Tag: WA

  • The Ultimate Perth to Esperance Road Trip (With Camping Stops)

    The Ultimate Perth to Esperance Road Trip (With Camping Stops)

    We spent 7 days driving from Perth to Esperance and back, and honestly? What a treat.

    Look, campervan holidays aren’t usually our thing. We like a hotel. We like a pool. We like plug sockets that definitely work.

    But if you want to see this part of Western Australia properly, a campervan is probably the best way to do it…and we ended up loving every second.

    Here’s exactly how we did our Perth to Esperance road trip, where we stayed, and what not to miss along the way.

    Our Campervan

    We booked through Peterpans and went with Apollo for the van.

    Pickup was straightforward in Perth, and once we were loaded up and slightly overwhelmed by how many buttons a campervan has…we hit the road.

    Perth to Esperance Road Trip Route Overview

    🗺 Perth to Esperance Road Trip Route (7 Days)

    • Perth → Margaret River (2 nights)
    • Margaret River → Albany (1 night, via Denmark)
    • Albany → Lucky Bay, Esperance (2–3 nights)
    • Esperance → Wave Rock (1 night)
    • Wave Rock → Perth

    💡 Tip: Stock up before Cape Le Grand National Park — Lucky Bay is off-grid with limited facilities.

    Stop 1: Margaret River (2 Nights)

    Drive time from Perth: ~3 hours

    Margaret River is Western Australia’s famous wine region, and it is stunning.

    Rolling vineyards, dramatic coastline, sleepy beach towns… it’s the perfect first stop to ease into road trip mode.

    We stayed at Hamelin Bay Holiday Park, which was lovely and in a great location. The campsite has:

    • Direct beach access
    • A beautiful coastal walk
    • Resident stingrays you can see from the shore (yes, really)

    Alongside visiting local wineries, make sure you stop at Margaret River Bakery. Elite carb stop. No further notes.

    Margaret River Bakery

    Stop 2: Albany (1 Night)

    Drive time from Margaret River: ~4 hours (via Denmark)

    We broke up the drive by stopping in Denmark, which is absolutely worth it for coffee and coastal views.

    In Albany, we stayed at the BIG4 Campground, which was right on the beach – a brilliant location.

    While in Albany:

    • Visit the Albany Whaling Station
    • Head to The Gap – dramatic cliffs and wild Southern Ocean views
    • Walk along the coastline (it feels properly rugged here)

    Albany feels wilder than Margaret River; less polished, more dramatic.

    Stop 3: Lucky Bay, Esperance (2–3 Nights)

    Drive time from Albany: ~5 hours

    This is where things get special.

    We stayed at Lucky Bay Campground in Cape Le Grand National Park, and it is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed.

    But let’s be real about it.

    What to Know Before Staying at Lucky Bay Campground:

    • No powered sites
    • No water hook-ups
    • Very limited WiFi (only near the entrance, and even then… barely)
    • Showers are hit and miss temperature-wise
    • Nearest supermarket is back in Esperance town

    This is off-grid camping.

    Charge everything. Stock up properly. Be prepared.

    And then enjoy being completely disconnected.

    Because Lucky Bay Beach – regularly voted one of the best beaches in the world – is right there.

    White sand. Turquoise water. Kangaroos on the beach (well, if you’re lucky! If not, just Kangaroos on the campsite!)

    There’s also a beautiful coastal walk and plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities.

    Bonus: Great Ocean Drive (Esperance)

    From Lucky Bay, take a drive along Great Ocean Drive (not to be confused with Victoria’s Great Ocean Road).

    Stop at:

    • Twilight Bay
    • Blue Haven Beach
    • Various breathtaking lookouts
    Twilight Bay
    Blue Haven Beach

    You can also explore more of Cape Le Grand National Park by car or on foot, straight from the campground.

    Esperance might just have some of the best beaches in Australia. Well actually, it does have some of the best beaches in Australia. And the world. As voted for!

    Stop 4: Wave Rock (1 Night)

    After our time in Esperance and heading back towards Perth, we drove inland to Wave Rock Short Stay.

    This was next-level remote.

    Wave Rock Short Stay Campground

    Okay, technically it’s fairly near a main road. But once you’re inside the campground? It feels like you’re miles from anywhere.

    We did, admittedly, drive up and down the same road several times trying to find it. But it was dark. We were tired. Let’s move on.

