Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Located on the picturesque coastline of Western Australia, the small town of Esperance offers some great things to do. The area is particularly spoilt for stunning beaches, both along the town’s Great Ocean Drive and in the breathtaking Cape Le Grand National Park – where you can even see kangaroos on the beach at the famous Lucky Bay! Relaxing on the amazing beaches is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Esperance, but there are some other great options too! Fans of craft beer won’t want to miss the Lucky Bay Brewery, and scenic flights are available for those wanting to admire the area’s beautiful nature from above. Find out the best things to do in Esperance below!
Make sure to plan ahead when booking accommodation in Esperance as it regularly sells out in advance. Read our guide to the best places to stay in Esperance and book your stay now!
Top Things to do in Esperance
Cape Le Grand National Park
Visiting the stunning Cape Le Grand National Park is one of the best things to do in Esperance and can easily spend a few days admiring the beaches here. It’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers, boasting stunning white-sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and rugged coastal landscapes that are sure to take your breath away.
There are a number of amazing spots to visit in the national park, with the most popular being Lucky Bay. The beach at Lucky Bay is stunning, but the highlight is the chance to see kangaroos on the beach itself!
For the best chance of seeing the kangaroos you should visit in the early morning or late evening, as they are more active at these times of day. The kangaroos aren’t overly bothered by the presence of humans, so often will come quite close to you – but remember not to feed or touch them as it can be harmful to both yourself and the animals.
Even if you don’t see any kangaroos at Lucky Bay, it’s still a beautiful spot to visit – with fine white sand and lovely blue seawater. If you go to the far end of the beach there are steps up to a viewpoint, giving you a great view of Lucky Bay and more of the national park.
Another highlight of Cape Le Grand National Park is Hellfire Bay, which is our personal favourite beach in the area. It’s one of the more hidden things to do in Esperance, boasting fine white sand and unbelievably clear water, with amazing shades of turquoise and blue that make it a true paradise.
Despite its amazing natural beauty, Hellfire Bay is actually often overlooked when visiting the park in favour of spending more time at Lucky Bay. We strongly recommend you don’t make this mistake, as this beautiful spot is not to be missed – and is only a 10 minute drive from Lucky Bay!
If you’re feeling more active, then you may prefer to climb Frenchman Peak or walk the Cape Le Grand Coastal Trail. Climbing the peak offers some brilliant views of the national park, and the coastal trail encompasses the park’s most beautiful beaches.
Great Ocean Drive
One of the best ways to explore the stunning coastline around Esperance is on the scenic Great Ocean Drive. This 40-kilometre loop is one of the most beautiful drives in Australia, offering wonderful beach and sea views along the way.
As you drive, you’ll pass by some of Esperance’s best beaches, including Blue Haven Beach, Twilight Beach, and West Beach. Like many of the beaches along the route, these three beaches are home to pristine sand and dazzling turquoise water – making them perfect for relaxing on the beach or swimming in the crystal clear waters!
Twilight Beach is another highlight, with similarly beautiful fine white sand and amazingly blue waters. It’s one of the most popular beaches along the Great Ocean Drive, and so it can sometimes be hard to find space in the car park – so try to get there early if you want to park up and enjoy the beach properly!
There are several other lovely beaches along the Great Ocean Drive, as well as some incredible lookouts such as Observatory Point. From this spot you can enjoy spectacular views of the Esperance coastline, and even spot migrating whales if you’re lucky!
If you enjoy this then you may enjoy this 2 day Great Ocean Road itinerary in Victoria.
For more information on this scenic route, make sure to read our guide to the Great Ocean Drive in Esperance! If you don’t have a car then it is possible to walk some of the route, but realistically it’s better to rent a car – and there are some great deals to be found on the Discover Cars website. Click here to find the best deals on the Discover Cars website!
Fly Esperance
For a truly unforgettable experience, consider taking a scenic flight with Fly Esperance. These scenic flights showcase the region’s natural beauty from a bird’s eye view, offering a unique perspective of the stunning coastline and beyond.
There are a number of different flight routes available, with the most unique offering a trip to Lake Hillier – a stunning pink lake that looks like something from another planet! Located around 120 kilometres away from Esperance on Middle Island, one of the only ways to see this natural phenomenon is on these scenic flights.
Trips to Lake Hillier also offer stunning views of Cape Le Grand National Park, Lucky Bay, Woody Island, Esperance town, and more, and on flights between June and October you may even seen migrating whales! These flights last for approximately 80 minutes and cost $475 AUD per person, but it’s worth every penny for the stunning views.
Other flight routes are available, including scenic flights to Twilight Bay (costing $150 AUD per person) and to Cape Le Grand National Park (costing $195 AUD per person). Find out more about these unique flights on the Fly Esperance website!
There is also a lake in Esperance itself known as Pink Lake, but this lake is no longer pink. Some of the pictures on Google Reviews do show a pink lake, but these are almost always pictures of Lake Hillier and are just posted in the wrong place. If you want to see the impressive Lake Hillier then these flights are your best option!
Relax at the Beach
If you’re looking for a more laid-back way to enjoy the natural beauty of Esperance, look no further than the town’s beautiful beaches. With sparkling turquoise waters and pristine white sand, the town’s beaches are perfect for a relaxing beach day!
Many of the town’s best beaches are located in the nearby Cape Le Grand National Park, with two particular standouts being Lucky Bay and Hellfire Bay. There are also some incredible beaches along the aforementioned Great Ocean Drive, including Blue Haven Beach and Twilight Beach.
These beaches are characterised by their fine sand and stunning blue seawater, helping to make them some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Australia! Whether you’re looking to go swimming, snorkelling, surfing, or simply just relax on the beach, don’t miss a day at the beach during your time here!
Make sure to check out our guide to the best beaches in Esperance to find out more about the beaches mentioned above, as well as a number of other beautiful beaches in the area! If you’re looking for free things to do in Esperance, the beaches outside the national park are completely free to visit – although it’s definitely worth the entrance fee to visit the beaches of Cape Le Grand too!
Walk to Castletown
A pleasant way to pass some time is to walk along the seafront between Esperance and the suburb of Castletown. It’s possible to walk along the beach itself, or alternatively there is a path near the beachfront which leads from Esperance town centre to Castletown.
As you walk you can enjoy some lovely views of the brilliant blue sea, and it’s a nice way to see a bit more of the area. Along the way you will pass the Tanker Jetty, which is worth walking along if you want a different view of the area from out at sea.
If you walk to the far end of Castletown it’s around a 4.5 kilometre walk from Esperance town, but you don’t need to walk this far if you don’t want to. In total the walk should take around 30-45 minutes one-way depending on how far you decide to go!
Lucky Bay Brewing
If you’re a fan of craft beer, be sure to visit Lucky Bay Brewing during your trip to Esperance as it’s one of the best things to do here as well as visit at night. Sourcing raw barley directly from local farmers, the brewery produces a range of lagers, ales, stouts, and more!
In addition to its delicious beer, Lucky Bay Brewing also offers a range of wood-fired pizzas, as well as several sharing plates. It’s definitely worth heading down to sample a few beers and enjoy one of their pizzas while you’re in town.
If you want to find out more about the brewing process, then make sure to book onto one of the brewery tours and tastings. These tours start from just $28 per person, and can be booked online via the Lucky Bay Brewing website!
Located around a 10-minute drive from the Esperance town centre, the brewery is also accessible via the bicycle track from the Castletown foreshore over the Bandy Creek weir. If you’re attending one of their live music events then a return bus is included in the price of your ticket.
Looking for other places to visit in Western Australia? Check out how to get to Rottnest Island and the most unique things to do in Perth!
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