DINOSAURS. They might be extinct, but at Hugheden you’ll see them nearly everywhere. In the street. At the local museum. As works of art. Hughenden is dinosaur heaven!

It all dates back to a prehistoric time when Hughenden was on the edge of a vast pre-historic inland sea and was the home of terrestrial dinosaurs as well as marine reptiles. Thousands of fossils have been found in the Flinders Shire and nearly 3000 have been registered with the Queensland Museum.

Meet a replica of a muttaburrasaurus dinosaur at the Flinders Discovery Centre, open seven days from 9.00am to 5.00pm (although it’s closed some public holidays). You can also get souvenirs, maps and books as well as information on other attractions both in this area and further afield.

The first bird-footed dinosaur ever discovered was found in 1963 at Roseberry Downs near Muttaburra but a more complete specimen was discovered on Dunluce Station west of Hughenden. Nicknamed Hughie, the 7m x 3.5m replica is an example of this unique herbivore. Hughie’s mate, Mutt, is an example of how a full-bodied Muttaburrasaurus might have looked. This replica can be found at the intersection of Stansfield Street and Gray Street.

Other major finds in the di

strict have included a Hughenden sauropod, a 20m long plant eater from the brachiosaurus family and a flying creature named an Anhanguera, which evolved from the family of pterosaurs. Species discovered in the region include pliosaurs, plesiosaurs, kronosaurus, ichthyosaurs, minmi, ammonites and other marine life. Some of these prehistoric creatures have been brought back to life with huge metal sculptures which adorn the streets of Hughenden.

At the Flinders Discovery Centre, see the sound and light show of how the Porcupine Gorge was formed over 500 million years. It will give you an appreciation of this spectacular landmark before you go out to see it. The Porcupine Gorge National Park (below), 63km north of Hughenden, has been nicknamed “Australia’s little Grand Canyon”, and offers camping, bird watching, swimming, wonderful opportunities for nature and landscape photography and a diverse range of flora and fauna. A lookout gives an excellent view of the depth and magnitude of the gorge system. See the gorge from a different vantage point at the camping ground, which is situated at the top of the Pyramid. A walkway winds down into the natural picnic area at the base of the Pyramid. Campers must register with National Parks by phoning 131304 or on the internet at www.qld.gov.au/camping.

Further north of Porcupine Gorge is the Blackbraes National Park. This park offers bush camping to travellers. Birdwatchers will delight in the large water area which attracts an abundance of birdlife.
Other popular activities in the shire include fossicking for peridot gemstones at Chudleigh Park (about 170km from Hughenden) or looking for fossils. Ask for details at the Flinders Discovery Centre.