    The campsite itself is proper wilderness camping:

    • Two bathrooms
    • No showers
    • Epic night skies
    • Complete silence

    The stars here are unreal.

    And of course, Wave Rock itself is worth seeing before you set off back to Perth – a 15-metre-high rock formation shaped exactly like a breaking ocean wave.

    It’s surreal in real life.

    Wave Rock

    Final Thoughts on the Perth to Esperance Road Trip

    This part of Western Australia is wild, dramatic, and incredibly beautiful.

    Yes, campervan life isn’t glamorous.
    Yes, you’ll miss long hot showers.
    Yes, you’ll occasionally question your life choices while emptying grey water.

    But you’ll also:

    • Watch stingrays from the shore
    • See kangaroos on a beach
    • Camp under the clearest stars you’ve ever seen
    • Drive some of the most beautiful roads in Australia

    And that makes it completely worth it!

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  • Rottnest Island Day Trip Guide: Everything You Need to Know (and What We Got Wrong!)

    Rottnest Island Day Trip Guide: Everything You Need to Know (and What We Got Wrong!)

    Rottnest Island – The Things You Need to Know!

    We spent the day on Rottnest Island at the end of our 7-day campervan road trip from Perth to Esperance. Safe to say, we were tired after all that driving and campsite living, and we did not prepare for Rottnest Island… like, at all.

    So, here’s everything you need to know (and what to avoid!) so your trip goes a little more smoothly than ours did.

    Getting to Rottnest Island

    To get to Rottnest, you’ll need to book either the Rottnest Express or the SeaLink Ferry. Definitely pre-book these because they do sell out! If you’re just planning a day trip, a return ticket is the best value.

    We went with the SeaLink Ferry and it was great. Punctual, comfortable, and only took about 30 minutes. The captain even gave us “Wildlife Updates” over the speaker when migrating humpback whales were spotted!

    You can catch the ferry from either Fremantle (which we did) or Perth City. Since we still had our campervan, we parked at Wilson Parking nearby. It’s all outdoors so no height restrictions to worry about, and you can pay via the machine or app. It cost $12 for the whole day, which we thought was pretty reasonable and it’s only a couple of minutes walk away from the ferry.

    Getting Around Rottnest Island

    This is where we really messed up… but honestly, we’re kind of glad we did!

    Most people explore the island either by hop-on-hop-off bus or bicycle. There are e-bikes and regular bikes available, and fair warning, it’s hilly, so prepare for a workout!

    The bus and e-bikes sell out quickly, so book at least a day in advance if you can.

    We hadn’t booked anything – not the bus, not the e-bikes, nothing – so by the time we arrived, the only option left was to hire regular bikes on the spot.

    And you know what? We absolutely loved it. We had to queue for a while and sure, it was tough in parts, but it turned out to be one of our favourite days of the trip. We got a full workout, saw the whole island at our own pace, and finished the day with a well-deserved pizza at Hotel Rottnest overlooking the ocean.

    If you take the bus, note that stops are spread out around the island, so you can still walk between them if you want to see more. Buses run every 20 minutes, but they do get busy and sometimes fill up — so keep that in mind when planning your day.

    *Top tip – if you’re arriving after 1pm, you can book your bikes or e-bikes for a discounted rate!*

    Food and Drink on the Island

    This is another thing we completely underestimated.

    We assumed there’d be cafés and food spots dotted all around the island…there aren’t. Most of the food options are clustered around The Settlement, near where the ferry comes in. Once you head out exploring, things get pretty sparse.

    We didn’t pack any snacks or water, which was a big mistake after hours of cycling in the sun. By the time we reached the West End (the opposite side of the island from where we started), we were starving. We ended up sharing a Powerade and a Byron Bay cookie (which was well expensive btw) just to keep ourselves going until we made it back to civilisation!

    So yes – bring plenty of water with you and probably eat before you start your cycle, if that’s your chosen mode of transport!

    What We’d Do Differently Next Time

    Even though we had a brilliant day, there are definitely a few things we’d do differently (and recommend you do too!):

    Don’t worry if things don’t go to plan. Sometimes the best travel days are the unplanned ones. Our “mistake” ended up being the highlight of our trip.

    Book transport in advance. Whether you want the bus or e-bikes, it’s worth booking before you arrive – especially in peak season.

    Bring snacks and plenty of water. There aren’t many food stops once you’re out exploring, and those hills are thirsty work!

    Start early. The island is stunning, and there’s a lot to see — so the earlier you get there, the more relaxed your day will feel.

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