Esperance with Kids: a perfect two day family itinerary

Planning a family trip to Esperance? This two day itinerary covers the best things to do in Esperance with kids, from the scenic Great Ocean Drive to the white-sand beaches of Cape Le Grand National Park.

Esperance might not receive as many visitors compared to other parts of Western Australia but those families who make the effort to reach this corner of the state will be rewarded with world-class beaches, stunning landscapes and a relaxed, welcoming town. It’s the perfect place to slow down for a few days and soak up one of Australia’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.

What to Expect in Esperance with Kids

If your expectations are configured correctly, a visit to Esperance with kids will be a chilled out addition to your trip, but don’t expect hundreds of sights and experiences. The drawcard here is the proximity to natural beauty and a quiet, organised town to explore.

The sleepy town itself does have some attractions, including a museum, miniature railway, jetty and an excellent esplanade with grassy park, playground and BBQ areas. There are also good facilities in the town centre, including a large Woolworths supermarket, bars, restaurants and camping shops.

But really, the reason people visit here is for the nearby beaches and day trips from the town.

Day 1: Great Ocean Drive

It’s possible to follow the Great Ocean Drive for its full 40km loop, which starts and ends in Esperance town centre near the jetty. We took a slightly different approach and instead took an out and back loop, focusing on our favourite beaches, a quick swim and short hike at the Rotary Lookout.

As you leave town, Rotary Lookout is the first stop and offers a simple hike that kids will enjoy, with uninterrupted views across the ocean. From here, follow the route and pick a couple of beaches that take your fancy (we found Twilight Beach the best). We were visiting during the Australian winter in August and the water was just about warm enough for a quick dip, but it’s certainly bracing. Kids will enjoy paddling in the shallow water and playing on the beautiful sandy beaches.

You’ll see Pink Lake listed on the route map but it’s unfortunately no longer pink!

Surprisingly, there aren’t any places to buy food or drink once you leave Esperance, so make sure you pick up enough supplies in town before you set off. We kept things easy and bought a Subway from town to have for lunch.

Later in the afternoon once you’re back in Esperance, take a stroll along Tanker Jetty and play in the esplanade playground. There’s also Esperance Museum if you’re looking for an indoor activity.

Day 2: Cape Le Grand National Park

The big drawcard to the area is Cape La Grand National Park, a 50 minute drive from Esperance. This stretch of coastline is amongst the most impressive in the whole of Australia, and parts of it have been listed on unofficial Best Beaches in the World.

As you enter the National Park you’ll need to pay fees (A$17 per vehicle; longer term park passes can be purchased here if you’re planning to visit multiple national parks in WA).

We headed first to Lucky Bay, an almost impossibly perfect arc of golden sand, only slightly let down by the 4WDs that are inexplicably permitted to park on the beach. It’s a pleasant walk along the bay and a good spot to enjoy your food if you’ve come prepared from Esperance.

From here we continued on to Whistling Rock, where you can clamber onto the rocks and find a comfy spot to enjoy the crashing waves and epic views (be careful close to the water’s edge as the rocks can be slippery here).

Our final stop was at Hellfire Bay, which was our favourite place of the day. The beach was almost entirely deserted so it was the perfect place for another (cold) swim in the sea. Do be careful if the kids go in as there’s a sudden drop after a few metres, and the currents can be strong. There’s no lifeguard on duty, so perhaps limit the younger ones to a paddle and play in the sand.

As with all the beaches here, there are no facilities, although there are occasional toilets at some of the beach car parks.

If you have more time in Esperance with kids

Rather than squeezing in the museum on day one, save it for one of your spare days and take your time. If you have more time to spend in town, we’d recommend just embracing the beach time and gentle strolls along the esplanade.

The kids will also appreciate the miniature railway. This is open weekends and school holidays, but closed over the winter months.

Where to stay in Esperance with kids

We stayed five nights at Blue Tides Accommodation, a traditional three-bedroom suburban home with a garden and parking. It was the perfect place to decompress towards the end of our Western Australia road trip and slow the pace, as well as catch up with some much needed washing (yes, there’s a washing machine here!).

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to camp, there is the RAC Esperance Holiday Park, which is a few minutes drive north of town, but within walking distance to the beach.

Final thoughts on visiting Esperance with kids

In a country where the coastline is lined with remarkable beaches, you may wonder whether the long drive to Esperance is worth it (it’s not really on the way to or from anywhere). But the beaches here are truly on another level, and many argue they are some of the very best in the world.

In all honesty, the coastline is the main reason to visit this region of Australia. Don’t arrive expecting to tick off lots of different sights; it’s really a case of slowing down and picking a couple of beaches each day to enjoy. Facilities are limited at the beaches, so bring your own food and drinks, and perhaps a ball or some beach toys to keep the kids entertained.

For us, Esperance was the perfect place to decompress after long drives through the Outback, and we all appreciated the hot showers and washing machine at our accommodation to wash off the red dust that seems to get everywhere.