistoric past to life — above and below ground. Following the Tropic of Capricorn from the Outback and through the Sapphire Gemfields to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, the journey connects ancient coral reefs, dinosaur discoveries and volcanic landscapes in one seamless adventure.
Highlights include walking through 390-million-year-old fossilised reefs at Capricorn Caves, discovering life-sized prehistoric giants at Capricorn Dinosaur Park, fossicking for volcanic thundereggs at Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park, coming face-to-face with modern-day dinosaur descendants at Koorana Crocodile Farm, and exploring coastal landscapes, islands and reef connections along the Capricorn Coast. Unlike remote outback fossil trails, Dig the Tropic delivers a deep-time journey within easy reach — linking inland geology with the Southern Great Barrier Reef and making it ideal for families, road trippers and curious explorers.
Led by Dinosaur Experiences Australia (DEA), Queensland Dinosaur Week also launches the first ever GREAT Queensland Dinosaur Trail, connecting Outback towns and driving visitation into regional communities — proving that the ancient giants of Queensland continue to inspire, educate, and excite.
QUEENSLAND DINOSAUR WEEK
Event Dates: 4–10 May 2026
National Dinosaur Day: Thursday 7 May 2026
Program & Information: www.dinosaurexperiences.com
The GREAT Queensland Dinosaur Trail Pocket Guide is available at participating destinations statewide and online at: www.dinosaurexperiences.com
Queensland Dinosaur Week, anchored by National Dinosaur Day on 7 May, features fossil digs, museum experiences, family-friendly activities, citizen science events and special guest appearances across the state. Whether it’s brushing dust from a 95-million-year-old bone, walking where titanosaurs once roamed, exploring marine reptiles from the vanished Eromanga Sea, or roaming beneath giant skeletons after dark at Queensland Museum—Queensland Dinosaur Week invites visitors of all ages to Unearth the Adventure. Queensland Dinosaur Week is proudly supported by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) through Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), delivered in partnership with participating destinations across the GREAT Queensland Dinosaur Trail, and strengthened by CQUniversity as the official Education Partner, connecting deep-time discovery with future STEM pathways and research leadership. Proudly supported by the Queensland Government—Engaging Science Grants.
Contact details:
Kath Rose
0416 291 493 [email protected]
