Megafauna Central, Alice Springs Travel Guide

Megafauna Central offers a captivating glimpse into Australia's ancient past, showcasing the unique megafauna that roamed the central region during the Miocene epoch, around 8 million years ago. Located in the heart of Alice Springs, this museum displays fascinating fossils discovered at the Alcoota Scientific Reserve, an exceptionally rich fossil site approximately 150 km northeast of Alice Springs. Note that the Alcoota site itself is not open to the public.The museum brings the story of these megafauna to life through displays of fossils, exquisite illustrations, life-size replicas, and Arrernte audio interpretations. Interactive exhibits allow children to unearth fossils and engage with palaeontologists in the lab. Among the fossils discovered at Alcoota are the remains of over 30 species, including the world's largest bird ( *Dromornis stirtoni*), a fearsome crocodile ( *Baru iylwenpeny*), marsupial 'lions', marsupial 'wolves', and giant browsing wombat relatives.Megafauna Central also features a display of fossils dating back 450 million years, offering insights into the evolution of megafauna. The Alcoota Scientific Reserve is considered the most extensive fossil deposit of its age in Australia, providing valuable evidence about the evolution of the Northern Territory's fauna and climate. The fossils are spread across a 200-meter stretch and include the remains of as many as 3,000 individual animals.