Information
Landmark: Pinnacles DesertCity: Perth
Country: Australia
Continent: Australia
Pinnacles Desert, Perth, Australia, Australia
Overview
The Pinnacles Desert, tucked inside Nambung National Park in Western Australia, is a striking and otherworldly place, where hundreds of golden limestone spires rise sharply from the sand.This surreal desert is known for thousands of limestone pillars-some stretch as high as 4 meters (13 feet)-jutting up from the warm, golden sand.Travelers from all over the world come here for the breathtaking scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset, when the rock formations throw long, dark shadows against the glowing sky.Nambung National Park in Western Australia lies about 200 km (124 miles) north of Perth-roughly a 2.5‑hour drive.The best way to see it is by car or on a guided tour, following the Indian Ocean Drive, where the road hugs the coast and the sea flashes silver in the sun on the way to Cervantes.If you’d rather have a guide lead the way, you can join a day tour from Perth-some even stop for fresh coffee along the route.The Pinnacles, sharp limestone spires rising from the sand, formed roughly 25,000 to 30,000 years ago.They formed from layers of shells, left behind when the ocean once stretched across this land.Over thousands of years, wind and rain carved the limestone into sharp, jagged pinnacles, each rising at a different height and angle.Some rise like jagged stone pillars; others hunch in the shape of rounded tombstones or stretch into spires that look almost alien.To the Noongar people, the land’s Indigenous custodians, the Pinnacles were sacred-stone shapes they believed held the very remains of their ancestors.Top sights and activities-like strolling past the old clock tower.You can drive or stroll through the Pinnacles Desert on a 4 km (2.5 mile) loop, winding past golden limestone spires and taking as much time as you like to explore.If you’d rather see the formations up close, there’s a 1.2‑kilometer (three‑quarter‑mile) trail where your footsteps crunch along the path.Number two.From Pinnacles Lookout, you can take in a full sweep of the desert, the red earth stretching out in every direction.It’s a perfect place to take photos, especially when the sky glows orange at sunrise or melts into pink at sunset.Number three.At the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre, you can learn about the shifting sands and ancient limestone pillars, the wildlife that moves among them, and the deep Indigenous stories tied to this land.It features interactive exhibits that walk you through how the limestone structures formed, from the first trickle of mineral-rich water to the smooth, cool rock beneath your fingertips.Number four stood alone, a small mark on the page like a pebble in an empty street.Sunset & Stargazing As the sun drops low, the Pinnacles glow in deep gold, their jagged edges catching the last warm light.With almost no light pollution, this spot is perfect for stargazing and astrophotography, offering crisp views of the Milky Way and constellations that seem to spill across the dark sky.Five.Check out nearby beaches and sights-Hangover Bay, just a short drive away, has soft white sand that squeaks underfoot and calm turquoise waters.Just outside Cervantes, Lake Thetis holds ancient stromatolites-layered, rock-like formations that rank among the oldest life on Earth.Wildlife & Nature – Nambung National Park may look like a stretch of dry desert, but it’s alive with kangaroos bounding across the sand, emus striding through the scrub, and the occasional dingo in the distance; you might spot sand goannas basking on warm rocks, bobtail lizards in the shade, or bright galahs and black cockatoos wheeling overhead, and if you come in spring (August to October), the ground bursts into color with wildflowers that transform the whole scene.Go in the morning or late afternoon, when the air feels cooler and the light falls soft and golden for photos.Spring (August–October) is the time to spot wildflowers splashing color across the desert, from tiny purple blooms to bright yellow bursts.Evening into night is perfect for stargazing, when the sky turns deep velvet and the stars spill across it.To get there by car, follow Indian Ocean Drive and watch for the brown signs pointing toward Nambung National Park.In Perth, plenty of companies run day tours, sometimes pairing them with adventures like racing over Lancelin’s dunes on a sandboard.Entry fees are about $15 per car for up to 12 people, $8 per motorcycle, and vary for tour buses depending on group size.The Pinnacles Desert is a must-see in Western Australia, where golden limestone spires rise from the sand, blending science, history, and raw beauty.Whether you’re wandering dusty trails, snapping a fiery-orange sunset, or lying back to count the stars in the crisp night air, this otherworldly desert leaves a memory that lingers.
