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10 Remarkable Facts about The Pinnacles Desert

The pinnacles desert- Image by Tracey Wong from

The Pinnacles Desert is one of the most beautiful and impressive landscapes of Australia.

It is located in the heart of the Nambung National Park, which is in the Federal territory of Western Australia. Roughly 250 Kilometers north from Perth.

The area contains thousands of weathered limestone pillars. Some of the tallest pinnacles are about 3.5 meters in height above the yellow sand base.

The different types of formations include ones which are much taller than they are wide and resemble columns hence the name ‘pinnacles.’ Others are only a meter or so in height and width resembling short tombstones.

A cross-bedding structure can be observed in many pinnacles where the angle of deposited sand changed suddenly due to changes in prevailing winds during formation of the limestone beds.

The Pinnacles Desert at Sunrise- Photo by Chris Stenger on

The raw material for the limestone of the Pinnacles came from seashells in an earlier era that was very rich in marine life. These shells were broken down into lime-rich sands that were blown inland hence forming high mobile dunes.

However, the manner in which such raw materials formed the Pinnacles is still a subject of debate. Three major theories have however been proposed. They include:

The first theory states that they were formed as dissolution remnants of the Tamala Limestone. In other words, that they formed as a result of a period of extensive solutional weathering.

A second theory states that they were formed through the preservation of tree casts buried in the coastal rocks, where roots became groundwater conduits. It has been argued that wind erosion of the coastal rocks then exposed its pillars.

A third proposal suggests that plants played an active role in the creation of the Pinnacles, based on the mechanism that formed smaller “root casts” in other parts of the world.

As transpiration drew water through the soil to the roots, nutrients and other dissolved minerals flowed toward the root (a process known as mass-flow ), that can result in the accumulation of nutrients at the surface of the root if the nutrients arrive in quantities greater than that needed for plant to grow.

2. The Pinnacles Desert is well known for being inhabited by kangaroos

Kangaroos- Image by Penny from

Western grey kangaroos can always be seen grazing on the vegetation in the park, especially in the early morning hours.Hence, the desert has come to be associated by kangaroos.

The kangaroos are considered quite tame, sometimes even allowing quiet, slow-moving visitors to approach them.

Fun Fact: This doesn’t mean that it is only kangaroos inhabiting the place. Baudin’s black cockatoos and emus are also frequently observed in the park.

Reptiles such as bobtails, sand goannas and carpet pythons are a few of the other park’s inhabitants.

3. There are a variety of plant specie to be found at the pinnacles

Clicked in Valley of Flowers in August. Photo by Pankaj Batra-

Some of the common plant species found at pinnacle desert include: panjang (a low-lying wattle), coastal wattle and banjine, quandong, yellow tailflower, thick-leaved fanflower and cockies tongues.

Parrot bush, candlestick banksia, firewood banksia and acorn banksia are also common in the park.

4. The Pinnacles attract a lot of tourists yearly

A woman visiting the pinnacles desert- Photo by Debbie Ducic on

As of 2011, Nambung National Park received about 150,000 visitors per year. The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre was opened in 2008. This helped in offering interpretive displays of the park; both the natural processes that formed the Pinnacles and the biodiversity of the area.

P.S: The best season to visit the Pinnacles is in the months of August to October, since the days are mild and wildflowers, along with wattle, begin to bloom in the spring.

No lodging or camping areas are available within Nambung National Park but accommodations can be found in Cervantes.

5. Has quite an impressive history

The impressive landscapes and peculiar stone formations of the Pinnacles Desert were formed several millions years ago. The material of these stone mounds came from sea shells that were broken-down into lime-rich sand.

Later, this sand was blown inland by natural elements, like the wind, creating sand dunes. Step by step, rainfalls caused the lime to seep to the bottom of the dunes, generating the formation of limestone

Furthermore, many plants grew on top the dunes and this helped to protect the dunes from the wind. These dunes were therefore not blown again.

This process allowed also the creation of an acidic layer of soil over the top of the dune then, a layer of calcrete (a sedimentary rock or hardened deposit of calcium carbonate) formed over the soft limestone under the dunes.

This erosion process continued longtime, leaving only pillars of limestone that were exposed when the vegetation on top of the dunes died, because of climatic changes or bush fires.

6. Aboriginal artifacts have been found at the pinnacles desert

Australia: Aboriginal Culture 011- Author; Steve Evans-

The oldest remains of aboriginal artifacts found in the pinnacle desert date from 6000 years ago. However, there are no evidences of recent aboriginal occupation.

Therefore, some people believe that the pinnacles were exposed about 6000 years ago and later covered again by the sands, before they were exposed again in the last centuries.

7. It was first explored in 1658

European explorers arriving into a new world- Author; Lippincott, William H (1849-1920)-

This zone of Western Australia was explored for first time by Europeans around 1658. This is when appeared in the Dutch maps of North and South Hummocks.

This area was mentioned again by the navigator Philip Parker King, who talked about Pinnacles desert in his journal in 1820.

8.Remained unknown by Australians for almost half a millennium

As much as it was first explored in 1658,  the Pinnacles Desert remained unknown by the Australians for about 300 years.

People began paying more attention to it in 1967 when it was gazetted as a reserve and the Department of lands and Surveys decided to combine it with two adjacent reserves in order to form Nambung National Park in 1994.

9. The pinnacles desert has an Entrance Fee

Pinnacles Desert- Image by tongariro from Pixabay

There is a National Park Entry Fee to Nambung National Park, which basically contributes to park management, protection of the environment, and the development and maintenance of visitor services and facilities.

This fee is $15.00 per private vehicle, that is carrying up to 12 occupants.

10. The pinnacles can be visited anytime

The Pinnacles Desert- Photo by Tobias Keller on

The Pinnacles desert has no time limitation to when it can be visited. You can visit the Pinnacles Desert at any time, but it is important to note that visitors are expected to have left the park by 9pm.

The Pinnacles are a spectacular place to visit after dark, soaking up endless views of the Milky Way galaxy sprawling above you in the night sky.

When visiting, you can self-drive and explore all by yourself. Just remember to take care of yourself by, sticking to the designated paths and taking a torch. Better yet, join a dedicated nighttime tour to the Pinnacles with tour operators who are experts with the trails.