31 Aug Best Coastal Camping in Esperance.

In this guide we explore some of the best coastal camping grounds in Esperance and surrounding areas in the Shire of Esperance. The Shire of Esperance is home to some of the most stunning coastal campgrounds in the West. Dotted with pristine beaches, white squeaky sand and the most unbelievably cold & clear water. If you are looking to really explore this region you must camp in one of its many amazing coastal campgrounds. If you can’t get into one of the main campgrounds in the area (Lucky Bay or Cape Le Grand Beach), don’t stress, there is over 400km of coastline to explore with plenty of amazing coastal camping grounds.

Esperance has always been a hugely popular summer vacation for West Aussies. It has become a much more popular tourist town since instagram has exposed its many picturesque beaches and since Lucky Bay was named the best beach in the world in 2023, its becoming harder and harder to book these premium sites. 

Where is Esperance

Located 700 km from Perth CBD it’s quite a road trip. You want to spend some time here to make the 8hr drive worthwhile.

If this drive is too long for you or your family to tackle in one go, there are plenty of locations to stop along the way to break up the journey. Like Hyden, Wave Rock inland or if you have the time, Albany and the Bremer Bay region. Or our personal favourite – Fitzgerald River National Park. 

Esperance is a small town in a remote location, surrounded by farmland. The majority of tourists visiting Esperance are usually visiting by road, caravanning, camping or driving through the town. 

Best time to visit

Summer and early Autumn to optimize the amazing coastline. Esperance is along the Southern Coastline. This coastline gets hammered by some pretty viscous winds and bitterly cold weather in the winter months. If you are wanting a beach holiday visit in the Summer months and early Autumn to hopefully catch some warm weather. 

March is an ideal month to visit because it is the turn of the season, with mostly warm summer days lingering and light winds. However, the weather is always unpredictable so you just have to enjoy what you are dealt. Always bring warm clothes because it can get cool even in the summer months.

Accommodation in the region.

There is limited accommodation in Esperance town and in peak seasons it will book up quickly, advanced bookings are recommended. You have to remember that WA is massive and while it might feel remote from Perth a lot of locals from Kalgoorlie and the surrounding farmland also enjoy Esperance as a holiday destination. People also travelling across the Nullarbor usually divert down through Esperance.

Camping

The most popular coastal camping in Esperance are a 40 min drive east of Esperance town in the national park – Cape Le Grand. Read our full review HERE. There are 2 main campgrounds located at Cape Le Grand Beach and Lucky Bay. Both are amazing campgrounds offering showers and flushing toilets if you are lucky enough to snag a spot. 

Most of the campgrounds in the area are off grid, meaning they are nature based campgrounds with no powered sites that provide little facilities. Long drop toilets are about the extent of the facilities you will find in this region.

What to expect when bush or coastal camping in the shire of Esperance.

Bush camping commonly called nature based camping, is a campground with minimal facilities, usually offering some privacy in the way of natural bushland and next to no luxuries like showers, flushing toilets and power. All of the coastal campgrounds in this guide offer toilet facilities and that’s about all. So when camping around the region make sure you have plenty of drinking water and provisions.

If you are new to camping we have a helpful beginners guide to prepare you – HERE “beginners guide to camping”

Also be mindful that the southern coastline can be unpredictable. Always be prepared for some unseasonable weather, including wind & rain.

Best Coastal Campgrounds in the Shire of Esperance

• Cape Le Grand
• Lucky Bay
• Munglinup Beach 
• Skippy Rock – 4wd only
• Fanny Cove – 4wd only
• Quagi Beach
• Duke of Orleans Caravan Park – Wharton Beach 
• Alexander Bay
• Cape Arid – Belinup Campground & Yokinup Mia Mia

Coastal Campgrounds

Munglinup Beach

• 1 ½ hrs – 132km West of Esperance Town
• $15 p/n per site – cash only, collected each afternoon evening by a local caretaker.

Pristine beach with a protected bay, offers snorkeling, fishing and lots of rock pools to explore along the coast. 

With only 15 sites and clean facilities (3 long drop toilets) this is a lovely campground tucked behind the dunes is relatively protected from coastal winds.

Campsite cannot be booked in advance.

Suitable for all types of travel, vans, tents, caravans small to large. Sites vary in size thought.

No phone reception in the campground (with telstra) however telstra reception on the beach and up the main sand dune.

The road to the campsite is a long unsealed road in good condition, however conditions will change throughout the year. This is a fantastic coastal campground in Esperance region to enjoy for a few nights to explore the protected coastline.

Stokes National Park 

• 1 ½ hrs – 80km West of Esperance

• Skippy Rock & Fanny Cove Campgrounds
• $15 p/n first come first serve basis, honesty box collection.

These two campgrounds (Skippy Rock & Fanny Cove) are both 4wd access only within Stokes National Park, so no dogs are permitted. Nature based camping on a first come first serve basis. No pre-booking.

The track into Fanny Cove is sandy in places so you will need some 4wd experience and equipment to deflate/pump your tyres up again. Soft sand tracks.

The beach is rewarding, with that stunning white sand and crystal clear water.

Fanny Cove consists of 4 sites suitable for small camper trailers and tents/ roof top tents.

Skippy Rock consists of 10 sites, suitable for small camper trailers and tents. 

Quagi Beach

• 1 hr – 75km West of Esperance. 

• $ 15 p/n first come first serve basis. Honesty box collection.

Yet another stunning coastal campground with a plentiful 18 campsites. Varying in size to suit all types of travelers. A lovely sheltered site amongst the banksias with plenty of bird life.

Facilities are minimal consisting of 3 clean long drop toilets and potable water.

The bay/beach is a short 50m walk from the nearest campsite. It has loads to explore along this coastline including some of the most amazing rock pools.

