With a list of attractions such as underground caves, award winning wineries, pristine beaches and jaw dropping coastlines, it’s no wonder a Perth to Esperance road trip is a popular travel itinerary for many.
From the Busselton Jetty, to the Indijup Natural Spa, travelling down through Margaret River and Albany, with tree top walks, kangaroos and wineries, there is so much you can explore in the South West Western Australia region. It is simply stunning.
This remarkable region has something for all ages, from fun playgrounds and family-friendly adventures to iconic points of interests, plus award-winning ‘wining and dining,’ with everything in between.
Whether you are escaping the hustle and bustle for a short trip away or combining this itinerary with a longer trip, South West Australia is a destination you must visit.
This 10-day Perth to Esperance itinerary is jam-packed with plenty of attractions and ‘must see’ places as you travel around the bottom of Western Australia. I have added some optional places to visit if you love to make the most out of your days and see as much as possible.
For tips on packing, check out this list of 120+ road trip items to consider.
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Perth to Esperance Road Trip MAP
Perth to Esperance Road Trip
Day 1 + 2: Perth & Fremantle (1 night)
| PERTH to FREMANTLE |
|---|
| Distance – 22 km |
| Drive Time – 27 mins |
The first item on your Perth to Esperance road trip is visiting Fremantle, this is a ‘must’ while in Perth. It has so much to offer and is in no way like Perth City or any other suburb in the metropolitan area. It has its own culture and vibe, which I have never come across elsewhere in Western Australia.
Getting to Fremantle is easy. It’s just a short 27 minute drive south of Perth or you can catch the train. Upon arrival you will smell the marina breeze and often you can hear the ships docking.
On the weekends will you find Fremantle at its finest, the markets are buzzing and the street entertainment is on point. The street performers have fire, magic tricks and are always pulling volunteers from the crowd to help.
After lunch is when everything starts to slow down and is packed away. This is when I suggest you head over to the marina and stop at Cicerellos for lunch and fill up on the best Fish & Chips in Fremantle.
Check out this guide to Perth when planning the first leg of your journey, plus add some of these great things to do in Perth to your itinerary.
Watch out for those pesky seagulls, they will try to take your lunch!
For the second half of the day, take a drive to Kings Park and see the idyllic views over the Swan river and Perth city. The gardens are well looked after and offer some of the best grass to have a picnic on. Kings Park also have some great walking trails through the bushland, with sweeping views from the cliffside.
Accommodation in Fremantle
Perth is just like any other city and has plenty of Caravan Parks, Cabins, Motels and Hotels you can book. I recommend Coogee Caravan Park, which is located 100 metres from the beach and is only a 10 minute drive to Fremantle.
| FREEMANTLE CARAVAN PARKS | |
|---|---|
| FREMANTLE VILLAGE (9 mins to Fremantle) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, rubbish bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – TV room 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – G’Day Rewards |
| DISCOVERY PARKS – COOGEE BEACH (13 mins to Fremantle) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, rubbish bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Tennis court 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes % Discounts – G’Day Rewards | TAWK |
| DISCOVERY PARKS – WOODMAN POINT (15 mins to Fremantle) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, rubbish bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Games room, jumping pillow, hire equipment, playground, swimming pool 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – G’Day Rewards | TAWK |
Day 2 + 3: Fremantle to Margaret River (2 nights)
| FREEMANTLE to BUSSELTON |
|---|
| Distance – 219 km |
| Drive Time – 2 hrs 29 mins |
My best advice is to hit the road and make an early start. This will give you more time to explore at the next destination. On this leg of the road trip, you will be driving from Perth to Busselton, then onto Yallingup and end the day in Margaret River. The longest stint of the journey is from Perth to Busselton, which can take roughly 3 hours with a stop and spans 219 kilometres.
