"Good driver-guide, full of humor, thoughtfulness and empathy. Good organization, varied and interesting activities, breathtaking show at the Pinnacles, with the sunlight as the master of the sky. The overall experience was well balanced."
CHECK THE SKY
Cloud decides the night
—
Cloud over tonight’s dark hours
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Moon tonight
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Full darkness tonight
Forecast cloud for Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park · month-by-month sky · checked · data from MET Norway
Sky brightness
No published measurement
None published for this site. Checked October 2026.
Bortle class (est.)
Not estimated
No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the Pinnacles Desert. It holds no dark-sky designation. No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data.
Dark-sky designation
None
Checked October 2026.
Elevation
Not published
No elevation published for the Pinnacles Desert. Checked October 2026.
Best months for the Milky Way
May, Jun, Jul
Most core hours above 20° in full darkness, weighted by night cloud (core season February to October). Computed with JPL DE421 and NASA POWER, checked October 2026.
Nambung National Park · Western Australia · From Perth
Pinnacles Stargazing Tours: Sunset in the Desert, Dinner, Then the Stars
The Pinnacles tours leave Perth in the afternoon, stop at the Lancelin dunes, watch the sunset among the limestone pillars of Nambung National Park, and stargaze over dinner before the drive back.
From
US$170
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.8 / 5 1795+ Reviews
- 10 Dark-Sky Places Compared on This Site
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Lumineer Pinnacles Tour Includes
About 9.5 hours, with national park fees included. If weather spoils the stargazing, the operator guarantees a refund.
Highlights
- Pickup from designated Perth CBD hotels
- Sandboarding on the Lancelin dunes, or a beachside pub
- Sunset in the Pinnacles Desert
- A BBQ dinner and a glass of Australian wine
- Telescopes and astro binoculars under the stars
What's Included
- Designated Perth CBD hotel pick-up and CBD accommodation drop-off
- Local guide with live commentary
- Transportation to and from the Pinnacles Desert
- Glass of Aussie wine
- Freshly cooked traditional Aussie BBQ dinner
- Use of sandboards
- National park entry fees
- Desert trail transportation
- Use of telescopes and astro binoculars
- Child seats (advanced notice required)
- Dietary restrictions catered for (advance notice required)
How a Pinnacles Stargazing Tour Works
From the Perth pickup to dinner under the stars.
Pick a Date
Book a night near the new moon if you can. The tours run through the year, with departure times set by the sunset.
Afternoon Pickup in Perth
The coach collects you in the city and heads north up the coast, with a stop at the Lancelin dunes.
Sunset at the Pinnacles
You walk among the limestone pillars of Nambung National Park as the sun goes down, then sit down to dinner.
Telescopes, Then Home
After dark the guide sets up the telescopes, then the coach drives back to Perth late at night.
Photo Gallery
The Pinnacles at Dusk
Limestone pillars at sunset, the dunes and the night sky.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What the Tour Brings, and What You Bring
Lumineer Adventure Tours includes
- Designated Perth CBD hotel pick-up and CBD accommodation drop-off
- Transportation to and from the Pinnacles Desert
- Glass of Aussie wine
- Freshly cooked traditional Aussie BBQ dinner
- Desert trail transportation
- Use of telescopes and astro binoculars
From the tour's GetYourGuide listing, checked October 2026.
Bring
- Warm layers, a hat and gloves: the night is colder than the day, in every month
- A red light, or a phone set to a red screen: white light ruins your night vision
- Binoculars rather than your own telescope: they need no setup and show far more than your eyes
- Closed shoes for uneven ground in the dark
Month by month
When the Sky Is Darkest at the Pinnacles Desert
Night cloud, Milky Way core hours and the next new moon in each month, at the observing site.
| Month | Night cloud | Full darkness | Milky Way core | Next new moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35% | 7 h | 0 h | 8 Jan 2027 |
| February | 39% | 8 h | 1.6 h | 6 Feb 2027 |
| March | 39% | 9 h | 4 h | 8 Mar 2027 |
| April | 44% | 10 h | 6.3 h | 7 Apr 2027 |
| May best | 43% | 10.6 h | 8.6 h | 6 May 2027 |
| June best | 51% | 10.9 h | 10.4 h | 5 Jun 2027 |
| July best | 52% | 10.8 h | 9 h | 4 Jul 2027 |
| August | 46% | 10.2 h | 6.7 h | 2 Aug 2027 |
| September | 40% | 9.4 h | 4.4 h | 1 Sep 2027 |
| October | 38% | 8.4 h | 2.1 h | 29 Oct 2027 |
| November | 36% | 7.3 h | 0.1 h | 9 Nov 2026 |
| December | 33% | 6.7 h | 0 h | 9 Dec 2026 |
Night cloud: NASA POWER climatology (CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT), January 2001 to December 2025, at the observing site's grid cell (40 m). Darkness and Milky Way hours: computed for 2027 with JPL DE421 via Skyfield (sun more than 18° below the horizon; galactic centre at least 20° up). No night temperatures shown: site elevation not published. Checked October 2026.
What you will see
The Sky Over the Pinnacles Desert, Month by Month
Computed star charts for the observing site on new-moon nights, at the hour the tours are out. The Milky Way is drawn schematically.
Night calendar
Dark Nights Coming Up at the Pinnacles Desert
The nights around a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local to the observing site.
Next new moons
- 9 November 2026
- 9 December 2026
- 8 January 2027
- 6 February 2027
- 8 March 2027
- 7 April 2027
Meteor showers
- Orionids, peak night 22 October 2026 bright moon
- Leonids, peak night 18 November 2026 bright moon
- Geminids, peak night 14 December 2026 some moonlight
- Lyrids, peak night 23 April 2027 bright moon
- Eta Aquariids, peak night 6 May 2027 dark moon
- Southern Delta Aquariids, peak night 29 July 2027 dark moon
Milky Way season
Core season February to October. Best months: May, June and July.
Lunar eclipses
- 19 July 2027, 00:04 local: penumbral (a faint shading, easy to miss)
New moons, darkness and eclipse visibility: JPL DE421 via Skyfield. Meteor-shower peaks from the IAU Meteor Data Center's established-shower solar longitudes (Jopek & Kaňuchová); the peak night can shift by a day. Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC. Moon labels: under 25% lit = dark moon, under 60% = some moonlight. Checked October 2026.
Tour or on your own?
The Pinnacles on Your Own, or With a Tour?
- Do you have a car and the stamina for about two and a half hours' drive each way, the return after dark?
- Will you bring dinner, a telescope or binoculars, and warm layers?
- Are you happy to drive country roads at night, where kangaroos cross?
Yes to all three
Go on your own
Drive to Nambung National Park for the sunset and stay into the dark; the Pinnacles Desert is far from city lights.
No to any of them
Book the tour
City pickup, the dunes, the sunset walk, dinner with wine, telescopes and a guide, and the drive home done for you.
Check dates →Lumineer vs. Autopia vs. Australian Pinnacle Tours
Three Pinnacles sunset and stargazing tours from Perth side by side. Prices as of October 2026.
| Feature | MOST REVIEWED Lumineer, Sunset BBQ and Stargazing | Autopia Tours, Sunset and Stargazing | Australian Pinnacle Tours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From US$170/per person | From US$140 | From US$175 |
| Rating | 4.8/5 (1,795 reviews) | 4.7/5 (1,147 reviews) | 4.5/5 (251 reviews) |
| Length | About 9.5 hours | About 9 hours | About 9 hours |
| Dinner | BBQ and a glass of wine | Picnic with a glass of wine | Pub dinner |
| Stargazing | Telescopes and astro binoculars | A telescope | By eye; a sightseeing tour |
| Other Stops | Lancelin dunes, sandboarding or a pub | Lookouts, Lancelin, guided Pinnacles walk | Yanchep koalas and kangaroos |
| Weather | Refund if weather spoils the stargazing | Not stated | Cancelled if the forecast is very bad |
| Free Cancellation | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead |
| Best For | Telescopes and the most reviews | A lower price | Wildlife and an easy pace |
| Check Availability | View Autopia Tours | View Australian Pinnacle Tours |
Other Stargazing Tours in Australia
A second Pinnacles tour with a picnic dinner, the astronomy tour at Uluru, and a night wildlife tour from Perth.
The Pinnacles Stargazing Guide
Which Pinnacles Stargazing Tour to Book
The Perth tours compared on dinner, telescopes and price, plus Uluru.
The Pinnacles tour to book is Lumineer Adventure Tours’ sunset, BBQ and stargazing day: CBD pickup, sandboarding at Lancelin, the sunset among the pillars, a BBQ dinner with a glass of wine, and telescopes and astro binoculars after dark, from US$170 a person as of October 2026, rated 4.8 from 1,795 reviews. Autopia Tours runs the cheaper alternative with a picnic dinner and wine under the stars, from US$142, rated 4.7 from 1,147 reviews.
Why the Pinnacles
The Pinnacles Desert, in Nambung National Park north of Perth, is a field of limestone pillars that the tours reach in time for the sunset. By the time dinner is over the sky is dark, far from Perth’s lights, and the southern Milky Way rises over the desert. The Pinnacles hold no dark-sky designation; the tours sell the setting and the telescopes.
The Pinnacles tours compared
| Tour (operator) | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | Dinner | Stargazing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset BBQ, stargazing and sandboarding (Lumineer) | US$170 | 4.8 (1,795) | 9.5 hours | BBQ and a glass of wine | Telescopes and astro binoculars |
| Sunset and stargazing with dinner (Autopia Tours) | US$142 | 4.7 (1,147) | 9 hours | Picnic with a glass of wine | A telescope |
| Sunset and stargazing with dinner (Australian Pinnacle Tours) | US$177 | 4.5 (251) | 9 hours | Pub dinner | Naked eye; “not an astronomy expedition” |
| Wildlife tour under the stars (Quokka Adventure Tours) | US$118 | 4.9 (60) | 9.5 hours | Picnic BBQ | A night walk; no telescope stated |
Prices, ratings and review counts as of October 2026; operators change prices, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Who each one suits
Pick by how much astronomy you want:
Telescopes and a BBQ
Lumineer Adventure Tours
The dunes, the sunset, a BBQ dinner and telescopes, with a refund if weather spoils the stargazing.
Check dates →Picnic under the stars
Autopia Tours
Lookouts on the way up, a guided Pinnacles walk, a picnic dinner with wine and a telescope. Ages 6 and up.
See this tour →Uluru instead
Uluru Astro Tours
Telescopes in the national park, Aboriginal sky stories and a photo under the stars, with pickup at Yulara.
See this tour →Lumineer is the most reviewed and the most astronomy-minded of the Perth day tours, with telescopes and astro binoculars, and it guarantees a refund if weather prevents the stargazing. It is not suitable for people with motion sickness or vertigo, and children under 7 need a car restraint arranged with the operator.
Autopia Tours is the cheaper full day, with a guided walk of 1 to 2 kilometres among the pillars that needs moderate fitness, and a luggage limit of a small bag.
Australian Pinnacle Tours says of itself that it is “a relaxed sightseeing tour rather than a professional astronomy-based expedition”: koalas and kangaroos at Yanchep, the sunset, a pub dinner and the stars by eye.
Quokka Adventure Tours heads inland instead, to Dryandra Woodland and the Barna Mia sanctuary for nocturnal wildlife, with a picnic BBQ; the sanctuary entry is extra.
Uluru
At Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru Astro Tours runs a 2.5-hour astronomy evening with telescopes, Aboriginal sky stories and a photo, from US$92, rated 4.4 from 566 reviews. Guests do not need their own park pass on this tour.
Cold, the drive and the moon
Cold. Desert nights are cool even after a warm day; every operator asks for a jacket.
The drive. The day tours are long, nine hours or more, and get back to Perth late.
The moon. A bright moon hides the faint Milky Way. The night calendar lists the next new moons for the Pinnacles.
For a southern sky at its darkest, see Lake Tekapo stargazing; for how to photograph it, how to photograph the Milky Way.
Guest Reviews
What Recent Guests Say
4.8/5
from 1795 verified reviews
"The one day trip was exceptionally impressive!!! We had a lot of fun!!! The sandboarding too!! The food was super delicious!! And our guide did a really great job!!! He explained so much about everything and also provided information about Perth and the surrounding area! The stargazing was fantastic!!It was just perfect!!!"
"The excursion was really great! We were picked up at our accommodation at noon, and then the tour kicked off with some fascinating information along the way. Our guide Peter made it very pleasant! The sandboarding was great, and it was also very nice in the Pinnacles Desert. First, we were able to walk around on our own. During lunch – which was also very good, with sausages, meat, bread, various salads, biscuits and various drinks – we then received more fascinating information about the stars before we could admire them under a clear sky. With no light pollution, we were able to see the Milky Way, the Moon, Venus, Mercury and the zodiac sign Scorpio, all of which Peter showed us. What's more, you could even see Saturn's rings through the telescope – that was truly amazing. All in all, a very nice and highly recommended excursion!"
"Thanks so much!! It was an amazing experience. I will definitely recommend this tour to my friends!!"
"We really enjoyed the excursion. The guide was super nice, very helpful, and had an answer to all our questions. The BBQ was really well organized. We even saw kangaroos!!"
"It was our first and fantastic excursion in Australia. Great weather, and our guide David was a hoot – always well prepared and ready to accommodate the group's requests. The Pinnacles and the Dunes are fantastic places. Varied and plentiful food of excellent quality. My wife, who is vegetarian, was pleasantly surprised. Thanks also to Mark for his explanation of Australian endemic plants during a stop, and for the stargazing session with a telescope after dinner. This trip is sure to remain in our memories. Highly recommended."
"Exceeded all my expectations. Thank you Dave for a truly unique and very memorable experience. This tour is for sure one of my highlights of my six week trip through Asia and Australia. Also the food was delicious and everything was so well prepared and on time. Loved the stargazing too. 10 out of 10!!!!"
"Amazing things to do! The guides are great (shout-out to Sam), sandboarding is super fun, and the pinnacles are magnificent!"
Read all 1795 verified reviews
See All ReviewsPick a Night, See the Price
Many stargazing tours on this site move you to another night if cloud cancels the session. Check the terms of the tour you pick before you pay. Starting from US$170 per person.
Check AvailabilityFAQ: Pinnacles Stargazing
The day tours from Perth, the weather, the drive and Uluru, with prices as of October 2026.
Yes, if you want the sunset, dinner and telescopes without driving back to Perth at night. The tours cost from about US$140 as of October 2026 and run nine hours or more. Lumineer is the most reviewed and brings telescopes; compare them on this page.
In Nambung National Park, north of Perth near the town of Cervantes. The day tours drive up the coast via the Lancelin dunes and arrive for the sunset. The calendar shows departures.
Some do. Lumineer brings telescopes and astro binoculars, and Autopia a telescope; Australian Pinnacle Tours describes itself as a relaxed sightseeing tour, not an astronomy expedition. See the table above.
Lumineer guarantees a refund if weather prevents or critically affects the experience. Australian Pinnacle Tours may cancel on a very bad forecast and contacts guests ahead. Cancellation terms are on each listing; check the tonight strip for the cloud forecast.
Yes, with some limits. Autopia takes ages 6 and up; Lumineer asks you to arrange a car restraint for children under 7. The cards above link to each listing.
Yes: Uluru Astro Tours runs a 2.5-hour astronomy evening with telescopes and Aboriginal sky stories. It costs from about US$91 as of October 2026, includes pickup at Yulara and a photo, and you do not need your own park pass. See the Uluru card.
The Pinnacles, north of the city, or Dryandra Woodland inland. Closer in, Off The Beaten Track WA runs a sunset and stargazing hike from Sullivan Rock with an astronomer and a telescope. For a full night, book the Pinnacles tour.
No published measurement. No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the Pinnacles Desert. It holds no dark-sky designation. No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data. Checked October 2026.
May, June, July. Those months combine the most Milky Way core hours with the least night cloud at the observing site: the core stands at least 20° up for an hour or more of full darkness from February to October. Core hours computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield; night cloud from NASA POWER (2001-2025), checked October 2026.
9 November 2026, 9 December 2026, 8 January 2027. The nights either side of a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local, computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield, checked October 2026.
About 41% night cloud cover on average across the year. The clearest month is December (33%), the cloudiest July (52%). NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2025, checked October 2026.
Still have questions? Email us at info@beststargazing.com
Night-cloud and night-low climatology: NASA POWER Project, January 2001 to December 2025 · Tonight's cloud: data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Moon, darkness and Milky Way geometry: JPL DE421 via Skyfield · Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC · Meteor showers: IAU Meteor Data Center list of established showers · Sky data checked October 2026.