FAMILY FUN ATTRACTIONS CASTLETOWN

Lake Monjingup is ideal for a picnic, great walks including a board walk on the Lake, bird watching and many wildflowers in spring. From Esperance, follow the South Coast Highway until you see the signs to Telegraph Road. Monjingup Lake Nature Reserve spreads on both sides of that road, with the first entrance on the left hand side and the second entrance further on the right hand side of Telegraph Road.

The Esperance Municipal Museum houses a unique collection of memorabilia dating back to the 1800s. See a range of interesting feature displays covering the region's early pioneering history, maritime exhibits and farm machinery. Be sure to check out the world's most comprehensive display of NASA Skylab memorabilia. Skylab was America's first space station which plummeted to the earth in 1979, landing to the north east of Esperance. The Esperance Municipal Museum is located in the old goods shed of what was the town's original railway marshalling yards. The old building, constructed soon after the turn of the century, is a significant icon in itself, a highlight being its magnificent old beams. View the extensive range of historical photographs, the locomotive engine, a circa 1820 piano, along with an assortment of gear and life boat from the ship 'Sanko Harvest' which is the largest dive wreck off the Australian coast. Esperance is a one and a half hour flight or an eight hour drive south of Perth.

Check out the picturesque views from Mississippi Hill and the stunning white sandy beaches of Rossiter Bay to find out why Cape Le Grand National Park is renowned as one of the most spectacular national parks in Australia. Walk around the massive granite rock outcrop that is Mississippi Hill and visit the memorial to the explorer Edward John Eyre, who named both the hill and the bay. Stroll along the soft sand at Rossiter Bay or try your luck at fishing from the beach. Stay overnight at one of the national park's designated camping grounds and be sure to wake early enough to experience the beautiful morning sunrise. Take a short 15 minute walk from Rossiter Bay to the national park's bird sanctuary where you can get close to many native birds and learn more about each species and their habitat. Mississippi Hill and Rossiter Bay are located within Cape Le Grand National Park, just 40 minutes drive from Esperance or a two hour flight southeast of Perth. If you can time your visit between July and October you will be rewarded with a spectacular display of wildflowers.

The Rotary Lookout in Esperance is located high on a granite outcrop, and offers expansive views of the surrounding coastal town and its magnificent beaches. Take in the spectacular vista of the remote islands of the Recherche Archipelago and the sweeping panorama of the town of Esperance. From its vantage point on Wireless Hill you can enjoy 360 degree views all the way from 'Pink Lake' inland to the surrounding farmland on the outskirts of town. Stretch your legs on the walking or cycling trail from the Rotary Lookout to Twilight Beach, and enjoy the fresh sea air and the rugged pristine surrounds. Make the lookout your first stop, before continuing on to explore the remainder of Esperance's Great Ocean Drive. The Great Ocean Drive is a 38 kilometre circular drive trail that will take you through some of the most stunning coastal scenery in Australia. Esperance is a lovely port town, which is a one and a half hour flight, or an eight hour drive south of Perth.

Nearly 100 untouched islands make up the stunning Archipelago of the Recherche off the coast of Esperance in the remote south east of Western Australia. Here, you can see amazing wildlife including sea eagles, and colonies of sea lions and fur seals which come here to breed. Get up close to these incredible creatures on a boat cruise from Esperance. Known by the locals as the Bay of Isles, the Recherche Archipelago is pristine wilderness at its best. From land, the bay is one of Australia's most beautiful seascapes. Pure white sand melts into turquoise water with islands scattered here and there. Many of the smaller islands are granite outcrops while one of the largest, known as Woody Island, offers camping, bushwalking, fishing and swimming. Woody Island is perfect for nature lovers. There's plenty of native bush, stunning lagoons for swimming and snorkelling, and a variety of wildlife including bandicoots and wallabies. The island is open for camping between September and April and offers excellent facilities which range from basic camp sites to safari huts with views over the bush to Shearwater Bay. Esperance is a day's drive from Perth or you can flight there in two hours.

Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay, is also one of Western Australia's most idyllic; the biggest jewel in a string of stunning beaches along the coast of Cape Le Grand National Park and Esperance. Its squeaky-clean sand, turquoise water, perfect swimming conditions and breathtaking views of the Recherche Archipelago regularly put it at the top of Australia's best beach list. Even the kangaroos can't resist lazing on the sand here. A 40-minute drive east from Esperance gets you to Lucky Bay in the Cape le Grand National Park. Alternatively, you can join a four wheel drive or Indigenous cultural and eco tour running daily from Esperance. The bay stretches for five kilometres, and with no crowds to battle you're guaranteed to find your own slice of paradise to relax or cast a fishing line. Venture beyond the beach and you'll find some excellent walking tracks, many offering sweeping views of the wildlife-rich Recherche Archipelago. Be sure to keep an eye out for migrating whales between July and October. The caravan and camp grounds in the national park offer picnic areas, solar-heated showers and toilets, ideal for spending a night or two under a star-filled sky and strolling along the moonlit bay.