Busselton Jetty
There are loads of things to do in Busselton, including the well-known for the Busselton Jetty, which is 1.8 kilometres long and makes for a lovely walk to stretch those legs after the long three hour drive. There is a small cost to walk on the jetty, which then gives you access to swim, fish, jump and walk the jetty. If you would like to ride the train to the end of the jetty, this will incur an additional fee.
| BUSSELTON JETTY ATTRACTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Interpretive Centre & Musuem | • Ticket Office • Gift Shop • Interactive timelines • Wall touch screens • Touch table • History Hours: Open 7 days Price: FREE |
| Jetty Walk | • 1.8 km walk to end of jetty • Quiz questions, interpretive panels and plaques • Wind vanes & swimming platforms • Wildlife spotting *Note: Final 150m of the jetty only accessible during Underwater Observatory & Jetty Train operating hours. Hours: Open 24 hours Time: 50 mins return Price: Jetty Day Pass (for over 17 yrs) $4.00 – required during Interpretive Centre hours. |
| Jetty Train | • 1.7 km journey • Leaves on the hour • Wheelchair accessible • No pram access • Free Jetty Walk access with your train ticket Hours: Open 7 days Time: 45 min return Price: Adult – $16.00 | Child (3 – 17 yrs) – $9.50 |
| Underwater Observatory | • Located 1.7 km along the jetty (accessed via train ride) • Descend 8m to the ocean floor down a spiral staircase (60 stairs) with a guide • View the natural wonders & artificial reef that lie beneath the jetty • 9.5m diameter observation chamber with 11 viewing windows at various levels Hours: Open 7 days Time: 1 hr 45 mins Price: Adult – $37 | Child (3 – 17 yrs) – $22 |
| Extra Busselton Jetty Options (Season specific) | • Undersea Walks • Snorkel gear hire • Scuba diving (guided or self-guided) • Mermaid tours • Yoga • Willie cruises (famous Broome pearl lugger) • Jet adventures • Canoe tours • Wine & art class • Whale watching |
Busselton Jetty Parking: Across from the foreshore you will be able to find ample space to park your vehicle or rig.
What to eat: Along the foreshore there are plenty of places to eat, from fine dining to café food. We chose to grab some fish and chips and eat on the grass. It was a lovely sunny day, and the view of the ocean was relaxing. There’s also a big playground for the kids to stretch their legs and burn some energy.
Indijup Natural Spa
| BUSSELTON JETTY to YALLINGUP |
|---|
| Distance – 34 km |
| Drive Time – 34 mins |
The Indijup Falls or Natural Spa are a popular point of interest for many travellers, found at Wyadup Rocks, Yallingup. These hidden rock pools are often called ‘spas,’ which are hidden behind the big rocks that form the coastline. The ocean water forces its way through the holes and gaps of the rock, cascading out the other side, which causes a waterfall ‘spa’ effect.
The Indijup Falls are a 34 kilometre drive west from Bussleton and an easy stop through on your way to Margaret River.
Keep in mind that there is limited parking for big rigs (caravans), but it’s worth trying to find one if you can wing it.
Margaret River
| YALLINGUP to MARGARET RIVER |
|---|
| Distance – 37 km |
| Drive Time – 30 mins |
Just a 35 kilometre drive down the road is Margaret River, which is where you will spend two nights. Margaret River is well known all the way around the world in the surfing community. International events are held here throughout the year.
On most weekends, you can head to Preverly Beach and watch a national or international surfing competition. The next beach over is Redgate beach where, at low tide, you can walk out onto the exposed reef and see the fish swimming.
Margaret River is also very well known for its wine region. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or an average Jo looking for a nice drop of wine, Margaret River has a wine region that will suit everyone’s taste. I highly recommend visiting Vasse Felix Estate.
| THINGS TO DO IN MARGARET RIVER | |
|---|---|
| Caves | LAKE CAVE: • Dripping crystals • Sunken forest • Mirrored lake • ‘Suspended table’ hanging from the ceiling MAMMOTH CAVE: • Forest boardwalk • Winter-stream • Ancient fossil remains • Majestic cave chambers |
| Mazes | A MAZE’N MARGARET RIVER: • Half hectare giant hedge maze • 18 hole mini golf • Other mazes, playground, outdoor games & puzzles BORANUP FOREST MAZE: • Forest maze grown from native & exotic shrubs • Flowers in spring |
| Wineries | Eat & drink your way through Margaret River on a WINERY CRAWL: • Passel Estate • Jarvis Estate Wines and Gallery • Brown Hill Estate • Hay Shed Hill Wines • Rivendell Winery Estate • Goon Tycoons • Redgate Wines… just to name a few |
| Breweries, Cideries & Distilleries | And if wine isn’t your thing… • Bootleg Brewery • Monkey Bar Vasse • Wild Hop Brewing Co. • Beerfarm • Cheeky Monkey Brewery & Cidery |
| Waterfalls | QUINNINUP FALLS: • Winter waterfall • Flat sections, rocky & uneven sections • Sand dune to climb up • 1 hr 45 mins return MEEKADARABEE FALLS: • Aboriginal for “the bathing place of the moon” • Moss-covered waterfall with cave behind • 2 km return |
For more to do during your stay, check out this full guide on what to do in Margaret River.
