By Jade Johnston
All conversation suddenly stopped as we rounded a bend and a clearing full of pinnacles came into view.
“wwooooowww” was all I could manage, mouth agape
“Oh that is nothing yet,” Mike, our guide for the day told us.
I have been looking forward to seeing the pinnacles of Cervantes for a long time now. It even ranked as a potential trip highlight for me. But what are they?
Mike knows best about the pinnacles are, and what they are not. Having worked in the region for about 17 years, and as a park ranger in Western Australia for over 20 years, he could be called something as an expert. He started and runs the pinnacle tours for Turquoise Coast Enviro Tours.
He explains the phenomenon of the pinnacles to us, as he draws a diagram into the sand with a “bush pencil”, or stick.
“The pinnacles are made out of limestone, but how did the limestone get here? Have a look at those sand dunes over there, because they are very important.”
Many years ago, during the ice ages in Australia, the sea level was much lower. Calcium sediments from the ocean floor blew into this area where it was later covered with sand and where it eventually turned into a thick layer of limestone.
Eventually plants grew over the dunes, and the layer of humus that they created combined with rain water to create acid strong enough to wear away at the limestone beneath, creating pinnacles beneath the sand.
But where did the layer of vegetation go?
Well there are several theories on that, but Mike reckons that sand dunes eventually moved over the plants, killing them. And when the dunes moved onwards, they exposed the pinnacles that were underneath.
And Mike can prove it.
Looking at the pinnacles, you can see several layers, created by several ice ages. And what else is visible in those layers?
Fossilized plant roots.
“We are going to turn down here now. Most tourist busses don’t come down here, but this is where some of the best stuff is.”
Everywhere you turn, pinnacles. And you just can’t take a bad picture of a pinnacle.
Mike is full of stories from his many years working with the pinnacles.
“And heres the one where Billy Connelley danced around naked, you often catch people recreating that famous dance out here.”
“And over here is the walk to the lookout. We’ll go there later, but not to watch the sunset. Most people go there for the sunset, but I know a much better spot.”
As we slowly make our way around the circuit, frequently stopping to get out and examine some more pinnacles, Mike tells us how much people miss the best stuff. Some people don’t know the area well enough, some tourist couches are too big to get through some of the areas, but many, unfortunately, are just in too much of a rush to truly spend the time appreciating this area.
“The aboriginals explained the pinnacles this way. Once there were two warring tribes, and this was the spot of a giant battle. All the fallen warriors turned into pinnacles.”
A noble story.
“But of course, it’s always the innocent which suffer…. like the poor platypus,” Mike points out a pinnacle which looks just like Australia’s famous reptilian mammal.
But perhaps his favourite pinnacle is perhaps not a pinnacle at all, but the molar of a “side-of-the-track-a-saurus”… (although it looks more like a tooth shaped pinnacle to me! But who am I to argue with the experts, right?)
The pinnacles are incredible and awe inspiring, but it’s Mikes stories and personality which really take the cake.
After more than three hours exploring the world of the pinnacles, Mike takes us to the best spot to watch the sunset. This is of course, a trade secret of Mikes, so if you want to know where it is you will just have to book yourself on a tour.
Jade
Jade is a freelance travel writer from Manitoba Canada. She loves travel and meeting new people has lived in 6 countries and travelled to more than 30. She prefers to travel slowly - taking overland transit or working/ volunteering in the countries she visits. Her motto is that she might never return to this place again, so she has to try to soak up as much as possible. To learn more about the OurOyster project,click here! Or to find OurOyster on Google + : Jade's Google Profile You can also shoot her an email at jade@ouroyster.com
Christy @ Technosyncratic (12 months ago)
This are so bizarre looking – the photos look like they’re from Mars! I wonder if any movies have been filmed here, lol.
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Angkor Wat in Photos
OurOyster (12 months ago)
Well, Mike was telling us that several documentaries and things like that have been filmed here, but he didn’t mention anything about fictional movies. I really think it would be a great place for a sci-fi movie or something
Bobbi Lee Hitchon (12 months ago)
I never even knew this existed. So amazing!
OurOyster (12 months ago)
You MUST go there. It was the highlight of WA for me
dtravelsround (12 months ago)
I never knew this existed, either!! Gorgeous!!
dtravelsround recently posted..Daily Wanderlust: Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
OurOyster (11 months ago)
I know! They are my highlight so far!
Clint Johnston (12 months ago)
Just discovered your site via twitter. The pinnacles are completely new to me too. Definitely going to have to get there some day! Great photos too!
