Ever wanted to step onto a real fossil dig? This International Museum Day, MAGNT invite the public to do just that, with tickets now available for Discovery Day at Alcoota Scientific Reserve.
Secure your place today to experience palaeontology in action and be part of uncovering Australia’s ancient story at this special event on Sunday 2 August.
This full day tour with MAGNT palaeontologists will give visitors rare exclusive access to the Alcoota megafauna fossil site, northeast of Alice Springs, normally closed to the public.
The Alcoota fossil beds date back 6–8 million years to the Late Miocene, a time when giant megafauna roamed lush Australian landscapes before the continent transformed into the arid environment we know today.
MAGNT researchers have been uncovering Australia’s past at the Alcoota megafauna fossil site for more than 30 years gaining extraordinary insights into Australia’s ancient past. “From uncovering a crocodile osteoderm to revealing the jaw of a giant browsing marsupial, every moment at Alcoota holds the potential for discovery,” Dr Yates said.
📅Sunday 2 August I 8am – 5pm
🎟️ Places are limited and bookings are required. To secure your place visit the MAGNT What’s On: .au/alicesprings
#InternationalMuseumDay #MAGNT #Alcoota #FossilDig #Palaeontology #Megafauna #NorthernTerritory #AliceSprings #Science #MuseumAdventure
Do You Dig Archaeology?
Step inside the Discovery Centre during National Archaeology Week and develop new skills through a series of fun activities exploring science, technology, engineering, art and maths.
Run by MAGNT Head of Science, Kirsti Abbott, this hands-on workshop is perfect for those with curious minds and is suitable for families and people of all ages.
🔍 Dig for artifacts
🧩 Get hands-on by solving puzzles and learning how to piece together artifacts
📅Sunday, 17 May from 11am to 2pm.
No bookings are required, simply drop in and dig in.
👉 For more information visit the MAGNT What’s On.
Sunday Funday at MAGNT takes place on the third Sunday of every month, so keep an eye on MAGNT’s social media for upcoming activities.
The 2026 NATSIAA Finalist have been announced!!!
From remote art centres to inner-city studios, more than 60 incredible artists have been named as finalists in the 2026 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA), Australia’s longest running and most prestigious art award.
The 64 compelling works, selected from 221 entries, reflect themes of intergenerational storytelling, the continuation of cultures, connections to Country and the enduring impacts of Australia’s colonial history on individuals and communities.
Presented by MAGNT in partnership with Telstra, the awards remain a vital platform for nurturing and celebrating Indigenous artists, providing a national and international stage to showcase their work.
Finalist works will be on display as part of the 2026 Telstra NATSIAA exhibition opening on Larrakia Country on 27 June. The Awards Ceremony will be held on the MAGNT lawns on 7 August.
A full list of the artists is available on the MAGNT website
#TelstraNATSIAA #NATSIAA2026
🦴 Curator Talk | Back to Alcoota
Celebrate International Museum Day and step back 8 million years into the world of megafauna and discover the incredible research happening at the Alcoota Scientific Reserve.
Join MAGNT Senior Curator of Earth Sciences Dr Adamm Yates for a special International Museum Day talk exploring more than 30 years of research at Alcoota, home to some of Australia’s most significant fossil discoveries. With a new field season about to begin, Adamm will share insights into upcoming excavations and what is still to be uncovered.
This year’s International Museum Day theme, “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” highlights the important role museums play in cultural exchange, learning, and bringing communities together through shared stories and knowledge.
📅 Sunday 17 May
⏰ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 Megafauna Central, Alice Springs
🎟️ Free event | Registrations essential as seats are limited!
👉Visit the MAGNT ‘What’s On’ to book .au/alicesprings
Today we celebrate a true legend of natural history storytelling — David Attenborough.
For more than six decades, Sir David has brought the wonder of the natural world into our homes, inspiring generations through his curiosity, compassion and extraordinary ability to tell the stories of our planet. His work has sparked countless journeys into science, conservation, cinematography and environmental stewardship.
At MAGNT, we believe that the preservation and sharing of natural sciences, history, culture and Indigenous knowledges can help shape a better future. None have done that better than Sir David. His lifelong dedication to understanding and protecting our biodiversity continues to inspire natural history storytellers, scientists and defenders of our planet around the world.
On his birthday, perhaps it’s the perfect time to gather the family, revisit one of his remarkable documentaries and reconnect with the beauty and fragility of the world we all share.
MAGNT is delighted to present a special screening of Ocean with David Attenborough during National Science Week on Saturday 15 August — stay tuned for more details.
Here’s to Sir David Attenborough.
May his legacy continue to remind us to notice, respect and protect this one wild planet we call home. 🌏
📸MAGNT will screen Ocean as part of National Science Week. Image: BBC/Silverback Films/Chris Howard
#davidattenborough #MAGNT #biodiversity #protectnature
Join @deafconnectau and members of Darwin’s Deaf community for the third of our Auslan interpreted tours on Sunday.
Experience William Mackinnon’s Phoenix through Auslan language in this special interpreted tour led by MAGNT Head of Audience, Education and Learning, Wendy Garden.
