The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park - Wow!! National Parks have done a great job with pathways and signage etc etc with this park and the women in the information centre were very pleasant and informative. An excellent start. One can either walk or drive around the Pinnacles (2 different routes). We chose to walk. It was so good to get in amongst the rocks, some over 3.5 metres high and all different shapes and sizes - just amazing.
The area contains thousands of these weathered limestone pillars. The different types of formations include ones which are much taller than they are wide and resemble columns—suggesting the name of Pinnacles—while others are only a meter or so in height and width resembling short tombstones. A cross-bedding structure can be observed in many pinnacles where the angle of deposited sand changed suddenly due to changes in prevailing winds during formation of the limestone beds. Pinnacles with tops similar to mushrooms are created when the calcrete capping is harder than the limestone layer below it. The relatively softer lower layers weather and erode at a faster rate than the top layer leaving behind more material at the top of the pinnacle.
Time to look out for a camp spot. We found a couple of Wickicamp sites just near Julien Bay. (we needed a bush camp after being in a caravan park for four days). First, we checked out the Banksia Rest Area but it was only very small and right next to the road. No other campers and a bit of toilet paper about - Why do people have to be so inconsiderate. Drove back to Tuarts Reserve where we camped among the Tuart trees. There were quite a few others camping there including a few "Whizz Bankers" (Vans with sliding doors that go Whizz Bang every time they are closed). Also some kids playing soccer
