South WA Coast & Nullarbor Highlights

Here are some notes from my trip across the Nullarbor plain. For those heading this way, here’s what I did and recommend. Denmark Albany Ravensthorpe Munglinup Esperance Cape Le Grand Grass Patch Scaddan Norseman Fraser Range Balladonia Moodini Bluff Eucla

Here are some notes from my trip across the Nullarbor plain. For those heading this way, here’s what I did and recommend.

Denmark

  • Elephant Rocks

Albany

  • Kennedy Beach & Perkins Beach – paddleboarding – you can camp right near the beach – first in first served, or stay at Camp Kennedy (a Christian school camp with private beach access).
  • Handasydes Strawberry farm – scones, jam and cream and of course strawberries
  • Betty’s beach & Norman’s beach – free camps, right near gorgeous coastline. Highly recommended! Stay up to 7 nights per campsite – there are 3 campsites easily accessible and near each other. So 21 days free camping available.

Ravensthorpe

  • East Mount Barren Trail head – a bit scrambly, but fun hike and great views! Lots of campsites nearby. $17 park entry for hiking, or camping w a small extra cost for campsites.

Munglinup

  • Simple free camp across from the service station.

Esperance

  • Great Ocean Drive – e-bike, or drive. The pink lake isn’t pink, but if driving you loop back this way.
  • There’s a sauna on the main road by the beach you can visit in the centre of Esperance.

Cape Le Grand

  • Lots of kangaroos, so don’t drive at dusk or dawn!
  • Lucky Bay – this campsite was a highlight. Gorgeous walks along the beach and across to other nearby bays. Kangaroos everywhere. Lots of international tourists. No wifi, phone reception, dump or water points. Hot (ish) showers – shower in the day since the water heating is solar. I stayed 4 nights.
  • Cape le Grand camp ground. More remote, good spot to hike some more of the Cape le Grand trail- same park entry fee as East Mount Barren for Cape le Grand.
  • Frenchman peak! Well worth the scramble. Bring poles. It’s very steep! The views are great and the cave at the top is fun to explore.
  • Le Grand Coastal Trail – 21km each way. Bring poles! Especially from Cape Le Grand towards Hellfire Bay. The rocks are very slippery and there are steep sections. The trail is a lot easier near Lucky bay.
  • Road out to Rossiter beach was very corrugated when I was there, so I didn’t go. The rest of the roads were fine (apart from the many kangaroos at dusk) – mostly sealed.

Grass Patch

  • Stop in at the Grass Patch Tavern if it’s open. The guy who runs it is lovely. He will serve meals. There’s a simple, gravel-pit free camp before it at Salmon Gums

Scaddan

  • Free camp at Pioneer Park.

Norseman

  • Free camp – I didn’t stay, but there’s a pub in town and it looked ok.

Fraser Range

  • The food at the roadhouse is meant to be great! Beautiful camp grounds with lots of communal areas.
  • I opted to free camp nearby, as I wasn’t keen on the meal available, but people said this place was nice.

Balladonia

  • Nice pub with a fireplace at the road house. I free camped nearby and ate dinner there. Amazing sunsets! Interesting history

Moodini Bluff

  • Nice free camp on ridge, with some walks nearby.

Eucla

  • Had a fab night here with some young couples who were moving to Perth – there’s a pool table – great beer! The food is good. I picked up more Lucky Bay beers on my way back.
  • Free camped at the old Telegraph station.


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