If you are traveling to Western Australia, road trip from Perth to Esperance is not to be missed. This itinerary starts in Perth and takes you past Australia’s most beautiful beaches in places like Albany, Denmark and Esperance. Along the way, you’ll explore vast Karri forests, the unique Margaret River wine region, and finish with a highlight at Cape Le Grand National Park and Lucky Bay. Discover the ultimate two-week Perth to Esperance itinerary here!
Everything you need to know before traveling to Western Australia
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and covers almost the entire half of this gigantic country. If you want to see everything, you really need to allow several months for this. Fortunately, this itinerary from Perth to Esperance takes you past some of the most beautiful places that Western Australia’s southwest has to offer. This itinerary starts and ends in Perth, but can be modified as you wish.
How to get around Western Australia
The best way to get around Western Australia is undoubtedly by car or campervan. Public transportation is very limited in this part of Australia. With your own transportation, you also have the freedom to customize your itinerary and reach the more remote, and often most beautiful places. We found our camper through the platform Camplify where individuals offer their vans and campers. Another possibility is to rent a car and drive from hotel to hotel. You can do this entire road trip with an regular camper or car, you don’t need a special 4WD because all the roads are paved.
TRAVEL TIP: In Australia, they drive on the left. This takes some getting used to but there are plenty of roadside signs reminding you of this. In addition, you must be at least 21 years old to drive.
Where to stay in Western Australia
Australia is a true camping paradise, with countless campsites, public barbecues, toilets, and showers. If you can, we highly recommend exploring Western Australia by campervan. Along the way, we visited some of the most beautiful campsites in the country. For each stop, we share the campsites we stayed at, along with cozy accommodation options if you’re traveling by car. Keep in mind that popular spots like Lucky Bay can book out weeks in advance, so it’s best to plan ahead.
National Park Pass Western Australia
When you travel through Western Australia, you will pass a lot of national parks. These national parks usually charge an entrance fee per day. If you plan to visit multiple parks, it can save you money and time to purchase a Park Pass. The Holiday Pass provides unlimited access to all parks for 5 days, 14 days or 4 weeks and costs $30AUD, $50AUD or $70AUD per vehicle, respectively. You can purchase this pass purchase online through this official website.
2-week travel itinerary: Perth to Esperance
Time to start the ultimate road trip from Perth to Esperance in two weeks! Keep in mind that Australia is huge, and some days you will have to travel a lot of distance. This is unavoidable, but fortunately the landscapes along the way are beautiful and only adds to the travel experience. We’ve put this itinerary together so that you always have enough time in each place and it doesn’t feel rushed.
Day 1 – 2: Perth
You start this travel itinerary Perth to Esperance in Western Australia’s capital city. Use these days to recover from your flight or go out and explore the city. Stroll along Elizabeth Quay where you’ll find plenty of sidewalk cafes and quaint restaurants or visit Kings Park and Botanic Garden. If you would like some refreshment, then the beaches Cottesloe Beach and Scarborough Beach are well worth a visit. For dinner, we highly recommend Taka but be sure to make a reservation in advance. On day 2 you can pick up your camper or car and do some shopping so you can start your road trip fully prepared!
Where to stay in Perth?
Since this is the starting point of your road trip Perth to Esperance, you do not yet need a camper and therefore no camping. Go for a comfortable hotel so you can start your journey well rested.
- Budget ($): Emu Backpackers Perth
- Comfort ($$): Baileys Parkside Motel
- Luxurious ($$$): Vibe Hotel Subiaco Perth
Day 3: Rottnest Island
+/- 30 km ● 30′ drive + ferry
Today, drive to Fremantle and get on the ferry to Rottnest Island. This tiny island off the coast of Perth is home to the adorable quokka. Southwestern Australia is the only place in the world where you’ll find this cute little rodent. Book your ferry ticket online here and opt to rent bikes. You can easily explore Rottnest Island in one day by bike. Some highlights to stop at on the island are: Little Salmon Bay, Little Parakeet Bay and Pinky Beach. And don’t forget to take a selfie with the quokka! In the evening, take the last ferry back and ride towards Busselton.
