The Pinnacles: The Perfect Perth to Pinnacles Day Trip

A day trip from Perth to the Pinnacles is a great excursion if you’re visiting Western Australia! During my 8 days in Perth, visiting the Pinnacles was one of my favourite parts. The Pinnacles are located in Nambung National Park, just 200km north of Perth. These extraordinary limestone formations are some of the region’s most unique natural attraction and are a definite must-do if you’re in the area.

I chose to do a day trip with a tour company, so they could deal with the logistics and driving. This is the specific one I did, but there will be lots to choose from if you do a Google search.

Perth to Pinnacles Day Trip

Given the star-gazing aspect of the trip, the tour started at midday. I was the first person to be picked up, then we spent about 30 minutes collecting others from their different accommodations around Perth CBD. My understanding is the tour will pick anyone up from the Freemantle or Perth CBD area. We had about 15 people in the group – all ranging from different ages and backgrounds. Our driver was hilarious and did a great job at connecting to the group together.

We then embarked on the 90 minute drive to our first stop – the Lancelin Sand Dunes! Our driver told us the tour had been shut down for the week prior, due to devastating bush fires that had broken out. I recommend if you’re doing this trip solo to be checking the status of the area.

The Lancelin Sand Dunes

The first proper stop on the tour was in Lancelin, for the white desert sands and sand-boarding. The Lancelin Sand Dunes are located about 1.5hrs north of Perth and are a fantastic stopover on the way to the Pinnacles. Spanning over 2km, these white sand dunes are breathtaking and offer great views of the surrounding coastline and area. They also make for a great spot for sand-boarding!!

For the sand-boarding, you can either bring your own board or rent your own once their. They were included in our tour, so we got many turns going down the powdery sand. I went down on my bum but a few brave people in our group stood up and boarded down. I had experienced sand-boarding in Wadi Rum, Jordan before but this felt very different due to the incredibly white sand! The dunes also too high, which meant we could walk up many times for multiple sand-boarding experiences…in Wadi Rum, I think I had the fitness to walk up the dunes twice! They also had different steepness, so if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you can find the harder ones compared to the flatter ones I went down.

It’s best to visit early morning or late afternoon, as the sand is cooler then and the sunlight will offer really pretty photo ops! My biggest tip for the Lancelin Sand Dunes is to bring eye protection. People in our group bought swim googles from the nearby shop or, like me, wore sunglasses. Even with sunglasses, I still got some sand in my eyes. You’ll need protection from sand going in your eyes, along with the glare from the sand…it’s completely white!!

The Pinnacles

The drive from Lancelin Sand Dunes to the Pinnacles took approximately an hour. We had another toilet break along the way at a public toilet. For anyone anxious about having enough toilet breaks, our guide was brilliant at checking in on anyone needing to stop and there were plenty of opportunities during the trip.

Once we arrived at the national park, we had an hour to walk round and explore the Pinnacles. It honestly felt otherworldly and was such a unique experience. Being able to walk around these giant rock formations as we neared sunset also provided us with the perfect lighting. After we had explored a bit, a few of us sat on one of the bigger rocks and watch the star of sunset. It felt extremely surreal.

Whilst our group enjoyed the Pinnacles, our brilliant guide set up a table of food, wine and soft drinks. At around 7:15, we slowly started coming back to our base to serve up a plate of food and get a drink, before sitting round in a circle underneath the stars. It was buffet style so you could pick and choose what you wanted from the amazing selection of food. There was ample seating provided, so it was a case of finding a spot and eating dinner under the stars!

Star Gazing at the Pinnacles

One of the main reasons I signed up to this day trip to the Pinnacles was for the star gazing. Being from London, and only having lived in big cities, I’ve rarely seen a sky filled with stars! And this trip did not disappoint. Once we’d finished eating dinner, everyone passed round binoculars that our guide had provided. He also had one powerful telescope, that we all took turns queueing up for to see different constellations and planets that were pointed out to us. My highlights; seeing the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn!! According to our guide, on certain clear nights in the year, you can also see parts of the Milky Way and shooting stars.

I would recommend bringing warm clothing for this, because once the sun started to set, it was quite chilly. During the day, we wore shorts and t-shirts, but changed into leggings and jumpers for the evening. The guide did have some blankets to pass around, but everyone was saying how surprisingly cold it was. In addition to warm clothes/blankets, I would recommend brining a proper camera if possible. My iPhone really couldn’t capture what we were seeing well, so I just sat and enjoyed the skies. But it would have been nice to have a few good photos too.

Pinnacles Back to Perth

Once we finished enjoying the night’s sky, we began the 2-2.5 hour journey back to Perth. Our driver was on high alert for wild animals who tend to jump into the road. I would warn people planning to do this trip without a guide to be extra alert during dusk/evening, given the number of animals that jump on and across the road. Our tour guide was telling us horror stories of people having bad crashes after colliding with Kangaroos and Wombats. We were dropped back at our individual accommodations around Perth CBD in the order we were picked up in…meaning I got back first! We got back fairly late, so I would plan to do this trip the day before something like an early morning flight.

All-in-all, the Perth to Pinnacles day trip far exceeded my expectations and I’m so glad I did it. It was definitely a highlight of my time in WA. I also loved visiting Fremantle, Rottnest Island amd exploring Perth during my visit.

The Pinnacles FAQs

How were the Pinnacles Formed?

The Pinnacles were formed over thousands of years through a combination of geological and environmental processes. These striking limestone formations, located in Nambung National Park, are thought to have originated from ancient seashells, rich in calcium carbonate, that were broken down into sand by natural forces.

Over time, these sands were compacted and cemented together to form limestone beneath layers of sand dunes. Wind and water erosion then played a critical role in exposing and sculpting the limestone into the dramatic pillars seen today. The surrounding vegetation, along with microbial activity, contributed to the development of hardened layers that protected the underlying structures, allowing the Pinnacles to stand resilient against erosion.

What is the Nearest Town to the Pinnacles?

Cervantes is the nearest town to the Pinnacles and is home to a few restaurants, different accommodations, lookout points, beaches and the main Pinnacles visitor centre. We briefly stopped here during our tour to use the public restrooms.

How Much is the Entry Fee to the Pinnacles?

It costs $15 AUD per person to enter the Pinnacles – this was included in our price for the day trip.

What to Bring to the Pinnacles?

There’s a small gift shop nearby the entrance, however this closes at 4:30pm. So be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you for the duration of your stay. If you’re going in the day, bring sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the sun. If you’re going in the evening, bring warm clothes.

How Long Do You Need at the Pinnacles?

We spent a few hours there at that felt like enough! We were able walk the 1.5km circular route to see the incredible rock formations and have time to enjoy dinner under the stars.