Hunting for Dinosaur footprints - Broome, Kimberley, Western Australia

 Hi all, this week I am sharing with you a little more from our trip to the far north west of Western Australia in 2021.  

If you missed the previous two posts you can catch up with them here:

Gumbanan - Cape Leveque - North West, Western Australia

Cape Leveque, Part 2

Years ago we had seen replica dinosaur prints embedded in concrete at Gantheaume Point – Minyirr – in Broome. The real tracks were way down on a cliff ledge, only visible at extremely low tides, and extremely difficult and dangerous to reach, hence the replicas.

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Just before our trip in July 2021, I researched more about the dinosaur tracks. I discovered that in fact there are thousands of tracks along 100 kilometres of coastline, preserved in the Broome sandstone from Roebuck Bay in Broome, north to Coulomb Point on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

We were in Broome for a week on our way to Cape Leveque, and one of my must-does was to search for dinosaur tracks.  

My husband downloaded to his phone the Dinosaur Coast Track App Guide found on the Broome Dinosaur ManagementGroup website. 

There are numerous locations where you can hunt for dinosaur tracks, but we decided that the easiest place for us was Entrance Point near the Broome Port. We parked at the car park and then walked north of the second boat ramp towards Reddell Point.

Of course the easiest way to see dinosaur tracks, is to actually join a tour, but we wanted to be intrepid dinosaur footprint hunters. We spent an interesting hour or so wandering over the rocks at Entrance Point. As we explored we checked with the app when we found what we thought were dinosaur footprints.  

Far from experts, we however decided that the prints we found were possibly Sauropods, gigantic long necked plant eaters, and Theropods, meat eaters that ran on two legs, which were documented to be found here.

It was very exciting to be walking in the area where dinosaurs once trod.

 The dinosaur prints have been part of the cultural heritage of the Yawuru people, the traditional indigenous owners of this part of the Kimberley, for thousands of years and there is a strong link to their creation stories. Three-toed dinosaur tracks trace the journey of a Bugarrigarra (Dreamtime) creator being called Marala, also known as Emu man. You can read more about the cultural significance here: Cultural Significance

 According to the Dinosaur Coast website the landscape was very different to what it is today, dominated by ferns, coastal marshes and swamp forests. Footprints along the Dinosaur Coast range in size from 12cm to more than 1.7m. Over 21 different types of tracks have been identified and thousands of examples have been recorded, estimated to be between 127 and 140 million years old. Whereas Dinosaur fossils in Australia’s eastern states are estimated to be between 90 and 127 million years old.

 It is no surprise that the Dinosaur Coast is included in the West Kimberley National Heritage Area.

 Due to the massive Kimberley tides, many of the tracks are often underwater, so the best time to go hunting is at low tide. Weathered and exposed rock layers break off easily. You can help protect them by not clearing sand from the tracks, not stepping in or on the edges of the tracks and not driving over the tracks. Repeatedly cleaning out sand wears away the tracks.

Where is it: The Dinosaur Coast is located around the Broome area on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

 Best time to see tracks is at low tide. Most track locations need a tide of less than 2.4 metres. Check the local tide charts.

 For more information go to: Dinosaur Coast.Org– where you can also download the Dinosaur Coast Track App Guide to your phone, and print a pdf of their pamphlet. There is lots of information under the Discover tab, including locations and learning about the various dinosaurs and seeing track examples under Broome Trackmakers.

 Tours: There are several tour operators offering dinosaur track tours, school group tours and activities, and activity packs for families. Refer to the website.

My article about the dinosaur footprints was printed in On The Road Magazine, Summer 2021-22 edition. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. Have you ever seen dinosaur footprints? Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in your comments. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
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Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

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