Esperance Eco Discovery Tours

With an abundance of bone-white beaches and untouched national parks, Esperance is the place for an eco-adventure.

Esperance Eco Discovery Tours offers a range of trips into the pristine wilderness areas surrounding the town. They’re perfect for an invigorating dose of pure nature and possibly the cleanest air you’re ever likely to breathe. The half-day tour provides an excellent taste of the region’s natural highlights. Starting at nine in the morning, the tour heads along the beaches of the Cape le Grand National Park. First stop is sand-boarding in the dunes. This is great fun for people of all ages and you don’t need to be a pro sand-boarder to take part. Boards are supplied but make sure you take a pair of sunnies to beat the glare. Back on the beach, the journey continues east. You’ll learn more about the European history of the area, as well spot landmarks such as the granite outcrop of Frenchman’s Peak. Morning tea is at the impossibly beautiful Lucky Bay. This would have to rate as one of the world’s most stunning beaches – even the kangaroos like to laze in the sun here! The trip returns along the beach to Wylie Rock and a surprise attempt at scaling the rock-face. At a 30-degree angle, this is a true adventure. At the summit you’re rewarded with 360-degree views of the surrounding area, including the national park and Southern Ocean. The four-hour tour ends back in town. Bring your bathers on hot days, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water and comfortable clothes.

The full-day tour includes all of the half-day highlights, but with an afternoon journey to the aptly named Duke of Orleans Bay, 80km east of Esperance. About 70km of this tour is beach driving, which gets you up close to the natural wilderness of the area. Lunch is at Wharton Beach where you can indulge in a swim. The sand dunes are the main attraction here and provide excellent conditions for sand-boarding. The return journey is on the bitumen road, with a drink stop at Condingup Tavern – a truly authentic country pub. There’s a chance to digest the day’s events over a beer or wine before heading back to Esperance by 6pm.

Esperance Eco Tours also operates a tag-along tour, which is designed for visitors who have a 4WD but aren’t confident driving in the national parks on their own. This follows the route of the full-day tour. Its BYO food and refreshments and national park fees apply.

If you’re in Esperance and want a quick orientation of the major attractions, the Great Ocean Drive tour is for you. It runs in the afternoon and takes in the town beaches, Pink Lake, Bandy Creek and Wylie Rock.

Esperance Eco Discovery Tours also offers Indigenous cultural tours. Call 0407 737 261 for further details.