Highlights
- Enjoy a deep-desert high tea and photography experience
- Explore the Gravity Discovery Centre and enjoy dinner
- Join a professional dark-sky astronomy tour at the observatory
Description
Depart from either pickup location: 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 (GDC) & Observatory-Gin Gin, 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 Gin Gin’, (experience the climb to see its 360° panorama and sunset views).
After nightfall, a 30min presentation heads an astronomer-led journey across the universe at the astronomical observatory (dedicated to the exploration and science of Gin Gin’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!
Take a short comfort break before getting back on the bus for your 1-hour journey home. Relax and unwind, and before you know it, you’ll be back in Perth and at your accommodation.
*The meal is included. Please choose at the time of booking from 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.
Includes
Pickup/Drop Off: Round Trip Ex Perth
National Park Entry Fee
High-Tea
Gravity Discovery Centre Entry Fee
Dinner
Leaning Tower of Gin Gin Entry Fee
Observatory Astronomy Tour
Excludes
Gravity Discovery Centre Snacks & Beverages (at own cost)
Important Information
- Minimum numbers apply (cancellation and full refund if applies)
- Guests must be able to go approximately two hours after pickup without a bathroom break, as the first stop is at Nambung National Park
- Not suitable for wheelchair use (Pinnacles only)
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
