Guide · Western Australia ·
Pinnacles Desert day trip from Perth: what to expect
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A Pinnacles desert day trip from Perth is easy to do in one long day. The Pinnacles sit in Nambung National Park, about 200 km north-west of Perth and 17 km south of the coastal town of Cervantes. Entry is $15 for a standard car, and you should allow at least two hours on site.
This guide covers the drive, the park fee, how to see the Pinnacles once you arrive, and a simple plan for the day.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Nambung National Park; Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles; WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park.
The drive from Perth
Plan on a little over two hours each way. The park is about 200 km from Perth, and the Western Australian park agency describes it as within a couple of hours' drive of the city. That time is our own estimate from the distance, so add a margin for traffic and fuel stops.
Cervantes is the closest town. Wikipedia places it 198 km north-north-west of Perth. From Cervantes the Pinnacles Desert is another 17 km south, on a sealed road. Visit Pinnacles Country gives the last part of the route as about 10 km along Indian Ocean Drive and 6 km along Pinnacles Road.
You can also reach the park by tour. Visit Pinnacles Country says the site is open to cars and tours by a fully sealed road, so a normal car is fine to reach it.
Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Nambung National Park and Cervantes, Western Australia; WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park; Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles.
Entry fees and opening times
You pay a park entry fee per vehicle, not per person. The park agency lists these standard fees for Nambung National Park:
| Vehicle | Standard | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vehicle, 12 or fewer people | $15.00 per vehicle | $8.00 per vehicle |
| Large vehicle, more than 12 people | $7.00 per person | $2.50 per person |
| Motorcycle | $8.00 | No concession |
A valid park pass also covers the entry fee. Visit Pinnacles Country says the fee is paid at the gate.
The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm, according to Visit Pinnacles Country. It has information about the area and toilets are available. The drive loop itself does not close and is open all year. Pets are not allowed anywhere in the park, and there is no camping inside it.
Sources for this section: WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park and Pinnacles Desert Lookout and Drive; Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles.
How to see the Pinnacles
There are two simple ways to see them: drive the loop, or park and walk. Most people do both.
- The drive: a one-way trail of about 4 to 4.5 km winds between the limestone pillars. It is unsealed but suits normal cars, with parking bays along the way. Leave caravans and trailers in the car park, because the loop is not suitable for them.
- The lookout: it is wheelchair friendly and gives a wide view of the whole field. It is hard to believe the ocean is only about 6 km away.
- On foot: stop at the bays and walk among the pillars. A full walk of the loop takes about an hour, says Visit Pinnacles Country.
The pillars are limestone. Some are jagged, some look like tombstones, and the tallest reach about 3.5 m. Please do not climb on them. The park agency calls them fragile.
Light matters here. The tourism site says the view is often best at dawn or sunset, when long shadows ripple over the sand.
Sources for this section: WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Pinnacles Desert Lookout and Drive; Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles.
A simple day plan
This plan is our suggestion, built from the distances and opening hours above.
- Leave Perth early, around 7am. You arrive near the 9.30am opening of the Discovery Centre and miss the middle-of-day heat.
- Start at the Discovery Centre. Pay your entry fee at the gate, then spend a few minutes inside before you head out.
- Drive the loop, then walk. Allow at least two hours in all, as Visit Pinnacles Country advises. Take the lookout first for the big picture.
- Have lunch in Cervantes. It is only 17 km away, so it is the easy place to eat before the drive home.
- Head back by mid-afternoon. That keeps the return drive in daylight.
If you have time, Nambung National Park has more to see. Lake Thetis, in the same park, has a loop trail and boardwalk where you can look at stromatolites, which are rock-like structures dating back to the dawn of life on earth. The park also has swimming beaches.
Sources for this section: Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles; WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park.
What to bring and when to go
Bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Visit Pinnacles Country calls these essential, especially in summer. Wear sturdy shoes, since you will be walking on sand.
The park agency suggests you plan when to visit and consider carrying a personal locator beacon, in case you need to be rescued. Check the park alerts on its website before you leave.
The park is open all year, and the agency says it has interest in every season. Wildflowers bloom from August to October, which makes spring a good time for a day trip.
Fees, hours and conditions change. Check the official park page before you go.
Sources for this section: Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles; WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park and Pinnacles Desert Lookout and Drive.
Sources
- WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Nambung National Park (page as archived 9 April 2023): exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
- WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Pinnacles Desert Lookout and Drive (page as archived 29 March 2023): exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
- Visit Pinnacles Country, The Pinnacles (page as archived 22 March 2023): visitpinnaclescountry.com.au
- Wikipedia, Nambung National Park: en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Cervantes, Western Australia: en.wikipedia.org