Want a beach break escape but without all the usual touristy stuff? Now is the perfect time of year to discover Esperance and the WA South-East Coast.
Esperance rewards those who seek adventure. It’s around an eight hour drive from Perth, but with some of the whitest beaches and clearest waters in Australia, it’s worth going the distance.
The Mediterranean-like climate makes visiting the area great all year round and if the weather isn’t ‘Insta-perfect’, the coastline makes a magnificent backdrop for those winter storms, and if the sun is out but the southerly is in, there are plenty of beautiful spots that are protected from any coastal winds.
We know you love to explore, so make sure you also time to stroll around town. Esperance has one of the best community run museums in Australia and the local vendors offer everything including locally crafted goods, delicious food, freshly brewed coffee, beer, and homely pubs.
Places to pull up and stay
Be it a cozy bungalow or a swag rolled out on the beach, Esperance offers a diverse selection of accommodation options to suit every adventurer. No matter where you stay you can find your slice of paradise and create a home away from home.
Esperance has an abundance of bush caravan parks perfect for family camping. Cape Le Grand National Park is home to the world famous Lucky Bay, which boasts barbeques, undercover camper kitchens, tables and chairs, hot showers and toilets. You’ll also find some basic, but well equipped facilities at both Stokes Inlet and Cape Arid National Park.
If you have pets you can choose pull up at Quagi Beach, Alexander Bay, Munglinup Beach Holiday Park or the Orleans Bay Caravan Park (‘The Duke’ as the locals lovingly refer to it). Set in a remote setting, but with the amenities of a tourist park, including fully self-contained chalets, the Duke and Munglinup Holiday Park are sure fire family favorites.
Fishing for the big one
If you want to wet a line some of the state’s best fishing spots are located within the region. Either off the beach or in a boat, you can try your hand at landing the perfect catch. Within Stokes National Park (located west of Esperance) you’ll find a small inlet with shady paperbark trees fringing the water’s edge, making it the ideal spot to set up a camping chair and toss in a line. Woody Lake, which you’ll find nearer to the town center, is also great for kayaking and launching small boats (no pets allowed here, however).
Natural Wonders
You’ve come this far so you might as well make the most of your adventure and discover some of the extraordinary natural wonders of the area.
Although it takes some planning, a boat trip or flight across to Middle Island will not disappoint. Located 130km off the coast of Esperance, the island is home to a breathtaking pink lake – Lake Hillier. The lake usually has high salinity levels that attracts particular algae and bacteria that gives the lake its vibrant colour.
But if pink lakes are not for you, perhaps you’d prefer to visit Mount Ridley. This large granite outcrop rises almost 300 m above sea level. Surrounded by natural bushland, it’s a great place for bushwalks and discovering the local flora and fauna; and of course the views from the summit are pretty spectacular too!
If you’ve never visited the South-East Coast but always wanted to, now is the perfect time to discover the Esperance region. If you want to know more, check out visitesperance.com
