Esperance & The Golden Outback

There’s quite a lot of ground to cover in Esperance & The Golden Outback. With so much to see and do, a road trip is our top recommendation. There are plenty of different routes for you to choose from, each with their own unique appeal. The Wheatbelt Art Trail is a popular option, taking you through miles of tranquil landscape as you search for giant art murals painted on grain silos. Or, you can plan a route to see some of the region’s fascinating mining museums and attractions, including Australia’s biggest gold mine in Kalgoorlie.

Alternatively, for a completely novel driving experience, Nullarbor Links is the place to go. Spanning 1,365 kilometres along the Eyre Highway, it’s the longest golf course in the world. You’ll play each hole in a different town, with the whole course usually taking five days to complete.

Sure, exploring a city can be fun. But in Esperance & The Golden Outback, the natural sights out-perform any building or skyscraper you could possibly imagine. Sitting within the Wheatbelt region, Wave Rock is definitely worth a visit. Dating back to before dinosaurs roamed the earth, this colossal rock formation naturally mimics the shape of a wave about to break.

Another geological masterpiece can be found over on the Recherche Islands. Located right beside the bright-blue Pacific Ocean, Lake Hillier is set apart by its unique pink colour. The reason why it’s taken on this hue is debated, but what’s agreed is that it’s one of Western Australia’s greatest spectacles.
To top off your tour of the area’s natural wonders, why not spend some time at Kennedy Range National Park? Set out on one of the wildflower-lined walking trails to catch breath-taking views of the Australian Outback.

The beaches in Esperance and all along the south coast are nothing short of incredible. Think rocky outcrops, turquoise water and never-ending stretches of paper-white, soft sand. Just a 50-minute drive from Esperance, Lucky Bay is a great way to kick-off your beach-hopping adventure. In addition to the incredible scenery, it’s also a popular kangaroo and joey hangout. So, if you visit when it’s quiet, there’s a chance you’ll spot one chilling on the sand.

Slightly further east, Duke of Orleans Bay is another beautiful location. Backed by views of the gently-sloping mountains, the crystal-clear ocean is ideal for all sorts of water activities. Alternatively, to the west of Esperance, the Great Ocean Drive is a fantastic route to follow if you want to see even more of the spectacular coastline. Explore lookouts, coves and beaches as part of an epic 40-kilometre road trip.

As summer in the UK draws to a close, Western Australia gets its first taste of spring. So, if you’re looking for sunshine and pleasant temperatures, anytime from September onwards is your best bet. It’s hottest between December and March, but it’s worth noting that it’s always slightly cooler down by the coast in Esperance. At the peak of summer, in February, you can expect average highs of 25°C while further inland, in places like Kalgoorlie, it sits around the low thirties.

If you want to be greeted by a sea of wildflowers, you should plan to visit the Golden Outback in spring. You’ll get to see over 12,000 varieties in bloom between July and November, with the Esperance Wildflower Festival taking place in September. Enjoy environmental workshops, art competitions and dance performances, and learn all about the area’s diverse flora and fauna.