After our adventure across the Nullarbor, we made a stop in Esperance to replenish our supplies. Having crossed two state borders with strict quarantine rules, we found ourselves missing fresh fruit and vegetables. However, the steep prices—some as high as $12.99 per kilogram for bananas and apples—limited our choices. Despite these challenges, we did our best to restock before heading to our first caravan park, located an hour east of Esperance. Our main reason for visiting was to experience Wharton Beach, celebrated as one of Australia’s finest.

Unfortunately, shortly after our arrival at the park, Robyn and Ollie had to return to Esperance. Ollie had taken a fall while swinging on a tree branch, resulting in a mild concussion after hitting his head. Fortunately, one of Robyn’s sister’s friends from med school was on duty in the emergency room and provided excellent care for Ollie.

The following morning, we set off to explore the area, starting with Wharton Beach. Upon arrival, driving onto the beach revealed to us why it is so highly rated. The setting was breathtaking, with majestic granite peaks at one end, deep turquoise waters, and bright white sand. The kids eagerly plunged into the water, riding the waves on their boogie boards. After about an hour, we embarked on a scenic drive along the beach, exploring other beaches and coves. In the afternoon, the children tried their hand at beach fishing but, once again, their first catch eluded them. That evening, we returned to the peaks near Wharton Beach to witness a golden sunset.

The next day marked one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of our journey: a three-night stay in Cape Le Grand National Park, with Lucky Bay Beach as the highlight. Having been captivated by Wharton Beach, we wondered how anything could surpass it. But as Lucky Bay came into view, we could see how. The sand was whiter and the water more beautifully blue and the surroundings were stunning with higher peaks. Cape Le Grand reminded us a lot of Wilsons Prom in Victoria.

During our three-day stay, we spent ample time at Lucky Bay, where kangaroos would occasionally venture down to the sand. Cape Le Grand offered no shortage of attractions, including several stunning beaches. On our first afternoon, we tackled the climb up Frenchman’s Peak. Although the ascent was relatively straightforward, strong winds required some extra care to reach the summit safely. The reward was a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.

On our first full day, we embarked on a 5km (return) walk to nearby Thistle Cove. The trail provided us with stunning coastal views, and we passed intriguing caves and rock formations. Upon reaching the cove, we were greeted by another spectacular beach and indulged in a bag of salt and vinegar chips.

The next morning we went for a short drive on a rough road to the east side of the park and were rewarded by being able to follow a pod of dolphins along the beach. We were even able to get the drone out to follow them and were able to see it was at least 25 strong. Already being spoilt with a wildlife encounter, on the way back we saw a group of kangaroos having a fight. We then took the car for a drive along Lucky Bay to the opposite end to where we were staying to check out a view point and a plaque marking the date Matthew Flinders docked in the bay whilst circumnavigating Australia.   

For the most part, we were spoilt with great weather, though the tail end of our stay brought the first rain of our journey. Despite this, Cape Le Grand National Park did not disappoint, Lucky Bay is going to be pretty hard to top as the best beach we have ever been to.