Camping Trip to Esperance and Lucky Bay

We Decided at the last minute to head South to Esperance for a couple of week’s National Park, camping. It was Christmas and New Year time so we knew it would be very busy and we did not have anything booked in. We thought we would take pot luck and head off somewhere that we had not been before in order to take our minds off the fact that Greg had been made redundant twice in just over one year by the same company. So without a job and an uncertain future ahead we needed to blow away some cobwebs. We are normally very well planned but decided to take a chance for once in our lives. We could always sleep in the Hilux we thought.

It was quite late when we eventually left home so decided to break the journey with a stay at Ravensthorpe overnight. It is about 250kms north of Esperance and it would save us looking for somewhere to camp late in the day. We arrived there around 5pm and had to take what ever we were offered which was not very much. The "grassed sites' that were advertised on the sign turned out to be a horse paddock full of horse S***T freshly deposited by the horses that were being led away to make room for more desperate campers queuing up as we pulled in..

We went for the second option which was small area with deep potholes looking out over the fly ridden stinky horse paddock and rubbish tip ... The so called grass that we pitched on was actually weed that had grown through some gravel and road base that had at one time been a hard stand for caravans. We managed to bend our steel tent pegs trying to bang them in. It seemed that each time we got up to move around we found another pot hole espcially during that middle of the night call of nature.
I would not recommend this Caravan Site to anyone unless they are desperate. It can only be described as a DUMP!!! Right on the road side of a main truck route but we were at that point we didn't care just as long as we had somewhere to pitch the tent. There were showers and a toilet so after getting clean we heated up a curry that I had brought from home , drank some wine and eventually fell into bed and slept sporadically in between the roar and rumble of triple trailer road trains belting past.. this was an experience to behold that we will never forget. We look back and laugh now...

We were up bright and early as we wanted to get to Hopetoun (a 70km drive away) early to check it out and maybe spend a night there in the National Park before heading to Esperance (How Naive can we be?). Didn't do our homework on that one.
Unfortunately when we arrived there the National Park had been closed to the public as there had been some wildfires there the week before so had to drive all the way back to Ravensthorpe because no one thought to put a sign at the top of the turn off. The sign was 70kms down the turn off at the entrance to the National Park.So after a quick tour of the town site it was off to Esperance from there.

Hopetoun is a very pretty little place and from what we could see the beaches are also very nice. The scenery here is nothing short of breathtaking.

BUT FORGOT TO TAKE PHOTO

We arrived at Esperance around 2pm and fast began to realise that we were not going to find anywhere with vacancies. Esperance is small city that comes to life for about 1 week of every yea and this was that week. We tried just about every camping facility n the town with no vacancies anywhere.
We were referred to an overspill area where all travellers with no bookings can camp or set up caravans until a vacancy becomes available. This overspill place was a sports field in the centre of town with no facilities.

That was OK!!! Once again we were desperate and decided to go for it. Plus we felt better when we found out that the fees for staying there all going to the local junior sports club.

As luck would have it, my son Scott and his family, unknown to us had also decided to head off to Esperance and were planning a 3 week tour along the South Coast camping their way back to Perth. They are very experienced and hardy campers having travelled the outback on a few occasions and seem to know alot of tricks of the trade. They had managed to get in at a The Esperance Sea Front Caravan park by picking up a cancellation. They called us to see where we were and invited us over for dinner at their camp. The camp kitchen was very well laid out and spotlessly clean.

US WITH SCOTT,KERRY AND GIRLS AT THE ESPERANCE SEAFRONT CARAVAN PARK

The next day they spoke to management, who were very obliging and helpful and arranged
for us to camp along side them for 2 nights until we were ready to move on. The sites there are nearly all large and can easily accommodate 2 medium tents.
We spent New Years Eve with them and had a very pleasant New Years Day. The Seafront Caravan Park is very well equipped for families and the sites are grassed and roomy. There is no pool but it is right by the beach which makes up for that....Nice Friendly Place...

We also did the Mackenzie's Wild Life Cruise out to the Archipelago islands and saw the Seals, Sea Eagles, Dolphins and much more. The boat stops a place called Woody Island for an hour or so which is just beautiful. They have on site tents and cabins there that blend into the scenery and are hardly noticeable. This is well worth a visit when in Esperance.

SEA LIONS ON THE ROCKS APROACHING WOODY ISLAND

JETTY AND SWIM AREA AT WOODY ISLAND
JETTY AND SWIM AREA VIEW FROM THE CAFE

SWIM AREA AT WOODY ISLAND

AN ON SITE TENT NESTLED IN THE WOODLAND AT WOODY ISLAND

January 2nd we parted company with Scott and Kerry and kids and we headed for the National Parks at Cape Le Grande and they went in the opposite direction to Bremmer Bay.

