Australia's Golden Outback 2023 Holiday Planner

NATURAL PARADISE Plunge into a

Immerse yourself in the invigorating Esperance any time of the year with these autumn and spring activities. By KATE JONES

N estled at the base of Australia’s Golden Outback, Esperance / Kepa Kurl is an isolated wonderland, ripe for exploring. It’s a place where kangaroos call the stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water home, diverse flora and fauna abound in the national park, and dolphins surf the rolling, aquamarine waves. Explore the expansive outdoors of this dreamlike town any time of year, with autumn and spring tending to be a little cooler and the ideal seasons to spend longer hours outside. It’s also when brilliant rainbows of wildflowers bloom. With so much to see, a guided tour — whether by air, sea, or land — is one of the best ways to soak in all the sights of the stunning landscape and gain a local’s perspective of the area. “Autumn and spring are by far the best times of year to visit Esperance,” says director of Fly Esperance and Tour Esperance , Christopher Hurst. “The temperatures are mild and the winds are much calmer than through the heat of summer. Spring boasts

amazing Pink and Rainbow Lakes. While on land, Tour Esperance’s 4X4 tours traverse up to 50km of white sand beaches, leading all the way to the majestic Cape Le Grand National Park . Highlights include driving up a 45 degree incline to the top of Wylie Rock for panoramic views of the bay, and morning tea on the whitest beach in Australia, Lucky Bay , within the park. Cape Le Grand National Park is one of the crowning jewels of Esperance’s dazzling trove of natural attractions and easy to explore on your own or with a guide. A 63km drive east of Esperance to the park will bring you to the most tranquil beaches and the clearest water you have seen. Lucky Bay is famed for its western grey kangaroos that stretch out in the sun, but other worthy contenders to explore include Hellfire Bay and Wharton Beach . Make the most of the mild temperature and embark on some of the many inspiring walk trails winding throughout the park. Follow the Frenchman Peak Walktrail over a kilometre return-journey and climb to

spectacular blooms of wildflowers as the country comes alive with new growth, while autumn sees the ocean temperature at the warmest it will be all year. With less tourists around and calm weather, March is the time to be here!” Embark on the Fly – Lunch – Fly tour with Fly Esperance for the ultimate vantage point of Esperance, with lunch at the Condingup Tavern. Or for the more adventurous, there’s the ‘Flying Pub Crawl,’ which visits two pubs and the Lucky Bay Craft Brewery in between two hours of scenic flying across the

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