There aren't too many places in Australia where kangaroos sunbake on the beach, but at Cape Le Grand National Park this is just one of the many natural highs on offer. This pristine park near Esperance is known for its stunning scenery and idyllic beaches where you can go swimming, bushwalking, fishing and camping. The landscape changes from massive granite outcrops to freshwater pools and unbelievably white sandy beaches with views over many islands. Lucky Bay is home to a colony of friendly kangaroos which are often seen soaking up the sun. It also offers a great camp site and picnic area. With beachside views and tranquil atmosphere, this is camping at its best. There are many excellent bush walking trails through the park which traverse the rugged coast and beaches - enjoy the views and then stop off for a refreshing dip in the ocean. Rock-climbing is popular at Frenchman's Peak and Mount Le Grand. In spring Cape Le Grand National Park bursts into colour as wildflowers bloom, including groves of banksia. You can reach Cape Le Grand National Park by conventional vehicle in about half an hour from Esperance. Day tours operate into the park.

For four wheel driving along vast white beaches, camping out under a star-filled sky, colourful wildflowers, whale watching and swimming at secluded bays, a visit to Cape Arid National Park east of Esperance is a must. This untouched paradise is also known for its excellent bushwalking and beach fishing. Most of the tracks within the park are accessible only by four wheel drive - hit the dirt and you'll be rewarded with beautiful coastal scenery of granite outcrops, sand dunes and stands of mallee trees, banksia and paperbark. If you're camping, there's a good chance you'll spot local nocturnal animals like honey possums, wallabies and kangaroos. Take your pick from scenic picnic spots including Thomas River, Mount Ragged or Seal Creek. Self-guided walking trails range from one to four hours and take you deep into native bushland and along coastal heaths with views over the Southern Ocean - you may even spot southern right whales offshore. Not surprisingly, the swimming is idyllic, while bays like Yokinup are popular for windsurfing. Good camping facilities can be found at Thomas River or Duke of Orleans Bay Caravan Park. Cape Arid National Park is an hour's drive east of Esperance.

A five minute drive from the town centre of Esperance, nestled out of the wind, is Kepwari Wetland Trail. The one-way interpretative trail is 3.6 kilometres in length and is designed to be a learning experience. Panels and information displays help you discover why these wetlands are important, why they are under threat and how you can help protect them for future generations. The trail winds through fringing sedgelands, heathlands, under banksia canopies and over dune ridges with views of the wetland system and surrounding catchment. It is also designed to protect native vegetation from the threat of dieback. A return trip along the trail will take about two and a half hours to walk. You can start at either end. Shorter sections can be walked instead of the entire trail. The Wetland Trail consists of 1.5 kilometres of raised timber boardwalks, and 2.1 kilometres of surfaced trail. Dispersed along the trail are facilities for you to sit back, relax and soak up the serenity of the natural scenery.

The beaches of Esperance are rated among the best in the world - and Twilight Bay is one of the towns most loved. Here, impossibly white sand meets unbelievably clear turquoise water creating a beautiful vista and perfect swimming conditions. Gently rounded granite cliffs and the deepening blue ocean make this area of coastline one of Australia's most scenic. Popular for families, Twilight Bay offers safe swimming and idyllic conditions. Fishing is also a common activity. Twilight Bay is a few minute's drive from Esperance. It takes a day to drive to Esperance from Perth or you can fly there in two hours.

The Great Country Drive is a breathtaking drive looping around the scenic countryside surrounding Esperance. Discover picturesque lakes, rugged bushland, and local culinary delights along this popular drive trail. Stop at the stunning Lake Monjingup for a picnic lunch before exploring some of the nature reserve on foot. Bird watchers will be captivated by the large number of birds inhabiting the area. Continue your drive through the countryside stopping at wineries, olive farms, the Yabby farm and the Helms Arboretum. The Great Country Drive takes around 90 minutes to do, depending how much time you take to explore the magnificent surroundings and attractions along the way. The beautiful coastal town of Esperance is renowned for its rich natural assets. You can get there on a two hour flight from Perth, or take the eight hour drive south to allow you to stop off and enjoy all of the other wonderful things to see and do in the bottom half of Western Australia.