Accommodation in Margaret River
| MARGARET RIVER CARAVAN PARKS | |
|---|---|
| MARGARET RIVER TOURIST PARK (3 mins to Margaret River) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, rubbish bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Jumping pillow, playground, swimming pool 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – G’Day Rewards |
| RIVERVIEW TOURIST PARK (3 mins to Margaret River) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Canoe hire 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes % Discounts – G’Day Rewards |
| RAC MARGARET RIVER NATURE PARK (4 mins to Margaret River) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins 🎲 Entertainment – Nature playground, book swap, games for hire, swing, climbing forest, sensory trail, table tennis, mountain bike hire 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – RAC Membership |
| GLENBROOK CAMPING (7 mins to Margaret River) | ⛺️ Sites – Unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Group bookings only 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, camp kitchen, BBQ 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes |
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Day 4 + 5: Margaret River to Walpole (2 nights)
| MARGARET RIVER to WALPOLE |
|---|
| Distance – 254 km |
| Drive Time – 2 hrs 55 mins |
The early bird gets the worm, so up early and ready for a day of exploring for the next leg of your Perth to Esperance road trip. The drive from Margaret River to Walpole is 254 kilometres, which will take about 3 hours without stops. However, we have a few interesting things worth stopping for along the way.
Hamelin Bay
Along the drive I highly recommend you stop at Hamelin Bay to see the manta rays that swim along the shore. This is a free attraction, and you are up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Take your camera and remember not to touch.
Hamelin Bay Parking: You’ll find parking available for long vehicles at the boat ramp.
Pemberton
After Hamelin Bay its time to take the drive to Pemberton, this is another detour on your way to Walpole, but it is well worth the effort.
A must do when in Pemberton is to visit and climb the Gloucester Tree. This tree has 153 stairs and has magnificent views at the top. The cost to climb the tree is free but there is a National Park fee that is to be purchased before entering the National Park.
We had lunch at the local bakery and we highly recommend the pie – it was a winner with our family!
| GLOUCESTER TREE | |
|---|---|
| Info | • 61 metre high Karri tree • Was once used as a fire lookout • 153 stairs to the top |
| Cost | $8 – $15 to enter National Park FREE to climb the tree |
To finish the day, it is time to take the 1.5 hour drive to Walpole where you will pull up stumps and camp the night. Along the drive admire the wonderful landscapes that the south west has to offer. It is simply remarkable, the size of the Karri trees that tower alongside the road.
Accommodation in Walpole
| WALPOLE CARAVAN PARKS | |
|---|---|
| COALMINE BEACH HOLIDAY PARK (5 mins from Walpole) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, recreation room, outdoor cinema 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs |
| WALPOLE REST POINT CARAVAN PARK (7 mins from Walpole) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins, dump point, boat ramp 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, boating, fishing 🐶 Pet friendly – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs |
| VALLEY OF THE GIANTS ECOPARK (11 mins from Walpole) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – No 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins, dump point 🐶 Pet friendly – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes |
Walpole
Today it’s time to explore and stretch those legs. Walpole is beautiful and has the very well known ‘Valley of the hidden Giants.’ That’s where you’ll get to walk among some of the tallest trees in Western Australia, also known as “tingle trees.”
| THINGS TO DO IN WALPOLE | |
|---|---|
| Giant Tingle Tree | • Fire-hollowed Red Tingle Tree • Tingles are the largest girthed Eucalypts in the world • 800 metre circular walk • Walk through the Tingle Tree |
| Fernhook Falls | • Best viewed in winter when the falls are flowing • Lots of natural, frothy bubbles (caused by saponin from nearby plants) • Walking trails and boardwalks to view the falls |
| Mandalay Beach | • Can spot the Mandalay Shipwreck on low tide • Beautiful beach with a view of Chatham Island 3km off shore • Whale watching lookouts (September to June) • Great fishing (skippy, herring, whiting, salmon & tailor) |
| Walpole Nornalup National Park | • The Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk • Circular Pool • Hilltop Lookout • Conspicuous Cliff While you’ve got your Valley of the Giants National Park pass, explore all of the attractions. |
Day 6 + 7: Walpole to Albany (2 nights)
| WALPOLE to ALBANY |
|---|
| Distance – 120 km |
| Drive Time – 1 hr 30 mins |
Today is a short drive of 120 kilometres towards Albany, for the next stint of your Perth to Esperance road trip.
