Waddle on over to Exscite for an after-hours celebration of Waikato’s most famous ancient bird – the Kaawhia Giant Penguin fossil.

A 30 million year wait. Don’t be late!

Thirty million years ago, a giant penguin swam in the waters near Kaawhia. Today, its fossil is on permanent display at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery.

We’re throwing another Penguin Party in Exscite to celebrate this much-loved taonga and launching a brand new interactive for you to explore this fossil in a whole new way.

What to expect

Come along for an evening of penguin and fossil themed games, crafts, and creative silliness for all ages.

Be among the first to experience the brand new interactive giant penguin interactive in Exscite!

Get hands-on at our discovery station. Handle real fossils and use microscopes to discover ancient details unseen by the naked eye.

Hear from the Hamilton Junior Naturalists Club (Junats) about their incredible experience discovering the Kaawhia giant penguin fossil.

Create your own fossil rock art using stencils to keep and take home.

Design and decorate your own penguin and add it to our growing colony on the wall.

Try your hand at a DIY fossil making activity, brought to you by the JuNats.

Waddle it out with our penguin races.

Take your shot at pen-guin bowling.

Get 10% off an annual pass to Exscite!