Dinosaurs to roam once again
The Esplanade will come alive with titanosaurs, pterosaurs and more this Easter.
Dinofest is coming to Palmerston North tomorrow to entertain dinosaur fans young and old. The event features a Jurassic walk filled with a variety of dinosaurs, the opportunity to meet two dinosaurs and other activities.
Organiser Laurence Taylor was inspired to start Dinofest during a trip to the South Island.
He said it was hard not to think of dinosaurs roaming around when he was driving through the landscape.
‘‘It’s [the South Island] got that Jurassic Park feel.’’
This is the first time Taylor’s crew of prehistoric animals have been to Palmerston North since the event started in 2016.
He said the fernery in The Esplanade was ideal for the Jurassic walk, as ferns have not changed in about 200 million years.
The types of dinosaurs that inhabit the walk are based on dinosaurs whose fossils were found in Hawke’s Bay.
Taylor said he wanted to teach people about New Zealand’s dinosaur history, something he thought was sometimes overlooked.
‘‘I tried to incorporate dinosaurs found in New Zealand, so it’s not just dinosaurs for dinosaurs’ sake.’’
Aside from the walk, visitors to Dinofest will able to meet Rexy the t-rex and sieve for real shark fossil teeth, which they can keep.
Taylor said it was a good opportunity to ‘‘get kids outdoors and off their ipads’’ and to learn about dinosaurs in an exciting way.
Taylor and his crew were in the first day of their two day set-up yesterday.
Rexy went for an impromptu visit to The Esplanade playground, attracting a large, curious crowd of children and their families.
Dinofest is in Palmerston North from tomorrow until Tuesday.
There are three sessions a day, starting at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm.