Western Australia covers almost half of Australia, most of it being a barren and dry desert.  The landscapes are dramatic here which makes for great travel photography and driving in this part of the country felt very different from the rest of Australia.  It felt more raw and desolate.  As I finished my trip through Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and Kangaroo Island, I only had about a week left to explore a small section of Western Australia.  I stopped at the Pinnacles Desert, the Lancelin sand dunes, and finally Rottnest Island to visit the quokkas.  My intention is to return back to Western Australia to visit the rest of this region, specifically the national parks in the north.

Pinnacles desert – Nambung National Park

I drove up the coast to explore Nambung National Park, home to the Pinnacles Desert.  This desert is home to thousands of unique limestone formations with tall white sand dunes in the background.  The best time to explore is late in the day, when the sun is low and the light hits the rock formations from an angle, creating cool shadows and soft colors.   The sun set here was one the best sunsets I had seen in all of Australia.

Lancelin sand dunes

South from the Pinnacles desert lies the impressive giant white sand dunes near the town of Lancelin.  Combined with a clear blue sky, these dunes make for some great photo opportunities.  The sand dunes reminded me a bit of the Sahara desert, albeit white.  It does get quite windy here as the dunes are along the coast, which was obviously not the best for my camera gear.  So come prepared with some protective gear.

Travel photography Western Australia | Best places to visit in Western Australia