School Group information: 2008

- Guided tours for all ages!

“Staff were excellent – a definite must for any school group visiting Canberra.”
Adele Koulouris, Undercliffe Public School.

“The most memorable part of their trip.  Thank you!”
Peter Hope, Gympie South State School

“One of the easiest excursions I have ever taken a group of children to.”
Lyn Parker, Jerrabomberra Public School

Visiting the National Dinosaur Museum is like walking through the prehistoric past!

Background

The National Dinosaur Museum is the largest permanent display of dinosaur material in Australia. In 1996 and 1997 the Museum was awarded the ACT Tourism Award for Excellence. The Museum was awarded the Australian Tourism Award for Significant Regional Attractions in 1997.  We were also finalist in the 2006 Australian Travel and Tourism Awards in the family-based tourism category.

Our Experience is your Guarantee.

Our friendly museum staff will guide you through the exhibits, and are trained to answer your questions. The Staff have backgrounds in science and education and a “passion” for dinosaurs and prehistoric life.
It may seem like dinosaurs are all extinct and there’s nothing left to learn, but every day brings new discoveries.  We aim to provide up-to-date information on this evolving area of science and its impact on our understanding of today’s world.  As a result no two tours of the National Dinosaur Museum are ever the same – you never know what surprises may be in store or discoveries unveiled.

Location

The museum is located 15km north of Canberra City centre, at the corner of Gold Creek Road and the Barton Highway, opposite Cockington Green and part of the Gold Creek Village complex. The closest accommodation, within walking distance, is the Gold Creek Tourist Resort.

Facilities

•  “eDinosauria” Prehistory Information Resource Kit (PIRK) given to schools after their visit. This resource can be used in the classroom after your visit or in advance of your next visit.

• Eating area with seating for 55 persons for self-catered meals. Please express your interest in using these facilities when making a booking.

•  Disabled access to all areas including clean toilets.

•  Close to other attractions and shopping in Gold Creek Village.

• Gift shop with souvenirs, and gifts for all ages.  Prices set with children’s budgets in mind allowing worthwhile purchases at pocket money prices – specialising in real fossils.

•  Interactive Area and Hands-on Fossils.

• Optional extension activities including the Australian Fossil Workshop or our Dinosaur puppet show for younger visitors. These extras incur extra charges, and are subject to availability and need to be requested when making a booking. Please see ‘Group Rates’ on page 4 for full pricing.

Opening Hours

•  Guided tours available for pre-booked groups starting from 8.00am to 8.00pm.

•  Normal Admission 10.00am to 5.00pm, 7 days. 9.00am opening during ACT & NSW School Holidays.

Your Visit

Students will be met at the entrance of the museum and divided into groups for their guided tour.  We ask that at least one teacher or adult accompany each group to assist staff with supervision and direction of students. Please bring worksheets (these can be provided upon request when booking) and pencils for day tours if required, and prepare to step back in time and enjoy the prehistoric world.

Exhibition

The National Dinosaur Museum is not just about Dinosaurs. The exhibition covers the history of life on this planet with fossils from 700 million-year-old marine faunas through to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Exhibition Highlights

•  Easy to read, educational information panels.

•  Beautiful murals depicting reconstructions of environments from the prehistoric past to enhance understanding of extinct biodiversity.

•  Dinosaurs and other fossils not on display anywhere else in the world.

Exhibition for 2008 – New exhibits and Australian content for 2008!
The diversity of the exhibition has never been stronger, with new murals and many new fossils for a more cohesive story of the past.  The exhibition compares the life of all plants and animals in a chronological, easy to follow manner, suitable for everyone - not just scientists.

Bookings

We require advance bookings for all groups. The earlier you book the more likely you will be able to book a time that suits you. Please note that if only short notice is given, you may not be able to book a tour with us, or you may be asked to combine with another group if applicable.
Please remember that your prompt arrival at the specified time will allow you to gain the most out of your visit and avoid congestion during peak periods; especially for Dinosaurs at Night tours.

Risk Assessments for all major ACT Attractions (including our own), and other useful group information can be found at the National Capital Educational Tourim Project (NCETP). This includes information on the PACER program.

Please note that surcharges apply to bookings made on public holidays or after hours on weekends.

Please ask booking staff for more information.

Tour types

The National Dinosaur Museum provides two different types of tours – those at night, and those during the day. Both tour types provide excellent educational information regarding dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, but do so in different settings. Please read the following descriptions carefully before choosing which style of tour suits you best.

Day Tours – give the opportunity to see all of the exhibits at the National Dinosaur Museum during a 60-minute tour with one of our experienced guides.  Tours are conducted in a fun but educational style with plenty of opportunities for students to interact with suggestions, theories and questions.  Worksheets have been designed to complement these tours and may be completed during the tour or at a later stage as a revision exercise.

