Gondwana Garden Family Day

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Sat 19 Aug 2017

Science is set to come to life during National Science Week at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.



The is being held on Saturday 19th August 2017 as part of the Sydney Science Festival.

At this event, you will have the opportunity to journey back in time to the ancient land of Gondwana, to a time when Australia was a part of a great southern land mass and when dinosaurs called Australia home. Rainforest covered most of this super continent and still remains the most ancient type of vegetation in Australia today.



At the you can meet botanic scientists and learn more about ancient plants such as algae, fungi and the Wollemi Pine, one of the world's oldest and rarest trees. Often referred to as the "dinosaur tree" or a "living fossil", the Wollemi Pine was thought to be extinct and was only known from fossil records until its exciting discovery in the Wollemi National Park in 1994. Wollemi Pines are located in several places in the garden and there is also a group of them very near the Visitors Centre so make sure you check them out in person.

You will also have the opportunity to see Australian dinosaurs and megafauna come to life throughout the Garden, both in person and with an amazing new augmented reality app.



The Jurassic Garden App can be downloaded for free from the App store. It allows you to explore the life of dinosaurs and the plants around them through virtual reality. Once you have the App downloaded it is a matter of going hunting for the Jurassic Garden markers on site and when you find one you can simply point your device at the marker and watch as the creature comes to life. There are also information buttons in the App so you can learn more about the animals and plants and you can even snap a photo with them which is very cool.

After having some fun with the Jurassic Garden App you'll probably be wishing you could see a dinosaur in the flesh. And you're in luck! On the day you can get up close to an Australian dinosaur roaming the gardens courtesy of Erth .



The fierce looking puppet known as "Ginger" is an Australovenator created by Erth. This dinosaur is Australia's answer to the velociraptor, due to its speed, razor sharp teeth and long claws on each hand. It is thought to have lived in the Mid-Cretaceus period, around 100 million years ago. The fossils of this dinosaur were only discovered in 2005 in Queensland. The Australovenator was a carnivore and was much larger than a Velociraptor. If you've ever wanted to see an Australian dinosaur face to face, this is your chance.

There is also a range of other activities on offer at the including:


Organisations in attendance will include:


There will also be local food and beverage vendors in attendance.



Entry to the is free however some activities may incur a small charge to cover the cost of resources.

The event will run from 11am until 3pm on Saturday 19th August 2017. The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is located on Bells Line of Road at Mount Tomah and there is free parking on site.

For more information about visiting the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden please click here.

You can also keep up to date by following on Facebook.

The Gondwana Garden event and the Jurassic Garden App are supported by Inspiring Australia, and part of the Sydney Science Festival.

Celebrate National Science Week this year by going on a prehistoric adventure at the .

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!date 19/08/2017 -- 19/08/2017
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