Popular for its epic white beaches, wild kangaroos, and beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park, the town of Esperance in Western Australia is a must-see destination and an amazing place to explore during your Western Australia travel. Of course, there are places to see in Perth and things to do in Fremantle but a road trip from Perth to Esperance is an ultimate dream road trip involving the beauty of the Margaret River region, Albany, and some unique attractions of Western Australia like Wave Rock.
With some of the best beaches in Australia and no shortage of things to do in Esperance, this post is an ultimate Esperance travel guide containing information about all the places to visit in Esperance, the best time to visit Esperance, and where to stay in Esperance.
WHERE IS ESPERANCE?
Esperance is located approximately 700km southeast of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, and is run by the Shire of Esperance. By car, the Perth to Esperance drive will take you approximately 7.5 hours.
BEST TIME TO VISIT ESPERANCE
Being in Southern Hemisphere, Australia sees the summer season from December to February. The average weather in Esperance is the same as it is in the South West Region of Australia. Summers are dry and warm and winters are cold and wet. It is not uncommon to see cloudy or rainy days even in summers and it is also extremely windy all year round.
The best time to visit Esperance would be in December end or January (peak summers). During these months, the weather would be warm to enjoy the Esperance beaches though the water temperature can still be cold for not being able to swim. You can still visit Esperance in the autumn or spring months but it wouldn’t be as good as it would be in summers.
HOW TO GET TO ESPERANCE
By Flight
Esperance Airport is located 23 km north of Esperance on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway and there are flights from Perth To Esperance. REX (Regional Express) is a regional flight that operates between Perth and Esperance.
By Road
The best way to get to Esperance is by doing a road trip from Perth. Perth to Esperance road trip is a popular road trip in Western Australia. It allows you to explore the best regions and places that Australia’s South West has to offer. There is no shortage of adventure sports along this road trip and you get to discover all the major touristy places in Western Australia. The shortest distance for a road trip is from Perth via Hyden to Esperance.
By Bus / Coach
The cheapest way to reach Esperance is by bus but the journey is around 10 hrs. TransWA has coaches to get you across WA. Check the coach Timetables here.
Tour
You can also join a 6-day tour from Perth if you are interested in a group trip.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ESPERANCE
1. Explore Cape Le Grand National Park
You can’t visit Esperance without visiting Cape Le Grand National Park. It is one of the most spectacular southern coast national parks and is amongst the top things to do in Esperance WA. Cape Le Grand National Park can arguably be the most beautiful National Park in Western Australia with an abundance of white sand beaches, unspoiled scenery, and stunning views of granite peaks.
A 45-minute drive from Esperance town on sealed roads will take you on an unforgettable adventure and you will be able to see some of the best beaches in Esperance WA. Since Cape Le Grand is a National Park, all the national park rules apply here whether you are at the beach or not. Dogs are not allowed at the beach and entry fees apply as follows:
- Private vehicle with up to 12 occupants $15 per vehicle (standard)
- Private vehicle with more than 12 occupants $7 per occupant 6 years or older
- Motorcycle $8 per motorcycle
You can purchase a daily pass but since you are already in WA, chances are that you would be visiting a few more National Parks so it is worth getting the holiday pass to save money. If you are a RAC WA member, you can buy yearly passes for a 50% discount directly through the online RAC shop.
Cape Le Grand National Park is rich in beauty especially the beaches. There are 5 beaches in the park including Hellfire Bay, Lucky Bay, Thistle Cove, Cape Le Grand Beach, and Rossiter Bay and each of them is stunning so you have enough options to work on that tan. If you happen to spend around a week in Esperance or even a few days, I highly recommend visiting the Cape Le Grand National Park for at least 2-3 days so you can completely soak in the beauty of these beaches in Esperance.
Regarding the accommodation in Cape Le Grand National Park, it has a campground with 14 sites suitable for tents, campervans, caravans, and trailers. Check all the information regarding the campground and booking here.
READ MORE: Interested in doing a Perth to Esperance road trip? Here is a detailed Perth to Esperance itinerary.
2. Climb the summit of Frenchman Peak
If you are someone who loves hiking or enjoys the view from above then the hike to Frenchman Peak in Esperance will really surprise you. Frenchman Peak is a granite dome with a pointy peak that resembles a hat with a pointy top. Located in Cape Le Grand National Park, Frenchman Peak can be seen from a far distance and is a challenging steep hike of grade 5 difficulty.
The steep trail to the summit offers spectacular coastal views making it a rewarding hike despite the challenge. You need to be moderately fit to complete the hike. The first part of the hike takes you to a cave and then the second part gets a little steeper where you have to go around the cave to reach the summit i.e cave’s top.
