Esperance (Australia)

If you are looking for the peace and wild beauty of Western Australia, then come and discover Esperance and its surroundings! The name itself is full of promise and you won't be disappointed after all those miles in the bush, down a fairly monotonous road. Surrounded by national parks, the region of Esperance is one of the most beautiful that I visited. Esperance is the town where the miners of Kalgoorlie come for a holiday or to take a break. After the road through the desert, you'll enjoy the shade and peace under the pine trees that line the street on the waterfront. You will start to understand the miner's enthusiasm for the place.

 In Esperance, the first individual you come across is Sammy the sea lion, who never leaves the pier and can often be seen lazing on the sand. They have even set up his statue just above him on the jetty! Admittedly, the city itself has no particular aesthetic appeal. There is an excellent little seaside pizzeria and a huge pub where the locals come for a drink in the evening. The youth hostel is located further north, still on the sea front.

If you like nature, the most interesting things are located outside Esperance. The Great Ocean Drive is a 34 km road which takes you to the sandy beaches, each more beautiful than the other, including Twilight Bay. The journey ends with Pink Lake. Finally, the must-see of the region is Cape Le Grand National Park, less than an hour's drive from Esperance: emus, kangaroos and paradise beaches await you there. I started my exploration of the park by climbing Frenchman's Peak, a granite rock that resembles a volcano, with a giant cave just below its summit and a breathtaking 360-degree view above. This mountain is quite steep in places and there is not much to cling to. There is no real trail once on the rock, but I saw some people climb it wearing flip flops, so it can't be that difficult! Still, count 2 hours for the return trip. Lucky Bay stunned me - it is one of the most beautiful beaches that I saw in Australia. White sand that crunches underfoot (it's like walking on snow), turquoise water, kangaroos lolling about, this crescent-shaped beach is a haven of peace away from it all. I had a picnic there before continuing my adventure in the park. The highlight of my visit: a sunset on the blazing rocks of Thistle Cove and Hellfire Bay. I returned from my excursion with my head in the stars.