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Broome,
Gantheaume Point - Dinosaur Footprints |
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Notes: We were staying in Broome for a few days and on checking out the tourist brochures we found there were dinosaur footprints on the rocks at Gantheaume Point that can only be found at very low tides; tides below 2.16 metres. Enormous Brontosaurus-type seropod and other theropod dinosaur prints, including Stegosaurus, were laid about 130 million years ago. It was early afternoon, so we decided to go and have a look around the area anyway. The walk to the dinosaur footprints is well signposted from the car park. We slowly walked down the track and noticed a tall steel framed lighthouse and soon noted some sea eagles flying around which had a nest in the upper decking of the lighthouse. This had at least one maturing youngster who was quite animated about getting fed. We watched the eagles for a while and moved on to the cliff area. At the end of the path you soon spot 3 dinosaur footprints - unfortunately man made. Just a guide so you will know what to look for when you clamber over the cliff and down to the rocks below. The tide was well in and it was not possible to search for footprints but the rock formations and beach views were outstanding. Back at the caravan we looked up low tides and a couple of days later we ventured out to Gantheaume Point again, very early in the morning. The tide was well out and quite a few people were looking around on the rocks below the cliff. We clambered down and wondered where the footprints were. We had a map and tried to make it fit the scenery and noticed a gathering of people where some of the footprints should be. Making our way across another tourist confirmed our hopes and we were soon looking at footprints of ancient dinosaurs. We found a couple of other sites before the tide started to cover them and forced our return to the cliff tops. Great fun! |
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| Gantheaume Point lighthouse | Sea eagles nesting | Young sea eagle |
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| Young sea eagle | Young sea eagle | Gantheaume Point lighthouse |
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| Man made dinosaur footprints | Man made dinosaur footprints | Man made dinosaur footprints - close up |
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| Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Pt - views back to the lighthouse | Gantheaume Pt - views back to the lighthouse | Gantheaume Pt - views back to the lighthouse |
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| Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Point - Cable Beach in the distance | Gantheaume Point - fisherman | Gantheaume Point - cliff views |
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| Gantheaume Point - tiny crab | Gantheaume Point - 2 days later at low tide | Gantheaume Point - low tide |
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| Gantheaume Point - rock shelf area | Gantheaume Point - rock shelf area | Gantheaume Point - rock shelf area |
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| Gantheaume Point - rock shelf area | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints |
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| Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints |
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| Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints |
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| Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints |
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| Gantheaume Point - dinosaur footprints | Gantheaume Point - view | Gantheaume Point - lots of activity on the rocks |
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| Gantheaume Point - lots of activity on the rocks | Gantheaume Point - view | Gantheaume Point - view |
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| Gantheaume Point - view | Gantheaume Point - wave swirling in | Gantheaume Point - wave rushing back out |
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| Gantheaume Point - exposing more footprints | Gantheaume Point - sea creatures - interesting to me | Gantheaume Point - sea creatures - interesting to me |
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| Gantheaume Point - sea creatures - Close up | Gantheaume Point - View | Gantheaume Point - view |