A DAY TRIP FROM PERTH: CHRISTMAS AMONG SAND DUNES, PINNACLES, AND JURIEN BAY
There are times in life when everything changes: habits, places, the people around you. This was my Christmas on 25 December, celebrated far from home, far from Italy and the family traditions that make this holiday so special. I am in Australia, thousands of kilometres away from what I know and love, but I decided to turn nostalgia into an opportunity to experience something new.
So instead of preparing Christmas lunch or unwrapping presents under the tree, I took my little Limoncino - my yellow Hyundai Getz - and set off to explore three extraordinary places: the Lancelin Sand Dunes, the Pinnacles Desert and the Jurien Bay coastline.
When you live far from home, especially on a day like Christmas, it's easy to be overcome by nostalgia. But Australia has the power to remind you that there are many ways to celebrate this day. I decided to live my 25 December as an adventure, discovering corners of nature that look like something out of a dream.
Early in the morning, I loaded up the car with everything I needed - water, snacks, camera and lots of curiosity - and set off from Perth. My first stop: the Lancelin Sand Dunes, about 130 km away.
The Lancelin Sand Dunes are something beyond imagination. When I first saw those expanses of fine white sand, I felt catapulted into another world. Before venturing into the dunes, I stopped at a local petrol station to rent a sandboard.
Sliding down those hills was a thrilling experience. Amidst laughter, falls and an endless amount of sand stuck everywhere, I forgot for a moment the distance from home and let the joy of the moment wash over me. It doesn't matter how old you are: letting yourself go on a board down a dune makes you feel like a child.
The sand was soft underfoot and the wind carried away any nostalgic thoughts, replacing them with the wonder of being in such a unique place, on Christmas Day itself.
After exploring the dunes, the journey continued to the Pinnacles Desert, located in Nambung National Park, about 80 km from Lancelin. The journey was a mix of laughter and minor hiccups, as Google Maps decided to complicate our lives by taking us on dirt roads and off-roads. But, as is often the case, even these hitches added a touch of adventure to the day.
When we finally arrived at the Pinnacles Desert, I was confronted with one of the most surreal landscapes I have ever seen. Thousands of limestone formations emerge from the golden sand, creating a scenery that seems to have come from another planet. Walking among the pinnacles was an almost mystical experience: the silence, the warm air and the sunlight reflecting on the sand made everything magical.
I stopped often to take pictures, but no image could really capture the atmosphere of that place. It was a very unique Christmas, far from the decorated fir trees, but immersed in the wonder of nature.
With the sun beginning to set, I headed to Jurien Bay, a coastal town famous for its quiet beaches. I hoped to end the day with a spectacular sunset, but unfortunately expectations were not fully met. The sky was cloudy, and the sunset did not provide the vibrant colours I had imagined.
Sure, the sunset was not memorable, but in the end, that was not the point: the real Christmas present was the trip itself.
Celebrating 25 December away from home and my traditions was initially a melancholic thought, but this adventure taught me something important: Christmas is not just about where you are, but how you choose to experience it.
The Lancelin Sand Dunes gave me laughter and energy and the Pinnacles Desert made me feel part of a bigger world.
If you too are away from home during the holidays, my advice is to do something special: explore, discover, be amazed. This Christmas, even without pandoro and crib, will be one of the most unforgettable of my life.
Happy holidays... wherever you are in the world!