About & Description

The community -inspired Vanished World Society was formed in the early 2000's to help raise public awareness about the geology of the Waitaki district .

The Society is active in promoting the science , conservation and appropriate use of fossils , outcrops, and landforms, through a process of education , science -communication and “hands on experience”. North Otago and the larger surrounding Waitaki district have been renowned for striking and informative features for more than 150 years . These features -including fossils,limestone, volcanic sequences and landforms – have been important in the conceptual origins and ongoing development of geological science at a national level . Geologist from the University of Otago have developed a positive and ongoing relationship with landowners in the Waitaki district,as part of a research program on local fossils. The Vanished World Centre at Duntroon is the heart of the Vanished World Trail with displays that help explain and interpret the fossils, rocks,localities and landforms along the Trail. Visitors wishing to participate in the fossil heritage of the Waitaki are able to gain a greater appreciation of the unique nature of the area by viewing these displays. Specimens are mostly from within a 20km radius of the village of Duntroon The fossils-whales, dolphins and invertebrates,reveal the marine ecosystems of the Oligocene time some 20-30 million years ago.