Beaches that regularly claim spots on ‘world’s best’ lists. Sand so white it actually squeaks beneath your feet. Kangaroos lounging on pristine shores like they’re on holiday, too. Located 720 kilometres southeast of Perth, Esperance has been Western Australia’s worst-kept secret for years, and for good reason.
While the roughly eight-hour drive makes for an excellent road trip through quintessential WA landscapes — places like Wave Rock make for the perfect pit-stop along the way — you can also fly directly into Esperance and hire a car to explore at your leisure. Either way, the journey is part of the adventure. But once you arrive, where you stay makes all the difference.
Box Hill Esperance — luxury, seclusion, and serenity
Box Hill opened late last year, bringing a different style of accommodation to the Esperance region. In the last few years, we’ve seen cabins and tiny homes popping up across the state, each one calling itself a luxury escape or something similar. However, few have lived up to that luxury tag. And we had the same scepticism when we were invited to go and see the new cabins at Box Hill. Gladly, Box Hill lived up to the hype.
Arriving at the property, you notice straight away how secluded the cabins are. It’s quiet. Very quiet. From the front gate to the cabins takes a five or so minute drive on a gravel road. You don’t see anyone along the way, nor any other houses or homesteads. Only sheep and kangaroos grazing their way through the paddocks.
Eventually, you reach your destination. Sitting in the middle of nowhere are two cabins. When you open the door and go inside, you realise that you probably shouldn’t have booked so many activities for the weekend ahead, because you’re going to want to stay here and relax as much as possible. The cabins are adults -only with one bedroom and bathroom, a large living area, complete with fully-eqipped kitchen, super comfy sofa, and a fireplace. Walking out the backdoor you realise that the flock of sheep has followed you to the cabin, making sure you’re welcomed and well settled in. There is no noise. Just the wrestling of the trees and the bleating of the sheep. It’s very serene.
This is the one place everyone should book as their 2026 getaway.
Things to do in Esperance while you’re there
See Esperance from a different view with a Helispirit tour
If you’re going to see Esperance’s legendary coastline, you might as well do it from the air. Helispirit’s helicopter tours transform the region’s famous beaches and islands into a breathtaking aerial gallery, revealing patterns and colours invisible from ground level.
The experience goes beyond sightseeing. Your pilot will land on a secluded beach where you can enjoy a picnic with just the ocean for company, followed by a swim in the clearest waters you’ve ever seen. It’s things like this that make you understand why people become obsessed with this part of Western Australia.
The best part? Helispirit picks you up directly from Box Hill and returns you there at the tour’s end, ensuring a seamless experience without the hassle of driving to a departure point.
Beach hopping across some of Australia’s finest coastline
Let’s be honest: the beaches are why you’re really here. Esperance’s coastline features some of the most spectacular stretches of sand anywhere on the planet, with that distinctive squeaky white sand and water in shades of blue you didn’t know existed.
Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park holds the title of Australia’s whitest beach, and the resident kangaroos who lounge on the sand provide endless entertainment (and Instagram opportunities). Nearby Hellfire Bay balances stunning blue water with dramatic granite headlands, creating a more sheltered cove that’s equally photogenic.
Twilight Beach on the Great Ocean Drive draws families for good reason. A rocky island sits just offshore, creating an excellent swim-out destination to jump off — you’ve most likely seen videos of this on TikTok and Instagram. When the wind picks up, Blue Haven Beach becomes the go-to choice with its sheltered bay and calm conditions, perfect for a relaxed swim.
If you’re willing to venture further, Wharton Beach in Duke of Orleans Bay is one you should add to your list, along with West Beach, which provides those signature bright blue waters the region is known for.
You should plan to spend most of your days in Esperance hopping from beach to beach. Pack a cooler, sunscreen, and multiple towels and prepare to have your definition of ‘perfect beach’ completely recalibrated.
Stand amongst the stones at Esperance Stonehenge
Just minutes from Box Hill sits one of the region’s most unexpected attractions. Esperance Stonehenge is a full-scale replica of the UK’s famous megalithic monument, constructed with 137 stones of locally quarried Esperance pink granite.
If you’ve seen the original Stonehenge in the UK, seeing this replica will bring you more questions than ever! Like, how were they able to construct something of this magnitude without the modern-day machinery that was required to build this one?
Its proximity to Box Hill makes this an easy stop-off just before sunset, on your way back to the cabin.