Clint Johnston recently posted..Simplehoney Matches You with the Perfect Hotel
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Thanks! It’s just impossible to take a bad pinnacle photo! I just loved the atmosphere in that national park…one of my highlights for sure. Make sure you don’t miss them when you come to Australia
Chrystal McKay (11 months ago)
This is incredible! I’ve never seen a picture of these before! I want to go to Australia instantly to see these. And that rainbow picture is perfection! Great Photos guys!
Chrystal McKay recently posted..Battle of the Koran Schools in Marrakech Morocco
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Thanks so much! It’s impossible to take a bad picture here! A must go destination for nature and photography lovers
Lindsey (11 months ago)
Damn, I never even knew these existed! I was not expecting to see they were in Western Australia! I love and hate reading posts about Australia – I want to see the world (and will) so badly, but I keep getting reminded about the awesome things here at home!
Lindsey recently posted..Being Locked Out, Locked In, and the Amazing People at the Sydney Writers’ Festival
OurOyster (11 months ago)
It’s funny that many people do not know about them, since they are really not far from Perth at all. It is best to go and stay overnight in the cute little town of Cervantes though – rather than do a day tour from Perth.
Jesse (11 months ago)
This post is one of the thousands I specially saved or bookmark since I find it as a new discovery really. Didn’t know such breathtaking views exist
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Im so happy to see that! The pinnacles really do not get enough press from the Australian tourism industry… Im hoping to help change that a little bit though!
Laura (11 months ago)
Its really amazing kind of place..I’m excited to visit this..
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Sophie (11 months ago)
Australia is so beautifully desolate, isn’t it…
OurOyster (11 months ago)
I know! Now we are back in cities for a little while… it is nice to have access to a good coffee again!
Dani | Globetrottergirls (11 months ago)
Wow, this place looks spectacular!! Looks like you were on a completely different planet
Dani | Globetrottergirls recently posted..A taste of Cambodia… our first impressions
OurOyster (11 months ago)
I know! I really hope someone sees this post and is inspired to film a sci-fi flick here
Sarah @ Green Global Travel (11 months ago)
Thanks for this great post, Jade! The pinnacles look really awesome, but I especially loved the bit of biology you slipped in there that created them in the first place. Really cool!
Sarah @ Green Global Travel recently posted..THE PERUVIAN AMAZON- Day 6 Photo Gallery
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It was really one of the highlights of my trip!
Andrea (11 months ago)
Awesome photos – I’m really enjoying your Australia posts about all these places we haven’t visited yet.
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Awesome! I look forward to reading about your experiences at these places as well!
Laurence (11 months ago)
They really are something special
Looks like you had a great tour as well!
OurOyster (11 months ago)
It was absolutely AMAZING!
Eric @ Trans-Americas Journey (11 months ago)
We’ve been to a number of Pinnacles– in the US, Borneo, Mexico and others– but this place looks awesome. We’ll have to get down there one day
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Yes definitely!! I am looking forward to visiting the US version some day as well
Natasha von Geldern (11 months ago)
Looks stunning! I’ll put it on my list for Western Australia
Amanda (11 months ago)
My uncle took me here when I went to visit him in Perth a few years ago. It was so cool!! I definitely had not expected to find something like this in the middle-of-nowhere, Australia. But then we hit a kangaroo, and I felt like we were in OZ again. Haha.
Amanda recently posted..Tips for Visiting Yosemite National Park in One Day
OurOyster (11 months ago)
hahahahaha! That is a great story! Love it! Although poor roo! We saw tons of Kangaroos on the bus ride from Cervantes to Perth… it was awesome!!!!
Christine (11 months ago)
I had never heard of these! Wester Aus seems so underrated!
OurOyster (11 months ago)
I’m hoping to change that! WA is such a HUGE part of Australia, and I wish more people would visit
OurOyster (11 months ago)
It is, and it shouldn’t be!
Cam (11 months ago)
They remind me of Cappadocia in Turkey, just a smaller version. Very cool, I have never heard of them before – so I learned something new today!
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Yay! I’ve never been to Turkey… but I am sure that when I go, it will blow my mind
AlexBerger (11 months ago)
Amazing place! Gorgeous photos!
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Thanks!
Angela (11 months ago)
Wow, this is just amazing, and your photos do justice to the view!
OurOyster (11 months ago)
Thanks Angela!
Mary @ Green Global Travel (10 months ago)
Great post. I loved Michale’s stories and the myths of the Aboriginals. The image of fallen soldiers is very powerful..
OurOyster (10 months ago)
He was one of the best tour guides we have had on this trip. I think you guys would have loved him!
Australian Overland Adventure Sponsors! - OurOyster.com (2 months ago)
[...] visitors every year. I will be visiting this strange landscape with Mike in mid May. Check out our full review [...]