DINOFEST SET TO ROAR INTO SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK ... AND THIS TIME YOU CAN PET THEM!

Event Writer
17 minutes ago
2 min read

Close-up of a roaring dinosaur with green scales and yellow eyes, set in a sunny grassy area with trees in the background. — DinoFest returns for a blockbuster summer school holiday season from January 10

Sydney’s smallest dinosaur obsessives and their parents can start practising their best Jurassic screams.

DinoFest is officially charging back into town for summer 2026, promising a bigger, bolder and more toothy holiday spectacular.

Returning after a completely sold-out Sydney run in 2024, the outdoor dinosaur experience will take over Blaxland Riverside Park at Sydney Olympic Park from January 10 to February 1, excluding January 14, 20 and 26. And this time, it is bringing reinforcements.

More than 30 life-size, walking and interactive dinosaurs will roam the site daily, alongside new animatronics and hands-on dino-themed activities designed to thrill younger audiences.

From T-Rex royalty to pettable baby dinos

While Tyrannosaurus Rex is still the undisputed headliner, DinoFest’s prehistoric cast also includes a walking Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Spinosaurus, Pachycephalosaurs and Ankylosaur.

And yes, there are also plenty of cute baby dinosaurs that children can touch and pat under the careful watch of in-character rangers.

The experience includes a 45-minute Dinosaur Encounter and a new Dino Trail featuring a towering Brachiosaurus, along with educational activities including a Dino Dig, themed arts and crafts and a ‘feel a fossil’ station with real dinosaur bones.

Children brush sand off dinosaur fossils in a sandbox at a park. A girl wears a straw hat and pastel dress. Trees are visible in the background. — Designed for curious kids and tired parents

Especially suited to children aged nine and under, DinoFest has been deliberately designed as an outdoor event to get kids moving, exploring and off screens.

“There’s nothing like experiencing DinoFest in the fresh air, where kids can really immerse themselves in a prehistoric adventure that’s away from screens and devices. It’s about sparking curiosity, imagination, and wonder in a way that’s active, fun and memorable," Founder Laurence Taylor said.

Taylor says Blaxland Riverside Park was chosen as the ideal setting for both logistics and atmosphere.

“Blaxland Riverside Park at Sydney Olympic Park is not only a great stomping ground for our dinos, but it’s also family-friendly with nearby amenities, parking, shaded areas for picnics and an excellent on-site playground too.

“The scenic riverside setting really enhances the experience, and we have a cap on participant numbers per session at DinoFest not just for safety reasons, but also because we’re conscious of giving every attendee a magical experience to remember forever,” he adds.

DinoFest Tickets are likely to vanish faster than a Velociraptor

Families are strongly encouraged to book online via Humanitix, with organisers warning that sessions will sell out quickly. And if previous years are anything to go by, that warning is not theatre.

Single tickets are priced at $31 per adult and $28 per child, with free entry for children under two. A family of four passes cost $107. Family and group tickets are available, along with discounts for seniors and people with disability.

Each ticket includes the 45-minute Dinosaur Encounter, kids’ activities, access to the Dino Trail with 30-plus dinosaurs, and the essential coffee-and-ice-cream cart.