📅 Sunday 3 May I 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Artist William Mackinnon spent several years as a field officer working with art centres and artistic communities, including Papunya Tula in the Western Desert. His experiences left an indelible mark, changing the way he viewed the world around him.
👉For more information visit the MAGNT What's On.
📸William Mackinnon, Kiwirrkurra Blues, 2019, Acrylic, oil and automotive enamel on canvas, 150 X 200 cm. Courtesy the artist.
🪳 Is Bert the most beautiful cockroach in the Top End?
When you think of cockroaches, “dirty pest” probably comes to mind. But in Australia, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We actually have more native cockroach species than introduced ones and many play vital roles as pollinators and ecosystem engineers.
You won’t usually spot these natives in your home. But step out onto Country with Traditional Owners and land managers and a whole new world reveals itself.
During our 2025 Bush Blitz on Jawoyn Country, working alongside the Jawoyn Rangers, MAGNT Technical Officers and insect lovers Rebecca Webb and Alana de Laive collected two extraordinary specimens of a metallic cockroach called Megazosteria patula.
Nicknamed Bert and Ernie, these cute critters became live observation subjects to uncover more about their behaviour and diet. And they had a surprise in store…
🔍 Despite being thought of as active in the day, they were much more active at night
🔊 They are quite the noise maker. When disturbed, they “cheep” by rubbing segments on their underside together!
Now part of the MAGNT Jawoyn Country Bush Blitz collection, Bert and Ernie are helping expand what we know about insect biodiversity in the Northern Territory.
So… do these stunning insects change your mind about cockroaches?
We think they’re absolutely gorgeous. 💚
📸This Megazosteria patula species extends across northern Australia, from Rockhampton to Exmouth and north to Darwin. Photo: Rebecca Webb
📸Rebecca loves insects! She grew so attached to Bert that she had him tattooed on her arm 🥰
📸The Bush Blitz team are working to discover more about insect biodiversity in the Northern Territory.
📸Bert and Ernie have now become part of the MAGNT Jawoyn Country Bush Blitz collection. Rebecca Webb
#MAGNTscience #cockroach #biodiversity #insect #JawoynBushBlitz #BushBlitz
Hear from the next generation of artists 🎥
Exit Art is the Northern Territory’s premier high school graduate exhibition, showcasing the very best contemporary art and design from our next generation of creatives.
Hear from a group of these young creatives as they share the stories behind their works.
Presented by MAGNT in collaboration with the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training, Exit Art continues to be a major milestone for emerging artists, posed to enrich the arts and cultural sector with diverse perspectives and creativity.
📍 On display now at MAGNT until 31 May 2026
Congratulations to MAGNT Curator of Territory History, Jared Archibald OAM, on receiving an Award of Merit from the Federation of Australian Historical Societies 👏
This honour recognises his decades-long commitment to preserving the rich history and heritage of the Northern Territory at a national level.
With more than 30 years dedicated to researching and telling Territory stories, Jared is a highly respected curator, a leading expert in military history and Top End heritage and former taxidermist who grew up immersed in museums.
Presented by Historical Society of the Northern Territory President Derek Pugh at the recent AGM, this award is a testament to Jared’s passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication.
Congratulations, Jared, thank you for preserving the stories that shape the Territory’s identity. Your work continues to inspire! ✨
📸 Historical Society of the Northern Territory President Derek Pugh presents Jared with the Award of Merit from the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. Image courtesy of the Historical Society of the Northern Territory.
🦴 Sunday Funday: Skeletons and Bones 🦴
Looking for something fun and educational for the kids? Come along to our Sunday Funday and dig into the fascinating world of fossils, skeletons and bones!
Children can:
🔍 Dig for their own fossils
🧩 Solve puzzles
🦴 Get hands-on with real skeletons and bones
Perfect for curious and creative minds, this drop-in session is a great way to explore science, technology, engineering, art and maths through fun, interactive activities.
📅 Sunday 19 April | 11am–2pm
📍 MAGNT Discovery Centre
Feel free to drop-in. No bookings required.
Led by STEAM Educator Caitlin Conway, this workshop is designed to inspire young learners and spark their curiosity.
Find out more via the MAGNT What’s On.
On Saturday MAGNT hosted the Hacking Kracking Printmaking Party at Darwin Community Arts, marking the conclusion of the Pasar Malam | Night Market exhibition.
Thanks to everyone who came through to print, karaoke, hang out and share in the collective art of printmaking. And a big thank you to our fantastic artists and facilitators Jocelyn Tribe and Alfin Agnuba.
This MAGNT event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia - Darwin @indonesiaindarwin and Darwin Community Arts @darwincommunityarts
Pasar Malam is a @krackstudio Exhibition Presente@16albermarleprojectspace , @mag_nt , @ncca_darwin , and supported by @ausgovarts
Easter is over and we thought you'd be curious to know which Easter egg was which! Congratulations to those people who knew which species lays any of these eggs 🥚
We hope you enjoyed your own chocolate eggs over the Easter weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for native bird eggs in the NT. It's illegal to collect them, so we'll show you some beautiful examples here as we progress an audit of our bird egg collection.
Happy NT birding!
#twitchersoftheNT #birdwatching #birdeggs #MAGNTscience #biodiversity