The hike is marked properly and you should adhere to the markers in order to stay safe. In case of rain, the rocks will become slippery making the hike to Frenchman Peak dangerous so I don’t recommend hiking in rain. Wear proper hiking shoes to avoid any mishap. This 262m tall Frenchman Peak will take around a 2 hrs return trip with enough time to soak in the views and take pictures. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Esperance if you are an adventure lover.
3. Take a coastal bushwalk around Cape Le Grand
The Coastal Trail is a spectacular, but challenging 17 km Grade 4 one-way walk trail in Cape Le Grand National Park, 30 minutes drive from Esperance. The experienced walker can hike from bay to bay, enjoying some of the best coastal scenery in Australia and colorful wildflowers during spring. But if you are not an experienced hiker this coastal trail is the best thing to do in Esperance, I suggest you take multiple days to complete the walk or just do one section of it.
The trail runs from Cape Le Grand Beach to Rossiter Bay (or visa versa) with Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove, and Lucky Bay in between. The hike can be broken into 4 sections for easy understanding and you can choose to do the whole part or any/few sections of it.
1. Le Grand Beach to Hellfire Bay
Time: Allow 3 hours (one way)
Classification: Difficult
2. Hellfire Bay to Thistle Cove
Time: Allow 2-3 hours (one way)
Classification: Difficult
3. Thistle Cove to Lucky Bay
Time: Allow 1 hour (one way)
Classification: Moderately easy
This is the least time taking but still a beautiful walk so I suggest doing this if you don’t have enough time and experience of bushwalking.
4. Lucky Bay to Rossiter Bay
Time: Allow 2-3 hours (one way)
Classification: Moderately easy
4. Complete the tourist loop of the Great Ocean Drive
As soon as you reach Esperance, the first thing you should be doing is the Great Ocean Drive loop. This 40 km scenic circular loop is one of the best things to do in Esperance and can be easily accessed by car. Starting from Esplanade at Taylor street jetty, the Great Ocean Drive in Esperance features the astonishing coastal scenery of Esperance including amazing beaches, rocky headlands, windfarm, and hidden bays.
It’s more than just a drive and there is a lot to experience and see along the way so make sure you have enough time to make stops in between. Great Ocean Drive can be enjoyed in more than one way as there are 2 parts of the Great Ocean Trail that involves walking and cycleway.
Great Ocean Drive Trail 1 – The first 8km of the trail follows the spectacular Esperance coastline from the Esplanade all the way to Twilight Beach. You can return the same way or continue towards the second trail.
Great Ocean Drive Trail 2 – This part of the trail heads north from Twilight Beach in Esperance for another 9 km through native bushland and past the pink lake lookout to complete the loop. It is sealed all the way and suitable for walkers, runners, cyclists, and prams.
5. Say HI to the residents (Kangaroos) at Lucky Bay Esperance
Nestled within the magnificent Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay was once known as the most beautiful white sand beach in Western Australia, all thanks to its amazing beauty. In addition to its white sand, and stunning turquoise water, what made Lucky Bay even more popular are the cute residents better known as Kangaroos that keep on frolicking at the beach to sunbathe or can be found in the bushes. It also helped put Esperance on the map for other tourists.
Though watching them moving freely on the beach is definitely one of the best things to do in Esperance, you also have to keep in mind that it’s a rare sight nowadays. Because of the increase in tourists to see the kangaroos on the beach riding their vehicle on the beach, they barely come out of the bushes.
You have a better chance of spotting them at the lucky bay campground and if you see them then please do not touch or feed them. They may look cute, but they are wild animals.
P.S: If you love animal encounters then definitely visit Rottnest Island to see the happiest animal, Quokkas.
6. View Lake Hillier from above
The original Pink lake of Esperance is all dried up and not so pink for a few years but don’t be disappointed. If you have never seen a pink lake before then WA actually has a few of them but the most accessible and popular one is Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake near Kalbarri. If you don’t have enough time to take a trip from Perth to Kalbarri then be ready to spend some money to see another Pink Lake in Esperance.
Located on Middle Island in the Goldfields-Esperance region, Lake Hillier is an extraordinary sight that you will lay your eyes on. This beautiful bubble gum pink lake gets its color because of the presence of algae and other microbes and it is an extremely saline lake, as salty as the dead sea.
Though the lake is off-limits to visitors via road, it doesn’t mean you can’t see it and marvel at its beauty. There are 3 ways to see it – Cruise to the Island, by Helicopter and via a scenic flight.
Cruise to the Island – The cruise to Middle Island only takes place in January at limited dates with very few people on board with Esperance Island Cruises. It gives you the opportunity to see the lake from the lake’s viewing platform and the added benefit of taking this cruise is the wildlife encounter along the way. The experience comes at a cost of AUD 390.
