Lucky Bay is one of the iconic beaches in Western Australia. Famous for its white and hard sand, ideally for four wheel driving, and the kangaroos along the beach. It’s truly a little paradise located within Cape Le Grand national park. You can’t miss out on this magnificent place, which was even voted the best beach in the world by 750 travel journalists and experts in 2023. As a traveller you will feel lucky to explore the area, surrounded by bright turquoise-coloured water.
The origin of the name “Lucky Bay” descended from the well-known explorer Matthew Flinders in 1802. It is told that he sailed a dangerous route through the Recherche Archipelago and a summer storm suddenly appeared. Flinders fond shelter in a safe bay close by, therefor he felt lucky and named the place as we know it today. Luckily this beautiful place was discovered. Its white sand was even titled as the whitest sand in Australia by scientists in 2017. Moreover there are roughly 200.000 visitors annually, which is a decent amount of people for a beach far from the big cities.
How to get there
Lucky Bay is quite far from most major cities in Australia. Esperance, a beautiful coastal town is the key to get there. Therefore two ways of travel should be in your consideration. You can come either by car or by plane. It takes roughly seven to eight hours to drive down from Perth to Esperance with an additional hour to get to Lucky Bay. If you are on a road trip coming from East, the beaches of the south including Lucky Bay will treat you well after the big journey on the Nullabor. However to safe endless hours of driving, you could catch a plane in Perth and be in Esperance just after 90 minutes in the air. Then you’d need a rental car for the one hour ride to Lucky Bay. Either way, it’s easy to get there and the roads are well maintained.
Where to stay
With a trip to Lucky Bay there are two main options for accomodation. Either camping in Cape LeGrand National Park or staying in Esperance. Both possibilities have their advantages and disadvantages, the choice should weigh in the type of traveller you are and your budget.
Staying in Esperance
Staying in Esperance is very lovely, the supermarket is close by, the town offers more activities like markets on the weekends and there are more versatile overnight options. While the campgrounds in Esperance are more expensive, they offer, water access, nice ablution blocks, camp kitchens, an outside pool and sometimes wifi. Moreover you could just book a cabin or a hotel room and live your best life on your holidays. Clear disadvantages are the prices for accommodation in Esperance and the hour long drive each way to the national park.
Staying in Lucky Bay
Our personal recommendation is to stay in the national park overnight. At a current rate of 20AUD per person per night, it is a good price for the value you get. Even though the setup of the two campgrounds is very simple, therefore no reception in some parts, drop toilets and non-drinking water, but you still get a decent camp kitchen and you stay in nature’s heart. Be aware to book the campgrounds way in advance, especially for holiday periods in Western Australia, otherwise you might end up without a spot.
The main reason for staying in Lucky Bay is the experience you get. First of all, you increase the chance of seeing kangaroos at the beach, because their prime times are the early and late hours of the day. Also you could get up at night time and walk within the national park to get breathtaking views of the sky filled with shining stars. Lastly it’s just a different vibe to stay offline for a few days, jump from beach to beach and just connect with nature.
Best time to visit
Lucky Bay is located at the south coast of Australia, which means chilly and rainy times from autumn to spring and lovely heat in summer. Depending what you are after, the choice of the best time for a visit falls differently. If you want long beach days with heaps of sun, aim for a trip between December and February. Otherwise if hiking is your passion, the ideal time would be late October until November or March until early April. Our personal sweet spot was late November until mid December, just before the holidays begin or early February up to March. At this times you get both, a decent sunny weather for the beach and less crowds to enjoy yourself.
Safety Tips
Plan always ahead when you travel in Australia. Due to extreme weather, there are some safety risks to consider before you head off. If you are prepared, you’ll be most likely completely fine.
Fires
Australia is well-known for its bushfires. While summer is the best season to visit Lucky Bay, there is always a risk of bushfires. Make sure you download the Emergency WA app, so you can check for fire ratings and risk areas. Moreover be aware that there is a total fire ban between November and April for a good reason, making a fire could cause a bushfire and therefore create a risk for yourself and others. If you smoke, get familiar with smoking rules in Australia and don’t toss the cigarette butts on the ground, as it is a valid risk for bushfires as well. Otherwise Western Australia is very good with their warnings. Consequently if you get a text message from WA, don’t panic just follow their instructions.
Heat
If you plan to visit Lucky Bay during summer, never underestimate the heat. Sun in Australia hits differently, for example 30 minutes at 22 degrees can be enough to get a decent sunburn. Therefore the safest choice is to use sun protection when spending time outside. Also drink enough to stay hydrated. Finally plan ahead and start your hikes on hot days very early.
Drinking Water
When preparing your trip to Cape Le Grand National Park plan to take extra water. There is no drinking water in the whole national park. For the national park campers there is non drinking water available at the campground, though it is safe to drink after it’s boiled. We took a water jerry can to last longer on our own water and when we ran out we boiled water in advance. For a fill up of water before you enter the national park, just visit the visitor centre in Esperance, they have taps.
Remoteness
Most places in Australia are quite off the grit and even though Lucky Bay seems to be not too bad with an hour driving time to the next town, it’s still a risk to consider. Especially the lacking phone reception should be enough reason to create a simple, but effective, plan. The easiest way is to let someone else know about your travel dates, so they could reach out to local authorities in case none of them is able to contact you after your trip is finished.
Things to see and do
Kangaroos at the beach
Lucky Bay is known for its iconic kangaroo pictures at the beach. Either at dawn or dusk you have the chance to spot cute kangaroos jumping and feeding on the beach. Please be respectful when taking pictures, even though they are used to tourists. Like any animal sighting, there are no guarantees that you will see kangaroos at the beach, but you can increase your chances by camping in the national park.