Where to stay for Rottnest Island
The base from which to explore Rottnest Island is Freemantle. Here you have campsites and numerous accommodations where you can stay. For a more unique experience, you can also sleep on Rottnest Island itself and leave your camper or car in the harbor parking lot for a night.
- Campsite: Fremantle Village (here you also have bungalows)
- Hotel: Fremantle Bed & Breakfast or Samphire Rottnest Island
Day 4 – 6: Margaret River Region
+/- 270 km ● 3h drive
Today you drive to the best wine region in Australia: Margaret River Region. Along the way, you can stretch your legs in Busselton and take a look at the Busselton Jetty. Then drive on toward Margaret River Region. The next few days you will take your time to explore the region. You can hike part of the Cape to Cape track and stop at the Injidup Natural Spa, Canal Rocks or Hamelin Bay. Hike through the beautiful Boranup Forest and, of course, don’t forget to taste what the region is so famous for: wine! Passel Estate and Hay Shed Hill Wines are both recommended.
Where to stay in Margaret River Region
Stay in the town of Margaret River, which is centrally located in the region. From here you can easily visit the most beautiful highlights.
- Campground: Riverview Tourist Park or Conto Campground, in the middle of the Boranup Forest
- Hotel: Bridgefield Guesthouse or Heritage Trail Lodge
Day 6 – 7: Denmark
+/- 320 km ● 3h45 drive
On day 6 of this Perth to Esperance road trip, you’ll drive towards Denmark. Here you begin to catch a glimpse of the beautiful beaches that await you further south. If you want to interrupt this drive, you can always stop at Valley of the Giants Tree. There is not much to do in the sleepy village of Denmark, but it is mainly the nearby William Bay National Park where you should be. Here you will find the famous Elephant Rocks and Green Pools, two beautiful bays where you can feast your eyes!
Where to stay in Denmark?
For the ultimate experience, sleep at one of the national park campsites. Here you camp right by the ocean and wake up to the most beautiful view. Trust us, this is where you really want to be!
- Camping: Shelley Beach Campground or Cosy Corner East in West Cape Howe National Park
- Hotel: Denmark Waters B&B
Day 7 – 8: Albany
+/- 55 km ● 45′ drive
Today, drive on toward Albany, which is right next to Denmark. Be sure to make a stop at The Gap, a giant platform suspended above the ocean under which you can see the powerful waves crashing against the cliffs. In turn, nearby Misery Beach and Salmon Holes are ideal for enjoying a picnic. Then drive on towards Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve where you will spend the night. Be sure to visit Little Beach here. After Lucky Bay, this was our favorite beach during this Perth to Esperance road trip!
If you still have time in your itinerary, make a detour toward Castle Rock. Here you can take a beautiful hike through the forest and climb up toward the Granite Skywalk. From here you will have a fantastic view of the surrounding area.
Where to stay in Albany
Albany is also known for its wonderful campgrounds in the national parks. We ourselves stayed at East Bay Campground, which is also completely free. Arrive on time if you want to get a spot as it’s a first come, first serve base.
- Camping: BIG4 Emu Beach, East Bay Campground or Bettys Beach
- Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Albany
Day 8 – 11: Esperance
+/- 480 km ● 5h drive
Today is a long drive as you make your way to the coastal town of Esperance. Once you arrive, one of the must-do experiences is the Great Ocean Drive (not to be confused with the Great Ocean Road). This 40 km scenic loop takes you past some of Esperance’s most breathtaking beaches, including Twilight Beach, Blue Haven Beach, and 10-Mile Lagoon. Back in town, you can unwind at one of the many cozy cafés or enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.
Where to stay in Esperance
In Esperance there are no free campsites and they are very strict on wild camping. We decided to treat ourselves in Esperance after all the nature camping.
