Gantheaume Point in Broome’s south is an incredible sight. Ochre red cliffs contrast beautifully with the striking blue waters of Indian Ocean and you can witness dinosaur footprint casts made of reef rock that are revealed only at low tide.
Anastasia’s Pool can also be found here – once used by lighthouse keepers as an oasis for their arthritic wives! Explore this stunning site on a guided tour.
Walk the Dinosaur Trail
The Dinosaur Trail is a series of attractions across Connecticut designed to educate kids about dinosaurs through interactive exhibits and activities. There are five locations on the Dinosaur Trail with different dinosaur-related exhibits. Although visiting them all at once may be impossible, visitors can plan to make trips out to each site once every few months for an exciting family adventure!
In the heart of Connecticut woods lies The Dinosaur Trail: an exciting attraction featuring over 60 life-sized dinosaur models spread out along 1.5 miles of easy trails. Kids and adults alike can explore prehistoric history together on this unique attraction; admission is included with park entry.
This museum provides visitors with an immersive look into ancient world through interactive exhibits that bring dinosaurs back to life like never before. Visitors can climb inside the belly of a Brachiosaurus, feel its armored skin on an Euoplocephalus and even witness some of Earth’s longest fingernails from Therizinosaurus! Additionally, the museum features a dinosaur playground as well as numerous educational programs.
Dinosaur enthusiasts must visit this museum, conveniently located just a short drive from Hartford. It features an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils – including a full cast skeleton of Utahraptor – as well as exhibits featuring other kinds of dinosaurs as well as prehistoric animals like turtles and clams.
Gantheaume Point can be reached in 10 minutes from Broome via Gantheaume Point Road, while visitors without 4WD vehicles are still welcome as its soft rocks make for safe walking and provide ample room to view footprints at low tide.
Gantheaume beach is truly exceptional, so visitors should bring a camera to capture its incredible views. Additionally, visitors should bring comfortable footwear due to rocky and wet surfaces, plus sunscreen and a hat.
Learn About the Dinosaurs
The footprints at Gantheaume Point, uncovered during low tide around Roebuck Bay and on Cable Beach, are fossilised tracks left behind by dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period about 130 million years ago. They were preserved in a one-of-a-kind setting, where sandstone cliffs and the sapphire blue ocean meet on the western coast of Australia.
These sites are among the best-preserved dinosaur tracks in the world and they offer clues about what life was like for these ancient creatures. For example, experts can tell whether a track was made by a bipedal (two-legged) or quadrupedal dinosaur based on the shape of the foot marks. Claw marks and other distinguishing characteristics can also help determine which species left the mark. Theropods, which included the infamous Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor, usually had long, slender toes with a V-shaped outline, while ornithopods – such as stegosaurs, ankylosaurs, and ceratopsians like Triceratops – had wider digits and a more rounded foot print.
Dinosaurs were a diverse group of animals that could be found in all types of environments on Earth. Some ate meat and hunted in groups, while others were plant-eaters that lived on two legs or four legs and grazed on plants. Others were water dinosaurs that swam in rivers, lagoons, and lakes for food.
Most dinosaurs, however, were primarily land animals and lived in deserts, savannahs, and forests, with a few swamps, deltas, and lakes for food and shelter. It was British paleontologist Richard Owen who coined the term ‘dinosaur’ in 1842, describing some dinosaur bones he had unearthed in China and previously thought to be dragon bones.
Today, Gantheaume Point is a popular destination for visitors to see dinosaur tracks in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The area is also a haven for nature lovers, with the rocky landscape providing opportunities to explore rock pools and admire the striking red sandstone cliffs that tower over the water. While the rock pool areas here are not as deep as those at Coconut Well, they can still be dangerous if the tide is too strong or if there are crocodiles present.
Enjoy the Scenic Views
Gantheaume Point offers more than its share of attractions to attract visitors; coastal scenery here is particularly stunning, with red cliffs plunging into turquoise Indian Ocean waters below and rock pools where swimming at low tide is an option.
An unforgettable way to experience this one-of-a-kind landscape is on a guided tour with an experienced local guide. They will show you where dinosaur prints and other prehistoric remnants have been discovered while explaining how indigenous cultures have long inhabited this region, along with how dinosaur footprints were discovered.
Though you could potentially see the dinosaur footprints independently, taking a tour can ensure you get the most from your experience. Some tours combine viewing them with other excursions such as cruises on Roebuck Bay or visits to World War II wrecks; and still others may offer preservation or excavation activities to preserve dinosaur footprints for future generations.
Tours offer an excellent alternative for those not comfortable driving in remote areas or do not have enough time for day trips out of Broome. Some popular options include helicopter flights, hovercraft adventures, and visits to Anastasia’s Pool; an artificial spa pool developed by an early lighthouse keeper specifically to treat his wife who suffered from arthritis.
No matter your method of exploration of Gantheaume Point, be sure to plan your visit based on the tides. Low tide is best for observing dinosaur footprints; further information regarding tide times can be obtained at the lighthouse visitor centre.
Gantheaume Point offers more than its name implies; take a stroll down Dampier Creek for wildlife spotting boat tours or join an immersive Windjana Gorge day trip for an immersive Kimberley wilderness experience!
Explore Anastasia’s Pool
Gantheaume Point in Broome is one of the most breathtaking sights you will experience during a trip, featuring real dinosaur footprints preserved on red sandstone cliffs and coastline. These tracks were made over 130 million years ago by theropod and sauropod dinosaurs and represent one of the best-preserved fossil sites worldwide. But Gantheaume Point offers more than just footprints: its turquoise waters make it a top destination for swimming or simply lounging around!
Gantheaume Point, conveniently located a short drive from Minyirr Park and only moments away, is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Its deep pindan red cliffs stand in stark contrast to the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean and large interpretive signs enhance this experience. In addition, this beach serves as the starting point for various boat tours or cruises that depart regularly from its waters.
At low tide, visitors to this site can spot dinosaur footprints left by dinosaurs that had walked along coastal marshes while pebbles filled in their tracks, leaving traces. There are 21 different species preserved from Cretaceous period which belong to 21 distinct genera whose tracks can still be seen today.
As well as viewing dinosaur footprints, visitors to Anastasia’s Pool should also stop by this natural rock pool that fills up with tide. Modified by a lighthouse keeper so his arthritic wife could benefit from daily hydrotherapy treatments in its warm waters, it offers the perfect space for recreational aquatic therapy sessions!
At this beach, swimming can be great fun; just beware that the tide could engulf you, and no lifeguards are on duty here. Furthermore, due to strong currents and the potential threat from crocs. This location may not be appropriate for children as well.
If you plan on exploring the dinosaur footprints on your own, ideally plan your visit at low tide so that they are easily visible. Otherwise, getting there could prove more challenging and may prevent you from covering all the trails. Check tide times at Broome’s visitor centre so as to plan accordingly and ensure a successful experience.