Get up close to life-sized models of New Zealand’s lost monsters and learn how scientists are using fossils to uncover this land’s tropical past.
Discover the fossils. Meet the monster birds. Explore New Zealand's tropical past.
More than 60 million years ago, shortly after the dinosaurs became extinct, giant penguins swam in the warm oceans around the ancient subcontinent of Zealandia.
Fast forward 40 million years and Central Otago was submerged beneath a giant lake, 10 times the size of Lake Taupo. Here strange creatures like crocodiles, turtles, burrowing bats and the world’s largest parrot, nicknamed Squawkzilla by scientists, lived in subtropical forest.
Complete our activity sheet to earn a pack of collectable cards featuring the lost monsters of Aotearoa New Zealand.