The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles Desert truly stands as one of the great icons of Australian travel. Set along the wild coastline of Western Australia, 200km north of Perth, this otherworldly landscape feels like a hidden treasure. Many of Australia’s 7.5 million annual visitors never make it to WA, let alone to this remote stretch of desert. This is simply because it’s a long way from the well-trodden eastern seaboard.

Even from Yanchep, a northern outpost of Perth with its own national park, convincing the family to make the drive can feel like an adventure in itself. Anyone travelling with little ones knows the challenge. Two energetic boys aren’t exactly eager to spend hours in the car when the payoff, at least in their minds, is “sand and rocks.” Still, after a refreshing morning stop in Guilderton and a swim in the Moore River, we hit the road with a sense of excitement. The promise of the Pinnacles Desert was more than enough to pull us north.

Road-Trip Realities

I’m wedged in the back of our borrowed car, squeezed between the boys and their car seats. I’m certainly not complaining – the car, along with the holiday house in Yanchep, was generously offered by our neighbours back in Brisbane. Still, I do my best to twist myself into a position that resembles something close to comfort.

To keep the boys entertained, we dive into our usual road-trip routine. We belt out silly songs, play endless rounds of eye-spy and watch the world roll past the windows. Outside, the rugged beauty of the Indian Ocean Drive unfolds in one sweeping coastal view after another. It’s the perfect backdrop as we make our way toward Nambung National Park and the incredible Pinnacles Desert waiting ahead.

Exploring the Pinnacles Desert

We finally roll to a stop at Nambung National Park and I unfold myself from the back seat with all the grace of someone escaping a suitcase. The boys, now bursting with renewed energy, sprint straight into the visitor centre. They skim through the small but engaging display, but it’s the shop that steals their attention. No surprise there. After a little convincing (and a lot of excitement), they each walk out proudly holding a new pen: one topped with a pink kangaroo stamp, the other with a green koala. Souvenirs secured, it’s time to explore.

The Desert Loop

The Pinnacles Desert loop is designed as a drive-through experience, which makes it perfect for families. As we move from the windswept beaches toward the yellow sands, the landscape shifts dramatically. Stark dunes rise against hardy coastal shrubland, and then suddenly the view opens into the surreal sight we’ve come for – thousands of limestone pillars scattered across the desert floor like an ancient, forgotten city.

There are many explanations for how the Pinnacles formed. Some stories describe thousands of years of shells and marine life fossilising, then eroding away until only these strange limestone remnants remained. Dreamtime stories offer a different perspective: some Aboriginal groups avoided this place, believing the Pinnacles are fossilised spirits. Whatever the origin, the landscape invites imagination to run wild.

We wander between the towering formations, weaving through clusters of stone. The boys dart around the smaller pinnacles while we hide behind the larger ones, turning the desert into our own natural playground. After exploring on foot, we hop back in the car and continue along the loop. Everywhere I look, new colours and shapes emerge – soft gold sand, rugged limestone, deep blue sky.

I insist on another stop, unable to resist the pull of the scenery. I take a moment alone, letting the stillness wash over me as I study the patterns etched into rock and sand. Out here, even for just a minute, the world feels quiet and wonderfully mysterious. I’m completely captivated.

Good To Know

I could explore for much, much longer but after an hour or so, the novelty wears off for the children and it’s time to start the long drive back to Yanchep.  Certainly there is not much to actually ‘do’ here but the trip is certainly worth it. It would be nice to have some time to just sit and contemplate this marvel of nature, whatever the explanation.  A true pinnacle in every sense of the word.

Would I Return?

Yes. This is a true marvel of nature.  Unless your children are old enough to appreciate the splendor though, perhaps best to leave them at home.