The Pinnacles are one of the most unique natural attractions in Western Australia, and my most recommended day trip for visitors to Perth who are looking to explore outside of the city for a day. But it’s not just to visit the Pinnacles – there are some awesome things to do and see along the way as you make your way along the coast.
This is the ultimate guide for those looking to plan a fun-filled and unforgettable day of exploring the Pinnacles on a fun road trip from Perth.
Summary of the Perth to Pinnacles Day Trip
Here’s a quick summary of what the day will look like when following along on my itinerary.
Keep reading below for further details.
- Depart Perth, drive 2 hours to the Pinnacles
- Drive 15 minutes to Cervantes
- Lunch at the Lobster Shack
- Drive 1 hour to Lancelin. Explore the Lancelin Sand Dunes
- Drive 1.5 hours to Perth
- Optional: detour to Yanchep National Park on the way back to Perth
Road Trip Map
Things to Know Before You Go
A few tips to help you make the most of your day:
Best Time to Visit
You can take this day trip any day of the year. The best time is autumn and spring for milder temperatures and less chance of rain, but it’s still possible to visit all year around. In summer, be prepared for high temperatures and many pesky flies!
Opening Hours
The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park is open every day of the year, however, the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre is closed on Christmas Day.
Technically it is open to visit 24 hours a day however, the Parks and Wildlife Service recommend visiting during the day as wildlife are more active on the roads at night. Visiting the Pinnacles at nighttime can be an amazing way to do some dark night stargazing, thanks to the absence of light pollution in the area. If you’re not confident driving on country roads at night, I recommend booking this Pinnacles Stargazing Tour instead.
Just a quick reminder not to leave home without travel insurance! There’s nothing worse than getting unwell overseas, let alone worrying about whether you can afford to pay for treatment. I use Covermore when I travel, and they’ve been fantastic – from delayed flights in Kuala Lumpur to getting stuck on an island in the Philippines due to the weather, I’ve had no issues the few times I’ve needed to make a claim. Get a quote here!
Things to Bring
Make sure to bring enough drinking water, snacks, sunscreen and sun protection for the day. Otherwise, you can grab the essentials in the small towns of Lancelin and Cervantes during your visit.
Perth to Pinnacles Drive Time
The distance from Perth to the Pinnacles is about 190 km and takes around 2 hours from Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive coastal highway. The drive is on sealed highway roads the whole way. It is fine for normal 2WD vehicles, a 4WD is not required.
Fuel
I recommend you fill up the petrol tank before you leave Perth, as prices are generally cheaper. If you need fuel, there are fuel stations along the way, however operating hours may be limited outside of daylight hours.
If you need to hire a car for your trip, compare options here to get the best prices amongst the largest range of car suppliers.
Pinnacles Day Trip from Perth: Detailed Itinerary
Buckle up, it’s time to set off on your day trip adventure!
Try to be on the road by 9 am, so that you aren’t exploring the Pinnacles in the heat of the day (mostly applicable if visiting during the summer months from December to February). The drive along the Indian Ocean Drive coastal highway is a fairly easy one, you’ll catch glimpses of the sparkling blues of the ocean once you leave suburban Perth behind.
It should take you about 2 hours to reach the Pinnacles, without stopping. You’ll know you’re getting close when you start to see the large shifting masses of sand in the distance!
The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park
Turn right off Indian Ocean Drive onto Pinnacles Drive, until you reach the payment station.
During normal business hours, there will be an attendant to purchase a national park entrance ticket (or show your pre-purchased Park Pass). You can pay with cash or a card.
Outside of normal hours, there’s a ticket machine that takes payments by card. Park entry fees are $17 a vehicle (standard), or $10 a vehicle (concession) (2025 prices).
At the Pinnacles, park in the car park near the Pinnacles Discovery Centre. You can visit the discovery centre to learn more about the science and geology of the Pinnacles through informative displays about the desert and native wildlife.
There’s also a small retail gallery and gift shop that sells drinks, snacks and ice creams. You’ll find toilets here, before the Discovery Centre.
From here, explore the Pinnacles Desert on foot or by car (or both!).
Navigate the short 1.6 km Desert View Trail on foot, stopping at the designated lookout platform for an elevated view across the Pinnacles.
Otherwise continue on in your car, driving the full loop Drive Trail around the Pinnacles. Take advantage of the designated pull-over bays to safely stop, get out and admire the Pinnacles closer. This loop is unsealed but firm compacted sand, suitable for 2WDs most of the year. T
here may be periods after heavy rains when the Drive Trail is closed to 2WDs, and only open for 4-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and vehicles with high ground clearance only.
While rare, this happened as recently as February 2025 due to heavy rains in the area. You can check on the Parks and Wildlife Service Park Alerts System map to check for any potential closures. Even if the loop Drive Trail is closed, you can still visit the Pinnacles on foot, so it shouldn’t stop you from visiting but it’s good to stay informed and keep up to date.
And lastly, keep an eye out for native wildlife as you explore the Pinnacles!
Cervantes & Lobster Shack
After you’ve finished exploring and photographing the Pinnacles, jump back in the car and drive 15 minutes further north to the small coastal town of Cervantes.
The main drawcard is the famous Lobster Shack, which offers tours of its lobster factory and dishes up fresh seafood in their large restaurant.
My tip is to sit outside on the deck, overlooking the ocean while you dine on fresh lobster and seafood. They don’t take restaurant bookings for groups under 10, but the kitchen is open from 11 am – 3 pm.
