Depart from either pickup locations: Doubletree-Waterfront Hotel (15 min before tour start); or at the Beaufort Street Tourist Bus Stop (near James and Beaufort St) at tour start time, before you journey north for a 2-hour bus ride to the famous Pinnacles Desert in WA’s Nambung National Park. On your trip, take in spectacular ocean views of Western Australia's coastline as you travel along the great Indian Ocean Drive.
Experience a short stop at the Wanagarren Nature Reserve to take a selfie with the magnificent grass trees landscape as your background. Learn about this iconic symbol of Western Australia’s native landscape, which has been both a crucial resource for Indigenous Australians and a defining feature and symbol of survival, beauty and ecological significance.
Continue your journey to the Pinnacles Desert for a photo capture and a leisurely Outback High Tea. Spend your time 'nature bathing' or simply grabbing that great selfie, being amongst 100,000+ year old geological landscapes. Marvel at the simplistic magnificence as you meander desert depths of exalted ancient yet eerie, Pinnacle formations. Bask in a peaceful, yet surreal, magical atmosphere as you will seem to be in a land where time simply feels lost.
Next: upon arrival at the pristine bushland of the Yeal Nature Reserve, you’ll tour the Gravity Discovery Centre (GCD) & Observatory-Gingin, where your free time to discover the grounds, is followed by your cafe style dinner*, and your professionally led, Dark Sky Astronomy experience. You’ll hear from professional Astronomers how the GDC is vital to Australia as a premier, hands-on STEM education hub and a world-class astro-tourism destination.
Connecting visitors with Einsteinian physics, Aboriginal astronomy, and local biodiversity, you’ll discover how the GDC hosts international gravity wave research on site on a 45m (13 storey) steel tower, leaning at a 15 degree angle, and how it is proudly known as the ‘Leaning Tower of Gingin’, (experience the climb to see its 360° panorama and sunset views).
After nightfall, a 30-minute presentation heads an astronomer-led journey across the universe at the astronomical observatory (dedicated to the exploration and science of Gingin’s infamously deeply dark night sky). Boasting a fully retractable roof, state of the art telescopes for viewing, and an up close and personal, laser guided tour of our great southern night sky, this high-value observatory experience is one not to be missed!
Short comfort break before you're back on the bus for your 1-hour-long journey home. Relax & unwind, and sleep the night away, and before you know it, you’ll be back in Perth & at your stay.
*Meal cost is included—please choose at time of booking between the following meal options: Battered Fish with Chips and Salad, Vegetarian Lasagne with Chips and Salad, Chicken Nuggets with Chips and Salad. Drinks and refreshments at own cost.