- Camping: RAC Esperance Holiday Park (here you also have bungalows)
- Hotel: Hospitality Esperance by Best Western
Day 11 – 14: Cape Le Grand National Park
+/- 60 km ● 50′ drive
We have arrived at the highlight of this itinerary Perth to Esperance. Today you will drive towards Cape Le Grand National Park where you will spend three nights at Australia’s most beautiful campsite: Lucky Bay. This beach is world famous for its pearly white sand where kangaroos hop around in the morning. From the Lucky Bay campground you can take a hike that takes you past Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove. On the second day in Cape Le Grand National Park, you can climb Frenchman Peak or drive deeper into the park toward Wharton Beach.
Where to stay in Cape Le Grand National Park
If you’re traveling with a camper, then you won’t want to miss sleeping at Lucky Bay Campground! Be early to book, however, as it is an incredibly popular place. You can book online.
- Campground: Lucky Bay Campground or Le Grand Beach Campground
- Hotel: there are no accommodations in Cape Le Grand National Park. Stay in Esperance and explore the park from there.
Day 14: back to Perth via Wave Rock
+/- 760 km ● 8h drive
The Perth to Esperance road trip comes to an end as you head back to Perth via the faster inland route. It’s possible to make the drive in a single day, giving you an extra day to explore, but you can also split it into two parts. Drive from Cape Le Grand National Park to Wave Rock in about four hours. This incredible rock formation, shaped like a giant wave, is truly a sight to behold. Spend the night near Wave Rock and continue your journey back to Perth the next day, which takes around four hours.
Where to stay near Wave Rock
Waverock is located near the small town of Hyden. The supply there is limited, though.
- Campsite: Wave Rock Caravan Park is literally next to Wave Rock.
- Hotel: your best option is to also stay at the Wave Rock Hotel, which is on the same property.
Shorten or expand this Western Australia itinerary
You can still modify and expand this Western Australia itinerary as you wish. Western Australia is a beautiful part of the country, and if you have the time we definitely recommend staying here longer. We spent six full weeks traveling around, and we could have easily stayed longer.
- Perth to Exmouth (and back): after your road trip Perth to Esperance, you can continue your tour of Western Australia by driving from Perth to Exmouth. You can also make this itinerary in about 2 to 3 weeks.
- Perth to Darwin: You can also continue your journey towards Darwin after Exmouth and return your campervan or car there. Through this route you will pass the famous Gibson Road and experience rugged Australia.
- Onward to Adelaide: After Esperance, you can drive down the entire south coast of Australia towards Adelaide. From Adelaide you can travel further towards Melbourne or the East Coast of Australia explore.
You can also shorten this Perth to Esperance travel itinerary. It is possible to do this entire road trip in 7 days, but keep in mind that you will be in the car a lot and you will not be able to dwell for as long on all the beauty of Western Australia.
What to pack for Australia?
Here are some travel essentials that are sure to come in handy for a trip in Australia:
- International driver’s license: you need this if you want to drive in Australia and it is best to apply for it early.
- Universal travel plug: in Australia they have different sockets than in Europe. So the outlets in RVs are also different.
- Powerbank: if you travel with a camper, you may not always have electricity. With this powerbank from Anker, your cell phone and laptop are always charged!
- Camera: a trip to Australia is a real bucket list experience, and you really do want to capture that on camera.
- First aid kit: sometimes you are very remote and there is not always coverage. A good first aid kit is therefore certainly not an unnecessary luxury.
- Packing cubes: no matter where we travel to, these always go with us. Handy for keeping your suitcase or trekking backpack in order at all times.
Best time to visit Western Australia
Western Australia is vast, so travel times can vary depending on the region you want to explore. For this Perth to Esperance travel itinerary, the best time to go is between November and March. Try to avoid school holidays, as popular spots can get very crowded with Australians on vacation.
Do you have any questions about this Perth to Esperance road trip? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip to Australia? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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