For a lot of travellers, Esperance & Bremer Bay is just that bit too far away. Being situated along the south coast of Western Australia, everyone coming from the East the only way to get there is along the Nullabor, for those from the north you can go via the southern coast of WA or through Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields-Esperance region. For those of you who have never been there, you don’t know what you are missing out on! It really is a remarkable place and needs to be put on your Bucket List ASAP!
Our trip saw us drive our Isuzu’s across The Nullabor into Norseman then down to Esperance along to Bremer Bay and ending up in Albany. You know how you often read magazines or look in brochures and the pictures look wonderful but when you get there the place is nothing like the glossy photos? In Esperance and Bremer Bay there are no photos that can possibly do them justice. It is absolutely out of this world. We have travelled the world extensively and nowhere have we ever seen sand so white, ocean so blue and landscape so diverse, dotted with bright coloured wildflowers at certain times of the year. Even with the wildest artist imagination, you could not paint a picture better than the real life surrounds of Esperance or Bremer Bay. This area is definitely a jewel in Australia’s crown.
With the caravan park right on the beachfront in Esperance you very quickly ease into the cruisy lifestyle that Esperance offers. It’s a happening seaside town and it doesn’t take long to get into the swing of things. First up was a beach drive in our Isuzu’s! Love a great beach drive. Anyone can drive the beaches here, the only rule? Just be safe! We drive the length of the ocean beach and were greeted with a very menacing looking cliff stretching up into the sky. Oh well, time to turn back. Or so we thought! No lets drive up it! Sheree leaped out of her MU-X with Boston in her arms, yelling at me with words I really can’ t repeat. The last thing she said was “Your life insurance better be up to date!” I must admit I was really nervous, but our friendly guide was extremely encouraging and just said put her in full 4wd and don’t throttle off! You can actually drive up this almost vertical rock face up to a ledge where you get the most amazing view. And if I can get up there no trouble at all, anyone can. Where else on earth could you do this?
Next on the agenda was Sand boarding, similar to snow boarding and wake boarding. I will reluctantly let Sheree win this one, she was better than me at sandboading. You are out in the middle of no where, with priceless views and nothing but snow white sand to conquer and yes I admit I had a few spills.
Our last bit of action that Esperance was to throw our way was a drive out to Cape Le Grand National Park. And boy isn’t it Grand! The best was Hell Fire Bay. Again, you just can not begin to describe it nor do our pictures do it justice. It is just one of those places you must visit in person to get the real idea. We played on the beach for nearly 4 hours. It is remote, so untouched yet so welcoming. We had a little BBQ for lunch and just whiled the time away staring at the amazing Hell Fire Bay, pinching ourselves occasionally to make sure we werent dreaming.
Cape Le Grand is an easy 1 hour drive out of Esperance and make sure you take a picnic because you will not want to leave.
There any many secluded beaches, Lucky Bay, Rossiter Bay, Hellfire Bay dotted throughout Cape LeGrand National Park as well as the Frenchman Peak look out.
I would advise to stay at least 4 day in Esperance, there is a lot to see and do as well as being a great place to relax. Esperance is definitely the pot of gold at the end of the Nullabor rainbow!
After a full week in Esperance enjoying every second, we packed up and headed off for Bremer Bay, a 4 hour drive away.
Bremer Bay is a coastal town situated on the south coast of Western Australia in the Great Southern region between Albany and Esperance, at the mouth of the Bremer River. It Is 180kms from Albany and 395kms from Esperance.
Bremer Bay is a quaint beachside village with just 250 permanent residents and a great holiday park. It is home to some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, as well as the Wellstead Heritage Museum, which was actually the original town name of Bremer Bay.
John Wellstead settled in Bremer Bay in the early 1850’s turning over the land to sheep and cattle grazing. Four generations on, the original Wellstead Homestead and now heritage Museum stand, bearing historic witness to this early pioneering family. The Pioneer Museum houses over 3,000 exhibits which gives life to the ways of early colonial life. Accommodation within the Peppermint Grove Homestead grounds in one of the original renovated, self contained stone cottages which provide clean and modern accommodation housed within historic walls. Within the museum you are welcomed by one of the most extensive collections we have ever seen.
Bremer Bay’s beaches are remote yet welcoming. They are home to some of the world’s whitest sand and bluest waters. This part of Australia is another brilliant example of just how diverse and unique Australia really is.
TRAVEL TIP:
- Prepare to stay longer than you plan to due to its raw & breathtaking beauty
- Take your water sports gear with you as you will spend hours on their picturesque beaches
FAST FACTS:
- Esperance’s major industries are tourism, agriculture & fishing
- History in Esperance dates back to 1627
- Bremer Bay was originally named Wellstead
- Whales are often less than 50m from shore in Bremer Bay
