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All New Zealand Duntroon Vanished World Centre

Vanished World Centre

A hidden gem of a museum that lets you search for your own fossils.

Duntroon, New Zealand

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Lucy Beams
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Vanished World Centre.   Mattinbgn/cc by 2.0
Vanished World Centre.   Mattinbgn/cc by 2.0
Fossils at Vanished World.   Lucy Beams / Atlas Obscura User
Vanished World.   Lucy Beams / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Thirty million years ago, this part of New Zealand was under water. Prehistoric dolphins with crocodile-like mouths, enormous penguins, and gigantic whales once swam above the ground. After some of them died, their remains were buried beneath the earth for many epochs.

You’ll find fossils of these fantastic beasts at the Vanished World Centre, a real hidden gem on the road heading inland to Kurow and Omarama (State Highway 83). Pop in for a visit, and you’ll see a trove of paleontological treasures from the region’s ancient past.

Though some of the items displayed are casts of fossils, many of the items are the real deal. There’s also a room full of local rocks and crystals that are sure to dazzle anyone with even the slightest interest in geology.

There’s even a fossil extraction room, where kids can sit before trays of limestone rocks and start chipping away until they’ve unearthed their own fossil keepsake. Uncovering something that’s been hidden for millennia—and then getting to take it home with you—is an unforgettable experience!

The Vanished World Centre is, as its name suggests, at the center of the Vanished World Trail. The trail lets people take a self-guided tour of more than 20 sites related to the region's prehistoric past. At the Vanished World Centre, you’ll find information about the various sites and objects you’ll discover on the trail.

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Museums Museums And Collections Fossils Shops

Know Before You Go

On street parking available right outside. As of October 2018, admission is $10 NZ per adult or $20 for a family. It's open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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Added By

Lucy Beams

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

October 5, 2018

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Vanished World Centre
7 Campbell St
Duntroon
New Zealand
-44.854977, 170.684382
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Photo of New Zealand

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Places 141
Stories 44

Nearby Places

Elephant Rocks

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Zealand

New Zealand

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Places 141
Stories 44

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