Esperance-Cape Le Grand National Park

Once again we awoke at Esperance to the sound of the couple with five boys aged under 10 camped directly behind us. Again we checked the clock and yes it really is only 6.00 am. We knew things were different when Dylan was also out of bed before 7.00 am.  This morning we were off to see Cape Le Grand National Park approximately 50 km’s to the east of Esperance. The chef for the past three months prepared a large pile of pancakes to ensure everyone had plenty of energy to climb Frenchman’s Peak.  We left the park at 9.45am. We went straight to the start of the Frenchman’s Peak walk and we showed Lily on the way the hill we were going to climb. She immediately was saying I don’t want to walk as she viewed the peak from the car. The climb starts off with a well-defined concreted path before changing to a wooden track to protect the surrounding vegetation before a sign directs you to follow the markers to the peak of the hill. To our surprise Lily made it on her own steam to this point. We then set off on the harder part of our walk and Lily continued to amaze us with her stamina as she continued on her own steam. We let her stop and rest as many times as she liked and kept the sugar levels up with a bag of Allen’s Jumbo Party Mix lollies that have been a constant companion over the last few months. Whilst the walk is not long only 3 kilometres in total it becomes a bit of a rock scramble and hands are required to make your way up the eastern slope of the hill. Lily soldiered on all the way to the top and we were all very proud that she made it to the large cave not dissimilar to Nature’s Window at Kalbarri but a much larger version with spectacular views of the Archi pelago of the Recherché. Whilst Hayley and Lily rested at the cave Dylan Oliver and I continued to the summit only a short distance above the cave. When we got to the summit I exclaimed to the boys we came we saw we kicked your rocky arse!!. The boys thought this was very funny, but were told they were not to repeat it!.

I then returned down to Lily and Hayley and told Hayley she must conquer the summit. I then returned to the summit with Hayley and before we knew it Dylan was bringing Lily up to the summit. We all made it to the summit under our own steam including Lily, which was unusual, as every other walk she had ended up on my shoulders. The views from the summit were breath taking with 360-degree views of the surrounding coastline, islands and inland.

Frenchmans Peak

Frenchmans Peak

All starting out on the walk. Well done Lily

Here we go steep climb

Oliver having a rest stop on the way up

Made it to the Cave. Notice the open window at the back,beautiful views

Hayley made it too

Mark on the summitt

We then headed down to Le Grand Beach for some lunch. We met an elderly man named Brian GYMER who offered to share his picnic table. We struck up a conversation with him and found out he was an amateur photographer and was traveling alone around Western Australia on a photographic journey.

After lunch we headed to the beaches of the park. We first ventured to Rossiter Bay, which is a large bay that was predominantly covered in the seaweed you get at Flinders Beach. You could tell that the sand underneath was the pristine white that the park is renowned for. We then traveled to Lucky Bay, which was so named by explorer who found the bay when sheltering from a storm. The coastline enabled him to get protection from the weather. The sand at this beach is a pristine white color and is very fine and compact and makes an ear piercing squelching noise especially when Dylan was attempting the moonwalk and when he realized that the sound was causing me to get shivers down my spine. Hayley and Lily stayed on the beach whilst Dylan Oliver and I walked around toward the rocks at the western end of the bay. We had heard that kangaroos were often seen on this beach and we were not let down finding one lazing around on the seaweed soaking up the afternoon sun. When we got to the rocks we discovered that we were protected from the southwesterly wind and I decided I would soak up a few rays and actually drifted off to sleep for a while. I was later reminded by Hayley how cold she was on the beach and I don’t think she appreciated the fact that Dylan Oliver and I were basking in the sun which I guess was 5-10 degrees warmer. I was eventually awoken and we returned and the kangaroo that had been sleeping had awoken and appeared to be eating some of the seaweed. This particular bay had sites for caravans and tent camping and would be a lovely place to stay for a few days. 

Lucky bay, and yes the water is this colour

Lucky bay and the pristine white sand, and squeaky

Kids playing

Lily playing in this beautiful white sand on Lucky Bay beach

This kangaroo behind our car at Lucky Bay,look closely it has a joey

We then returned to Esperance for our final night. I was shocked to discover that all the supermarkets in Esperance including a large Woolworth’s store close at 6.00 pm on a Friday night. I had intended to get some supplies for the trek across the Nullarbor but was reminded by a PA system that the store closed at 6.00 pm and I had to get out. Apparently Thursday night is the only night of the week that the Woolworth’s stays open until 9.00pm. I was informed by a service station attendant that the Pink Lake IGA store was still open but only until 7.00 pm. I got there and stocked up for the trek across the Nullarbor. All the kids were tired tonight and Lily even put herself to bed.       

Written by Mark