Before or after your lunch, stop by the Lobster Shack shop (open from 9 am – 5 pm) and enquire about a 30-minute Factory Tour if you’re interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at how the lobsters made it to your lunch plate.
Other things worth doing in Cervantes is visiting the Lake Thetis Thrombolites, where you’ll discover the modern-day relatives of some of the planet’s oldest life forms, or go for a swim at nearby Hangover Bay. The sheltered location makes it a great spot to enjoy the coastline before or after a visit to the Pinnacles.
If you’ve got more time, consider driving 20 minutes further north to the town of Jurien Bay. You could even spend a night here and join the Sea Lion Swim Tour the next morning, swimming alongside playful Australian sea lions in the shallow waters of Jurien Bay Marine Park. Or tick off a bucket list activity and experience the thrill of a lifetime with a skydive over the sparkling coast of Jurien Bay.
For more ideas on what to do in Jurien Bay, read my guide here.
Lancelin Sand Dunes
Once you’ve satiated your seafood hankering, it’s time to get back into the car and start making your way back to Perth – with a few fun stops along the way!
Drive for 1 hour and you’ll reach another seaside town in Lancelin.
The main attraction here is the remarkable Lancelin Sand Dunes. You can glide down the dunes on sand boards that are available to hire, join a buggy tour or even join on a 4WD drive bus tour.
Read my dedicated guide here to get all the details.
Optional: Yanchep National Park
After burning off your lunch by running up the dunes (the not-so-fun bit after boarding down!), you now have two choices depending on how much energy you have left.
You can begin your journey back to Perth, which will take about 1.5 hours. But if you’re up for another adventure, you can make a short detour to Yanchep National Park.
One of Perth’s oldest National Parks, you can spot koalas and kangaroos and explore one of two caves at Yanchep.
Tip: Keep your ticket from Nambung National Park to re-use and enter Yanchep National Park for free. It’s good for a same-day visit!
Make a beeline to the koala viewing area after you’ve passed through the entrance. There’s a small boardwalk area for you to stroll along as you spot sleepy koalas in the trees above. As the afternoon wears on, you might also spot the Western Grey kangaroos that call the park home and come out on the grassed areas to feed as dusk approaches.
Want more help planning your Western Australia Road Trip? Join our community of like-minded adventurers!
Sharing travel tips and tricks, detailed itineraries, practical travel advice and local recommendations to help you plan the ULTIMATE road trip.
Perth to Pinnacles Day Tour Options
If a big day of driving doesn’t appeal to you or it isn’t possible, don’t worry! You’ve got some great options for Pinnacles day tours.
My top pick is one of the most highly-rated day tours in Perth, previously reviewed as “one of the best excursions we chose while in Australia.”
Top Choice: Pinnacles Desert Sunset and Stargazing Tour
On this tour, you’ll first stop in Lancelin and try your hand at sandboarding. Your local guide will take you on a beach walk, showing you native plants used by the Aboriginal people as food and medicine.
Continuing on your adventure to the Pinnacles Desert, you’ll be treated to a BBQ dinner with a glass of Margaret River Wine in the middle of the desert as you wait for the sun to set over the Indian Ocean.
You’ve got a good chance of spotting more active wildlife at sunset too!
Then, it’s time for the main event… using a telescope and astro-binoculars to take in spectacular views of the starry night sky – a truly bucket list-worthy experience!
The good thing about this tour is you can have a later start to your day, leaving your morning free for other sightseeing, and you don’t need to worry about driving back to the city after dark!
Also Highly Recommended: Pinnacles, Koalas & Sandboarding Tour
This tour starts with a visit to the Caversham Wildlife Centre, a good alternative to Yanchep National Park as you’ll get close to koalas and kangaroos!
From here, your adventure continues to Cervantes, with a visit to the Lobster Shack for a behind-the-scenes tour of the production of the Western Australia rock lobster, followed by lunch.
The Pinnacles Desert will be your next stop, as you explore the desert on foot. Wrap up the day with a visit to the Lancelin dunes, with an included trip in the custom-built 4WD vehicle, to cruise the dunes with confidence!
Browse all Pinnacles day tour options here
Stay Overnight or Extend the Road Trip
This trip can also be done with an overnight stop along the way! I’d recommend staying overnight in Cervantes or Jurien Bay.
My pick of accommodation in Cervantes would be the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park. Or, head 20 minutes further up the coast to Jurien Bay and stay at Jurien Bay Motel Apartments.
If you choose to stay in Jurien Bay, you could go swimming with sea lions the next morning!
Alternatively, consider going on a longer road trip from Perth to Kalbarri, or even Perth to Exmouth and visit the Ningaloo Reef – one of my favourite road trips in WA!
Final Thoughts
That wraps your epic Perth to Pinnacles road trip. It can be a long day, but you’re guaranteed to be heading back to Perth with a day full of special memories from this unforgettable day trip.
Make sure to check out my other travel guides below to help plan your adventures around Perth.
Continue Reading:
- Ultimate Perth Itinerary: Fun 3, 5 and 7 Day Itineraries
- 25 Top Things To Do on Rottnest Island
- Rottnest Island Day Trip: Perfect One Day Itinerary
- 23 Ideas for the Best Day Trips from Perth
- Best Places to Stay in Perth – Picked by a Local
- The Ultimate Western Australia Road Trip Guide – with Suggested Itineraries & Maps!
If you found this free guide useful, you’ll love my new Western Australia Road Trip & Travel Guide eBook! It’s jam-packed with over 90 pages of useful destination guides, essential tips and custom day-by-day itineraries to make planning your Western Australia adventures a breeze. Check it out here.