By Helicopter – The helicopter ride starts from the helipad of Esperance moving towards Cape Le Grand National park and finally orbiting Lake Hillier. The helicopter lands at a natural rock formation and you will be given a guided walking tour as you walk on the edges of Pink Lake. The experience of seeing the lake from above is a lifetime experience and one of the best things to do in Esperance but it comes at a whopping cost of AUD 1295.
Via a scenic flight – Another way to see Lake Hillier is by taking a scenic flight with Goldfields Air Services that cost AUD 425pp and the total flight time is about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
READ MORE: If you love pink lakes then why not visit the most famous pink lake in Western Australia while you are here – Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake.
7. Visit WA’s Stonehenge
What to see in Esperance doesn’t only limit to beaches. Just a quick 15-minute drive from the Esperance town center, Esperance Stonehenge is the only full-size replica of the original Stonehenge in the UK formed using 137 slabs of local Esperance Pink Granite. Stonehenge is visible from the road as you drive towards the Cape Le Grand National Park and it is also possible to go close to it to see it and to take pictures.
The Stonehenge in Esperance is built in a way to align with the Summer and Winter Solstices in December and June respectively. There is an entry fee to visit this replica which in my opinion is a bit high as you only get to see the replica of Stonehenge and there is nothing else on site. While you are there, check out the gift shop too at the entrance.
NOTE: You can’t fly drones here especially during school holidays but it is always great to ask the staff by contacting them via email, FB, or IG.
8. Take a look from Rotary Lookout
Rotary Lookout is located close to the west beach along the great ocean drive that offers expansive views of the coastal scenery of Esperance and 360 views of the surrounding town. It is just a couple of kilometers out of town and there is enough parking space. On a windy day, it is hard to stay still at the lookout or try to take a stable picture or video.
9. Take a walk at Esperance Esplanade
One of the best Esperance attractions to spend a leisure day is Esperance Esplanade. The esplanade stretches along the length of the town and the coastline. With the views of the sea, take a stroll along the Esplanade that is lined with pine trees and a range of shops, cafes, restaurants, a skatepark, and plenty of other things to enjoy. You will also see the Esperance foreshore playground and the iconic whale tail sculpture at the Esplanade.
10. Grab a drink at Lucky Bay Brewing
Located on Bandy Creek Road, Lucky Bay Brewing is a microbrewery producing local craft beer. It’s one of the Esperance things to do that you shouldn’t miss even if you don’t like beer. It is a local business that sources barley directly from the local farmers to make beers. Lucky Bay Brewing is popular for Beer tasting but you get different wine options along with non-alcoholic options too.
For food, there is a small cafe/restaurant inside the brewery that serves pizza, Gozleme, and a few more options. The food here is not extraordinary but it’s not bad either.
11. Experience the sandbar at Wylie Bay Rock
One of the really unique and coolest things to see in Esperance is Wylie Bay Rock. Wylie Bay is recommended for people with 4WD as the sand is soft and 2WD will get stuck in the sand. Also, the nearby sand dunes of Esperance are also easily accessible from Wylie Bay with a 4WD.
However, if you have a 2WD, you can still see this beautiful site where 2 huge rock outcrop known as “Wylie Bay Rock” immerges out of the ocean during low tide creating a sand bar that looks breathtaking and totally Maldives vibe. Put Wylie Bay on google maps and when you are almost about to reach the end of the route, there is a right turn filled with sand.
If you have a 4WD, drive on it and you will reach Wylie Bay Rock in a minute. However, if you have 4WD, park at the end of the route and walk that sand dune to reach Wylie Bay Rock. You can enjoy swimming, surfing, and fishing, however, beware of the sharks while surfing and always keep an eye for the signs of a shark attack.
TRAVEL TIP: Wylie Bay is not patrolled and it can be quite dangerous at high tide. Also, during the low tide beware the tide can change fast so keep on checking the tides online.
12. Take a day trip to the Woody Island
Just 15km off the coast of Esperance, Woody Island is one of the 105 islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago, a chain of islands. It is the only island that is open to visitors and is a nature lover paradise. Just a 30 min boat ride from Esperance will take you to Woody island and the best way to get there is with Woody island eco-tours.
Though it only takes 30 mins to reach here, the boat ride will take some time as it will show you the wildlife around the island including sea lions, dolphins, and more. There are several walks with amazing views and you can also do kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing here.
In case you are interested in staying a night then Woody Island Eco Tours also have an eco-retreat on the island, with camping and safari hut options. In general, a trip to this lush island is the perfect one-day getaway and is particularly good for families.
