ESPERANCE WANDERINGS
- Traveldriven
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 14
SWIM, FISH, SURF &
DRIVE ESPERANCE
Esperance is a coastal town with approximately twelve thousand inhabitants, located just over seven hundred kilometres (450 miles) from Perth. The cool waters of the Southern Ocean wash along its shores. The climate and landscape resemble those of Victoria, though Esperance experiences longer warm periods during summer. Esperance has a major deep water export port. While Northern Western Australia sees peak winter visitor numbers, the southern regions, including Esperance, are in their off-season. Esperance is renowned for stunning beaches, fishing and surfing.
BAY OF ISLES
Offshore of Esperance is the Recherche Archipelago, comprising over a hundred islands and forms the Bay of Isles. In the past, several shipwrecks have taken place in these waters. In early European history of Western Australia, the pirate Black Jack Anderson made his base on the largest island, Middle Island. He and crew menaced sailing ships in the larger Archipelago until meeting his violent end on Middle Island.
WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Visitors to the Recherche Archipelago can embark on boat tours offering a unique opportunity to observe and interact with the diverse marine life that thrives in these waters. One of the highlights of these tours is the chance to spot majestic sea eagles soaring overhead. Tour guides often provide guests with the opportunity to feed these magnificent birds by enabling a passenger to toss food onto the surface of the seawater, creating a thrilling experience as the eagle's swoop down with grace and precision to catch their meal. In addition to sea eagles, the archipelago is home to a variety of marine mammals, including playful sea lions and sleek fur seals. These creatures can often be seen lounging on the rocky shores providing ample opportunities for wildlife photography and observation. Occasionally dolphins are seen up close skimming ocean swells alongside the tour boat.
TOURING THE ARCHIPELAGO
Boat tours around the Recherche Archipelago can extend ten kilometres or more offshore, allowing participants to explore a significant portion of this stunning marine environment. While the tours do not typically include landings on the islands themselves, they often provide a unique experience for those looking to enjoy the beauty of the islands. One particularly appealing aspect of these tours is the opportunity to swim from the rear of the tour boat in a secluded bay along the Esperance coastline, where the waters are calm and inviting. This refreshing dip offers a perfect way to cool off while surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
GREAT OCEAN DRIVE
If a boat tour isn't your preference, consider driving Western Australia's own version of the Great Ocean Road as seen in Victoria. This scenic drive is a thirty-five kilometre loop starting and ending in Esperance. About twenty km is of ocean frontage and some five km along the edge of Pink Lake. However, the lake is no longer pink. As of 2025, the winding road is in excellent condition. Drivers can take in rocky headlands, peaceful bays, and wide ocean vistas with small rocky islands close in to shore.
The journey begins from Rotary Lookout, which provides a full 360-degree unobstructed view of parts of Esperance and the offshore archipelago islands. There are numerous rest areas with ocean views and turnoffs for surfing or swimming. Having driven the Great Ocean Road in Victoria many times, I can say that long stretches of the Great Ocean Drive surpass the scenic beauty of Victoria's Great Ocean Road. That speaks volumes about this drive.
STONEHENGE IN ESPERANCE
To one's amazement just out of Esperance one can come across a full-sized replica of Stonehenge as it would have looked in 2000 BC in pristine condition. The construction is made of 137 quarried stones of Esperance Pink Granite. The structure sits on farmland 18 km out of Esperance. Completed in 2011. Total weight of the stones 2,500 tonnes. There is an entry fee to wander about the huge slabs of precisely assembled rock.
Traveldriven
CURRENT ESPERANCE FIVE DAY FORECAST
DRIVE ESPERANCE
GREAT OCEAN DRIVE
DRIVE PERTH - ESPERANCE
Comments