Things to do in

The Pinnacles

Discover the magic of the Pinnacles Desert on a 9-hour guided tour. Head west to the Turquoise Coast and keep an eye out for native wildlife. Stop in Lancelin for a walk along the beach. Experience the thrill of sandboarding down giant sand dunes. Board the bus and visit Ngilgen Lookout to see seasonal wildflowers and admire views over the Indian Ocean. Go for a guided walk on the beach at Hangover Bay to see native plants that were used by the Aborigines for food and medicine when they lived off the land. Enjoy dinner at the Observation Deck in the Pinnacles Desert, accompanied by a glass of Margaret River wine. See the sunset over the Indian Ocean and later marvel at the stars with the help of Astro binoculars and a telescope.  See the Rings of Saturn through the telescope and photograph the moon by attaching your smartphone to the telescope.

Heading north away from the city towards Yanchep National Park, you will make a quick comfort stop which will provide an opportunity to see the koalas and kangaroos. From here you will go up the coast towards the magical Pinnacle Desert to view the mystical limestone rock formations. Arriving here in the late afternoon avoids the crowds and heat, and allows for breathtaking sunsets. Experience the moon-like landscape come to life as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean and the moon rises. Once darkness falls, you will head to the fishing town of Cervantes for your included dinner in a traditional Western Australian tavern to soak up a real Australian atmosphere. Following dinner, you will head out into the night to experience the star-filled night sky. You will head back into the Pinnacle Desert to the observation deck to experience the tranquillity of the national park, and view the night sky without light pollution. Once you have had your fill of the enormous night sky, you will return to Perth arriving at approximately 11.00PM.

Following pick-up from Perth, head to Caversham Wildlife Park in the Swan Valley to admire koalas and wombats and hand feed kangaroos. Travel along quiet back roads to the lobster fishing town of Cervantes. Here, enjoy a behind-the-scenes factory tour on the processing of Western Australia rock lobster followed by a fish and chips lunch. Next, head to the mystical Pinnacles Desert for an easy walk through the fascinating landscape. Drive over the vast sand dunes of Lancelin in a custom-built 4WD vehicle before trying some downhill sandboarding. After the tour, drive down the Indian Ocean Drive back to Perth, stopping to view seasonal wildflowers along the way.

Travelling through the Swan Valley, you arrive at New Norcia, home to Australia’s only monastic town which is renowned for its Benedictine Abbey. A little piece of Spain comes alive in this town, full of history, art, and architecture. Hear the local history before viewing the chapel and museum artefacts gifted to the monastery by popes and Spanish royalty. Visit the Famous Benedictine Community with a guided tour of the town and main sites including the museum and art gallery where you will find extraordinary artefacts dating back to when New Norcia was an Aboriginal mission.  Next you will move on to the Abbey Church; home to one of only two large Moser organs, originally crafted in Germany, followed by a visit to St Gertrude’s College, a grand gothic style building which was originally built as a girl’s boarding school and opened in 1908.   You then visit a produce shop selling olive oil, fruit, wine, New Norcia nut cake and breads before enjoying a fish and chips lunch and local breads and olive oil at the historic New Norcia Hotel. Then, head on to the Western Wildflower farm for a brief talk about how Wildflowers are dried and exported. Continue on for an easy paced walk through the mystical Pinnacles Desert and see the Pinnacles from the look out over the park. If time permits, make a visit to the Pinnacle Desert Discovery Centre.  Return to Perth down the Indian Ocean Drive stopping to view wildflowers en route (seasonal), arriving at approximately 19:30.