The Great Ocean Drive is a 38 kilometre circular loop drive taking in some of the most beautiful coastal scenery Australia has to offer. The sheltered, pristine beaches with their crystal clear waters and snow-white sands, including the popular Twilight Beach, are ideal for family swimming, surfing, windsurfing and fishing. Also included in the drive is the Rotary lookout, the Western Power wind farms, Observatory Point and the unique Pink Lake. A walking and cycling trail from the Rotary lookout to Salmon Beach is a pleasant way to see the sights. Please keep in mind to take care when ever on the coastal rocks or swimming, your enjoyment and safety is our concern, but your responsibility .

Pink Lake near Esperance on Western Australia's far southern coastline is a popular natural attraction. Just a short drive from town, Pink Lake is a salt plain which, in the right weather conditions, appears pink. The pink colour of the lake is due to the high concentration of salt tolerant algae. For the best view and excellent photographs, take a walk to Pink Lake lookout. A sunglass lens placed in front of your camera will create a dramatic effect, or even better, use a polarising filter. Esperance is an eight hour drive from Perth or you can fly there around in two hours.

The Tanker Jetty is conveniently located on the town foreshore in the heart of Esperance. Try your hand at throwing a line in for a spot of fishing, wander the 670 metre length of the jetty, or just sit for a while and check out the local marine life which is in abundance beneath the jetty. New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions often visit the jetty. One such regular visitor is the resident sea lion who the locals have affectionately named 'Sammy'. Snorkel or dive the artificial reef at the end of the jetty to experience a close encounter with the diverse sea life. The picturesque old timber jetty is an Esperance icon, which has significant heritage value. It is a beautiful spot where you could pass the entire day enjoying a relaxing picnic lunch, taking a meander along the esplanade, finishing off with a nice refreshing swim. It is in easy walking distance to the town centre. Esperance is a beautiful coastal town, which is a one and a half hour flight, or a eight hour drive south of Perth.

The Great Ocean Pathway meanders around the spectacular coastline of Esperance, on the south coast of Western Australia, with its dazzling white beaches and unbelievable aqua water. This easy Top Trail runs 12 kilometres from Esperance Bay to Twilight Beach, the bitumen track, used by walkers, runners, cyclists and prams, follows the bay through town, passing cafes, fishing jetty and wharf. The transition from the bay to ocean side requires a climb up to the hill to Twilight Beach Road. From here the trail follows the road but is removed from it as the coastal bush insulates the bike trail until arriving at the car park of one of many beautiful beaches. The trail currently finishes at Twilight Beach. It can be accessed from a number of car parks along its length to provide a variety of sceneries and distance options. Highlights include Blue Haven where granite outcrops jut out into the azure sea to create the lovely bays, Tanker jetty where angler's fish and Sammy the Seal looks for fish heads and the Taylor Street Café housed in the old hospital building. Whether cycling, walking or driving, this circuit is a classic and a must when in the area.

Observatory Point and Lookout offer magnificent views across the coastline of Esperance. Examine the memorial placed at the lookout commemorating the explorers who took shelter from the storm in 1792. Keep an eye out for the spectacular sight of whales that can often be seen swimming through the surrounding ocean between June and October.

Stokes National Park covers an area of 10,667 hectares, excluding 16.19 hectares for preservation of a historic homestead - Moir Homestead. There is coastal scenery from the inlet offering ocean fishing and sandy beaches with good swimming. The vegetation includes mostly coastal heath, scrub and areas of dense low forest. Trees are mainly yate and paperbarks. Fauna includes the grey kangaroos, occasionally seals and more than 40 different types of bird life. Camping facilities are available with caravan pads and borehole toilets in designated areas. Other areas are available for discreet camping only. The closest main town for supplies and other accommodation is Esperance, or supplies can be obtained from Munglinup, 30 kilometres west of the Park. There are barbecue facilities and tables available at the inlet along with borehole toilets. There is no water available here or at the camping areas. The best time to visit is September through to April. Contact the ranger on duty for more information and advice on equipment required. Exercise caution when boating in the inlet. Camping in Western Australia's natural areas is a special experience.

Woody Island Nature Reserve off the coast of Esperance is just the spot for nature lovers. Surrounded by pristine bushland and ocean, there's plenty of time for bushwalking, hiking, swimming, snorkelling and fishing. Woody Island is part of the 100 islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago, or Bay of Isles as it's known by locals. It's the only island that is open to the public and offers camping. Facilities are excellent and range from camp sites to safari tents with stunning views over eucalyptus trees to Shearwater Bay. All sorts of marine life thrive in the waters surrounding Woody Island including fur seals, sea lions and dolphins. On land you might see marsupials like bandicoots and wallabies, as well as a range of birds including rare sea eagles. To learn more about the local wildlife visit the interpretive centre on the island. There's a swimming platform and an underwater snorkel trail - or you can just relax and soak up the tranquillity. It takes about half an hour to sail to Woody Island from Esperance and daily cruises operate during the season.