Dinosaurs are getting set to invade Richmond, with more than 30 of the creatures on show over the next two weekends.
The jurassic creatures will be on display at Richmond Park Showgrounds from this weekend as part of the Amazing Dinosaur Discovery – an interactive experience that gives the opportunity to see life-size models, including a Brachiosaurus with a twelve-metre long neck, a Tyrannosaurus-Rex and robotic raptors.
The walk-through, theme-park style display gives the opportunity to hear the roars of the Jurassic creatures.
Organiser Paul Johnson says each of the creatures has been modelled on original fossils that have been excavated from around the world, allowing for an accurate representation of each species.
He says the experience offers something unique.
“The interest in dinosaurs is known by everyone, but what we recognised as a team is that kids have seen them on tv and read the books but have very limited opportunity to get up close and touchy-feely with these things,” Paul says.
He says it’s great having the show move around the country rather than in a stationary location like a museum.
“I could see that I could move these around and bring them to the people, so that’s what we do.”
Last weekend the dinosaurs were in Motueka, for some sell-out shows.
“We had a fantastic weekend there for two reasons: the local community really came out to support it, even a lot came from Golden Bay, and secondly, we missed the bad weather.”
The experience will be at Richmond Park Showgrounds on 10 and 11 June and the 17 and 18 June – it’s last South Island showing.
“This is the last chance for anyone to see it in the South Island before it heads back up north,” Paul says.
He says budding palaeontologists can try their hand at fossil panning and bone digging and the dino-mite playground will round off the entertainment.
Paul says while the favourites always seem to vary, the T-Rex is always very popular.
“He’s the biggest and most impressive. The great thing is that we get just as many smiley faces from grandparents and parents as we do from the kids,” Paul says.
