THE Australian National Botanic Gardens are putting together a prehistoric discovery trail with lifelike dinosaurs lurking among the vegetation for Science Week.

For nine days only these scaly creatures will migrate from the National Dinosaur Museum to feature in an immersive experience of palaeontology on the side of Black Mountain.

From Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August, visitors can undertake the Prehistoric Garden Trail, where they will encounter dinosaurs and plant fossils among the plants and landscapes they once inhabited.

Public Programs Officer at the Gardens, Megan Donaldson said that the trail combined nature, science and adventure.

“We’ve created a trail of 17 prehistoric narratives for audiences of all ages. These stories will explore the ancient fossils of Gondwana, and what they reveal about the distribution patterns of living organisms from which our modern native plants and animals have evolved,” Megan said.

“Moving through the trail, visitors will be encouraged to think like a scientist and investigate clues that indicate how plants and animals co-existed.

“Questions such as the diet of each dinosaur, based on the type of teeth they had, where they lived, and the plants that existed during a particular time period. Were they meat eaters? Or herbivores? Or omnivores?

National Dinosaur Museum Manager Ben Wardle added that the museum’s giant friends will make the special trip to the Australian National Botanic Gardens, thanks to a National Science Week grant.

“Canberra drivers should not be alarmed if they pass a ‘smiling Stegosaurus’ or ‘toothy Austroraptor’ on the roads next week as the herd moves from Nichols to Acton,” Ben said.

Visitors can pick up a free self guided booklet from the Visitor Centre, or for those seeking a deeper learning experience, bookings are available for specialised tours lead by Australian National Botanic Gardens rangers and National Dinosaur Museum education staff – including two night tours.

Prehistoric Garden Trail for National Science Week: Saturday 15 – Sunday 23 Aug
Free self guided walk or booked guided tours available
Daytime tours – $12 pp I 11.30am & 1.30pm I Sat 15, Sun 16, Sat 22 & Sun 23 Aug
Night tours – $15 pp I 6.30pm I Sat 15 and 22 Aug