Discover Nicholls: Dinosaurs, Miniature Worlds and Wildlife

Nicholls offers several distinct destinations for travellers who want to shape their stay around culture, wildlife or special exhibitions. The National Dinosaur Museum displays prehistoric exhibits, while Cockington Green Gardens features miniature buildings from many countries. There is also a reptile zoo, an aviary with free-flying birds and a gallery of Aboriginal art. You can decide which of these themes should be central to your trip by considering the specific attractions at each location.

Dinosaurs and miniature buildings

The National Dinosaur Museum in Nicholls houses Australia’s largest permanent exhibition of prehistoric exhibits; such comparisons of size can change over time. In the garden area, a 20-metre-tall animatronic T. rex is one of the attractions. The exhibition and garden offer different highlights: one features prehistoric exhibits, while the other has a large dinosaur outdoors.

Cockington Green Gardens offers a different perspective. There, you can see miniature buildings from more than 30 different countries. Rather than prehistoric exhibits, the focus here is on buildings in miniature. The Gardens are accessible by public transport, and public transport also runs back from there. Check the connection again before you travel.

Observe and experience wildlife

The Canberra Reptile Zoo showcases a diverse range of Australian native animals, including reptiles, amphibians, marsupials and birds. This variety of animal groups makes the zoo a different choice from the Canberra Walk In Aviary, which focuses on free-flying birds.

At the planted Canberra Walk In Aviary, you can observe, photograph and feed the birds. The facility covers 1,000 square metres. This visit therefore centres on both observing the birds in a planted environment and the activities mentioned. When comparing wildlife destinations, the difference is clear: at the Reptile Zoo you encounter several groups of native animals, while the Aviary focuses on free-flying birds and the opportunity to photograph and feed them.

Art and group visits

The Aboriginal Dreamings Gallery in Nicholls has an extensive collection of ethically sourced original art by Aboriginal People from most regions of Aboriginal art. It complements the natural history and prehistoric themes with a distinct focus on art. You can therefore include a visit to the gallery as a separate cultural perspective in your selection.

The Canberra Reptile Zoo also runs school sessions featuring live presentations and guided tours for students. If you are planning a group visit, confirm in advance that this programme is available. The activities are specifically aimed at students; take this target audience into account when planning.

Highlights for your stay

When choosing between the National Dinosaur Museum and Cockington Green Gardens, the main deciding factor is the theme: prehistoric exhibits and an animatronic T. rex, or miniature buildings from more than 30 countries. For wildlife attractions, you can choose between the variety of Australian native animal groups and observing, photographing and feeding free-flying birds. The gallery offers another distinct highlight with its collection of ethically sourced Aboriginal art. These specific differences can help you choose Nicholls based on the interests you want to shape your stay around.

Discover more destinations: Canberra, North West Rural Canberra, Barton, Curtin, Majura, Macquarie, Weetangera, Acton.

For the main travel overview: Australian Capital Territory.