Many of the visitors to The Pinnacles will come to see the unusual limestone pillars rising out of the golden desert as if they were ruins from another world. They take pictures of the different colors of the landscape changing throughout the day, and ultimately prepare to drive back to Perth after sunset; however, there is another incredible experience you will miss if you leave after sunset.
The main attraction in the desert becomes the sky.
The dark sky is far away from the city lights and has incredible stars. The stars are so bright because there are no bright, artificial lights competing for your attention. People who live in large cities have never experienced a sky this dark.
Because there is no sound, visiting the Pinnacles is an incredible experience.
When you visit the Pinnacles, there are no cars on the street, no flashing billboards, and no other noises; the only thing you hear is the occasional breeze blowing through the desert. It is such a serene, almost surreal, feeling.
One evening tour guide decided to have everyone stop staring at the famous rock formations, and simply looked up.
Although it may seem an easy instruction, it changed the experience entirely.
Using a laser pointer guide traced the constellations in the night sky, describing how ancient civilizations navigated using these constellations before GPS, mobile phones and even accurate maps.
Now, the stars are not only beautiful to look at but also link back to their history.
With every constellation that came up, the night sky of Australia appeared alive. The other visitors were able to see how previous societies understood their environment in 1000 years’ time because of the stories related to the stars.
Then came the main event of the evening.
All lights surrounding the group were turned off.
It was seconds before the desert became an enormous natural observatory; with little-to-no light interference, the Milky Way could easily be observed leading through the sky and stars were now so abundant they would almost reach for them.
Most visitors simply stood in awe as they soaked in the experience.
Many visitors grabbed their cameras to photograph this beautiful event, while others preferred to enjoy the view without taking pictures.
The tour also provided one last exclusive experience.
They came prepared for the trip with telescopes so they could see the heavens up close and have better views of the distant stars and other features in the night sky.
It was the first time that many people have viewed the sky through a telescope in perfect conditions.
Surprisingly, the stargazing session often left an impression that was stronger than seeing the desert.
During the day, the Pinnacles look fantastic; the unique limestone formations combined with the endless starry sky gives the visitor the impression they are watching a movie.
It’s easy to see why visitors have said the Pinnacles look like they are from a different world.
Eventually, all great nights come to an end.
After spending the evening looking up at one of the best night skies in Australia, everyone piled back on the tour bus and headed back to Perth. The guide said that he hoped everyone would have a safe and pleasant trip, and then drove the group away from the Pinnacles and towards Perth.
As the darkness took over the desert, the desert became a distant memory; however, many of the memories of that night would be remembered for much longer.
Though The Pinnacles is well-known for their amazing landscape, one of its biggest surprises happens after dark. When all of the visitors stop looking at the rocks and start looking up, they will see something really spectacular that does not require any special effects, lighting, or today’s technology.
They will see nothing but the sky, stars, and an empty desert reminding them how vast and beautiful the universe can be when there is nothing in the way.
