Esperance is a small coastal town located on the south coast of Western Australia and is home to some of the best beaches in the country. It is renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine white sands, and stunning coastal landscapes.
We stayed five nights in Esperance and spent our days beach hopping and experiencing all the town has to offer. Continue reading for a guide on when to visit, how to get there, where to stay/eat and of course, the best beaches.
When to visit
Although Esperance is stunning year round, the best time to visit Esperance is during the warmer months of October to March, when the weather is warm and ideal for days spent at the beach.
How to get there
By Car – 8 hours (from Perth)
In my opinion, the best option as you will need a car to visit most of the beaches (and who doesn’t love a roadtrip!) If you don’t drive from Perth, I would recommend getting a hire car once arriving in Esperance.
By Plane – 1 hour and 35 minutes
There are flights available from Perth to Esperance with REX Airline.
By Bus – 10 hours*
Coaches operated by TransWA run from Perth to Esperance almost every day.
Where to stay
Esperance Chalet Village
The iconic chalet village is a must stay when visiting Esperance. ECV has a variety of accommodation options and is less than 10 minutes drive from the town centre. There is a range of different sized chalets and cabins that can accomodate up to four people. This includes a family sized cottage and a rustic cabin with a bathtub.
Esperance Chalet Village also features in my post on Unique Stays in WA, you can find more details of our stay here.
Lucky Bay Campground
Located within Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay Campground is prime real estate for beachside camping, with the iconic white sands and turquoise waters right at your doorstep.
Esperance Bay Holiday Park
A great family-friendly option in the city centre. Esperance Bay Holiday Park has a range of accomodation options such as self-contained units, basic cabins, grassed sites suitable for tents, and camper trailers as well as sites with concrete slabs for motorhomes and caravans.
Where to eat
Downtown Espresso Bar
The perfect spot for coffee and a pastry
Lucky Bay Brewery
After spending the day at the beach make sure you head here for a tasting paddle and a woodfire pizza
Taylor St Quarters
Located on the beach, this is the perfect spot to get a cocktail, fine food and watch the sunset
Must see beaches
Lucky Bay
If you have seen pictures of Esperance on social media, chances are that you have come across pictures of Lucky Bay. Famous for its resident kangaroos, bright white sand and turquoise water, it is easy to see why Lucky Bay was named one of the best beaches in Australia. Located in Cape Le Grand National Park, this stunning 5km coastal stretch is accessible to 4WDs (2WD Kombi vans, if you’re feeling adventurous), allowing you to spend the day parked up on the beach.
We spent Christmas day here, and as expected, it was incredibly busy. This unfortunately meant we didn’t see any kangaroos on the beach. However, we did spot a couple hopping through the bush near the car park as we were heading home.
Hellfire Bay
Also located in Cape Le Grand National Park, Hellfire Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. The crystal clear water of Hellfire Bay is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Don’t forget to pack a picnic blanket and find a comfortable spot on the rocks to enjoy the stunning views of the bay.
Despite being peak season, Hellfire Bay was a lot quieter than most other beaches we visited during our time in Esperance.
Little Hellfire Bay
An easy 15-20 minute hike from the Hellfire Bay car park, leads to the smaller and more secluded Little Hellfire Bay, a hidden gem that is well worth a visit. As it’s lesser-known, you may even be lucky enough to have this beach all to yourself!
Wharton Beach
Located about an hour from Esperance, Wharton Bay is well and truly worth the drive. Featuring squeaky white sand and incredibly vibrant turquoise waters, this is one of the most amazing beaches in Esperance.
A popular spot for swimming, surfing and relaxing, Wharton Beach is the largest beach in the Duke of Orleans Bay area and is another beach that can be directly accessed by 4WD.
Twilight Bay
Unlike some of the beaches in the Esperance area which can take over 30 minutes to get to, this incredibly popular spot is only a 10-minute drive from town, along the Great Ocean Drive. Twilight Bay is well known for its iconic rock formation. At high tide, you can swim to the rock and jump off into the unbelievably clear turquoise water.
We visited early in the day to avoid the crowds and it certainly did not disappoint. The golden light combined with the ocean mist looked like a scene that belonged on a postcard.
Blue Haven Beach
Blue Haven Beach is another gem located along the Great Ocean Drive. This beach is surrounded by rugged coastline, which acts as a shelter from the wind. The water is usually a bit calmer here, making it a great spot to swim.
Unfortunately, we didn’t spend much time here as the weather took a turn shortly after we arrived. However, even on a rainy day the water was the most incredible shade of blue.
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