It was my last day in Broome and the conditions were perfect. If we were going to find them, we had to get to Gantheaume Point just before sunset.

We´d poured over a book about tide times and moon phases and we were assured by the rather excitable hostel receptionist that we´d have no trouble locating them. Armed with a hastily sketched map and plenty of enthusiasm, we set off along Cable Beach towards the Point. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a beautiful golden glow along the expanse of white sand, making our destination seem a lot closer than it actually was.

After 5 kilometres of speed walking, we reached the lighthouse at Gantheaume Point and hurriedly made our way towards the edge of the red cliffs. Here we found a display of plaster casts, indicating what we were looking for– large, three toed dinosaur footprints, left behind thousands of years ago and preserved in the sea bed below.

We clambered down the cliff to the rock pools and excitedly began our search. Climbing over boulders and scouring through shallow rock pools, we
discovered plenty of strangely shaped and brightly coloured sea creatures. I later found out that the rock pools are home to the deadly blue ringed octopus, so perhaps flip flops weren´t the best choice of footwear! There were many prehistoric looking fossils and indentations in the rocks, but I couldn´t say for sure whether we had seen the legendary footprints.

After the sun had melted into the ocean, Gantheaume Point was shrouded in an eerie darkness, with strange shadows dancing across the cliffs. Abandoning the search, we wearily climbed back up to the lighthouse, getting eaten alive by sand flies and mosquitoes! Favouring a taxi back to the hostel, rather than the return walk along the beach, I realised that the failed expedition meant only one thing. I would have to return some day to try again!