Lancelin is on the International Windsurfing Circuit, so gale force sea breezes are not a bad thing.  Unless you were on one of the fourteen ships, wrecked off this inhospitable coastline.  The Dutch ship Gilt Dragon (Vergulde Draeck) is located seven kilometres south, near Ledge Point.  Wrecked on the 28th April 1656, only 75 of the 200 crew made it ashore.   Isolated in pre-colonial Western Australia, the survivors mysteriously vanished, despite attempts to rescue them.  In 1931 forty silver guilder coins were found in the sand hills near the entrance to Moore River.  To make sure windsurfers are now the only people washed ashore, a lighthouse was established in 1984.  Known as the Guilderton Lighthouse, it is constructed of tapered red clay bricks, and is 32 metres tall.

The dunes loom behind the houses like a surreal moonscape, and driving over them is a popular pastime.  On any given day expect to see a multitude of dirt bikers, dune buggy drivers, and 4WD owners roaring over the dunes.  If you don't have the fancy hardware, sliding down the dunes on a sand board is another great way to have fun.

Nestled between the wind surfers, and the dune enthusiasts is the townsite of Lancelin.  It is easy to get caught up in all the action, and forget about the place that started it all.  Founded in 1950, Lancelin is a small fishing town, about 127 kilometres north of Perth.  It is situated along the edge of a bay, protected from the Indian Ocean by reefs and islands.  This provides a safe anchorage for the rock lobster fleet, and is ideal for recreational water activities.  Lancelin is also the home to a large population of sea lions and dolphins.

When driving to Lancelin, be sure to visit the seaside towns of Guilderton, Seabird, and Ledge Point.  They are all located on the road to Lancelin, and provide a window into the life of small Australian fishing communities.