Pinnacles Desert & Turquoise Coast 4WD Small Group Tour

Walk among thousands of limestone pinnacles, then ride white sand dunes as the sun drops toward the Indian Ocean.

A full-day 4WD tour from Perth through Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles Desert, and Lancelin Sand Dunes, hosted by a local guide in a small group limited to fit inside one vehicle. The 4WD takes you off the standard tourist loop to walk among the pinnacles at your own pace, stop at secluded beaches, and reach photo angles the larger buses cannot. Pickup from Barrack Square or selected CBD hotels at 6:45am; return around 5pm. Coastal lunch, morning tea, national park fees, and a sunset drink at the dunes are included; children from age 8 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Pinnacles Desert and Turquoise Coast

• Pickup at Bell Tower or hotel
• Drive to Pinnacles Desert in 4WD
• Walk among Pinnacles formations
• Visit Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre
• Morning tea at secluded beach
• Explore Lake Thetis Thrombolites
• Enjoy coastal lunch with seafood options
• Visit Lancelin Sand Dunes for sandboarding
• Relax with dune side beverages
• Return to Perth CBD or Barrack Square

The Experience

The day starts early—6:45am pickup at the Bell Tower in Barrack Square, or from your Perth CBD hotel if you request it—so you reach the Pinnacles before the crowds. The drive north takes about an hour and a half into Nambung National Park, where your guide Cara meets you. She knows this region like a second home and treats the group as guests, not tourists, weaving in stories about the Turquoise Coast and the desert itself as you travel.

Once inside the park, the 4WD leaves the main loop and takes you onto the 4.5 km golden sandy driving route where the thousands of limestone pinnacles rise from the desert floor. You walk among them at your own pace, stopping at angles like Chungs Rock Photo Frame and the Desert Rock Platform—spots the larger buses never reach. The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre sits nearby if you want to understand the geology behind the formations, then you head to a secluded beach for morning tea and coffee, where you can wade, walk the sand, or simply sit and watch the water. Lake Thetis comes next, where an easy boardwalk lets you see the Thrombolites—ancient microbial structures that are some of the earliest signs of life on Earth.

Lunch is the centerpiece: a relaxed stop at a local favourite on the coast where lobster boats dock after working the Indian Ocean. You choose from buckets of prawns, seafood chowder, Australian oysters, octopus salad, calamari, or fish and chips, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you want to try Western Australian rock lobster, you can upgrade to that at checkout. After lunch, the afternoon heads south to Lancelin Sand Dunes—one of the largest dune fields in Western Australia. Grab a sand board and ride the dunes, or sink into a deck chair and watch the sand meet the sea and sky. As the sun drops, you finish with a complimentary local beer, regional gin and tonic, or fresh orange juice in a deck chair at the dunes, then return to Perth just after 5pm.

What’s included

• Travel in an air-conditioned 4WD with local guide Cara for the full day.
• coastal lunch at a local favourite with seafood, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
• morning tea, coffee and biscuits at a secluded beach.
• a complimentary local beer, regional gin and tonic, or fresh orange juice at the dunes.
• bottled water and sunscreen onboard.
• all national park fees.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by take you there tours

Is this one for you?The small group size and 4WD vehicle mean you reach photo stops and walking routes the larger tour buses cannot—if you want angles and moments beyond the standard Pinnacles viewpoint, this is the way to get them. The unrushed pace and local guide's insider knowledge suit travelers who want to linger and explore rather than move through a checklist.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the Pinnacles and Lancelin Dunes stops on this tour?

The Pinnacles Desert is where you walk among thousands of limestone formations on a 4.5 km sandy loop, guided to photo spots and hidden angles. Lancelin Sand Dunes, visited in the afternoon, is one of Western Australia's largest dune fields where you can ride a sand board or relax and watch the landscape; both are included in the same day.

Can I bring my eight-year-old on this tour?

Yes, children from age 8 are welcome. The itinerary includes walking at your own pace through the Pinnacles, an easy boardwalk at Lake Thetis, and optional sand boarding at Lancelin, so there's flexibility for different energy levels throughout the day.

What happens if I'm not a strong swimmer or don't want to go in the water?

The beach stops are optional—you can wade, walk the sand, sit in a deck chair, or simply enjoy the view. The tour doesn't require swimming or water entry at any point; the beach visits are for relaxation and photos.

Is the coastal lunch included, or do I pay extra?

Lunch at the local seafood spot is included in the base tour price. You choose from prawns, chowder, oysters, calamari, fish and chips, or vegetarian and gluten-free options. If you want to upgrade to the Western Australian rock lobster meal, you can add that at checkout.

How long is the drive from Perth, and when do we get back?

The drive north to the Pinnacles takes about 90 minutes. The full day runs 10 hours from the 6:45am pickup, with return to Barrack Square or your CBD hotel just after 5pm, leaving time to explore Perth in the evening.

What's included in the price besides lunch?

The tour includes all national park fees, morning tea and coffee at a beach stop, bottled water and sunscreen onboard, the 4WD vehicle and guide for the full day, and a complimentary local beer, regional gin and tonic, or orange juice at the dunes at sunset.