Eromanga Megafauna Dig Expedition

Preparation laboratory in the Eromanga National History Museum

Fossil excavation team at an Eromanga Natural History Museum (ENHM) field site

Dates

28 May 2027

6 Aug 2027
Trip Type History
Twin Share Maximum of two adults
$ 5,890
Single $ 6,250

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Duration

9 Days

Group Size

6 People

Activity Level

Easy to Moderate

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About This Tour

Nine days with the Eromanga Natural History Museum in south-west Queensland – two nights at the museum including a full day in the preparation lab alongside fossil technicians, then six nights on an active Pleistocene megafauna dig near Eulo, working alongside ENHM field palaeontologists and geologists.

The trip pairs two nights at the Eromanga Natural History Museum (ENHM) in Eromanga (a full-day session in the preparation lab alongside fossil technicians and the guided Australian Dinosaur Giants Tour) with six nights on an active megafauna dig site near Eulo, where ENHM field palaeontologists and geologists lead the excavation. A mid-week morning visit takes the group to the historic Yowah opal fields with time for fossicking, and lunch on the transfer day is at the Toompine Pub. Group size is limited to six travellers.

This is a working expedition. Travellers spend five full days on the Eulo dig site, excavating with hand tools (kneeling, brushing, sifting) alongside the ENHM team who lead the work. The preparation lab session at the museum on Day 2 gives travellers time in the space where recovered material is cleaned, catalogued and studied: the other half of the fossil discovery cycle. Accommodation on the dig is at the site’s Shearer’s Quarters, with all meals cooked and served in camp.

The Eromanga Basin sits under a large part of inland Queensland and preserves one of Australia’s most productive fossil records. The museum in Eromanga holds fossils of Cooper (Australotitan cooperensis, formally described in 2021), one of the world’s largest known dinosaurs, recovered from the Cretaceous sediments of the basin. The Eulo dig works a different geological layer – Pleistocene sediments that hold Australia’s giant Ice Age mammals: diprotodon, giant kangaroos and the marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex). Previous seasons have recovered diprotodon teeth, giant kangaroo bones and marsupial lion remains from the Channel Country. Travellers spend the week moving between the museum, the lab and the field.

Who is this tour for?

This tour is designed for travellers with a strong interest in palaeontology, natural history and hands-on fieldwork. The trip involves five full days of excavation (kneeling, brushing, sifting) and working with hand tools in dust and sun for extended periods. Accommodation at the dig is at the site’s Shearer’s Quarters, which is comfortable but working-camp in character. Late May and early June evenings in south-west Queensland are cold, and days range from warm to cool. Suitable for travellers with reasonable general fitness who are comfortable working on the ground in a remote outback environment. This is not a soft-adventure holiday.

Highlights

Spend five full days on an active Pleistocene megafauna dig near Eulo, working alongside ENHM field palaeontologists and geologists as you look to recover Diprotodon, giant kangaroo and marsupial lion fossils from the Channel Country.
Take a full-day session in the ENHM preparation lab alongside fossil technicians (the space where recovered material is cleaned, catalogued and studied).
Join the guided Australian Dinosaur Giants Tour at the Eromanga Natural History Museum, which houses fossils of Cooper (Australotitan cooperensis), one of the world’s largest known dinosaurs, formally described in 2021.
Sleep six nights at the dig site’s Shearer’s Quarters, with meals cooked in camp and evenings around the campfire.
Visit the historic Yowah opal fields with time to try your hand at fossicking.
Stop for lunch at the Toompine Pub, one of the enduring outback roadhouses on the route between Eromanga and the dig.
Join guided biodiversity walks around the dig site to see the plants and animals of the region’s Channel Country semi-arid environment.
Travel in a group of no more than six for a genuinely personal working experience with the ENHM team.

Eight nights’ accommodation (two nights at ENHM accommodation in Eromanga, six nights at the Shearer’s Quarters on the dig site).
All meals from arrival dinner to departure breakfast: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, morning teas and afternoon teas.
Guided Australian Dinosaur Giants Museum Tour at ENHM.
Full-day hands-on session in the ENHM preparation lab alongside fossil technicians.
Five full days on the Eulo megafauna dig, working alongside ENHM field palaeontologists and geologists.
Guided biodiversity walks around the dig site.
Property excursions and access to private land.
Visit to the historic Yowah opal fields with fossicking opportunity.
Sandhills excursion on Day 2 and station-style dinner (weather permitting).
Australian Geographic Society conservation contribution.

Itinerary

Arrival at the Eromanga Natural History Museum

Arrive at the Eromanga Natural History Museum from 2 pm and settle into your accommodation. Meet the group over a welcome dinner at the museum with an introduction to the week ahead. Overnight: ENHM accommodation, Eromanga. Meals: D.Overnight: ENHM accommodation, Eromanga. Meals: D.