Perth To Esperance Road Trip: A Four Day Itinerary
Planning a Perth to Esperance road trip in the near future? Mike and I spent a week on a Western Australia road trip in March and it was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had.
Perth To Esperance Road Trip Itinerary
To be sure you enjoy it as much as we did, here is a list of the best places to add to your road trip itinerary from Perth to Esperance.
This is a four-day itinerary; if you plan to spend more time on Australia’s west coast, add extra days in the locations listed below based on your activity preferences.
Road Trip Day 1: Perth to Dunsborough
On the first night of our Perth to Esperance road trip, we stopped in a small town called Dunsborough, just outside of Margaret River. The drive from Perth to Dunsborough was about three hours.
A must-see stop: Injidup Natural Spa
Dunsborough is chalked full of awesome adventures for families and adventure seekers. Our favorite stop in Dunsborough was Injudup Natural Spa.. yeah, try and pronounce that name!
Injidup Natural Spa is a must-see on a road trip from Perth to Esperance. The ocean water breaks over the rocks and flows down into a small pool below. This creates a spa-like setting with foaming water, sea salt, and a natural massage from the crashing waves.
I recommend visiting Indijup Natural Spa in the morning. We arrived at around 10am, which seemed to be primetime for visitors. Arriving at 8 or 9am might offer fewer crowds.
WARNING: If the waves are crashing with power and the pool is too high, consider staying out of the water. It is very dangerous to swim in the spa when the swells are big. The water is a lot more powerful than you think and when you’re surrounded by rock, only bad things can come.
An Additional Stop: Sugarloaf Rock
The viewpoint for Sugarloaf Rock is a 30-minute drive north of Indijup Natural Spa. This is an awesome stop to add to your Perth to Esperance road trip itinerary.
Pictures cannot do this island justice. The size of Sugarloaf Rock is immense and the rock formation itself is impressive. Unseen in the photo above, the water surrounding Sugarloaf Rock is a brilliant turquoise blue.
If you have the time, be sure to stop by Sugarloaf Rock for a quick visit. The walk to the viewpoint is simple but the views are spectacular.
Watch The First Day Of Our Perth To Esperance Road Trip
Road Trip Day 2: Dunsborough to Denmark
On day two, we recommend driving along the coast from Dunsborough to Denmark. Get an early start on your drive because you’ll want to pack in a lot of incredible stops on day two.
The trip from Dunsborough to Denmark is approximately three hours, however, I highly recommend taking the coastal route.
Although it will add an hour and a half to your drive (making the trip 4.5 hours in total), you won’t want to miss out on the sights it holds.
A Must-See Stop: Hamelin Bay
WILD STINGRAYS. I REPEAT. WILD STINGRAYS.
I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it. These epic creatures call Hamelin Bay their home. They frequent the shallow shores and give beach-goers an unbelievable surprise.
Here at Hamelin Bay, the stingrays love the free food the fishermen share with them. In the morning and late afternoon, the fishing boats return from the sea with food for the stingrays. This is when the rays are most active.
Please be aware that stingrays are wild animals. They are dangerous when treated improperly. I would highly suggest refraining from touching them.
Also, be aware of your footing. Accidentally stepping on one of these majestic creatures could be devastating for both involved.
In order to find the stingrays, go to the beach at Hamelin Bay. Here you’ll see some wood posts near the water. We were able to see the stingrays in front of these wood posts.
Note: If you’re looking to attract the rays, simply splash your hand on top of the water. Looking for food, the rays will come and greet you.
Again, I urge you to treat these animals with respect. They are WILD.
An Additional Stop: Margaret River
Any wine drinkers out there? Margaret River is your oasis!
Margaret River is located between Dunsborough and Hamelin Bay and with 187 wineries, you’re sure to find something you like. The location of Margaret River makes it the perfect stop on your Perth to Esperance road trip.
If you aren’t a wine drinker, no problem. They also specialize in craft beer.
We stopped at several breweries along the way and thoroughly enjoyed the beer, as well as the atmosphere at each place. From hoppy IPAs to crisp lagers, there is something for everyone in Margaret River.
An Additional Stop: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
The shores of Augusta, Western Australia are gorgeous and well worth the visit. Add the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse to your Perth to Esperance road trip itinerary.
Be aware that this area is very busy during holidays and weekends; it’s best to visit on a weekday.
Watch Day 2 Of Our Perth To Esperance Road Trip
Road Trip Day 3: Denmark to Bremer Bay
The drive on day three is significantly shorter than the other days. At two and a half hours, this drive makes it possible to enjoy all of the natural beauty that Denmark, Western Australia has to offer.
Denmark is a coastal town with white sandy beaches and epic rock formations. Spend a bit of time exploring Denmark before beginning your drive to Bremer Bay.
