Esperance, Western Australia: How do I get there?

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Enchanting Esperance

The World-Class Beaches of Esperance

Embarking on a journey through Western Australia is an adventurer’s dream. I started my journey driving from the East to West across the iconic Nullarbor, ultimately finding myself in the charming town of Norseman. With a New Year’s Eve rendezvous awaiting me in Dunsborough on the Southern West Coast, I was on my way to a perfect seaside celebration.

I started researching the quickest route to Dunsborough and discovered Esperance was two hours away from Norseman. I had read a lot about this town and how it was known for its breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, and spectacular natural attractions. As any self-respecting traveler would do, I altered my plans and set off for Esperance. I was not disappointed. Esperance became an unexpected highlight of my trip.

Fast forward a few weeks, and my adventurous friend Lizzy, a kindred spirit I had met in the Torres Strait, proposed a road trip to none other than Esperance. I was in!!

On the road again with MIss Lizzy

From East to West

If traveling from the East, Esperance is an ideal rest stop to address car repairs, replenish your stores, and enjoy the coastal beauty. Whether you’re a solo traveler or with a companion, Esperance offers a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration + for you solo women female travelers, I consider it a safe haven. For me, a refreshing swim in the Southern Ocean is definitely what the doctor ordered.

From West to East – Perth to Esperance

For those venturing from the West, the 700 km drive from Perth to Esperance offers many options: by plane, bus, or driving.

Plane

The carrier that flies from Perth to Esperance is REX, which will take about 90 minutes to travel. The baggage allowance is 15kg, which is included in the ticket.

The airport is 15 minutes from Esperance, but there is an airport shuttle. The cost is around $170-470 AUD.

I recommend you hire a car in this town to make the most of it. You do not require a 4×4 to visit most places. There are hire car services at the airport and in town, including Budget and Avis. Book in advance.

Bus

Transwa Bus leaves from East Perth several times a week. You must be committed to the bus trip as it takes 10 hours. It has 29 stops and goes daily. Download the Moovit app to get more information. The price will be between $90 and 120 AUD in 2023.

The Road Trip

Fastest Route

Lizzy drove from Perth, and we met in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin. I wanted to see the Salt Lakes, so we traveled through Lake Grace.

I was anticipating catching glimpses of pink, mauve, and green hues in the lakes, as that’s what I had read; the reality was a bit different. Nevertheless, the drive was undeniably worthwhile, as the lakes were stunning.

HOT TIP: Don’t be tempted to drive on the soft salt lakes as they are soft. There are no car races on these salt lakes!!

Ravensthorpe

We stayed at a free camp in Ravensthorpe as we could not find accommodation in Esperance for the first night. This free campsite was directly across the road from a 24-hour bathroom and 20 meters from the local pub. SCORE!! We had some lovely fish and chips and spoke to the locals. This is a mining town, so plenty of high-vise uniforms are around the place.

Check Wikicamps for accommodation needs. Download the app.

Free Camp Site

Although Lake Grace is the fastest road trip route from Perth, going through the small towns of Brookton, Wickepin, Lake Grace, and through Ravensthorpe onto Esperance, you will miss some cool stuff such as Wave Rock, York, and the Tin Horse Highway.

I would leave Perth and travel through the historic town of York. York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, and the old stone buildings on the main street remind you of this. It is only around an hour from Perth, so it’s not far out of your way. If you go in the spring months, you will be privileged to see the wildflowers and/or the bright yellow canola fields.

I have stayed in York on another occasion when there was a super fun motorbike rally. Hundreds of bikes lined the streets, including HOGS, Triumphs, Ducati, BMW & Nortons. Still, as an Invercargill girl, the Indians captured my heart. (You have to know to understand this one! )

Wave Rock. The road trip continues down to the quaint town of Beverley and heads to Hyden along the Brookton-Corrigin Rd. Wave Rock is just outside of Hyden. Lake Magic Resort is here to stay the night if you want to break the trip up. Wave Rock is definitely an insta pic moment.

York Town Hall
Wave Rock

The Tin Horse Highway. Alternative route: This quirky detour, the Tin Horse Highway, is one I HIGHLY recommend. This tourist attraction starts along the road at Kulin and goes through Kulin-Lake Grace Rd and Jilakin Rock Rd North. It is 15km of art, fun, and quirky rural magic. The Tin Horse Highway originated as a marketing campaign to promote the Kulin Bush races, but now it has taken on a life of its own. It will entertain and make you smile.

This detour is entirely doable if you break the trip up, especially if you stay in Hyden.

The distance from Hyden to Esperance is only a 4-hour road trip.

Tin Horse Highway

My Bucket List:

The scenic route through Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta to Walpole, Denmark, Albany, detouring into Bremner Bay to see the Orca, and then onto Esperance is the Dream Southern WA Road Trip I need to complete. Denmark was one of my favorite spots.

I have been through many of these towns, except Bremner Bay & Augusta, individually, but I still need to complete this. This would be the ultimate scenic road trip in this part of the world for me.

Accommodation in Esperance

Lizzy and I traveled to Esperance at the end of the school holidays. Accommodation in the town was scarce, even in the camping grounds. We had arrived in peak tourist season.

HOT TIP: In the tourist towns in Western Australia, I have noticed many Shires provide overflow camping facilities for busy holiday periods. Luckily, these were still available when we arrived. The overflow facilities are only available when all the camping accommodation in the town has reached capacity. They don’t generally take cash, so have your card ready (although when I was in Jurian Bay, they wanted cash, so just be prepared either way along your road trip). It’s on a first-in-first-serve basis, which means you cannot book. The Overflow in Esperance was at their showgrounds, and they provided showers and toilets. There is no power at these sites, by the way. Search for the overflow camping using the link.

Hotels and Motels—Booking.com and camping accommodation. Esperance is a must-see spot in WA, and several families spend their holidays here. This place books out fast, so book in advance to reduce any disappointment.

Buying a WA Park Pass

I have said this and will say it repeatedly: buy a Western Australia Park Pass if traveling through WA. This will get you into places like Karijini National Park in the Pilbara, Kalbarri, Porongurup National Park, and Cape Le Grande. It’s your best road trip investment.

Going onto the site will give you options for an annual pass, a 4-week, 14-day, and 5-day pass. Pick what is suitable for you. You can pay for each park as you go, but this is more expensive. You can buy the pass online.

The ultimate stay is at the Lucky Bay Camp Site in Cape Le Grande National Park, where the kangaroos grace the beach during the early morning and dusk. The bookings for the National Parks are open six months in advance, so if you book ahead, you can secure a spot. With only three days of planning, we missed out on this unique experience, leaving me to embrace the silver lining—a reason to return and relish the beauty of Lucky Bay.

Here are my recommendations for 6 Top Things to do in Esperance to ease your FOMO!

This wee seaside town had captivated my heart, compelling me to return sooner rather than later. Travel Well.

Travel Well 😊