Esperance

yeoeleven · Guru

Esperance

Vic · Guru

Great Spot John,

Have a look at the free tour of the fish skin factory (where they make things out of treated fish skin), the items on sale are expensive but the talk there is very interesting.

If you can afford it, go for the day boat trip across to Woody Island, they nose in and out of the rocks there and the commentary and the island itself is very interesting, I only did this about a year or so ago after many trips down to Esperance and didn't realise what I was missing by not doing it.

The museum of course with it's space junk is interesting too. One of our GN members "Shaggy Dog" lives somewhere in Esperance, look out for a tear drop camper in a driveway somewhere around the place.

I love Esperance, the water and rock formations are just great.

-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 8th of October 2011 09:41:39 PM

blaze · Guru

John
When you get to Albany, if you head out toward the Kalgan River C/P from town, when you get to the second bridge there is a spot there where you could pull up for a night or 2, Not pfficial a free camp but have seen people there. The Kalgan River c/p is the best of the four we used while in Albany. All parks seem to be around the $30 + a night. Down at emu point past the Rose Garden c/p there is a cold shower and toilets at the beach parking area. The Albany holiday c/p allow hot showers for $5. Plenty of free things to see and do around Albany. Also dont forget Ellen on Wheels is just along the road at Denmark. If I can be any help send me a pm if you like (just spent 6 months there.
Open invitation to stop for a chat and coffee or ale when neat perth (we are currently at Karrinyup Waters resort c/p
cheers
blaze

Vic · Guru

Have a look at Parry Beach too John, about 21 kms west of Denmark off the main road. No power or drinking water (or food kiosk) but nice unpowered sites with hot showers/proper toilets and water for other purposes. Was about $8 a night, caretaker on site, also allows generators at certain times.

Scroll down on this link to Parry Beach.. http://www.denmarkwa.asn.au/beaches.htm
or this link; http://au.totaltravel.yahoo.com/destinations/destination/australia/wa/greatsouthern/albanyarea/parry-beach/

Denmark has a huge Tourist Info centre so you can get all your info on the way through.

pauline · Guru

We stayed at Parry Beach, great little spot, we were the only ones there.

Vic · Guru

pauline wrote:
We stayed at Parry Beach, great little spot, we were the only ones there.

We loved it too Pauline, nice under the peppermint trees. On one occasion I was helping lift a boat up in the air and my bathers dropped down around my ankles, I couldn't let go of the boat otherwise my companions would not have been able to hold it, so had to wait until we put the boat down. Got a lot of appreciative claps and laughs from some females in the vicinity..... hmm disbelief

pauline · Guru

Where else but on the road could you get that sort of entertainment.

Vic · Guru

pauline wrote:
Where else but on the road could you get that sort of entertainment.

Or embarrasment ! wink Mind you, it would not have been a pretty sight ! disbelief

-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 9th of October 2011 03:07:11 PM

pauline · Guru

Hey beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so they say.

Vic · Guru

pauline wrote:
Hey beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so they say.

Well, the water was cold so not much to look at anyway, ha ha !

pauline · Guru

All you men say that.

wendyv · Guru

John,
check out the Thomas River camp area, in Cape Arid National Park. Not the lower area, but the one up the hill - superb views across the bay and a lovely camp area with camp bays surrounded by banksia scrub.

yeoeleven · Guru

Bluehaven+Beach.JPG

Vic wrote

If you can afford it, go for the day boat trip across to Woody Island, they nose in and out of the rocks there and the commentary and the island itself is very interesting, I only did this about a year or so ago after many trips down to Esperance and didn't realise what I was missing by not doing it.

-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 8th of October 2011 09:41:39 PM

Thanks Vic I did check out the trip but the $90 concession price has ruled it out.

Have taken note about the camp spots close to Albany for later, thanks Blaze.

Wendy, expect to travel east after this week and want to visit Thomas River apparently there are two camps one a shire camp and the other DEC but don't know which is upper or lower, thanks for the tip.

John

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hey John you mention a couple of times that you will travel East but don't you mean West? Or are you talking about little right turns before you head left again? There's lots of great places between Esperance and Albany - I remember a bizzare caravan park at Ravensthorpe where the main decor/landscaping seemed to be barbie dolls and toilets - that was a few years ago. But don't forget Bremmer bay and all of the great fishing spots along that way. There are lots of beautiful places around Denmark - the less said about the weather the better. Have sent oyu a pm and look forward to seeing you.

yeoeleven · Guru

Hi Ellen,

I intend to visit Cape Le Grande, Lucky Bay and Thomas River National Parks before returning through Esperance and on towards Albany, I guess that is the little right turn before heading left again. smile

Thanks for the PM. Will be in Denmark when my busy schedule permits it biggrin and am definitely looking forward to meeting up with you.

John

Vic · Guru

Hi again John,

You should enter that last photo of yours in the photo prize competition, it has winning qualities that's for sure......dam nice shot !!!

yeoeleven · Guru

Vic wrote:
Hi again John,

You should enter that last photo of yours in the photo prize competition, it has winning qualities that's for sure......dam nice shot !!!

Thank you Vic, I have no idea as to what constitutes a good photo. If I like the subject I just point and click, anyway here are a few from my Kepwari Walk Trail. The weather was better today so I went for the walk, it was 3.5kms there and back so 7 kms all up flat and easy.