Along the way I would recommend stopping in Denmark at a place called the ‘Elephant Rocks’. On a sunny calm day the water has a green tinge and is relaxing to swim around. When we were there we had the whole beach to ourselves.
| ELEPHANT ROCKS | |
|---|---|
| Things to see | • Looks like a herd of elephants gathered near the ocean shore • View the ‘elephants’ from the lookout • Take the stairs down to Elephant Cove to wander around the towering rocks |
| Tips | Onsite parking Be careful of powerful water surges |
There is so much to see and do in Albany that you can do as much or as little as you like. Below are some of my recommended places to visit.
Frenchman Bay Tourist Drive
As you meander along Frenchman Bay Tourist Drive, you’ll notice that there are plenty of places to stop and explore. This is a ‘must’ while visiting Albany.
Bring your bathers and make sure you make a stop at all of the beaches. Misery Beach is a beautiful hidden beach along this drive. The best time to visit is on a bight sunny day.
Before heading to Misery Beach I highly recommend visiting the Whaling Station, it brings the history of Misery beach to life a little more (you’ll find the Whaling Station along Frenchman Bay Tourist Drive).
| HISTORIC WHALING STATION | |
|---|---|
| Things to see | • Self-guided • Short films in converted whale oil tanks • Discover why the Whaling Station only lasted a few, short years • Explore Cheynes IV, the world’s only preserved whalechaser ship • View giant blue whale skeleton • Marine animal art collection • Museum with whaling artefacts & memorabilia |
| Cost | Adult – $35 Concession – $30 Child (6 – 17 yrs) – $12 Family (2A + 3K) – $80 |
| Time | Allow 2 – 3 hours |
| Opening Hours | Open 7 days |
| Address | Frenchman Bay Road (20 mins from Albany) |
Things to do in Albany
Brig Amity Replica
- Replica of the first vessel to bring white settlers to Albany in 1826
- Built in 1975
- Climb aboard to see what life was like
- 23 convicts, 21 soldiers, domestic animals, food crops & building materials to start a small outpost
- Adult – $ | Concession – $4 | Child – $2 | Family – $12
The Gap
- Huge, rugged granite channel carved by the waves of the Great Southern Ocean
- Sheer 25-metre drop
- 100m walk from the carpark
- View of Green Islands
The Natural Bridge
- Granite formation that looks like a giant rock bridge
- The gap underneath is caused by the constant wearing away at the rock by the Great Southern Oceans waves
- Just a few metres from ‘The Gap’
- Sealed paths and lookouts with railings
The Blowholes
- Crevasses in the granite stretching down to the sea level
- Each wave blows air and water up through the ‘holes’
- Watch the spray and listen to the droning “whoosh”
- A few hundred metres walk from carpark to reach top of long staircase
Accommodation in Albany
Albany has three caravan parks in the main city, plus a few caravan parks on the outskirts of the city in Emu Park.
| ALBANY CARAVAN PARKS | |
|---|---|
| ALBANY GARDENS TOURIST PARK (5 mins to Albany) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, pizza oven, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Jumping pillow, swimming pool, games room, tennis & basketball court, playground 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – G’Day Rewards | TAWK |
| BIG 4 MIDDLETON BEACH HOLIDAY PARK (7 mins to Albany) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Heated swimming pool, toddler pool, hydro spa, games room, mini movie theatre, beach access, playground, book exchange 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes % Discounts – BIG 4 Membership |
| ALBANY HOLIDAY PARK (9 mins to Albany) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, volleyball & basketball, 2 acre dog park 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – Acclaim Club Card |
| ROSE GARDENS BEACHSIDE HOLIDAY PARK (11 mins to Albany) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, tennis court 🐶 Pets – Yes (caravan & camping sites only) 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – Acclaim Club Card |
| BIG 4 EMU BEACH HOLIDAY PARK (12 mins to Albany) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Jumping pillow, playground, hire pedal karts, mini golf, kids club, games room, movie theatre, beach access 🐶 Pets – Yes (during off-peak) 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – BIG 4 Membership |
Day 8 + 9: Albany to Esperance (2 nights)
| ALBANY to ESPERENCE |
|---|
| Distance – 491 km |
| Drive Time – 5 hrs 12 mins |
At the very bottom of Western Australia is where you will find Esperance. A coastal town where the sand squeaks, the water is bright blue and the kangaroos sun bake with you on the beach. You can’t take a Perth to Esperance road trip without landing in Esperance of course!
