Pinnacles Desert & Koalas Day Trip from Perth with Sandboarding

Summary

Koalas up close, wild dunes at Lancelin and a walk in the Pinnacles

You’ll feed kangaroos by hand at Caversham Wildlife Park, share fish & chips in Cervantes while learning about local fishing life, wander among ancient limestone spires in the Pinnacles Desert, then race down Lancelin’s vast dunes by 4WD and sandboard—all with hotel pickup included. It’s a day full of small surprises and big landscapes you won’t forget easily.

What’s the experience like?

Hands outstretched, I tried to hold still as a kangaroo sniffed my palm—turns out they’re not shy at all. Our guide at Caversham Wildlife Park just grinned and told me to relax. There were wombats curled up like sleepy old men and a koala that blinked slowly while I snapped a photo (I’m pretty sure I said “hi” in a whisper). The park felt alive with squawks and soft animal smells—hay, eucalyptus, something sweet I couldn’t place. We wandered through for maybe an hour, but it felt longer in a good way.

Later, driving north from Perth, the landscape got flatter and brighter until we rolled into Cervantes. Lunch was fish and chips—crispy batter, hot chips you have to blow on—and our guide explained how the fishing boats come in early morning. He pointed out the lobster processing plant (I’d never seen so many crates stacked up) and gave us some facts about the industry that actually stuck with me. The air smelled like salt and fryer oil. I liked that nobody rushed us; we could just sit for a bit before heading out again.

The Pinnacles Desert came next—honestly, it looked like another planet. Yellow sand everywhere with these weird stone pillars poking up all over. Walking between them felt quiet, almost eerie except for the wind kicking up now and then. Our guide told us about seashells turning into sand over millions of years—I didn’t expect to find that interesting but I did. Someone in our group tried to climb one (don’t do that) and got a gentle scolding from the guide. Sunlight kept shifting; sometimes everything looked gold, sometimes gray.

We finished at Lancelin beach where the sand was so white it almost hurt my eyes. Climbing into the 4WD was bumpy fun—I laughed too loud when we hit the first dune—and then came sandboarding down these huge slopes. Sand gets everywhere (seriously: shoes, pockets), but it’s worth it for that rush going down. At some point I just sat at the top of a dune looking out over everything—windy, quiet except for distant shouts—and thought: yeah, this is not what I expected from a day trip near Perth.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Wildlife park, Pinnacles, and sandboarding

• Visit Caversham Wildlife Park
• Feed kangaroos and meet koalas
• Tour live lobster processing plant
• Enjoy fish and chips lunch
• Walk through Pinnacles Desert
• Explore Nambung National Park
• 4WD on Lancelin sand dunes
• Go sandboarding at Lancelin

Top questions

How long is the Pinnacles Desert & Koalas day trip from Perth?

The full-day tour lasts approximately 11 hours including travel time from Perth.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Yes, a fish & chips lunch is included during your stop in Cervantes.

Can you feed kangaroos or see koalas on this tour?

Yes—you’ll visit Caversham Wildlife Park where you can feed kangaroos and meet koalas and wombats.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Perth?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included with your booking.

Do you get to try sandboarding on this trip?

Yes—sandboarding on Lancelin’s dunes is part of the experience after riding through them by 4WD vehicle.

Are there any age or fitness restrictions?

This tour isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries; children under 5 are not advised to join.

What should I bring for the Pinnacles Desert day trip?

You’ll want comfortable clothes for walking and sandboarding; bottled water is provided but sunscreen is smart too.

How far are the Pinnacles from Perth?

The Pinnacles Desert is roughly 200 km north of Perth—a drive of about 2 hours each way by coach or 4WD.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Perth, entry to Caversham Wildlife Park where you’ll meet native animals up close, all transport by air-conditioned coach or 4WD depending on group size (sometimes both), bottled water throughout the journey, a classic fish & chips lunch in Cervantes after visiting the lobster plant, plus all equipment needed for sandboarding before returning to your hotel in the evening.