Reviewed by Cynthia Ning
Following the unseasonal warm weather in spring, we eagerly made our way to the SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park which was hosting some of the biggest (and oldest) stars to date!
There was an electric reception, with a traditional Welcome to Country followed by opening speeches of the international hosts. They presented this special event with delight and gratitude, as they endearingly retold the story of how it all came to be. The first movie that captured the imagination of the world, Jurassic Park in 1993 based on the novel written by John Michael Crichton.
Following the path into the lineup for the exhibition, there is a green screen photo opportunity to take home with you, a fun souvenir to look back on. Whispers of exhilaration, curiosity and bubbling energy from the children echoed through the space as we heard the roars of the dinosaurs just on the other side of the wall.
We were ushered onboard the ferry toward Jurassic World with animal keepers and security rangers on site to guide us through the tour safely. The room was styled realistically with CGI waters and snippets of the dinosaurs roaming the park – A clever setup that allows patrons to be fully immersed in the experience.
The iconic entryway flooded us with nostalgia, and everyone gasped in awe at the life-sized brachiosaurus waiting for us. Each staff member showcased their knowledge of the species they looked after well and were friendly and engaging with the visitors. There is a good variety of animatronic carnivores and herbivores displayed throughout the exhibit and I was pleasantly surprised at how up close we were able to see them. These included the famous intelligent velociraptors Blue, Echo, Delta and Charlie.
An excavation sandpit is available for little ones to have a go at finding fossils with the opportunity to pat some of the baby dinosaurs, featuring Bumper and interact with their caretakers. The creation lab is incredibly fascinating to look around with the incubators, DNA samples and amber stones on display making it feel like you were really in the centre of creation in Jurassic World. Of course, they saved the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex in a climactic finale at the end of the exhibition.
It was a dream come true to see these larger-than-life creatures reanimated. This was a sensory experience overload where I felt transported into another universe and walked amongst them.
This carefully curated exhibition is a must-see, and I highly recommend everyone who loves dinosaurs and the Jurassic franchise to come along and enjoy this unforgettable experience.
This is the place to visit during the school holidays.