Editor's Review - Dinosaur Adventure Park

May 2001

This Spring I finally got round to taking my family to two places that I had been told about in the past but never seemed to manage to get to. During May half term I decided to be adventurous and take my three plus two of their friends off to Norfolk Dinosaur Park on my own. I do have to admit that none are mad about dinosaurs and I really had to nag to get them moving to get ready. Their lack of initial enthusiasm meant that we didn’t arrive until lunchtime, so I made them sit by the car and eat their picnic before we went into the park. 

Well, what a shame I hadn’t read all the literature before we settling down to eat! The Park is set in a large wooded hilly (compared to Cambridge) area that provides lots of shade and also plenty of places to create atmosphere and hide dinosaurs! The children had each been given a passport with 10 things that they needed to discover and at each one there was a station to stamp the relevant box. So we set off along the Dinosaur Trail. I can best describe their reaction by telling you that they started off walking with me carrying all the passports and by the end they were running about, screaming and shouting, each with their bit of paper in their hand! The trail takes you up and down, through the woods (OK for pushchairs), where you stumble across various scenes and dinosaurs, where you hear distant roars from some menacing creature and finally end up ‘face-to-toe’ with a brachiosaurus whose face seems to be in the clouds to the kids! Once the trail was completed we were off to the Raptor Racers, Flintstone-type go-karts that really move and that Dad, if he had been with us, would have been nagging to have a go on! Here Crazy Golf also takes on a new meaning when you are having to get round a six foot simmering volcano complete with smoke. In the centre of the Park is a vast open space filled with all kinds of adventure play equipment with lots of seating around for weary parents. It is the kind of place where you can set up a family ‘camp’ and sit down and supervise the kids without having to follow them everywhere. The Climb-a-saurus, a dinosaur model with a multi-level play area inside, was very popular - particularly the slides coming out of his mouth and !!! The assault course was popular with the older children and the Lost World Maze was loved by everyone with its drumbeats, quicksand, hidden traps, crocodiles and ‘Caution Dinosaurs Crossing’ signs. In addition to many wooden playstructures, there is a special area set aside for the under 5’s. 

With plenty of seating, lots of shade, clean toilets and so much to keep the children happy and occupied, this was great value and gets my vote as a 5-star day out! My youngest summed it up as we set off home - “Can we come back tomorrow please Mummy?” The Park is about 80 minutes drive from Cambridge - A11, turn west onto the A47 and then follow signs for Weston Park (the turn is near the village of Hockering). Cost: Adults £5.95 Child £4.95. Open from 10am - 5pm Tel: 01603 870245.