Things to Do in Esperance
Welcome to Esperance!
Esperance is a coastal town in Western Australia, located on the southern edge of the Great Australian Bight. The aboriginal name for the Esperance area is Kepa Kurl – the place where the water lies down like a boomerang.
Esperance’s current name is accredited to the French, when two ships, ‘L’Esperance’ and ‘Recherche’ were forced to seek shelter in 1792.
The Esperance region is characterized by spectacular coastal scenery, and abundance of wildlife, pristine beaches and National Parks. Esperance is a paradise for sea and sun lovers, and provides ideal conditions for fishing, surfing, sailing and sand boarding.
Just off the Esperance coast is the Recherche Archipelago, consisting of over 100 islands, offering top class diving and snorkeling opportunities.
Come for a visit and you’ll find that there’s plenty to do, from visiting Cape Le Grand National Park to exploring the beautiful beaches of Lucky Bay. You can also try your hand at surfing or fishing, or take a stroll through the historic town center. And if you’re looking for some great food, head to The Dome Cafe, The Coffee Shack, or one of the other great restaurants in town.
The best way to explore Esperance is by foot or bike—you’ll get to see all of the city’s attractions up close!
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Esperance:
Esperance Foreshore
With a redevelopment along the Esperance Foreshore, the area has become a busy and vibrant place for vistors and their families to spend time.
The Esperance foreshore area includes footpaths, kids playground, exercise equipment, barbecue areas, bike racks, picnic shelters, modern toilet blocks and public art, including the new Esperance icon, the Whale Tail.
Tourists and locals alike can enjoy breathtaking views over the turquoise waters of Esperance Bay, across to the islands of the Recherche Archipelago.
Things to do in Esperance Township
Bay of Isles Leisure Centre
A place for family-friendly recreation and relaxation. Featuring an aquatic centre with indoor heated pools, creche, gym and cafe.
Esperance Bird and Animal Park
Just 10 minutes from town in a bush setting, the Esperance bird and animal park has over 300 birds and other animal like alpacas, pigs, goats and sheep. There is also a cafe on site.
Adventureland Park
An fun park on the Esplanade featuring a full-size basketball court, children’s bike / scooter track, flying fox, miniature steam train and adventure playground, next to the Taylor St Jetty. Indoor mini golf and ice cream shop nearby.
Mermaid Leather
The only fish and shark leather tannery in Australia, turning the skins of sharks, fish and stingrays into unique leather goods and works of art.
Esperance Skate Park and Pump Track
The new skate park is located on the Esplanade next to Adventureland Park. With beginner and intermediate spaces, the park features an an intermediate bowl, flow park and street elements.
Things to do along the Coastline
Great Ocean Drive (40km circular tourist loop)
If you’re up for a short road trip, Great Ocean Drive is a scenic drive that follows the local esperance coastline and loops back into town. Featuring rocky headlands, small bays and steep cliffs, highlights along the way include the Rotary Lookout, Twilight Beach, Observatory Point and Pink Lake.
Woody Island
Perfect for nature lovers, Woody Island is 15km’s off the coast of Esperance and accessible for a day trip by 60 minute ferry. Visitors enjoy walking trails with spectacular coastal scenery, fishing and snorkelling. Woody Island is only island in the Recherche Archipelago with visitor facilities.
For more info and tours visit www.visitesperance.com/woody-island-eco-tours
image credit Tourism Australia
Recherche Archipelago
Known locally as the Bay of Isles, the archipelago is made up of over 100 untouched islands a few kilometres off the coast of Esperance. Popular activities include swimming, fishing, snorkelling, bird watching and wildlife cruises. The area has been declared a nature reserve and all of the islands are off-limits apart from Woody Island.
image credit @adventuresofbluecrust (IG)
Middle Island and Lake Hillier - “Pink Lake”
Middle Island is the largest of the islands and is home to Lake Hillier, notable for its vibrant pink colour. While you can’t visit Middle Island to view Lake Hillier, you can view the lake by scenic flight or helicopter. Limited cruises are also available with Esperance Island Cruises.
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Places to walk
Esperance Stonehenge
A full size replica of the original “Stonehenge” in the UK, comprising of 137 Stones of Esperance Pink Granite.
visit www.esperancestonehenge.com.au
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Lake Monjingup
14kms from Esperance, Lake Monjingup is accessible from Telegraph Road. Easy walking trails meander through the Paperbarks trees and the boardwalk provides a great vantage point from which to view the peaceful surrounds and numerous water birds.
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Rotary Lookout / Walk-Trail
For a 360 degree view over the town and out to sea, Rotary Lookout offers walking trails to spot several species of flowering Eucalypts, Dryandras, Twining Clematis, Australian Bluebell and Fringe Lilies in early summer. Pimelea, Agonis, Hakea can be enjoyed throughout all the seasons.
Helms Arboretum
This large reserve offers of a diverse range of botanical species. A great spot for a picnic, observing wildflowers and taking a stroll.
Kepwari Trails / Woody Lake Walk trails
This out-and-back trail of boardwalks along Woody Lake is popular for hiking , running and bird watching. 7.2km long and moderately challenging.
For more info visit trailswa.com.au/trails/trail/kepwari-walk-trail
National Parks and more
National Parks in the Shire of Esperance are Cape Le Grand, Cape Arid National Park and Stokes National Park.
Cape Le Grand National Park
This park is known for its rugged coastline and diverse plant life, including rare species like staghorn ferns and sedges. The views from the top of the mountain are spectacular! Cape Le Grand national park is a must-do when visiting Esperance. Accessible by road or by 4WD along the beach from just outside of Esperance, this pristine area is renowned for beautiful beaches and scenery. Frenchman’s peak is a top spot for hiking and rock climbing.
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Orleans Bay and Wharton Beach
Orleans Bay is a beautiful location for swimming and snorkeling. Wharton Beach is known for its clean waters and the Mount Ridley lighthouse. There are several places to eat including seafood restaurants and cafes serving up burgers.
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park is one of the best places for hiking in Western Australia. It’s known for its beautiful views and abundant wildlife as well as its natural rock formationsThe park has a number of trails to choose from, including the Cape Arid Walk and Red Bluff Walk—both of which offer stunning views of the ocean and coastline.
image credit Tourism Western Australia
Mount Ridley
1 hour north of Esperance lies Mount Ridley, a large granite outcrop and panoramic views. A popular attraction is the wave shaped rock. During spring the wildflowers are beautiful. Accessible by 4WD only.
Be sure to ask our friendly reception team if you have any questions about the local area, we’ll do our best to help. We hope you have an amazing holiday in Esperance, Western Australia.
Stokes National Park
Stokes National Park is another great place for hiking—it features rugged terrain with rocky cliffs, deep gorges, and waterfalls that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
image credit Tourism Western Australia