At the end of the highway linking northern Perth's coastal towns,Lancelin is a quiet fishing village scenically set on the white beachesof Lancelin Bay. A breakwater extending between Edward and Lancelin Islands hascreated large natural harbour, which windsurfers favour as one of the topdestinations in Australia. Hence, the colourful spectacle of the famed Ledge Point Sailboard Classic is held here every January. The harbour and it's adjoining coastline is also a popular spot for snokellers and divers, keen to explore the plentiful offshore reefs and shipwrecks. Experienced divers even have the opportunity to check out an old submerged drilling rig.
Not all off Lancelin's scenery and activities are out to sea, or on the beach.The township is backed by massive and extensive sand dunes, great for sand boarding and dune buggie safaris. There's also several good nature walks which skirt the area's superb coastline.
Further up the coast, the tiny fishing port of Cervantes is best known as the entry point to Nambung National Park. The Nambung National Park protects a sandy, coastal desert pierced by the irregular limestone pillars known as The Pinnacles. Best described as a moonscape rather than a landscape, these unusual rock formations are photographers delight, casting strange shadows and steadily changing colour as the sun crosses the sky.
The Pinnacles are a little hard get to, but definitely worth the 13 kilometrebumpy journey from Cervantes. The township is also is fairly remote, and onlyaccessible via a coastal gravel road with runs in between Lancelin, and thecrayfishing port of Jurien to the north. The route from the Jurien is theeasiest and by far the shortest, and conventional vehicles are usually O.K. butcheck before you set out.Cervantes itself has a few good places to stay, and provides the base for several adventure tour companies operating within Nambung National Park.
The small settlements of Bindoon, Moora, andThree Springs provideessential services along a mostly desolate secondary road running inland of the main coastal highway (Brand Highway). There's not too many reasons to travel this way unlessyou want to view the harsh and barren terrain which created so many hardships for early explorers and settlers.
