If you’re planning a road trip along the Queensland Dinosaur Trail, don’t just pass through Hughenden – make it one of the highlights on your journey. Hughenden is one of three towns that make up Australia’s Dinosaur Trail, alongside Richmond and Winton, and it’s got the fossils to back it up. Long before cattle grazed this country, it sat on the edge of a prehistoric inland sea, and the ground has been giving up its secrets ever since the first fossil turned up in 1865!
More than 3,000 Cretaceous fossils have been recovered from the Hughenden area since then, including the Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni and the pterodactyl-like Queensland Pterosaur. Fossicking is still part of everyday life out here, and there’s something pretty special about knowing the ground beneath your feet has been quietly holding onto these secrets for over 100 million years.
While dinosaurs may be what first brings many visitors to Hughenden, they’re often not what people remember most. It’s the friendly locals, wide-open landscapes, stunning sunsets and relaxed Outback pace that encourage travellers to stay a little longer – and often return.
Meet Hughie
Once arriving in Hughenden, the best place to start your Queensland Dinosaur Trail adventure is the Flinders Discovery Centre, right in the middle of town. The centre is home to Hughie, a life-size skeletal replica built from the actual bones of a 110-million-year-old Muttaburrasaurus found in the region. Standing beside Hughie is one of those moments that photos simply can’t do justice
For little explorers, there’s a fossil dig area where kids can dress up as fossil hunters and uncover hidden treasures of their very own, digging, brushing and discovering just like the real palaeontologists who found Hughie all those years ago. There are also engaging storytelling sessions where you’ll hear from some of the region’s most incredible locals through captivating video and audio, bringing the whole history to life in a way that sticks with you long after you leave. It’s a fantastic, memorable experience for everyone!
Getting Out and About
Beyond the Discovery Centre, there’s plenty more to do around here to feature in your Queensland Dinosaur Trail. Roll up your sleeves, grab a sieve and see whether you’ll uncover a piece of prehistoric history through fossicking.
Take a wander along the Art and History Trail past the town’s dinosaur sculptures, or head out to Porcupine Gorge National Park for a change of scenery; its layers of ancient rock are a reminder of just how much time has passed out here.
There’s Always Something New to Find
What makes the Queensland Dinosaur Trail so special is that the story is still being written. Not far from Hughenden, near Richmond, Dinosaur Experiences Australia recently helped uncover something remarkable: a fossil holding the world’s first evidence of an entire prehistoric food chain frozen in time, a flying reptile eaten by a marine reptile, which was then preyed on by the giant Kronosaurus queenslandicus.
It’s the kind of discovery that reminds you this isn’t a museum piece gathering dust. Researchers are still out here, still digging, still finding things that rewrite what we thought we knew.
Where to Stay and Eat
There is nothing like waking up in the outback, and in Hughenden, you have access to caravan parks, motels and self-contained cabins to suit however you like to travel.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, the local pubs and cafes deliver a delicious feed with a side of friendly outback charm. It’s worth booking ahead where you can, especially over school holidays and busier travel months.
Plan your Dinosaur Trail Adventure
Once Hughenden’s shown off its prehistoric side, it’s well worth continuing and making a proper trip of Australia’s Dinosaur Trail. Sitting at the eastern end of the trail, Hughenden is about a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive to either Richmond or Winton, and it’s the natural gateway to both, so you can head either direction from here. In Richmond you’ll find Kronosaurus Korner and Australia’s premier marine fossil collection, and Winton is home to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs and the Lark Quarry dinosaur stampede.
A quick loop through all three towns can be done in three to four days, but if you want time to properly explore each stop, including a day trip out to Porcupine Gorge, give yourself closer to a week. And if you’re coming from Townsville and fancy stretching the adventure out even further, the 7-Day Queensland Dinosaur Trail turns your Queensland Dinosaur Trail into a proper Outback road trip, covering around 1,770km return and taking in Porcupine Gorge, Kronosaurus Korner and the Australian Age of Dinosaurs along the way.
However far your Queensland Dinosaur Trail adventure takes you, make Hughenden a proper stop rather than a drive-through. Stay a night, get your hands dirty, and let the kids meet Hughie for themselves.
Ready to walk the footsteps of dinosaurs? Explore Hughenden’s attractions, book your stay and start planning your Queensland Dinosaur Trail today.
FAQs
What does it cost to visit the attractions?
Entry to the Flinders Discovery Centre is budget-friendly at $20 for adults, $10 for kids and free for those under 5. If you’re planning to visit all three towns, an Australia’s Dinosaur Trail Pass is valid for a year and usually works out cheaper than paying for each attraction separately. Check the website for the latest rates.
What’s included in the Australia’s Dinosaur Trail Pass?
Four attractions, one ticket: the Ultimate Dinosaur Tour at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, a guided tour of the Dinosaur Stampede at Lark Quarry, and entry to Kronosaurus Korner and the Flinders Discovery Centre. Full details are on the Australia’s Dinosaur Trail website.
Is there a good time of year to visit?
Anytime you like, but if you want to time your Queensland Dinosaur Trail around something special, Queensland Dinosaur Week runs each year in early May across the trail towns, with talks, tours and behind-the-scenes access you won’t get the rest of the year.
Is there a guide to help plan the trip?
If you’d like something to work from, browse Dinosaur Experiences Australia’s website for a range of inspiring Queensland Dinosaur Trail itineraries.
What should I pack for fossicking?
Water, sunscreen and a hat are non-negotiable out here; the outback sun doesn’t mess around, even on a mild-looking day. Sturdy shoes are a good idea too, given you’ll be out exploring uneven ground.
Where can I stay and eat along the way?
Hughenden and its neighbouring towns have a good mix of caravan parks, motels and cabins, plus local pubs and cafes for a feed. It’s outback country, so bookings are a smart move during school holidays and busier travel periods like the winter months, especially if you’re hoping to camp at Porcupine Gorge.