The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake (Western Australia)

The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park (Western Australia) feature striking limestone formations rising from the desert. At the same time, the nearby Lancelin Sand Dunes offer vast, white sand hills perfect for adventure activities like sandboarding. Further north, Hutt Lagoon, also known as Pink Lake, mesmerizes with its vibrant pink hue, caused by algae producing beta-carotene, creating a surreal and colourful landscape. Join us in our exploration of The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake).

Date visited: Dec-2018

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The Pinnacles, Lancelin Sand Dunes and Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake)

We flew into Perth and collected our campervan before making the long 1200 km drive north to Exmouth, Ningaloo Coast. After spending five days in Ningaloo Coast and Coral Bay, we drove south to Shark Bay for two days of exploration.

To cap off the trip, we spent the last two days visiting Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake) in Gregory and the famed Pinnacles and Lancelin Sand Dunes just north of Perth.

Below are our travel notes of the three site that are accurate as of Dec-2018.

The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) (Google Map)

Approximately 190km north of Perth, the Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia.
Formed between 25,000 and 30,000 years ago, the limestone formation is thought to be what’s left when the area rose above sea level, exposing the previous seabed to erosion. The result is a uniquely spectacular field of weathered limestone pillars, some of which are as high as 3.5m.
Due to the scale of the site, park authorities had constructed a 4km self-drive loop (with small parking spots at suitable intervals) amidst the limestone pillars. The track is well-marked with surface hardened, making it suitable for most regular cars/vans (e.g. 2WD sedans, small campervans).
Entrance fee applies.
Tips:
- There is no limit on how many times you could drive through the loop.
- Most visitors make the mistake of stopping too frequently to explore the initial part of the loop. Thus missing out on the more scenic spots in the latter part of the loop due to time constraints. This also results in larger crowds at the initial part of the loop, while the rest of the loop would be relatively deserted.
- We suggest driving a first pass of the loop, without stopping, to identify “scenic spots”. Then take a second pass and only stop at these spots.

Exploring The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park)

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia (The Pinnacles)

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Lancelin Sand Dunes (Google Map)

Approximately 130km north of Perth, Lancelin is one of the best sand-boarding destinations in Australia.
The location is easily accessible (via regular 2WD vehicles) and visitors could self-drive to the EDGE of the dunes (DO NOT drive onto or near the dunes due to soft sand). The activity is safe and suitable for most ages.
Boards can be rented at a reasonable price in town.
No entry fees for the sand dunes.
Refer to our Google Map for the details of:
- Where to rent your boards.
- Direction to the dunes.
- (IMPORTANT) Where to park your car!
Important things to know (also stated in our map):
- Rent board at “Have A Chat General Store”. It is cheaper and there is no time limit on the rental. No deposit is required.
- If in a group, rent a few boards to share. You wouldn’t be all using the board at the same time.
- Park at the edge of the dunes (marked “Car Park 1” on our map) and walk to them. The sand beyond Car Park 1 might be soft and you’ll risk bogging your vehicle. Expensive mistake!

Approximately 130km north of Perth, Lancelin is one of the best sand-boarding destinations in Australia.

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Hutt Lagoon (Pink Lake) (Google Map)

Hutt Lagoon is a salt lake that presents a red/pink hue due to Dunaliella salina, an algae that enables commercial production of β-carotene. It is the largest of such production plants in the world. No entry fees.
Be careful when walking around the edge of the lake. Some of the ground is soft and will give way.
Handle your camera gear with care. If they come into contact with the algae, you’ll need to perform a thorough cleaning. Especially for your tripod legs, avoid setting your tripod in the lake.