1 / 3Vanished World Centre
đ Duntroon, Canterbury
The Vanished World Centre in Duntroon is a small fossil museum housing specimens from the Waitaki Valley, with guided tours by knowledgeable staff. A hands-on fossil dig activity lets children uncover and keep their own finds.
A small museum with a load of fossils of the ancient creatures vanished by the time. The lady who was on the front desk was amazing. She helped us with information about the area and also explained about the fossils. You can explore various fossils including sea creatures, birds, mammals sea shells. There is a microscope which you can use to study the texture of many objects. Kids can have a lot of learning and fun by using the room provided to explore.
đ Family Action Verdict
Reviewers are consistently surprised by the depth and quality of the experience relative to the size of the centre. The guided tour is praised as essential â staff knowledge of local fossil history and geology turns a browse into a meaningful educational visit. The hands-on dig is a strong draw for children, who can take home their own fossil.
âšī¸ What to Know Before You Go
đŦ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews â161 Google reviews
Eranga Dissanayaka
2 years ago
âA small museum with a load of fossils of the ancient creatures vanished by the time. The lady who was on the front desk was amazing. She helped us with information about the area and also explained about the fossils. You can explore various fossils including sea creatures, birds, mammals sea shells. There is a microscope which you can use to study the texture of many objects. Kids can have a lot of learning and fun by using the room provided to explore.â
mark mack
3 months ago
âWell this was a surprise and really worth the visit. I thought $10 might be a little steep but after Mary gave us the tour, it was a bargin. Mary was a font of knowledge with fossils and explained local geology. Recommended visit. This was really good, especially if your into rocks and geologyâ
Julie L
3 years ago
âWonderful place if you are interested in fossils or geology. Amazing to think that many of the exhibits were found within 50 kms of the museum. While many of the original bones are held at Otago University, the casts on display look very authentic.â
Kim Lewis
6 months ago
âSarah was so lovely and informative, she really piqued out interest. My grandson spent ages digging the fossils out and is so proud of his haul.â
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Vanished World Centre on Campbell Street in Duntroon displays Waitaki Valley fossils, many sourced within 50 kilometres. Cast displays supplement originals held at Otago University. Staff-led guided tours are a standout â the front-desk team is praised for deep knowledge of local geology and palaeontology. A hands-on fossil dig lets children uncover specimens to take home. A compact, well-curated stop on the Waitaki fossil trail.