Cervantes came into being as a small fishing village in 1966 and has grown to a current population of 532. While rock lobster (crayfish) fishing remains the primary industry recent years have seen the emergence of a vibrant and flourishing tourist industry with an estimated 200,000 visitors + passing through The Pinnacles. A rapidly growing percentage of these visitors are now choosing to spend increasing amounts of time in the town, the most commonly expressed sentiment being that of regret for not being able to stay longer.
The town of Cervantes is located on the coastal plain, 250 kms north of Perth. The topography in general is relatively flat and low-lying, with the exception of several locations that relate to the remnants of stabilised coastal dune formations. Examples of these can be found in such locations as the Ronsard Bay Tavern, lookout locations, southern sub divisions and the Cervantes Golf Course. Annual rainfall is between 550mm and 600mm of which approx. 80% falls in winter leaving a relatively dry spell of approx. 5 months. Temperature ranges from a mean maximum of approx. 30 degrees in February to a mean minimum of approx. 9 degrees Celsius in August. Although daily temperatures are high in summer the afternoons and evenings are generally moderated by the cooling effects of strong afternoon sea breezes. Winds in the summer months are generally easterly in the earlier parts of the day, with a stonger southwesterly influence usually before noon. Ideal conditions for windsurfing prevail from November - March.