Cruise the Recherche Archipelago with Esperance Island Cruises
Seeing Esperance from the water reveals an entirely different side of the region, one steeped in history and storytelling. Esperance Island Cruises takes you 55 kilometres through the islands of the Recherche Archipelago, where wildlife encounters happen at such close range you’ll be reaching for your camera constantly.
New Zealand fur seals, Australian sea lions and Cape Barren geese are regular sightings — although often hard to spot, even when they’re right in front of you — along with common and bottlenose dolphins. White-bellied sea eagles soar overhead, and during the right season, humpback whales make appearances that stop everyone mid-conversation.
For most, the highlight of the tour is the white-bellied sea eagles, which you get to hand-feed. You’ll throw fish into the air whilst an eagle circles above or is closely watching from its perch. They then swoop down to snatch their meal mid-flight or pluck it from the water’s surface. It’s thrilling and absolutely unforgettable.
The tour also includes morning tea in the protected waters of Blue Haven, where you can jump in the ocean for a swim in the cold southern waters.
Get your heart racing with Tour Esperance’s Le Grand half-day 4×4 adventure
If you like your holidays with a side of adrenaline, Tour Esperance’s Le Grand half-day adventure needs to be on your itinerary. This isn’t a gentle coastal drive. You’ll tackle up to 50 kilometres of 4×4 beach driving along Le Grand Beach, ascending impressive sand dunes, and navigating terrain that makes you wonder if you’re breaking the laws of physics.
The morning tea stop at Lucky Bay lets you catch your breath while meeting the famous beach kangaroos. Along the way, you’ll discover the sweeping heathlands, rugged coastal peaks, and sandy beaches that have made Cape Le Grand National Park iconic.
Your driver will pilot the 4×4 up rock formations and sand dunes that look genuinely impossible to climb. Your knuckles might go white as you grip the handle, and your heart rate will definitely spike, but the Tour Esperance team has completed this route thousands of times. It’s completely safe, incredibly fun, and provides stories you’ll be retelling for years.
Where to eat and drink while in Esperance
Bread Local
Hidden beneath gum trees just four kilometres from town, Bread Local has become Esperance’s unofficial morning headquarters for visitors and locals alike, who appreciate exceptional baking. The range spans sweet and savoury pastries, hearty sandwiches, and crusty sourdough loaves that rival anything you’ll find in Perth’s trendiest suburbs.
This is where you’ll want to stock up for beach picnics, cabin breakfasts, and afternoon cheese boards back at Box Hill. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself making daily pilgrimages. Once you’ve tried their sourdough, supermarket bread loses all appeal.
Lucky Bay Brewing
Lucky Bay Brewing takes the concept of paddock-to-pint seriously. As Western Australia’s only brewery using raw barley directly from local farmers, they’ve created something genuinely unique while reducing their carbon footprint. Each beer celebrates rural WA through thoughtful brewing that honours the region’s agricultural heritage.
The beer garden provides the perfect setting to spend a lazy afternoon. Order a tasting paddle and a pizza, settle in, and let a few hours disappear whilst you contemplate whether you’ve really got to leave Esperance and eventually head home.
Bistro Louis
Sometimes you find a little piece of France in the most unexpected places. Bistro Louis brings generous French hospitality to Esperance through beautifully made food, paired with a selection of French and Australian wines, beers, and cocktails.
If you’re looking for a place to “go out” for dinner, this is the place for you.
The Quarters
Positioned right on the shore of Esperance Bay, this family-run restaurant specialises in casual dining built around the freshest local ingredients their chefs can source.
Here’s an insider tip: order the Sri Lankan Paradise. A traditional Sri Lankan chicken curry with saffron rice might seem unexpected on an Esperance waterfront, but this recommendation won’t steer you wrong. It ranks among the best Sri Lankan curries you’ll find anywhere, and the waterfront setting makes it even better.
Cook your own feast at Box Hill
With a fully equipped kitchen, barbecue, and outdoor fire pit waiting for you, Box Hill practically begs you to create your own culinary experiences. Stop by the local supermarket to gather ingredients, then return to your private cabin for an intimate dinner.
Start by lighting the outdoor fire pit and roasting some marshmallows as the sun sets (there’s a jar of marshmallows in the cabin). Then fire up the barbecue or move inside to the kitchen to prepare whatever feast you’ve envisioned. Pour a couple of glasses of wine, let the fireplace crackle, and enjoy the dinner under the stars.