Nevertheless the beach offers more than roos hopping around. Most cars are able to access the beach as the sand is very hard. Stick to the first hundred meters and most likely you won’t get stuck in the sand. Should you rent a car, make sure to double check whether you are allowed to take it on the sand or not. Nothing beats the opportunity to have a lazy day relaxing in the back of your car, while the waves roll in. Maybe read a book or go for a dip and you have the perfect day.
4x4
Driving to Lucky Bay with a 4x4? Great! This place will offer you some adventures and tracks you can enjoy. Instead of driving the sealed path into the national park, you could turn off at Wylie Bay and drive 22 kilometres along the Le Grand Beach. For more remote adventures drive further east to Cape Arid. Here is a guide I’ve found for four-wheel driving in the area.
Hellfire Bay
One of my personal favorites is Hellfire Bay in the Cape Le Grand national park. Crystal clear water, white sand and just a dream of a beach.
Extra tip for you: At the carpark you will find a marked way that will take you to Little Hellfire. The walk takes you through some bushland and it should be about 20 minutes until you reach this small paradise. While Hellfire Bay has some decent waves, Little Hellfire is a little quieter. Also in a sense of crowds. In my opinion Little Hellfire is a hidden gem and if you are lucky you’ll have this stunning beach to yourself. Either way it’s worth walking the track and dive a little deeper into the wonders of this place.
Cape Le Grand Coastal Trail
Lucky Bay is one of many extraordinary beaches in Cape Le Grand National Park. So why not see them all and head of for an iconic bushwalk. The Cape le Grand Coastal Trail is 20 kilometres long and is mostly walked in multiple days, though it’s doable in one day, which takes at least eight hours. Most people walk selected sections of the track as the 20 kilometres are one way. Basically this walk replaces the road in between the beaches and shows you breathtaking views.
Thistle Cove
Another popular spot for swimming is Thistle Cove. This beach is one kilometre long and is surrounded by dramatic granite rock formations. You can go for a beautiful walk and explore the whistling rock, which produces natural sounds as the wind blows through the cavities.
Cape Le Grand Beach
As mentioned earlier this is the beach you can drive along with your 4x4. Moreover the second campground of the national park is at Cape Le Grand Beach. You can have a beautiful walk through the soft sand and enjoy the waves coming in. So it’s a perfect addition for your beach hopping in the area.
Frenchmans Peak
Lucky Bay is the shining star of Cape Le Grand, but Frenchmans Peak is a highlight not to be missed. This epic hike takes you to the best view in the area. While the track is only three kilometres long (return), you’ll probably need at least three hours to complete it. For a great view in only three kilometres you can imagine what this hike looks like. You go up, up, up! So, why even bother? Well, the pay off is incredible, the view is one of the best you’ll ever see. All the turquoise coloured bays, the mountainous landscape, it’s breathtaking.
Extra Tipp: Start your hike very early, aim for the sunrise at the peak. Consequently you get an experience, you’ll talk about many years later. Getting out with fresh air, when the stars shine from above and then seeing the sky turning it’s colours, ready for the day. Finally, when you reach the top, your reward, the sunrise, feels even better, it’s magic.
Nearby attractions
The area around Lucky Bay hold many adventures as well. It’s definitely worth allocating some time for those highlights as well.
Esperance Stonehenge
Living in Australia and wanna see the Stonehenge without flying across the world? No problem just visit the full size replica in Esperance. The entry fee is 15 AUD per adult and 6 for children. It’s amazing that you can see this popular highlight 15.178 kilometers away from its original.
Pink Lake
Close to Esperance is another spectacular highlight, the Pink Lake. While the 99 hectare salt lake lost it’s once powerful pink colour, you are still able to see the pink colour under certain circumstances. Unfortunately it happens rarely, but the waterbody is still impressive to view.
Esperance Beaches
If you have your holidays at Lucky Bay, you can’t miss the beaches of Esperance. It is guaranteed that you won’t find a place with so many dream beaches. White soft sand, strong blue colours and just a vibe you need to experience. Every beach in Esperance is worth a visit, but if you are short on time, my personal favorites are Twilight- and Blue Haven Beach. Those two stand out in a line of outstanding beaches. No words can describe how beautiful these places are.
Markets
Esperance is surely worth a visit as well. Cute little shops and the feeling of a small coastal town are great to experience. Furthermore you can add on some markets with unique arts and crafts to your bucket list. Every fortnight the Museum Village Markets take place on Sundays. Surely a great activity in between stunning beaches and adventurous hikes.
Whale Tail
Another great highlight is the Whale Tail in Esperance. This artwork holds significant meaning to the character of the town. You can easily add a visit on a walk through Esperance.
Rotary Lookout
Finally you could visit the Rotary Lookout for a magnificent view of Esperance and its surrounding beaches. Being located on a grant outcorp gives you some interesting photographic choices. Moreover you could take some of the pathways leading to the beaches I mentioned earlier.
Useful resources
For more information check out the following websites and sources. Safety measures can change over time and with these sites you have the best opportunity to prepare accordingly:
Explore Parks WA
This website gives you comprehensive information on Cape Le Grant National Park and its current alerts. Also you can book your campground on there.
Emergency WA
Emergency WA is the key for a safe journey. You can find fire alerts and danger ratings on it.
Alltrails
Great app or site to plan your hikes and get an idea for the difficulty of the tracks.
Visitor Centre
My best recommendation is always to visit the visitor center before heading to Lucky Bay. The staff can give you detailed information for your adventure.
~ Daniel
