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Esperance had been high on our Aussie bucket list for so long. Everyone kept saying, “You just have to go there. Wait until you see the beaches around Esperance, you’ll be blown away!”
Having spent 18 months travelling around Australia, it was getting harder and harder to be blown away by places, especially by beaches, and though our expectations were high, we were quick to realise what all the fuss was about.
For those that don’t know, Esperance is the gateway to Cape Le Grand National Park, home to Lucky Bay – but there are more things to do in Esperance than just visit the national park and beaches.
As for the town of Esperance, I found it a bit rundown, drab and lacking any real vibe, but the attractions outside the town are well worth making a stop here on your trip to Western Aus.
Not sure what to do in Esperance? Here are some ideas…
Things To Do In Esperance
1. Visit Lucky Bay
You’ve probably seen photos of Lucky Bay, that famous beach with kangaroos hopping about. It’s been used extensively in promo material to advertise Australia as a tourist destination since…forever.
Located in Cape Le Grand National Park, this pure white sand beach is still a one hour drive east of Esperance, but the turquoise waters that greet you will make you understand why this beach has been used as promo shots.
We are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches in Oz, a quality problem, but Lucky Bay is stunning, beyond words.
My kids enjoyed playing on the beach, and it was cool to be able to drive our car on the sand (which was compacted like concrete). This added some level of adventure to our road trip!
I could imagine it being as busy as the M1 in peak season.
I was a little disappointed I didn’t get the classic kangaroo shot with the beach background.
I did get this one shot of a roo up against the bush; but he seemed a little over it, ha ha.
2. Get a Coffee at Coffee Cat
I will give a shout out to Coffee Cat, a cute mobile coffee truck on Esperance Esplanade. They have delicious coffee at cheap prices!
We’re pretty critical about our coffee in Australia, so when a good coffee shop comes up, we have to pass out the recommendations.
They’re also a stone’s throw from the beach and have a nice grassy area behind it that you can sit on and relax with your hot cuppa Joe, while the kids play in the nearby playground.
Or take your coffee for a stroll along Tanker Jetty and watch the pier fishermen at work.
3. Camp in Cape Le Grand National Park
Many people had said how they loved camping within the park and it was a highlight of their visit.
You can camp right on Lucky bay Beach, or on Cape Le Grand Beach. Both have camping facilities such as toilets, showers, and barbecues.
Some of the walking trails look pretty amazing, but we didn’t do any hikes because Savannah was at the stage where she won’t walk and only wants Caz to carry her.
Caz’s back and exhaustion refused to entertain it anymore.
4. Relax on Twilight Beach
A short drive west of town are some other stunning beaches, and I’d argue just as good if not better than Lucky Bay – they’re definitely more accessible.
And the coastal views from the road are outstanding.
My fave was Twilight Beach, just 7km west of Esperance. If you do end up in Esperance, this drive is well worth it.
The beach is famous for its excellent surf breaks. It extends all the way from Blue Haven beach headland for approximately 3.2 km, and curves slightly at the far west end.
If you just want to paddle, this is the better section to swim in as it’s protected by the headland.
Otherwise, the rest of the beach is exposed to high energy rip-tides which are ideal for surfing.
Another great surfing beach if you have more time is West Beach.
5. Get your kit off at Eleven Mile Beach
Eleven Mile Beach is a “clothing optional” beach which is known for its reef close to the shoreline, an excellent place for snorkeling.
The reef also protects the coastline and offers gentler waves, making it an ideal beach for swimming.
6. Go on a Scenic Flight
A great way to check out the gorgeous landscape of Esperance is from up in the air.
Scenic flights take you up to give you a birds eye view of the Pink and Rainbow Lakes, Cape Le Grand, Lucky Bay, Twilight Bay, Blue Haven, and more.
Flights typically last for about 35 minutes. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, you may just spot migrating whales swimming off the Esperance foreshore!
7. Visit Lake Hillier (Pink Lake)
Another natural landscape that Esperance is famous for is the Pink Lake, also known as Lake Hillier on Middle Island, the largest island in the Recherche Archipelago.
The pink hue is caused by a red algae which reacts to the salt content in the lake and causes the water to turn pink.
The lake is best seen from above where you can really see how pink it is. From the shore, it looks a kind of pale pink colour.
8. Hike to Hellfire Bay
A nice coastal trail to do near Esperance is from Le Grand Beach to Hellfire Bay along the Le Grand Beach trail.
It’s about 8-miles in total, and has amazing views of the coast, giving you a vantage point to see dolphins and other marine animals swimming in the waters.
It starts at the picnic site by Hellfire Bay Road and passes through the Cape Le Grand Campground. Hellfire Bay is stunning and well equipped for a day out. It has toilets and BBQ facilities, and also allows beach camping.
9. Summit Frenchman Peak
If we were to do any hike in Cape Grand National Park, it would be Frenchman Peak, the highest peak in the park.
It is so named because the peak’s shape resembles the hats worn by French troops in the 1800s.
The hike is about 3km in total, but is uphill all the way so don’t let the short distance fool you. It will take about 2 hours to hike and has a well-maintained footpath.
10. Enjoy Craft Beer at Lucky Bay Brewing
We’re big fans of craft beer, so whenever we find a local brewery we have to check it out!
Lucky Bay Brewing is the only brewery in Western Aus who source their barley from local farmers.
Their brews have won several awards, including the Champion Small/Medium Brewery in 2021 award and multiple Gold, Silver & Bronze medals in the Perth Royal Beer Awards.
They have live music every Friday and Sunday night
11. Go on an Esperance Island Cruise with to Woody Island
Esperance is not just about the beaches on the mainland, it’s also surrounded by reefs and tiny islands.
Pop into Woody Island Eco Tours to catch a ferry Woody Island, one of 105 islands in the Recherche Archipelago.
Woody Island is the ultimate day trip and is surrounded by crystal clear waters where happy seals and dolphins are known to play.
12. Step back in time at Esperance Museum
If you can pull yourself away from the beaches for an hour or so, then the Esperance Museum is well worth checking out.
It contains a unique collection of maritime memorabilia and artifacts from as far back as the 1800s.
A highlight of the museum is the world’s most comprehensive collection of NASA Skylab items, which was the first space station built by the Americans, which ended up plummeting down to earth in 1979 near Esperance.
So they took the remains and put them in a tiny small town museum. Pretty cool, huh?
13. Check out Esperance Stonehenge
Somebody had decided to build a full-size replica of Stonehenge, the ancient mystical wonder from the UK.
It’s the only life-size replica in the world and is made of 137 stones using Esperance Pink Granite.
Why did someone build a Stonehenge you ask? Because they can.
Number 5 on the list of things to on TripAdvisor. It seems a bit weird.
What is the connection? And when I hear of people saying the real thing is a bit of a letdown, why would I want to see a replica?
Just because it’s something you can do, doesn’t mean you necessarily should.
Although, if you happen to be visiting during the summer (december) and winter solstices (June), you’ll notice the sun rising behind the “Heel Stone” which was once the ancient entrance to circle.
It’s the only time of the year where the sun shines through the center of the gate.
