Dinosaurs: Surviving Extinction exhibition at Newcastle Museum
On display until 2 March 2025, the Dinosaurs: Surviving Extinction exhibition at Newcastle Museum (New South Wales, Australia) showcases the latest understanding of dinosaur evolution. Excellent artwork illustrates how palaeontologists think they looked.
Fossils of protoceratops and tarbosaurus show how these dinosaurs developed through their lifecycles. Four protoceratops skulls illustrate how the frill developed from juvenile to adult specimens.
Nests filled with eggs show how protective adults were, also fossil remains demonstrate how dinosaurs cared for their young. This continued into their descendants, the birds, which developed from the ornithopod dinosaurs.
This is an excellent exhibition, very educational with a target audience ranging from children to adults.
Tyrannosaurus Rex at the entrance to the exhibitionUtahraptor eastern Utah USA, early Cretaceous 125 million years agoUtahraptor eastern Utah USA, early Cretaceous 125 million years agoTarbosaurus late Cretaceous 70-75 million years agoJuvenile Tarbosaurus skull late Cretaceous 70-75 million years agoAdult Tarbosaurus skull late Cretaceous 70-75 million years agoConchoraptor on a nest. Gobi Desert Mongolia 76 million years agoPsittacosaurus Flock, Gobi Desert, Mongolia, Late Cretaceous 70-85 million years agoProtoceratops growth series from juvenile to adult Gobi Desert, Mongolia, Late Cretaceous 70-85 million years agoOviraptorOviraptorid nest. Nanxiong Basin Guangdong Province China, Late Cretaceous 76 million years agoSaurolophus skull from the Gobi Desert Mongolia. Late Cretaceous 70 million years agoPsittacosaurus. An adult with 34 juveniles. From Liaoning Province China. Early Cretaceous 123-100 million years agoHadrosaurusProbactrosaurus from Inner Mongolia in the early Cretaceous 100-125 million years agoOrnithopod eggs from the late Cretaceous 70-85 million years agoArchaeopteryx late Jurassic 150 million years ago Solnhofen GermanyArchaeopteryxAnchiornis Late Jurassic 160 million years ago Liaoning Province ChinaConfuciusornis Early Cretaceous 125-120 million years ago Yixian formation China
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located on the South Coast of New South Wales Australia near Norooma, the Glasshouse Rocks are a collection of sea stacks just off the coast. An excellent way to view them is from the adjacent headland which provides a great bird’s eye view. The Glasshouse Rocks Trail goes along the headland to a viewing point as well as having a side access track to the beach.
The trail starts at the Norooma Cemetery before heading south along the headland. Remember to be careful on the track as it is sometimes close to the cliffs edge.
Not far along the track, a small trail branches off to the left heading down to the beach. This is the way to go if you want to see the Glasshouse Rocks up close. It’s best to do this at low tide so that you get to see them better. Otherwise, at this point, continue along the headland and you will come across a great view of the rocks.
The walking trackTree on the trackPrincess Beach with cemetery on the headlandThe Glasshouse RocksNarooma Beach and The Glasshouse RocksThe Glasshouse RocksThe Glasshouse Rocks
We have driven past Lake George in New South Wales on the Federal Highway numerous times but never stopped. However with recent rains (during 2024), the water level is high, so we took the opportunity to stop see the views and look at the three different rest stops for VC recipients.
Lake George
Located next to the Federal Highway, around 40km from Canberra, Australia, Lake George is an endorheic lake which means it has no outflow of water to rivers and oceans. Originally, small streams drained its catchment into the Yass River, but then the Lake George Escarpment rose due to major crust movement along a strong fault line, blocking this drainage and forming the lake. Due to high levels of evaporation and only a small catchment area the lake never overflows.
The Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It is awarded for valour “in the presence of the enemy” to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It has no been superseded by the Victoria Cross for Australia.
Badcoe VC Rest Area
Between 23 February to 7 April 1967, Badcoe repeatedly performed extraordinary feats. While under fire he attacked across open ground; he rescued an American adviser; he captured a machine-gun; he led attacks; and he provided leadership and an example to wavering troops. He was eventually killed by a burst of enemy fire as he rose to throw a grenade. “His valour and leadership were in the highest traditions of the military profession and the Australian Regular Army.” He was buried at Terendak Cemetery, Malaysia.
Badcoe was awarded the Victoria Cross, service medals for the Vietnam War, the United States Silver Star, the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the South Vietnamese Wound Medal.
View over Lake George from the Shaded seats and table at the Badcoe VC Rest AreaInformation board at the Badcoe VC rest area
Wheatley VC Rest Area
On 13 November 1965 Wheatley and Warrant Officer Ronald Swanton, were operating in the Tra Bong valley. Their platoon came under heavy fire and Swanton was shot. Although he knew his mate was dying, Wheatley refused to leave him. Again urged to withdraw, Wheatley would not. Instead, he pulled the pins from two grenades and waited for the enemy. Two explosions were heard, followed by bursts of fire; both men were killed. Wheatley’s refusal to leave a mate was seen to be in the highest traditions of gallantry. His body was returned to Australia for burial.
Wheatley was awarded the Victoria Cross, the General Service Medal (for Malaya), service medals for the Vietnam War, the United States Silver Star, and South Vietnamese awards.
View over the lake from the Wheatley VC Rest AreaInformation board at the Wheatley VC Rest Area
Anderson VC Rest Area
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in command of the 2/19th Battalion against the Japanese invading force at Muar, Malaya in January 1942.
Cut off, surrounded and without support, Anderson led attacks against road-blocks, and enemy positions and organised his troops’ forced retreat to Singapore. Anderson was taken prisoner by the Japanese along with the remnants of the 2/19th – just 180 men from a full strength of 900. He was held captive for three years, first in Changi prison then on the Thai-Burma railway. He returned to Australia in 1945, resuming his life as a grazier, but also entering federal politics.
Looking over the lake from the Anderson VC Rest AreaView over the lake at Commemoration Monument to the VC medalists on the Federal Highway
What Did We Think
These were all well maintained rest areas with nice views over the lake. With places to sit they make a great place to recover while on a long drive. As a bonus you get to read about the gallantry of some of Australia’s service personnel.