The most well-known area in Esperance is the famous Cape Le Grand. This iconic beach also has a campground attached, which is the number one place I recommend to stay. It offers walking distance to the beaches and the sunsets are simply amazing!
| THINGS TO DO IN ESPERANCE | |
|---|---|
| Climb Frenchman Peak | – 262 meters high – Wooden boardwalks, gravel paths, steep smooth granite rock – 3km round trip for southern coastline views – Situated within Cape Le Grand National Park Distance: 3 km Time: 1 – 3 hours Difficulty: Grade 5 Price: From $12 – see all WA National Park Fees |
| Great Ocean Drive | – 38 km tourist loop – Begins a few kilometres from Esperance – See the stunning coastal scenery – Swimming and walking spots along the way – Rock pool snorkelling at Nine Mile Beach |
| Kangaroos at Lucky Bay | – Within Cape Le Grand National Park – See the regular Western Grey Kangaroos sunbathing on the beach – Also known as ‘Australia’s whitest beach’ – 5 km calm, sheltered bay for swimming, fishing and camping Price: From $12 – see all WA National Park Fees |
| View the pink Lake Hillier | – Located on Middle Island, just off the Esperance coast – Can only be viewed by air (helicopter or scenic flight) – A small number of people can visit on a cruise with limited tickets available in January |
| Esperance Stonehenge | – Full-sized replica of the UK Stonehenge – Built with 137 slabs of Esperance granite – View from the road or stroll around them in the paddock Price: Adults – $14 | Concession – $12.50 | Children (6 – 16 yrs) – $6 |
| Cape Le Grand National Park | – Snow white beaches with rugged peaks – Swimming, bushwalking, camping, fishing – 50 km east of Esperance via sealed road Price: From $12 – see all WA National Park Fees |
| Woody Island | – 30-minute boat ride from Esperance – 1.5 km long island (nature reserve) – Snorkelling, fishing, hiking, kayaking – Bar and kiosk for lunch |
Accommodation in Esperance
Beware! The Cape Le Grand campsites are always booked well in advance so arriving unannounced will leave you disappointed.
If you can’t get a spot there, accommodation can be found in Esperance. The drive to Cape La Grand is only 30 – 40 minutes away, so you still can take that selfie with one of the many Kangaroos that hang out there during the day.
| ESPERANCE CARAVAN PARKS | |
|---|---|
| ESPERANCE BAY HOLIDAY PARK (2 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – 2 min walk to beach, park, jetty etc. 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes % Discounts – G’Day Rewards |
| ESPERANCE SHOWGROUNDS OVERFLOW CAMPING (3 mins to Esperance) | *Only open during peak seasons when Caravan Parks are fully booked – contact Esperance Visitor Information Centre ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – No 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, bins 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs |
| RAC ESPERANCE HOLIDAY PARK (4 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, outdoor lounge room 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – RAC Membership |
| PINK LAKE TOURIST PARK (5 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, jumping pillow 🐶 Pets – Yes (except during Christmas & Easter) 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs % Discounts – Kui Membership |
| PINE GROVE HOLIDAY PARK (5 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, gas refills, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Swimming pool, playground, games room 🐶 Pets – Yes (sites only) 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes % Discounts – Acclaim Club Card |
| BATHERS PARADISE CARAVAN PARK (6 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – Yes 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins, dump point 🎲 Entertainment – Playground, enclosed kitchen with TV 🐶 Pets – Yes (sites only & not during peak times) 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes |
| PAUL’S PAD (8 mins to Esperance) | *Must contact Paul first – 0417 048 672 ⛺️ Sites – Unpowered ($20 per vehicle, per night) 🏠 Cabins – No 🚿 Amenities – Fully self-contained vehicles only 🐶 Pets – No 🚙 Suitable for – Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs |
| BUSHLANDS HOLIDAY VILLAGE (9 mins to Esperance) | ⛺️ Sites – Powered & unpowered 🏠 Cabins – No 🚿 Amenities – Showers, toilets, drinking water, laundry, camp kitchen, BBQ, bins 🐶 Pets – Yes 🚙 Suitable for – Tents, Campers, Caravans, Motorhomes, Big Rigs |
DAY 10: Return to Perth or Continue on
The final day concludes the 10-day Perth to Esperance road trip itinerary in Western Australia.
