{"ok":true,"data":{"id":916,"slug":"gantheaume-point-beach-broome","name":"Gantheaume Point Beach","country":"Australia","state":"Western Australia","city":"Broome","coords":{"lat":-17.9446,"lng":122.142},"beachType":null,"tags":["famous","scenic","family"],"article":{"hero":"The cliffs hit first—burnt sienna striations that blaze orange in the afternoon light, their layers telling 130 million years of Kimberley geology in rust and ochre. Below, the reef platform stretches flat and dark at low tide, pocked with tide pools where small fish dart between anemones. You'll need to time your visit: the dinosaur tracks only appear when the ocean retreats, shallow three-toed impressions preserved in stone that once was mud.\n\nThe beach itself is narrow, more rock shelf than sand, with clusters of smooth stones collecting in the hollows. Families wade through ankle-deep pools while photographers line the cliff edge, tripods angled toward the meeting point of red rock and blue water. The swimming is secondary here—pools rather than surf, sheltered pockets where children can float without fighting waves. Bring reef shoes; the platform is uneven, studded with barnacles and slick algae.\n\nStay until the sun drops. The cliffs catch the last light and seem to ignite, their iron content turning molten while the tide pools reflect violet and pink. The track back up requires sturdy legs—metal stairs bolted into the cliff face, steep enough that you'll feel it in your calves. But that vantage point, looking down at the darkening reef and the white line of surf beyond, makes the climb worthwhile.","teaser":"You'll scramble down iron-ore stained rocks to find a shore where prehistoric tracks press into the reef shelf. At low tide, the Indian Ocean pulls back to reveal fossilized imprints; at high, turquoise water fills the rock pools carved into the ancient platform.","uniqueAngle":"Dinosaur footprints fossilized in the tidal reef offer a tangible link to the Cretaceous that you can touch at low tide.","accessType":"Drive-up with stair descent","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"camera","title":"Cliff-Top Sunset","subtitle":"Arrive two hours before dusk"},{"icon":"hike","title":"Dinosaur Track Hunt","subtitle":"Check tide charts before descending"},{"icon":"swim","title":"Tide Pool Dipping","subtitle":"Bring reef shoes for barnacles"},{"icon":"sun","title":"Rock Shelf Lounging","subtitle":"Towel on smooth sandstone platforms"}],"audience":{"surfer":"This isn't your spot. The reef platform kills any swell before it reaches shore, and at high tide you're looking at shallow surge over rock rather than rideable faces. The occasional shore break on the pocket beach is closeout slop, unworkable and barely knee-high. Save your board for Cable Beach six kilometers south, where the Indian Ocean delivers consistent beach breaks on sand. The only break here is the one your fins might take on the barnacle-covered reef shelf.","couples":"Book a room at Cable Beach and drive the ten minutes at 4 p.m., when the day-trippers thin out and the cliff-top viewing area becomes yours. Spread a blanket on the grassy lookout above the stairs—the sunset angle is flawless, all crimson rock and silver water. For dinner, drive back to Broome for Matso's Broome Brewery, where the mango beer pairs with barramundi. Skip the beach descent after dark; the stairs are unlit and treacherous. Instead, return at dawn when the tide's low and you can trace the dinosaur prints alone before breakfast.","backpacker":"Entry is free, parking is free, and you're seven kilometers from Broome's town center—hitchable or bikeable if your hostel rental is decent. Stay at Kimberley Klub or Broome Backpackers ($25-30 dorm beds), both with kitchens where you can prep sandwiches. Bring them here for lunch; there are no vendors. The IGA on Napier Terrace does $6 hot roast chickens. For the cheapest feed, hit the Thursday Courthouse Markets for $8 laksa. Low tide is your free entertainment—dinosaur tracks beat any museum. Fill water bottles before you come; there's nothing on-site.","local":"You already know to skip weekends when the cruise ships dock and tour buses clog the carpark. Weekday mornings at low tide, especially May through October, you'll have the track shelf to yourself for a proper look at the theropod prints without dodging selfie sticks. The rock pools on the southern end hold better specimens—less trampled, clearer digit marks. Bring the kids at neap tides when the water barely covers the reef; you can walk nearly to the dropoff. And check after big swells: occasionally the ocean scrubs the algae off and reveals prints that haven't been visible in months.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"Swimming at Gantheaume Point Beach is generally not recommended due to strong currents, submerged rocks, and occasional marine stingers during the wet season (November-May). The beach is primarily known for its dramatic red cliffs and tide pools rather than swimming. For safer swimming in Broome, head to Cable Beach or Town Beach which have lifeguard patrols during peak season. If you do enter the water at Gantheaume Point, stay close to shore, wear protective footwear, and always check tide times and local conditions first.","q":"Is it safe to swim at Gantheaume Point Beach?"