John

billeeeeeee · Guru

Howdyeeeee young fella ,,, U behaving U self///???? no more jumping on pub tables and giving everone a moon.. im Im East of Renmark just into Victoria, can feel the tempture getting cooler ...going over to Mildura,,,then poping down to Swan Hill,,......c I can think past , what time to get out of bed ...hehehehe...U stay excited young fella ,, ill catch U in Queensland, in a few months.......Billeeeeeeee...

yeoeleven · Guru

billeeeeeee wrote:
Howdyeeeee young fella ,,, U behaving U self///???? no more jumping on pub tables and giving everone a moon.. im Im East of Renmark just into Victoria, can feel the tempture getting cooler ...going over to Mildura,,,then poping down to Swan Hill,,......c I can think past , what time to get out of bed ...hehehehe...U stay excited young fella ,, ill catch U in Queensland, in a few months.......Billeeeeeeee...

Billeee you have me mixed up with someone else, jumping on pub tables indeed crawling on to perhaps but not jumping biggrin

I want to come to that part of Aus sometime to relive a wonderful weekend 40 years ago when my girl friend and I accompanied by a mate and his girl camped on the banks of the Murray at Wemen with beautiful white sandy beaches. We had panel vans with beds in the back and some camping gear and a canoe on the roof. We drove miles up the river and let the girls drive the car back whilst we canoed down the Murray. In those days we had no idea as to where to camp and where not to go, we just did it and did we enjoy that weekend.

I notice that Wemen is listed as an overnight stop in Camp6 403 so if you are near you may look it up and tell me what it looks like now.

John

Vic · Guru

Glad your enjoying yourself John, looks like a nice walk, the old roo is definitely enjoying the shade! lol !

You enjoy yourself too Billeeeee....

yeoeleven · Guru

Esperance has it's own Great Ocean Drive and I took the drive today around 39kms including the back trip by Pink Lake. In relation to the Great Ocean Road and the Great Australian Bight it has little of the grandeur but is more beautiful than either and more user friendly too with the availability to swim on most beaches. Not so sure of Pink Lake it didn't look pink in today's light anyway I will put a photo in for you to see. There are so many beautiful views so I will have to select some from many.

Which way did I turn, towards 10 MILE LAGOON or the other way biggrin ??

Happywanderer · The Master

Beautiful photos yeoeleven. What a gorgeous place. Yes I would have gone to Free Beach too.

pauline · Guru

We did that drive, unfortunately when we were there it was cold and very wet, so we will just have to go back when the weather is good me thinks...

Sheba · Guru

Wonderful shots John. Looks like you're really having a great time. Keep it up.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Clare46 · Senior Member

It is really beautiful in that part of WA. I was there in 2009 but unfortunately it was blowing a gale and pouring rain and just too wet to do anything outside. As my time was limited as I had to get home to work I missed a lot of the south of WA.With a bit of luck I will be back there next year and as I will then be retired I will not be in a hurry. biggrin

lilly31 · Guru

I Have to agree what a beautiful part of our wonderful country.... some many place to see so many thing to do think i should have started traveling when i was 20 to see it all .......

-- Edited by lilly31 on Thursday 13th of October 2011 12:31:31 PM

yeoeleven · Guru

Many of our members are fishermen and fisherwomen but I have never taken interest in the sport. Today however I bought some squid bait and ventured on to the jetty to try my hand.

Total disaster, cold wind and smelly squid fingers and general lack of enthusiasm for it had me packing up after a couple of hours after catching lots of seaweed and losing plenty of tackle. Have kept some bait but don't think that I will be using it.

I want to link up with someone who can put me on the right track with fishing then if I learn more will probably gain enthusiasm for it. The big sea lion regularly comes to the sand under the jetty for a snooze.

John

Cruising Granny · Guru

There are certainly some great places around this country.
I checked out the Head Of The Bight this week and saw a Southern Right Whale Cow and Calf. Most of the whales have gone south.
I may have even passed or been passed by Billeee on my travels to the border and back. I was escorting a header to the WA border.
Had a quieter day today.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hey John - good to see you are enjoying that part of the world - is a place I want to get to - missed it because of the weather - but your photos make it look very appealing -
Aah - camping on the banks of the Murray - anywhere along it is fantastic - have had some wonderful times at all sorts of places along there.
Keep on keeping on - and enjoying life and all it offers -
hope to catch up with you when you get to Qld

Vic · Guru

I believe that sea lion can be aggresive and has attacked people, so best keep your distance John.

Regards fishing, if you end up going to Parry Beach down past Denmark when you head that way, you can fish off the flat rocks there, very safe and you can catch a few too (Herring and Trevally when I was there last time). Also the local fishermen will sell you a sea salmon (large) for about $5, fish cleaning table on the beach, or if you help them when they bring in their catch they will give you a couple free.

When you leave Esperance, half way between Esperance and Ravensthorpe there is a little place called Munglinup, a few houses and a Roadhouse. It is set back off the main road. There is a nice little picnic area there at the camp with tables etc.

This is a free camp, no power but flush toilets and for a $5 fee the Road House will give you a key to the showers in the same block, proceeds go to their local fire service. Nice little spot and the Road House has lots of food and drink etc. I think it is shown in Camps 5/6 too so have a look.

-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 13th of October 2011 12:44:28 PM