Dinosaur Footprints in Broome WA

There’s something extraordinary about stepping back in time and experiencing a place that creatures have gone before you.

As well as being a top tourist destination, Broome is famous for its vast tracts of dinosaur footprints.

These footprints are among the best-preserved dinosaur footprints in Australia. They are also known as one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites and part of the West Kimberley national heritage.

These awe-inspiring fossils enable visitors to walk in the footsteps of these giants that once roamed the Earth.

Here’s everything you need to know before visiting the dinosaur footprints.

Discovery of prehistory at our doorstep

The dinosaur footprints are about 120 to 130 million years old and made during the early Cretaceous period.

And it’s not just Broome—they make up what is known as the Dinosaur Coast. Stretching over 100 km from Crab Creek, just south of Broome, to Minarrinay (Coulomb Point).

Part of what makes the Western Australia footprints so magical is that twenty-one different types of dinosaurs have been identified along the coast of Broome.

You’ll find a collection of:

Theropods, three-toed carnivorous dinosaurs, range in size from smaller species to those related to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Gigantic sauropods, massive, long-necked herbivores like the famous Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus.
Ornithopods are medium-sized dinosaurs like the Iguanodon and Muttaburrasaurus.
Thyreophorans, such as the heavily armoured Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus.

These tracks provide a stunning look back at life for these gentle—and not-so-gentle—giants.

How the Broome dinosaur footprints were formed

The dinosaurs’ movements formed the tracks, depicting a busy dinosaur highway. As the dinosaurs made their way across the soft mud of the Dampier Peninsula, they left a trail of prints.

The mud dried out and hardened and, over time, filled with sand and pebbles, effectively preserving them. Then, many years later, erosion removed this preserving layer, allowing us to find them.

It’s thought that many more layers of footprints could be hidden under the rock, and new dinosaur tracks are still being discovered today.

An important cultural impact

Modern science discovered Broome’s dinosaur footprints in the 1980s. However, First Nations stories have included them for generations.

The traditional land owners, the Yawuru people, have known about them for thousands of years. The Broome dinosaur tracks can be included in their song cycle about Marala, the Dreamtime creator. Marala, also known as ‘Emu Man’, sang the country into existence.

The best places to see the dinosaur footprints

There are several places in the Broome area where you can see dinosaur footprints.

Gantheaume Point

Gantheume Point is the best-known location for spotting dinosaur tracks. Approximately 6km from the town centre, you can park at the Gantheume Point car park and walk out to the Point.

Here, you’ll find replica dinosaur tracks embedded into the concrete, but the actual tracks are down on the rocks. Take a slow and steady scramble toward the sand, and you’ll find them.

Cable Beach

Known for its pristine sand and water, Cable Beach also hosts some newly uncovered dinosaur footprints. The tracks of large carnivorous theropods are on rocky outcroppings closer to the shore.

And, as it’s Cable Beach, there’s plenty of parking available.

Reddell Beach

Reddell Beach is a favourite beach for locals and a quieter option than the other famous dinosaur footprint spots. Just a 10-minute drive from The Continental Hotel, it has many exciting fossils from different dinosaur groups.

What to look for

The dinosaur footprints can be hard to find if you’re unsure precisely what you want. Tracks in the weathered rock appear almost like natural dips and depressions.

But take a closer look, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The Dinosaur Coast Management Group have the following tips:

Theropod footprints are easy to spot. Look for the three-toed bird-like indentation, which is reasonably close to each other.
Ornithopod tracks take on an almost squashed clover shape, with two rounded front toes and a wide semicircular heel.
The rarer thyreophoran tracks are noticeable by a fatter, more rounded, three-toed indent and a four-toed front-foot track.
The larger tracks of the sauropods can be more challenging to identify, as they look like giant circular dips in the ground. However, the sheer size and scale are stunning. Some of the dinosaur prints measure up to 1.7m in diameter.
Remember, the footprints are only found in the rock known as Broome Sandstone.

The Dinosaur Coast Track Guide app can help you find dinosaur tracks. It shows track types, locations, and tide times.

You can even take a boat tour that disembarks directly onto the beach. Broome adventure cruises are the perfect way to explore the intriguing coastline.

The best time to see dinosaur footprints in Broome

The Broome coastline is quite dynamic. Wind can cause sand to cover the tracks, and the tide can submerge them completely. This means you won’t always be able to see the footprints at every location.

The best time to see the Broome dinosaur tracks is between high and low tide. You can access the beach and rocks when the tide is below two metres.

This also means you can go during the golden hour, just before sunset. It’s a gorgeous time to fossick around and try and find them, as the lowering sun provides sharp shadows that outline the tracks.

So be sure to check the Broome tide forecast before giving yourself the best—and safest—chance to explore the tracks.

The best place to stay when exploring Broome’s dinosaur footprints

The dinosaur tracks in Broome are a unique experience. You won’t find anything like them anywhere else in the world.

The Continental Hotel is in the centre of town, a great spot to explore these beautiful pieces of history.

Pilates & Prosecco – Move Collective

The Ultimate Guide to Broome’s Dinosaur Footprints