Perth to Esperance road trip

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Perth
• 1 night Wave Rock
• 2 nights Esperance
• 2 nights Albany
• 1 night Pemberton
• 3 nights Margaret River
• 2 nights Fremantle

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights 

Day 2: Arrive Perth

On arrival in Perth, you’ll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the city, checking in for three nights.

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel 

Days 3 & 4: Perth

Start your holiday with a couple of days to enjoy Perth – on your first day we’ve included a 90 minute walking tour of the beautiful Karrgatup (Kings Park) where you’ll learn about the area’s intriguing past and spiritual significance to Noongar People. Start your experience with the Noongar welcome and ochre ceremony before hearing a Dreamtime story, traditional songs and Noongar language against the backdrop of modern day Perth.

On your second day, we’ve included a bike & ferry day trip to the car-free paradise of Rottnest Island. You’ll head over on the ferry and pick up your hire bike on arrival in Rottnest. Bring along your snorkel and fins in your bag and head off to discover the stunning island! Our favourite beaches are Little Parakeet Bay, Ricey Beach and Little Salmon Bay. You can also kayak along Pinky’s Beach and relax in the warm shallow waters of Porpoise Bay.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for adorable quokkas, the tiny local marsupials that have made Rottnest their home. You won’t need to go out of your way to meet the little animals – you’ll find them munching on berries in the shade of the trees or lurking behind fishermen in search of a snack. They are very friendly and cheeky, but you mustn’t feed them – hard to resist as they are so cute!

Included: Kings Park Aboriginal tour, Rottnest Island bike and ferry, 4* hotel 

Day 4: Drive to Wave Rock

This morning you’ll pick up your hire car and head inland, leaving the coast behind you as you head towards Wave Rock. On arrival in the tiny town of Hyden, you’ll be able to explore this incredible rock formation – in the perfect shape of a wave. From dawn to dusk, you will find a different picture here, as the sun changes colour on the yellow and orange rock and wildflowers bloom around the base. Explore the 15m high granite cliff and discover the ancient rock paintings that are found here.

Included: Hire car, 3* hotel 

Day 5: Drive to Esperance

Get up early to start the long scenic drive to Esperance, across the wide wheat belt of South West Australia. It’s a long drive but believe us it will be worth it. On arrival in Esperance you’ll check into your hotel for two nights – depending on what time you get there, get straight out to explore the local beaches. Twilight Beach is one of our favourites!

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel        

Day 6: Cape Le Grand National Park & Lucky Bay

Today is yours to explore the beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park, around an hour further west from Esperance. Hellfire Bay, Little Hellfire Bay and Thistle Cove are all spectacular beaches, and if you are up for a hike, you can embark on the coastal walk between all three, soaking up the vast views over the ocean. Finally you’ll come across Lucky Bay, one of the most famous beaches in Australia. This pristine curve of sand is squeaky clean and walking along the arced sands will be a highlight of your holiday. Run along the beach, jump into the turquoise waters and look out for the famous kangaroos that love to lounge on the best beach around!

At the end of the afternoon, head back to Esperance for the helicopter flight we have included. You’ll fly over Cape Le Grand, all of the iconic beaches you’ve just explored, admiring this untouched coastline from above.

Included: Hire car, 15 minute helicopter flight, 4* hotel                

Day 7: Drive to Albany

After breakfast, you’ll head off to begin your journey east, towards the coastal town of Albany, around a 5 hour drive. On arrival in Albany, why not head to Middleton Beach – grab fish and chips and a large cold beer from Hooked and eat on the beach watching the sun go down.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel        

Day 8: Albany

Today is yours to explore the interesting town of Albany. Spend the morning at the National ANZAC Centre, the museum that celebrates Australia and New Zealand’s military history. It’s fascinating place, with most of the exhibits about WWI and the role the ANZACs played in Gallipoli. The museum has huge windows that overlook the Frenchman’s Bay, where hundreds of ships were gathered in 1914, taking soldiers off to war. The museum has a clever system – when you arrive you are given a card with a real soldier on it, who experienced the war. As you go around and learn about different things, you can scan your card and learn how the war unfolded for that particular man.

In the afternoon, why not drive out to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Explore Little Beach, a beautiful cove tucked away on the east coast. The beach itself is relatively secluded already but if you walk to the end and follow a little path, you will come to an even more secret beach with perfect warm waters for a swim.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel   

Day 9: Drive to Pemberton

This morning, you’ll drive over to Pemberton, along the coastal road before heading inland. There are lots of places to explore along the way. First, we’d recommend a stop in the region around Denmark and Williams Bay – this whole area is full of vineyards and breweries that are just waiting to be explored – why not have a mooch through some of the nicest ones before stopping for a woodfired pizza for lunch with views over the wineries? It’s also a spectacular area of the coast – both Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool are stunning beaches with shallow bays to float in and enormous boulders from which you can leap into the water.

As you continue your drive, stop in at the Valley of the Giants. This treetop walk takes you up into the canopy of the vast tingle trees that cover this area – it’s a magical walk through the dappled sunlight under the rustling leaves above.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel        

Day 12: Drive to Margaret River

Before you depart leafy Pemberton, make sure you visit the remarkable Gloucester Tree just outside the little town. Once used as a fire lookout, this incredible tree offers panoramic views over the forests below. Karri trees are the third tallest in the world, and the climb up is not for the faint-hearted but worth it for such a unique experience. Enjoy the local area where there are lots of walking trails and tracks to explore while looking out for rare birds including the elusive red-tailed black cockatoos.

Continue on your drive north to the small town of Margaret River, in the heart of Western Australia’s famous wine region.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel        

Days 13 & 14: Margaret River region

With over 120 wine producers and countless breweries and restaurants, the Margaret River region is ‘foodie’ heaven! Snack on crayfish straight from the ocean, try Australia’s finest wines at one of the cellar doors and try artisan cheeses at the farmers' markets. The scenery here is breath-taking, and the coastline is spectacular, making it the perfect spot to go hiking or diving. If you want to explore a little further, nearby Eagle Bay is a great place to snorkel while Cosy Corner Beach boasts fantastic sunsets over the ocean. There are several caves in the region that you can explore – Jewell Cave is one of our favourites. We also recommend a visit to the lighthouses at Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel                        

Day 15: Drive to Fremantle

Leave Margaret River behind and head north towards Perth. Stop in at Busselton to walk along the famous jetty that juts nearly 2 kilometres out into the water before heading to Bunbury. Here you could head out on a cruise, looking for dolphins in the blue sea, or even swim with these incredible creatures if you’d like! By the afternoon, you’ll arrive back into Fremantle, a beachy suburb of Perth, where you’ll drop off your hire car and settle into your hotel for two nights.

Included: Hire car, 4* hotel        

Day 16: Fremantle

Spend the day enjoying the lovely suburb of Fremantle. Full of quirky shops, delicious restaurants and bustling beaches, Fremantle has a very cool vibe and is the perfect place to spend your final day in Western Australia. Stop in at the WA Shipwrecks Museum, where you can see the Batavia shipwreck, as well as learning about the history of this iconic but dangerous coastline.

Sip cold ales at Little Creatures Brewery, shop for souvenirs in Fremantle Market, tour the World Heritage Fremantle Gaol and take a ride on the famous Ferris wheel in Esplanade Park. Finish your final night with Asian street-food on Bathers Beach, where you can sip a Matso’s Mango beer and watch the sun set on the end of your dreamy Perth to Esperance road trip. 

Included: 4* hotel           

Day 17: Depart Perth

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport in time to catch your flight home.   

Included: Transfers, international flights            

Day 18: Arrive UK