Tag: Esperance Australia

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Esperance, Australia.

ESPERANCE, AUSTRALIA
Gateway to theGoldfields
Esperance and the Recherche Archipelago, sheltering Esperance Bay, received their name in 1792, when a French expedition under d’Entrecasteaux looked for shelter from a storm. Ten years later, Matthew Flinders took refuge at Lucky Bay, some 30 kilometers southeast of Esperance near Cape Le Grand, another feature named during the French visit. It was not until the 1860s that settlement began, and by the 1890s, Esperance was known as the “Gateway to the Goldfields” further inland.

Today, some 12,000 residents live in Esperance. The town is in southeast Western Australia’s only port, and as
such quite important for grain and mineral exports.

Tourism is a major factor, as Esperance and its surrounding area have such unusual attractions as a museum featuring debris from Skylab’s 1979 return to earth, a full-size replica of Stonehenge, the Pink Lake, which formerly used to be pink – an IBA for Hooded Plovers and Banded Stilts, several national parks, and some of the whitest beaches in Australia. Lucky Bay is one of the iconic places, as kangaroos are regularly seen on the beach sunbathing.

Excursion – Scenic Esperance
We discovered Esperance in carefree comfort on a sightseeing drive through town and along the coast.

Esperance and Twilight Beach
Our first stop is the Rotary Lookout, perched high atop a granite outcrop overlooking Esperance and the islands of the
Recherche Archipelago. We continued along the white sandy coast and stop for photos at one of the best beaches, Twilight Beach, another great spot for photos.

Morning Tea
Next, break for a traditional morning tea at one of the local cafés. From here, we continued through the east side of town to reach
the Tanker Jetty, which stretches nearly 1,200 feet into the bay. Built in the mid-1930s, today it’s a favourite spot among locals
for scenic walks and fishing. Our drive wraps up along the Esplanade with a photo opportunity at the gleaming Whale Tail
sculpture.

Dinner was in The Atlantide Restaurant