Dinosaur Footprints

THE DINOSAUR TRACKWAYS OF BROOME

The dinosaur footprints around Broome are recognised as the most significant in the world with track ways stretching for about 80km along Broome’s sandstone coast line from south of Broome up along the Dampier Peninsula. These were laid down during the early cretaceous period; some 120 million years ago. There are potentially over 20 different types of tracks: those of theropods, three towed carnivorous dinosaurs that walked on two legs; sauropods, massive, long-necked four legged herbivores and others.

For thousands of years the tracks of the small carnivorous theropods have been part of the cultural heritage of the indigenous people of the Dampier Peninsula and greater west Kimberley. The tracks are integral to a ‘song cycle’ tracing the journey of a Dreamtime creator being known as Marala or ‘Emu Man’.

The extent of Broome’s track ways emerged in the late 1980s, when local naturalist Paul Foulkes and partner Louise Middleton, working closely with Aboriginal custodians, identified these and other types of tracks around Broome. Foulkes and Middleton were the first to recognise the many large round impressions that occur in the Broome sandstone as sauropod tracks - the mighty Brachiosaurus, the tallest of the herbivorous sauropod family. With some prints up to 1.7m in diameter the animals would have been up to 35m in total length. It's hard to conceive a beast weighing up to 20 fully grown elephants once roaming our coastline.

The diversity of the Dampier Peninsula’s dinosaur track fauna is unparalleled in Australia, if not globally, and in August 2011 the tracks were included in the West Kimberley National Heritage List, hopefully leaving them protected for many more thousands of years.

Thousands of dinosaurs stomped through the intertidal sands and mud along the shoreline completely changing the topography, with only a small proportion being of museum quality. Since 2011, Dr Steven Salisbury of the University of Queensland has headed up the most recent scientific research. This work has identified numerous discrete sites and literally thousands of dinosaur tracks of various sizes. Prints are scattered around Roebuck Bay and along the coast, some theropod tracks can be reached by foot from Gantheaume Point when tides are below 2.16m, but be aware that the rocks are slippery and the climb can be tricky.

Some of the better preserved sauropod trails can be seen on the other side of Roebuck Bay.

The dinosaur footprints in Broome are scattered around Roebuck Bay and along the coast, some can be reached by foot from at Gantheaume Point when tides are below 2.16m, be aware that the rocks are slippery.

Footprints can be seen at low tide around Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point and Reddell Beach. View the brochure for more information.

The Dinosaur Coast Management Group (DCMG) is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 2015 to protect and promote the dinosaur tracks of the Dampier Peninsula and to educate the public about their cultural and scientific importance. For more information visit the Dinosaur Coast Management Group website.

There is also a Dinosaur Coast Track Guide app you can download. Note: Due to tides and sand movement, as well as cultural reasons it does not provide GPS or track maps detailing track locations. The ‘Dinosaur Track Guide App’ and ‘Information Brochure’ have general location information and tips on how to identify a track.

When exploring for dinosaur tracks please be careful not to step on edges or drive over the tracks. Please be aware that Kimberley coastal locations experience large tidal movements. Most track locations need a tide of less than 2.4 metres for tracks to be visible. View our tides page for details.