If you are returning back to Perth, the drive time without stopping is about 7 hours and covers nearly 700 kilometres. There are plenty of stops on the way back for you to visit and explore.
If you do need to return to Perth after your South West Australia road trip, you could easily do it in a day with rest stops along the way to stretch your legs, eat and go to the toilet.
But, if you’ve got more time to play with, why not break it up and choose a few different camps along the way back to add to your trip? WikiCamps is the best place to find camps, dump points, potable water, Visitor Information Centres and points of interest. Another option is to hire a camper and come in from South Australia.
For others, you may be returning to a different location or continuing on with your travels. Either way, stay safe and enjoy your trip!
Make sure you’re organised for your Western Australia travels with a trusty Hema Map. Technology is great, but when it fails or you find yourself out of service, it’s always wise to have a paper map on hand as a backup hardcopy.
Best time to do a Perth to Esperance Road Trip
The best time of year to visit the South West is summertime. The weather is simply perfect with an average temperature of 25 degrees and hardly any rain. The sun enhances the blue colour at the beaches and brightens the colour of the sand. I personally love the warmth and the sunshine, so my preference is the summer.
However, a bonus for travelling to the South West in the winter is the whale watching. There’s always a high chance of seeing whales splashing about anywhere along the South West Coast. The whales migrate from June all the way through to November.
The average temperature is 16 degrees and rainy in winter. But you can swap the beaches for wineries with inside fireplaces and a drop of red wine and a cheese platter to warm the soul.
More of WA
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Well-written and detailed post. Most tourists visiting Australia are ignorant about South West Australia’s beauty and not many think about South West Australia during an Australian holiday. The cliched attractions of Australia’s East Coast dominate the tourism scene. They have no idea what they are missing … the places in the South are so stunning and less crowded.
For sure, the west coast and south get a bit forgotten behind the east coast.
This is indeed an epic and spectacular road trip that showcases some of the best sights and experiences of Australia. South West Australia is indeed a revelation with the fascinating wildlife and beaches. Misery beach looks so welcoming, and Margaret River looks lovely too. You have covered practical information that is sure to help in planning this awesome road trip,
It’s a great little pocket of Australia with so much that can be packed into one road trip.
I’ve never been to this part of Australia, but I guess I talked with a wrong person when I asked about Freemantle. She said there’s nothing to see there. I guess she’s a big city girl. I like how you put choices of accommodations that include caravan parks since we’re thinking about renting a caravan when we visit Australia.
It’s funny what different people take away from towns and cities. From what I’ve experienced there is always something to be found in each town, may it be a big tourist attraction or a lovely nature walk.
Such a detailed itinerary! I really like how you have the campsite / camping area formats – it’s quick and easy to understand. Great post!
Glad you got some good info out of it.
This looks like my kind of road trip with so much to do and see along the way! I was particularly intrigued by “The Gloucester Tree”. I had never heard of it and wondered why a tree would have “stairs”. I hit Google and the picture showed climbing spikes, not stairs! Really?? It looks awesome but I wonder what safety precautions are in place? Or is there an alternative, less adventurous way to climb? Regardless, I would definitely go out out of my way to follow this road trip route and enjoy this fabulous landscape – and check out the Gloucester Tree!
Yeah the word ‘stairs’ for the tree is quite deceiving. I’m not sure on how the tree feels about having the spikes in place, probably not too good. I feel a bit better knowing that it was originally used as a fire lookout and is now being repurposed as a tourist attraction. I’d be horrified to think that someone did that just for the tourists. I believe that climbing the ‘stairs’ are the only way to the top.
Great idea of a road trip in this part of Australia and hopefully one day I get to drive around here (as well as the rest of the island). Best tip was about when to go, I thought the summertime will be like +35 to +45 but an average of +25 is much more comfortable for me, otherwise I would be coming over in the winter months as I like cool weather also. Would love to check those beaches out in the middle of nowhere, looks like no one lives around those parts. 🙂 And seagulls…yup, have them here in the UK and they are bloody pesky also. 😛
I hope you make it out here one day too, there’s so much to explore. Across the bottom of Australia can be quite cool with those arctic winds hitting the coast. So, even summer isn’t too bad. You’d probably cope well with the winter weather, coming from the UK. Haha seagulls are everywhere, aren’t they!