Dinosaurs at Night Tours - these tours are specifically designed to increase the atmosphere and visual excitement of the visit.  The 60-minute tour is conducted through a dark museum, with exhibits highlighted through spotlights and the Guide’s Torch.  Students get the opportunity to experience the same conditions as those faced by Australia’s Polar Dinosaurs; but as they are in the dark, not all exhibits can be viewed.  Although groups have bought torches in the past these are no longer required, and actually detract from the dramatic presentation. Due to the high demand for Night Tours and their specialised nature, they are less flexible in their presentation style than tours held during the day. They offer the same information and education value, but in a different setting. Thanks to our sponsor,        for supplying us with brand new torches!

**Please note: any tour that begins before 5pm will be conducted as a Day Tour, and any tours beginning at 5pm or later will be Dinosaurs at Night tours. Torches are not required for Dinosaurs at Night tours .

School Group Rates

Our rate for school groups is competitive and represents good value for money.

Prices are subject to change without prior notice. 

*Activities require extra time.

**Premium tours are subject to availability and require extra time; conditions apply for these bookings – see below.   

 # Special Conditions apply – please ask when placing a booking.

Accompanying Adults 1:10 FOC (1 extra Adult for any remaining part thereof) for tour only.
Coach Staff are always FOC.
Confirmation of final numbers are required ONE WEEK in advance. 

Fossil Hunter / Workshop and Premium Tours

Fossil Casting Workshop: This gives the students the opportunity to make a fossil cast, and gain an insight to the nature of fossil formation and the casting process used by palaeontologists. The students will take away a fossil cast and natural mould (plaster of paris and clay) with the impressions of real fossils in it.

Australian Fossil Workshop: This gives the students a chance to work with real fossil sediment from the World Heritage Naracoorte Caves in South Australia. The students can assist the museum staff by sifting through a sample of the sediment to extract and identify fossils from the cave deposit. Staff will explain the origins of the material and assist with identification. The specimens will then be added to the museum collection - unfortunately the students will only get to take home the memories of the experience, and photographs (if they take them).

Fossil Hunter Special: We are now offering a ‘Fossil Hunters’ Special’ tour package. This includes a normal one hour tour, and every child gets to leave with a fossil shark tooth (similar to those sold in the Gift Shop for $5 each)! This will allow for a follow-up activity at schools, as our website provides information regarding identification of the various shark species the teeth have come from. We will also provide them each with a certificate on which to draw their tooth and write its species name. This will allow children to become involved in prehistoric species identification and will give them a special souvenir as well.

Premium Tours: We are currently trialling Premium Tours – a longer tour for groups that also wish to explore the museum without other groups around. We have had many groups ask us about doing longer tours or to have an extra look around the museum. Because we get so busy with school groups, this is often not possible due to groups running into each other. So we have developed a new type of tour for the groups that specifically want these conditions. The Premium tours offer a 1.5 hour tour, as well as an extra half an hour for the group to have a look around the museum or ask extra questions; if this is a Dinosaurs@Night Tour, then this will give you an opportunity to have a look around with some of the lights on. This means 2 hours in the Museum Exhibits. During these 2 hours you will be allowed free reign of the museum, that is, we will not book in any other groups. The extra half an hour for in the shop may overlap with another group.
Because of the very specialised and exclusive nature of these tours, they are subject to the following conditions:

• Premium Tours will attract minimum and maximum numbers. (35 – 90)
• Premium Tours are subject to availability and being the first group to book a time slot
• Certain time slots are not available for this type of tour.

 

Please Remember:

Delays affect not only your tour, but also those of other groups using the facilities. Staff numbers are finely balanced to provide you the best service during the time of your visit, however those staff may also be responsible for the next group of visitors; Dinosaurs at Night bookings can be particularly tight due to their popularity.

 

School Group Rates 2009

Our rate for school groups is competitive and represents good value for money.

Schools Rates 2008	Tour Only	Tour + Fossil Casting Workshop*	Tour + Australian Fossil Workshop*	Fossil Hunters’ Special	Premium Tours**
Daytime Tours	$ 7.00	$ 10.00	$ 10.00	$ 8.00	$ 14.00
Evening Tours	$ 7.50	$ 10.50	$ 10.50	$ 8.50	$ 15.00
Adults > 1:10	$ 8.00 (Day) $ 8.50 (Night)	-	-	-	$ 16.00 (Day) $ 17.00 Night)

Prices are subject to change without prior notice. 

*Activities require extra time.

**Premium tours are subject to availability and require extra time; conditions apply for these bookings – see below.   

 # Special Conditions apply – please ask when placing a booking.

Accompanying Adults 1:10 FOC (1 extra Adult for any remaining part thereof) for tour only.
Coach Staff are always FOC.
Confirmation of final numbers are required ONE WEEK in advance.