The Pinnacles: Everything you need to know
It’s pretty awesome how many weird and wonderful experiences and landmarks we have that only exist in WA, and one of, if not the most visited among them – The Pinnacles.
These weird, natural limestone structures jutting out of the sand only a couple of hours north of Perth attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and make for a great jump off point to the rest of the spectacular Coral Coast region.
What is it?
A sandy, barren landscape filled with thousands of limestone pillars pointing towards the heavens, The Pinnacles are one of Australia’s most unique and intriguing landscapes.
They were formed over 25,000 years ago when the ocean receded, leaving behind sea shell deposits which, over time became exposed to the elements thanks to WA’s blustery coastal winds.
These amazing natural limestone structures, some standing as high as 4m, were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.
Where is it?
Located smack bang in the middle of the Namburg National Park, The Pinnacles are a pretty straight 2-hour drive north of Perth, along Mitchell Freeway and Indian Ocean Drive. About an hour after you go through Lancelin hang a right on Pinnacles Drive and the signs will take you the rest of the way.
What to do:
Slap on sunscreen, grab some water and prepare to wander. The main area of The Pinnacles is a pretty big space, but easy enough to walk around. There’s also a dirt road that runs through The Pinnacles if you’d prefer (or need) to stay in your vehicle to explore them.
The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre is a nice stop in to school yourself on just how and why this natural phenomenon occurs too.
Wildflower enthusiasts would be best served to visit from July to October, when the coral coast lights up with blossoming flora unique to the region.
Lancelin to the south and Cervantes to the north are both fantastic little townships with plenty to offer in terms of activities (sandboarding, fishing etc.) and places to re-fuel food-wise after a day of hiking around the dunes.
Or if you want something closer, Hangover Bay directly west of The Pinnacles offers a quick and easy option to cool off in the Indian Ocean.
What not to do:
Be impatient. The Pinnacles are obviously a large drawcard when it comes to WA tourism, so be prepared for it to be busy. As mentioned above, it’s a big space, so it’s not hard to wander a little further out to find a little pinnacle all to yourself.
Be unprepared. It gets very, very hot out there, particularly in summer, so wear appropriate clothing, slap on a heap of sunscreen and take plenty of water.
Anything else?
The park entry fee is $15 to access The Pinnacles, and we suggest heading there earlier or later in the day to try and avoid long car lines to get in. Gates open at 9am and the last vehicle entry is 4.30pm.
Header Image: Shutterstock / mcography