It’s peak whale watching season, which means you might be planning on a trip to the coast in search of these ocean giants. And if you happen to be in South Gippsland, keep an eye out for giants of a prehistoric kind. Just a short distance away from Inverloch, you’ll find the Dinosaur Dreaming dig site. Over 15,000 bones, teeth and fossils of small dinosaurs have been found in the area, dating back about 126 million years. Explore The Caves beach at low tide, and see if you can spot an actual dinosaur footprint. This ancient site is about a two hour drive away from Melbourne, making it a great spot for day trips.
History of dinosaur fossils in Inverloch
The first dinosaur bone ever discovered in Australia was found at Eagles Nest near Inverloch in 1903. Since then, there have been other fossil sites along the Bass Coast, with the most significant spot being the Flat Rocks site near The Caves. Researchers found fossils there in 1991, and since 1994, the team have excavated thousands of bones of both dinosaurs and mammals, from carnivore claws to tiny teeth.
The Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks along the Bass Coast are constantly being eroded by the sea and sand, so new fossils are steadily becoming exposed as the years go by.
When these creatures roamed around the area, millions of years ago, Australia was still attached to the supercontinent, Gondwana. It was located further south than it is today, within the polar circle. Back then, it was possible to walk from Inverloch to Antarctica.
Visiting the Flat Rocks Dinosaur Dreaming site
Keen to check it out? You’ll find the Flat Rocks Dinosaur Dreaming site roughly an 8 minute drive away from Inverloch. Park your car at The Caves, and make your way down to the beach track. As you go, you’ll find a variety of informative signs letting you know about the dinosaurs.
Aim to arrive at low tide, when an extensive rock platform is exposed on the beach. On this platform, you’ll find rockpools, as well as prehistoric imprints. Don’t miss the dinosaur footprint, which is about 100 metres north of where the stairs from the car park meet the beach. The Flat Rocks site is located along the beach. Just remember to wear sturdy shoes, as things can get slippery!
If you’d like to learn even more about the dinosaurs, you can join a guided tour run by members of South Gippsland Conservation Society. Meet at Bunurong Environment Centre, then head out to the site to search for fossils, and even try rock breaking. Tours usually run during the school holidays, and you can see what’s coming up here.
For dinosaurs a little closer to home, head to Melbourne Museum and marvel at a massive triceratops.
To learn even more about the excavations, check out the Dinosaur Dreaming website.