Must-See Stops: Greens Pool & Elephant Rocks
Of course I had to include this because of ELEPHANTS! And because it’ll be one of the best stops on your entire road trip.
Unfortunately, they aren’t real elephants but you might be fooled by these giant rocks.
Huddled in the crystal-clear blue waters are massive rocks that resemble a herd of elephants. I recommend visiting the Elephant Rocks during summer so that you’re able to swim as well; it gets a bit chilly during fall and winter months.
Another incredible stop on your Perth to Esperance road trip is Greens Pool, located 3 minutes from the Elephant Rocks. This spot is absolutely stunning and the beach is one of the best in all of Australia.
When visiting Greens Pool, take a dip and enjoy the calm waters created by the surrounding rock. If you’re planning on spending time here on the weekend, come early. The parking lot is small and it’s a popular spot among locals and tourists alike.
An Additional Stop: Albany
Albany is a quaint coastal town on your way to Bremer Bay from Denmark.
They have great restaurants right on the pier, excellent walking trails, pristine beaches, and friendly people. If you’re looking to break up your drive to Bremer Bay, stop in Albany for the afternoon.
Road Trip Day 4: Bremer Bay to Esperance
The grand finale is finally here and this leg of the journey will take 4 hours. Although it might seem like a long drive, you’ll be rewarded with the best beaches in all of Australia (yes, seriously).
Day four is when you’ll make it to Esperance, Western Australia.
A Must-See Stop: Lucky Bay
If you’ve made it this far and you don’t visit Lucky Bay, was the trip even worth it? No.
Lucky Bay is by far the most gorgeous beach I have ever been to and one of our top reasons why Australia is worth visiting. What’s more is the wild kangaroos let you pet them.. if that isn’t the epitome of Australia, I’m not sure what is.
We went to Lucky Bay on a holiday weekend and surprisingly it wasn’t crowded at all. There were other beach-goers, but the long stretches of white sand are expansive, meaning there is plenty of room for everyone.
Bring your lunch, beach towels, and beers; you’re sure to have a large area all to yourself.
A quick note for anyone stopping at Lucky Bay: please respect the wild animals. Having kangaroos come up to you is awesome, but please do not give them food.
Another thing to note: anything you bring into Lucky Bay should be packed out. Please clean up after yourselves in order to preserve this incredible coastline.
A Must-See Stop: Rossiter Bay
Rossiter Bay is Lucky Bay’s less-popular twin sister. Located just minutes from Lucky Bay, we were unsure why this beach was completely deserted. This beach stretched for miles and miles and we were truly the only ones in sight.
If you’re visiting Lucky Bay, stop by Rossiter Bay, too. Start walking along the water’s edge and see how far you can go before the beach ends (hint: we walked for over an hour and still couldn’t see an end in sight).
A Must-See Stop: Twilight Bay
Both Lucky Bay and Rossiter Bay are located in Cape Le Grand National Park, approximately an hour drive from the town of Esperance. Spend the day at the national park but don’t give up there! The town of Esperance has a lot to offer, too.
One of our favorite experiences during our Perth to Esperance road trip was our stop at Twilight Bay. Twilight Bay is an amazing beach just minutes from downtown Esperance.
At Twilight Bay, we walked along the vacant shores and enjoyed the sunset. This is a perfect beach to bring any games like soccer or frisbee; it is a clean, massive beach with very few people.
We enjoyed Twilight Bay so much that we came here each night we were in Esperance.
Grab some small bottles of champagne, perhaps a few appetizers, and bask in the cool breeze coming off the ocean.
Again, please respect this area.
As tourists, it’s OUR duty to keep these beautiful places in Australia clean. Pick up all of the trash you bring onto the beach; there are plenty of rubbish bins at the beach entrance.
A Must-See Stop: Great Ocean Trail
What’s a good road trip without an awesome hike, am I right?
As one of the must-see stops on your road trip, I had to include the Great Ocean Trail. Located just across the road from Twilight Bay, this is a great place to get out and enjoy the rolling hills surrounding the town of Esperance.
This trail goes for miles and miles.
Bikers, runners, and hikers can actually take this trail all the way back into the town of Esperance. The Great Ocean Trail also brings you back into the bush of Australia. The diverse views of this trail are something that shouldn’t be missed.
Our favorite part of the Great Ocean Trail was the lookout point above Twilight Bay. If you thought Twilight Bay was beautiful up close, check it out from afar.
We went during sunset and highly recommend this. Be sure to pack something warm to throw on after the sun goes down!
Watch Day 4 Of Our Perth To Esperance Road Trip
The Wrap-Up: Perth to Esperance Road Trip
We spent a week exploring the southwestern coast of Australia and enjoyed every second of it. Use the tips above to create your Western Australia itinerary, complete with the best things to do and most beautiful places to see. We hope you enjoy your trip as much as we enjoyed ours.
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