There is phone reception at the entrance to the beach, but limited at the campground. A short hours drive from Esperance town this is either a great place to stop on your way through to Esperance or heading east past Esperance.

The beach here is a stunning reflection of what to expect all the way along the Esperance coastline. During peak season and public holidays this location will be very busy, best to arrive early for a chance to snag a site.

Cape Le Grand National Park

• 45mins – 60 km East of Esperance

• Bookable campgrounds $20 p/n per person

Consisting of Lucky bay and Cape Le Grand Campground – Lucky Bay being a hugely popular location because it won 2022 “Best beachs in the World”.

You are guaranteed a few things here 1) it’s going to be an absolutely beautiful beach and 2) most likely the busiest beaches you will visit in this region.

Luckily almost all of the beaches along this coastline are similar.  Read our full review of Cape Le Grand Park here including the many beaches. If you are able to book a site here within your desired time frame they are stunning campgrounds with great well kept facilities. 

You will need to book well in advance due to its popularity.

These two coastal campgrounds are the most sought after campgrounds in Esperance. For two reasons, One, because you can book in advance and two they are located in the National Park just 56km East of Esperance.

Most of the camping in the shire does not offer any facilities so you will need to be self sufficient. If you new to camping and need some luxuries (like shower and flushing toilet) attempt to book a campground in Cape Le Grand National Park or Lucky Bay because they offer the most amenities in the shire. Read our full in depth review HERE. Both are amazing campgrounds offering showers and flushing toilets and a short distance to the beach.

Cape Le Grand National Park offers a plethora of stunning beaches to enjoy. Hiking trails and the steep Frenchmans Peak to climb for 360 views of the Park.

These sites also book out well in advance, so if you are planning a trip here within peak season you can book up to 6mths in advance.

If you are not that organised and planning on a more spontaneous trip or driving around Australia there are plenty of additional sites that are JUST as beautiful in the Shire of Esperance.

Duke of Orleans Caravan Park – Wharton Beach 

• 1hr – 90km East of Esperance
• Camping – “The Duke” Orleans Bay Caravan Park – $30 pp unpowered site / $38 pp powered site.

A privately owned and run campground East of Esperance. The caravan park is nothing to write home about. The draw card is the close proximity to Wharton Bay.

Wharton Bay is – I think – is one of Esperance’s best beaches. It’s absolutely picturesque.

You can 4wd on the beach here, surf, fish, relax, explore, hike, swim and if you are lucky enough you might get to see the dolphins surfing in the waves that frequent the bay. The Caravan park is quite old and the facilities reflect its age, however they do offer warm showers and flushing toilets if you need some amenities.

There is a non-powered section under trees that is usually available however during the peak season getting a powered site here is going to be difficult. Book well in advance during peak season.

Book here.

Alexander Bay

• 1 ¼ hr – 105 km East of Esperance.

• $15 pn/pp first come first serve basis. Honesty box collection.

If you are wanting a more nature style camp (in comparison to The Duke) a further 10km east will land you at Alexander Bay. Now this bay is a blend of Lucky Bay and Wharton Bay. This nature style camping ground is nestled in amongst the banksias (similar to Quagi) just a short walk to the beach.

I was initially disappointed when it was not situated closer to the beach but, it is so protected from the coastal winds, it was actually perfect.

The sites here vary in size however most will house the space for a medium size caravan. The beach here is again, absolutely stunning. On a good weather day this hands down rivals Lucky Bay.

You can drive on the beach here to find a private spot or to escape the wind. There is good fishing here as well as some sand dunes on the Eastern side of the bay to explore if you are an experienced 4wd’er. 

There is a short hiking trail and a lookout on the western side of the bay if you want to stretch your legs and further explore the coastline. Just a short 1hr drive from Esperance this bay is an absolute gem, with clean long drop toilets, well spaced out sites it does not have potable water so be sure to bring enough provisions and water for your time here.

Cape Arid – Belinup Campground & Yokinup Mia Mia

• 1hr 40mins – 120 KM East of Esperance .

• $15 p/n first come first serve basis, honestly box collection.

Cape Arid is a similar national Park to Cape Le Grand. It is not as popular due to the distance from Esperance. It is yet another 15 km east of Alexander Bay. 

Most of Cape arid is 4wd access only and quite a remote area. However this campground is 2wd accessible on an unsealed road. Check road closures on your way out of Esperance so you are not disappointed on arrival. It is about 1 ½ – 1hr 40mins hr drive east of Esperance.

There are 2 sites here that are easily accessible with a 2 wd – Belinup and Yokinup Mia Mia. These are the Western side of the national park and closest to the entry. The beaches are Esperance perfection however if you have the time and looking for a little adventure then you can venture further into the Cape Arid National Park with a 4wd and more Bays to explore. While the distance might be off putting to some, the beaches and campgrounds along this coastline offer some of the best coastal camping in the Esperance region,.

Final thoughts

This Esperance region is one of WA’s gems. It offers some of the best coastal camping options along the most stunning coastline. The distance from Perth is very off putting to some. Or to people traveling from overseas due to the time it takes to travel here. 

If you have the time to explore this region don’t be discouraged if you are unable to get into Lucky Bay or Cape Le Grand Campgrounds. As you can see there are plenty of other amazing spots to fully experience this region. It was a pleasure to explore these bays and can safely say they are the best coastal camping options along the Esperance coastline.

The best way to travel this region is with a van, car/tent or caravan so you can explore multiple locations and still be self sufficient. All of the grounds have toilet facilities however minimal facilities like power, camp kitchens. showers etc. If this is not how you like to travel you may prefer to book some accommodation in Esperance town and just day trip to a few locations.