Esperance - Out Of The Way

Welcome to the Esperance -- it's Out of the way, out of this world!!
Esperance, roughly translated, is French for hope and it was the French that are credited with the town's discovery, naming it and other local landmarks whilst sheltering from a storm in this area in 1792.
Ten years on Matthew Flinders sailed the glorious waters of the Bay of Isles, discovering and naming gems such as Lucky Bay and Thistle Cove.
Whalers, sealers and pirates followed, as did pastoralists and miners, keen to cash in on free land and a gold boom to the north at Kalgoorlie.
Today's population of this delightful town is over 14,000, tourism, agriculture and fishing steer the economy of this stunning coastal community.
The Australian Traveller Magazine judged Esperance on March 25th, 2009 the most beautiful Town in Western Australia and the second most beautiful in the whole of Australia.
How to get there? Well!
First a flight to Western Australia's capital city Perth, then, from Perth a short 1.5hr flight to Esperance or a 721km country drive, through the wheat belt via Wagin and Lake Grace.
Allow a few days for your stay. A week or more is recommended to see most attractions including the most beautiful scenery and some of the whitest beaches in Australia. However it will take a lot longer to see all that is on offer in the region.
The best times to visit are between July/September, when you have the best chances to see some Whales and the beginning of Wildflower season.
Ok, let's imagine that you're in Esperance. To ensure that you have a better experience; your first stop should be at the Esperance Visitor Centre, where the staff will happily assist you.
There are loads of things to see and do here. Self-drive or organised tours will take you out to Cape Le Grand National Park and the Great Ocean Drive, where you'll find the most beautiful beaches.
On the way to the National Park you can visit the Esperance Stonehenge; just outside of town you can go for a walk in the nature reserves, visit the Bird and Animal Park and the Dalyup River Winery.
And right in town we have the unique Mermaid Leather display and the Municipal Museum. Various art galleries can be found in and around Esperance too. And while on the coast, make sure you ask about the cruises to take you out to the islands of the Recherché Archipelago.