Author: Australia's Golden Outback
Published: January 23, 2018
We all know the charm of Esperance, from our beautiful beaches and national parks to our local food scene. Not to mention our collection of incredible artists and galleries. Why would you ever want to leave? But when we do have to get out of town, or asking our Perth mates to finally make the trip, we know there’s a long drive ahead. The good news is, there’s plenty to keep a car full of peeps thoroughly entertained over the eight hour journey, whichever route you take Here’s just six must-see stops on the drive to Esperance. Have fun!
An hour’s drive from Perth, York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. Explore the historic buildings along the Insta-friendly Avon Terrace and stock up on lollies for the road trip ahead at Penny Farthing Sweets.
Drive through Kulin, in the heart of the Wheatbelt, to see the quirky sculptures dotted along the town’s fields and paddocks. Aptly named the “Tin Horse Highway”, the collection of 70-plus tin horses celebrate the annual Kulin Bush Races.
A must-see stop for incredible photos in an unreal setting. The star of the show is the massive granite rock shaped like, you guessed it, a wave. Beyond the rock, check out Mulka’s Cave for Aboriginal rock art and Lake Magic, a naturally occurring salt and gypsum lake made for floating. Want to break up your drive? Stay overnight and wake up refreshed and ready for the remaining four hour drive to Esperance.
Make a stop at the surreal Lake Dumbleyung for stunning photos or a quick paddle. Recently full for the first time in 10 years, the vast salt lake covers a total area of 52 square kilometres. The attraction is also famous for the historic water speed record set by the Brit Sir Donald Campbell in 1964. Visit the replica and interpretation centre to relive the event.
Surrounded by rocky ranges, river valleys, sand plains and historical mining sites, the town of Ravensthorpe is a worthy stop on your way to Esperance. If you can’t time your visit for spring, when the wildflowers are in full bloom, you can always take in the incredible banksia art which adorns the town’s three silos.
One of the gems along the drive, the Fitzgerald River National Park is made up of diverse flora and fauna including 20 percent of Western Australia’s flora species. Perched right on the Southern Ocean, the natural wonderland is made for bushwalking, canoeing, fishing, whale watching and, of course, wildflower spotting. Take a pit stop at the pretty coastal town of Hopetoun, before piling back into the car knowing you’ve got less than 2 hours before arriving in Esperance.
