If you’ve ever wished you could time travel – without the pesky paradoxes – virtual reality spectacle, Life Chronicles, is your ticket to the past. And by past, we don’t just mean a couple of centuries back. We’re talking about a jaw-dropping 3.5 billion-year rewind, taking you from the fiery formation of Earth all the way to the modern-day savanna. Buckle up, because this isn’t your average history lesson—this is an immersive, scientifically accurate, and downright spectacular journey through time.
Brought to Sydney by Excurio and Fever, the masterminds behind the Horizon of Khufu VR experience that enchanted over 40,000 Sydneysiders last year, Life Chronicles is already making waves internationally. After successful runs in France, London, Atlanta, and Montreal, it’s finally landing in Sydney on 7 February 2025 at the Fever Pavilion, Olympic Park. If the success of Horizon of Khufu is anything to go by, this is bound to be another must-see (or rather, must-experience) event.
Down to earth
Imagine putting on a VR headset and instantly transporting yourself to the Archean period, where Earth’s crust cools, volcanoes spew lava, and the first tiny microbes begin their long evolutionary march. Then, in the blink of an eye, you’re swimming through the Cambrian seas, dodging alien-like trilobites. Next thing you know, you’re standing in a Carboniferous forest, surrounded by towering ferns and dragonfly-sized insects. And, just when you’re getting used to breathing in primeval oxygen, you’re face-to-face with a T. rex in the Cretaceous period – no museum visit could ever compare.
The experience divides nine key periods, spanning from the Hadean eon (when Earth was just a glowing mass of chaos) to the present day in Tanzania’s Arusha Region. Along the way, you’ll encounter 162 meticulously recreated plant and animal species, from the weird and wonderful creatures of the Cambrian explosion to the colossal dinosaurs that once ruled the land. With expert scientific backing from paleontologists and evolutionary biologists at France’s National Museum of Natural History, every moment feels astoundingly real.
A travel guide you can trust
Unlike some VR experiences where you’re left to fend for yourself in a vast digital landscape, Life Chronicles provides a charming guide: Charlie, a post-doctoral researcher in quantum physics and evolutionary biology. Charlie isn’t just there for the ride – through insightful commentary and witty banter, they help bridge the gap between mind-blowing visuals and fascinating scientific explanations. Think of them as the David Attenborough of VR, only with a PhD in time travel.
The beauty of Life Chronicles isn’t just in its stunning visuals or the thrill of watching Earth’s history unfold before your eyes. It’s the way the experience makes you feel – small in the grandest, most humbling way. Seeing how life has adapted, evolved, and flourished over billions of years puts everything into perspective. Those everyday worries? They seem minuscule when you’ve just witnessed mass extinctions, asteroid impacts, and the rise and fall of entire species.
And it’s not just a feast for the eyes. This VR masterpiece engages all the senses. The carefully crafted soundscapes transport you fully into each era, from the distant echoes of prehistoric jungles to the eerie quiet of the Pleistocene plains. It’s an emotional, sensory, and intellectual rollercoaster.
Digging deep into details
Life Chronicles suits explorers aged eight and up – making it an incredible experience for families, history buffs, and anyone with a sense of wonder. Sessions run from Wednesday to Sunday, with evening slots available for those who prefer a nighttime adventure through deep time. Tickets are on sale now at lifechronicles-experience.com/sydney
