T-Rexcellent: Colchester Zoo’s Exciting New Attraction Unveiled

Colchester Zoo is excited to announce the opening of a brand-new walkthrough, Dinosaur Realm, on Friday 29th March. This new area makes Colchester Zoo one of the only places in Essex to appreciate those who once lived on Earth!

The new area, previously used as a display arena for birds of prey, has been repurposed into a new immersive space that transports you back to the age of the dinosaur! Since work began in early 2023, the area has been relandscaped from grass to a wooden walkway, over a new pond area with over 60 meters of glass and filled with plant life.

Located inside Colchester Zoo opposite Lion Rock, visitors can embark on a journey as they come face to face with a herd of static and animatronic dinosaurs, including a Brachiosaurus that stands just under 5 meters tall. Adults and children will be able to experience the presence of these prehistoric creatures and movement is triggered from state-of-the-art sensory.

Surrounded by foliage and shrubbery, a large pond fills the middle of the walkway complete with a waterfall which adds to the atmosphere. Smoke and sounds are present along the route with a Palaeontology Hub that includes interactive zones to engage and educate on the creatures that once lived. Baby animatronic dinos have been produced in-house by the Zoo’s very own maintenance team, constructed from silicone and hand-painted.

“As a family attraction, we wanted to bring a new experience to Colchester Zoo whilst providing education and continuing to raise awareness and the importance of conservation. Dinosaurs are very popular with all ages and capture interest therefore we felt they were a great attraction to help spread this important message. The area chosen lends itself perfectly to a new habitat, developing a brand-new interactive journey.” – Business Development Manager. 

Colchester Zoo’s dinosaurs may not be the typical green found in children’s books, but their footprint is! The herd was originally sourced from previous attractions and displays over the UK and by purchasing these ex-display models, each dinosaur has been recycled and repurposed saving money and reducing the potential wastage of these sculptures. Purchasing from the UK has aided Colchester Zoo’s mission, to reduce transport emissions and improve sustainability at the zoo. 

On 23rd and 24th March 2024, Colchester Zoo held an exclusive Passholder Preview weekend where Annual Zoo Passholders were able to see the new area ahead of its official opening on 29th March 2024. 

Over 4,000 Passholders attended with many visitors enjoying the exclusivity that came with being a Passholder and praised the educational activities located in the Palaeontology Hub as well as the individual information profiles and fun facts.

“I learned that pterodactyls were as big as fighter jets and giraffes. I thought they were much smaller, and we have not stopped discussing this fact since!” – Colchester Zoo Passholder.

Dinosaur Realm will be open to all visitors from 29th March 2024 and is included in standard admission, providing another free activity within the admission offers visitors great value for money. PLUS, this Easter holidays, Colchester Zoo is celebrating all things dinosaur with its St-EGG-osaurus Easter, including egg and dino-themed activities taking place throughout the day as well as the return of the Wild Vibe Crew parties and parades!