We were very lucky to find a beautiful camping spot at Lucky almost on the Beach and this is what was we had come all this way for here for.

CAMPED UNDER THE TREES AT LUCKY BAY

OUR TENT AT LUCKY BAY

Our plan to move on every 2 days came unfolded as it was so nice that we decided to stay at Lucky Bay as long as we could which ended up being the whole rest of our holiday. We could take the Hilux on the Beach and just sit under our shade sail and look out to sea soaking up the tranquility for hours on end.

LUCKY BAY:CAPE LE GRANDE:ESPERANCE


It was the most spectacular scenery that a person can imagine. Pure white sand, almost like snow that sqeaked when you walked on it, and the waters were brilliant turquoise blue, warm and seaweed free. A real pleasure to swim here and hardly anyone around to spoil the ambience.

From Lucky Bay we would go out each mid afternoon, as it started to cool off and discover other beaches and places of interest in the National park. Below are some photos of Hellfire Bay which is about 15 mins drive from Lucky Bay. Hellfire is a beautiful small sheltered cove and is very safe for children to swim. Unfortunately there is no camping there and there and it is a popular place for coach loads of day trippers to stop here for lunch in the picnic areas. It is a truly stunning bay.

DUNNS ROCK BAY



At Dunns Rock you can actually camp right on the beach if you dont mind not having a toilet and running water. There were a couple of families cmping there the day we visited. It is very picturesque and very safe fo swimming.

The National Park campsites here are very well cared for. There were showers and toilets, gas BBQ's and running water. A Camp host or the Ranger will come around each day and collect fees, which are minimal and all funds go to help maintain The National Parks

We got to enjoy all the pleasures of nature around the camp area when the kangaroos would come join us while we relaxed with a wine or 2. We had to remember not to leave any food stuffs unattended as they would have a party while we were not looking and eat what ever was around. They are so cute that it is hard to resist the temptation to hand feed them.

KANGAROOS COMING INTO OUT TENT TO SAY HELLO

There were also lizards and different birds. Possums and some marine life to be seen in its natural environment. This place seemed like heaven for us. Just what we needed to unwind and relax.

Whistlers Rock at Thistle Cove

Whistlers Rock is so named because it whistles when the wind blows around it. It sits inThistle Cove which was named after in 1802 after Captain James Thistle. He must have brought thistles with him from Scotland as the whole cove is very thickly covered in thistles.

The only place that we would NOT recommend unless you are a keen fisher person is New Orleans Caravan Site and Beach. The beach has piles of dead seaweed stacked up and rotting and the caravan site seemed to be very expensive and neglected in places, although they were well set up for children having a good sized playground and some fun bikes for hire. We had to pay $7.00 in the camp shop here for a 99c lip balm, $3.75 for a $2.50 Cornetto and $3.50 for a generic $1.50 loaf of bread (frozen).
It is understandable that they have to pay extra cartage but being the only shop for miles around we felt they were taking libertys and overcharging the holiday makers who really had little choice but to pay or go without..

IT'S HARD TO SEE THE WEED PILES IN THIS PIC BUT THEY'RE BACK AGAINST THE DUNES

THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE CAMPING AREA AT ORLEANS
IT WAS QUITE NICELY GRASSED COMPARED TO OTHE AREAS

The positive is that there is very quaint little tavern about 20 kms drive away. That would be worth a visit. It must be the only pub for about 150kms around so people drive there from miles away just for a beer with mates.

This originally was just a general store but the farmers and mine workers would drive in every night and sit around on thier eskies drinking thier beer. The general store owners decided that maybe they should build a pub to cater for these people so they did and now it is a thriving little place cateringfor the local town population of 80 people and many many that drive by and drive over for a very pleasant drink. There is even a very nice restaraunt if you want to have a good home cooked mea in a nice atmoshpere meal.
The Barman's name is 'ABE

Jan 10th and we had to set off back home as Greg had been offered some contract on 12th for a few days. We drove back through the salt lakes district around Lake Grace and Lake King.

That is very scenic and looks like ice with all the salt crystals glistening in the sun.
Luckily we live out of town at Serpentine Falls so it was not like having to return to the Big City. It lessens the blow of having to come back from holiday.

HOME SWEET HOME / OUR BACK YARD

Of all the places we have visited Lucky Bay was one of the nicest and easiest to stay at.
It is a place that everyone should visit, especially those with tents.

We don't usually like to visit the same place twice.. but in this case we could probably make an exception.