KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Museum's resident Dryosaur abandoned his normal prehistoric activities yesterday to take a stroll down to the beach.
Basil the dinosaur, whose ancestors are understood to have roamed the earth about 80 million years ago, is one of the star attractions at the museum's stage show Gondwana: Land of the Giants. The affable beast was spotted around Mission Bay yesterday, seemingly not too bothered by the sweltering temperatures, and enjoyed a drink from the fountain before checking up on a couple of bemused sunbathers.
Developed with the expertise of palaeontologists, Gondwana: Land of the Giants tells the story of New Zealand's history when the country was part of a single super-continent known as Gondwana.
The supercontinent, which also encompassed Africa, India, South America and Antarctica, was home to an array of fauna and flora that was shaped by evolutionary forces that saw some species become extinct and others flourish. The live theatre show, which has toured throughout Asia, the United States and Australia, features 10 puppeteers, a giant inflatable garden with projections, dramatic lighting and evocative soundscapes.
Performances run at the museum until January 27.