},{"a":"Gantheaume Point is accessible year-round, but the dry season (May-October) offers the most comfortable conditions with minimal rainfall and temperatures around 25-30°C. Visit at low tide to see the famous dinosaur footprints preserved in the rock platform, which are over 130 million years old. Sunset is particularly spectacular, when the red cliffs glow against the turquoise ocean. During the wet season (November-April), expect higher humidity, occasional tropical storms, and marine stingers, though dramatic storm clouds can create stunning photographic opportunities.","q":"What is the best time to visit Gantheaume Point Beach?"},{"a":"Gantheaume Point is located approximately 6 kilometres from Broome town centre, about a 10-minute drive. Follow Frederick Street south until it becomes Kavite Road, then turn onto Gantheaume Point Road. The sealed road leads directly to the point. Free parking is available at the end of Gantheaume Point Road near the lighthouse. The area is accessible by car, taxi, or tour operators. Some visitors also cycle, though be prepared for the exposed coastal route with limited shade during the ride.","q":"How do you get to Gantheaume Point Beach and is there parking?"},{"a":"Gantheaume Point has no cafes, restaurants, or shops on-site, so bring your own food, water, and sun protection. Basic facilities include public toilets near the car park. The nearest dining and accommodation options are in Broome town centre, 6 kilometres away, which offers numerous restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and hotels ranging from budget to luxury resorts. Cable Beach, just 10 minutes north, has beachfront restaurants and resorts. Pack out all rubbish as bins are limited at the point.","q":"Are there food options and amenities at Gantheaume Point Beach?"},{"a":"Yes, dinosaur footprints are visible in the rock platform at Gantheaume Point during low tide. These 130-million-year-old footprints were made by theropod dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period. The prints are located on the intertidal rock shelf and can only be seen when the tide is sufficiently low. Check tide charts before visiting and allow 1-2 hours either side of low tide. A plaster cast replica is permanently displayed near the lighthouse for times when tides prevent viewing the actual footprints.","q":"Can you really see dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point?"}]},"seo":{"title":"Gantheaume Point Beach: Broome's Red Cliffs & Turquoise Tides","description":"Where ochre cliffs plunge into the Indian Ocean, Gantheaume Point unfolds with tide pools, dinosaur footprints, and sunsets that paint the Kimberley coast gold.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8727/16394784994_ec5ecd388e_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"496928","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8727/16394784994_ec5ecd388e_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/8727/16394784994_ec5ecd388e.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point Beach"},{"id":"496929","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3072/5862894666_39785d3646_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3072/5862894666_39785d3646.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point, Southern end of Cable Beach, Broome - Kimberleys, Western Australia"},{"id":"496930","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/6151/6134410806_2fdebd2603_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/6151/6134410806_2fdebd2603.jpg","alt":"Kimberley 1776 Australia"},{"id":"496933","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2768/5862895034_d93d4cef7d_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2768/5862895034_d93d4cef7d.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point, Southern end of Cable Beach, Broome - Kimberleys, Western Australia"},{"id":"496935","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/45/141167719_218ebe3568_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/45/141167719_218ebe3568.jpg","alt":"Cable Beach from the air"},{"id":"496937","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3263/5862895320_e0d92ee083_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3263/5862895320_e0d92ee083.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point, Southern end of Cable Beach, Broome - Kimberleys, Western Australia"},{"id":"496939","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/6206/6133903953_2c89357380_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/6206/6133903953_2c89357380.jpg","alt":"Kimberley 1771 Australia"},{"id":"496941","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3057/5831446056_2b2edef428_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3057/5831446056_2b2edef428.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point, Southern end of Cable Beach, Broome - Kimberleys, Western Australia"},{"id":"496943","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2686/5862344985_a1d6c7a93e_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2686/5862344985_a1d6c7a93e.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point, Southern end of Cable Beach, Broome - Kimberleys, Western Australia"},{"id":"496945","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/5039/5910957176_487e5c7e21.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/5039/5910957176_487e5c7e21.jpg","alt":"Gantheaume Point"},{"id":"496947","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7047/8687478585_bd9d65f30e_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7047/8687478585_bd9d65f30e.jpg","alt":"Cable Beach South"},{"id":"496950","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2883/9481642597_1af45c3c5a_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2883/9481642597_1af45c3c5a.jpg","alt":"Cable Beach at Gantheaume Point"}]}}