13. Be Adventurous at Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park is another one of the beautiful National Park located 120 km from Esperance, a little further than Cape Le Grand National park whose coastline is defined by Cape Arid. It is rugged and wild in beauty but most of the tracks inside Cape Arid National Park can only be accessed by 4WD. So, if you have a four-wheel drive, visiting this national park is a must and one of the best things to do in Esperance.
You will be rewarded with beautiful coastal scenery of granite outcrops, sand dunes and stands of mallee trees, banksia and paperbark, and a lot less crowd. Cape Arid National Park is biodiverse and many walk trails can be found in the park, including the Len Otte Nature Trail, Tagon Coastal Trail, Boolenup Walk Trail and hike up to the summit of both Mount Ragged and Mount Arid.
The most accessible campsite is at Thomas River with conventional drive access, barbecues, toilets, and water tanks. Other campsites at Mount Ragged, Poison Creek, and Deal Creek are only accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles and have BBQ’s, toilets but you have to bring your own water for everything.
TRAVEL TIP: The park is huge but mostly with no signs posted so you have to be very cautious. Water is scarce here so bring your own water in enough quantity. Also, access along the 4WD tracks in the National Park is subject to weather conditions.
14. Visit the Esperance Museum Village & Markets
Esperance Museum Village is basically a collection of historic buildings (houses, school, headmaster’s quarters, etc.) that have been brought together in a park setting in Esperance near the museum. The buildings are preserved and mostly occupied by various shops including a bookshop (excellent), a cafe, gift shops, and a health shop. There’s probably something for everyone here.
Esperance Museum Village is open:
- Mon – Fri 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Sat – Sat 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
The Museum Village markets happen on two Sundays, every month with market stalls filling the lawn of the periodic village on Dempster Street. Stalls include local businesses and artisans, produce, arts and craft, honey and preserves, fresh coffee and juice, food vendors, and more. It is a great place to have some family time and kids will surely love it.
15. Have fun at Adventureland Park Esperance
If you are wondering What to do in Esperance when the kids are also involved then apart from all the adventures mentioned above, then Adventureland Park is one of the best Esperance tourist attractions for your kids to have a fun day. This recreational park has a fully enclosed family area for BBQ facilities and picnics. There are walking trails, swings, and mazes to keep the little one busy.
The miniature train keeps the young ones delighted and miniature golf is a fun activity to get involved in. With lots of outdoor activity, it is a great place for having fun with the family.
MAP OF ESPERANCE ATTRACTIONS
WHERE TO STAY IN ESPERANCE
Being a lovely coastal town, there is no shortage of accommodation in Esperance and there is one that suits the need of everyone.
MOST POPULAR – One of the most popular places to stay in Esperance that can also be considered as one of the things to do in Esperance is to stay at Esperance Chalet Village. It is one of a kind accommodation that is picturesque and unique but you have to book it well in advance as there are only a few chalets on site. Check out the latest price for the Esperance Chalet here.
PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION – Comfort Inn Bay of Isles is one of the premier Esperance accommodations that is centrally located and ticks all the boxes of a comfortable stay. Check out the latest price here.
There are a lot of different stays in Esperance to choose from and you can check all the Esperance accommodations and their latest prices on booking.com.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This Southern gem in Western Australia is worth the trip if you want to see what paradise looks like. The whitest sand beaches, beautiful turquoise water, and the laid-back charm of Esperance town guarantee an unforgettable trip.
Happy Travels!
PLANNING A TRIP TO ESPERANCE? DON’T MISS OUT ON OTHER AMAZING PLACES TO VISIT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA!
12 Unbelievably White Sand Beaches In Esperance
Perth to Esperance: An Exciting 14 Day Road Trip Itinerary
A Useful Guide to visiting Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake Kalbarri
Perth to Kalbarri: An Exciting 4 Day Road trip Itinerary
How to Plan a Perfect Day Trip to Rottnest Island
15 Unbelievably Interesting Things to do in Fremantle
LIKE THIS POST ON THINGS TO DO IN ESPERANCE, SAVE IT FOR LATER!
I haven’t made it to WA yet but Esperance looks amazing so I’ll definitely go when I can! I love your kangaroo on the beach pic! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to visit this beautiful place. I was so hoping to visit WA next month, but flights were canceled.
I think I’ve heard of Esperance before but I didn’t know too much about it. That pink lake looks amazing to fly over, and I would definitely enjoy taking a hike along the coastline.
These are by far the most beautiful pictures i’ve seen of Australia so far. I want to see all of it! The National Parks are what draws me to a place, and these look wonderful. Plus i’ve always wanted to see a pink lake 😍 Great itinerary of things to do in Esperance.