Australia's Golden Outback Holiday Planner

Esperance & Coastal National Parks

Peak Charles National Park This ancient granite peak and its companion, Peak Eleanora, provide sweeping views. Location and travel time: 100km inland from Esperance. 1.5 hour drive. Activities: Follow the walking trail. Climb Peak Charles. Facilities: Apart from toilets at designated camping areas, no other facilities. Visitors should carry water. Take a tour, dine out, or visit galleries & attractions Esperance has dining options to suit all tastes and budgets with small bars and even a local handcrafted brewery. Esperance is famous for its tours. Take a 4WD tour along Australia’s whitest beaches to Cape le Grand. Half day cruises to Woody Island are available exploring the Archipelago and scenic flights to Lake Hillier’s famous pink lake. There is also a great range of local artisan galleries, like Cindy Poole Gallery with its kiln formed glass studio. Other places of interest include Esperence Stonehenge and Mermaid Leather. If you’re into fishing, the Outback coast is the place for you with fishing charter companies ready to take you out for an incredible day. Spend time wandering other town attractions such as the Esperance Waterfront, Museum Park Period Village and the Esperance Museum.

Fitzgerald River National Park $40 million has been spent improving roads and viewing areas in this stunning national park, containing nearly 20% of WA’s plant species. Lying between Hopetoun and Bremer Bay, the park has some 209 species of birds and over 1,900 species of flowering plants. Migrating whales can be seen June to October. Location and travel time: 193km west of Esperance. 2 hour drive. Activities: Sightseeing, walking, camping, canoeing, fishing. In winter, southern right whales may be spotted from cliffs at Point Ann. Walk Trails: • East Mount Barren 3hrs, medium to hard. • No Tree Hill 3km, easy. • Twertup ‘Horrie and Dorri’ 1-2 hrs. • Point Ann Heritage Trail 1 hour. • West Mount Barren 1-2 hrs, moderate/easy. • West Beach Point 1 hour. Facilities: BBQs, picnic areas, toilets, campsites. NO drinking water available. Cape Arid National Park This large and particularly scenic park is home to more than 160 bird species. The park overlaps the boundary of the Eremaean botanical province and includes beaches and the Thomas River and estuary. Location and travel time: Approximately 120km east of Esperance. 1.5 hour drive. Activities: Bushwalking, camping, birdwatching, whale spotting, picnicking, fishing. Walk Trails: • Len Otte Nature Trail - 1km return, around 1 hour. Features views over the park and a close look at the varied plant and animal life. • Tagon Coastal Walk - 7km return, allow 4 hours. Views over coastline, southern right whales in season. • Mt Ragged Walk - 3km return, 3 hours. Stiff walk to the top of Tower Peak. Facilities: Campgrounds, bush toilets, gas BBQs. NO drinking water available. Camp fees apply.

The national parks in the coastal region are now part of the Great South West Edge landscape. All five parks offer magnificent scenery and are some of the largest remaining wilderness areas. The coastal parks with towering granite peaks and brilliant blue waters contrast sharply with the sandplains and distinctive vegetation of those further inland. Entry fees may apply to national parks and do not include camping fees. See page 105. Cape Le Grand National Park Wild coastal scenery, rugged granite peaks and sweeping heathlands. Wide sandy beaches and bays give way to heath-covered sandplains, with swamps and freshwater pools. Massive rock outcrops form an impressive chain of peaks, the result of erosion and movements over 600 million years. Location and travel time: 50km south-east of Esperance. Approx 45 minute drive. Activities: Walking, camping, boating, picnicking, sightseeing, swimming, fishing. Walk Trails: Coastal Trail is 15km one way; 6 - 8 hours walking. Walk may be broken into 4 shorter sections: • Le Grand Beach - Hellfire Bay • Lucky Bay - Rossiter Bay Allow 2 - 3 hours, medium. Frenchman’s Peak 3km return. Allow 2 hours, hard walk. Le Grand Heritage Trail 1km circuit. Allow 40 minutes, easy. Facilities: BBQs, toilets, campsite, picnic areas, shade shelters, NO drinking water. 2 camping grounds, coffee caravan. Stokes National Park Beautiful coastal and inlet scenery in this interesting estuarine national park. Stokes Inlet lies in a relatively deep valley with high dunes on either side. Plant and animal life of Stokes Inlet is typical of an estuarine environment. Location and travel time: Approx 80km west of Esperance. 1hr drive. Activities: Birdwatching, camping, fishing, canoeing, walking. Walk Trails: • Heritage Trail - 4.3km return, easy. Facilities: Two camping areas near the inlet, with toilets and gas BBQs. NO water or power. Allow 2 - 3 hrs, hard going. • Hellfire Bay - Thistle Cove Allow 2 hours, hard going. • Thistle Cove - Lucky Bay Allow 40 minutes, easy.

Cindy Poole Glass Gallery

Visit working studio of awarded glass artist, Cindy Poole, and behind the scenes of the Esperance Whale Tail • Contemporary kiln formed glass artwork, objects & jewellery • Unique souvenirs & gifts • Relax and indulge with coffee & cake • Winner of the 2014 2015 Australia’s Golden Outback Best Tourism Business Award. Lot 5, Longbottom Lane, Esperance WA 6450

Tel: 0427 714 059 or 0497 714 059 Email: sales@cindypoole.com.au Web: www.cindypoole.com.au

95 | Esperance & The Coast | australiasgoldenoutback.com

95 | Esperance & The Coast | australiasgoldenoutback.com