Great Ocean Drive Esperance: Map with the Best stops, beaches and Lookouts
If you’re visiting Esperance in Western Australia, there’s one drive you absolutely can’t miss, and that’s the Great Ocean Drive Esperance.
This scenic coastal route is one of the best things to do in Esperance and it completely took us by surprise the first time we visited. You expect beautiful beaches, but what you don’t expect is just how many different landscapes you’ll see within such a short distance.
One minute you’re standing above wild cliffs with huge waves crashing below, and the next you’re walking onto calm turquoise beaches with the whitest sand you’ve ever seen.
The Great Ocean Drive Esperance is only around 40km long, but don’t make the mistake of rushing it. While technically you could drive it an hour or so, we’d recommend setting aside at least a full day if you love stopping at beaches and lookouts.
Along the drive you’ll find hidden bays, walking trails, surf beaches, ocean pools, lookouts and some of the bluest water you’ll ever see in Australia.
➤ If this is your first time visiting the region, we’d also recommend reading our complete guide to the Beaches in Esperance, where we cover the best beaches, when to visit and where to stay.
What is the great ocean drive Esperance?
The great ocean drive Esperance is a scenic self-drive route following the coastline around Esperance in Western Australia.
The circular route starts near town and loops post some of the region’s most spectacular coastal scenery. Along the way, you’ll get views over the Recherche Archipelago, also known as the Bay of Isles, made up of more than 100 islands scattered across the Southern Ocean.
But the Great Ocean Drive Esperance is much more than just a drive.
This is a drive where you constantly want to pull over. There are beaches and lagoons you’ll want to swim at, walking trails worth exploring, and lookouts where you’ll end up staying longer than planned.
Depending on the weather, you can go swimming, surfing, snorkelling, fishing, whale watching or simply enjoy the scenery from the many coastal vantage points.
It’s good to know that in Esperance, conditions change fast. A beach that looks calm and tropical one moment, will be windy and wild the next.
Great Ocean Drive Esperance Map
We’ve included an interactive map below with all the major stops and lookouts along the great ocean drive Esperance route.
We found this incredibly helpful while exploring ourselves because there are quite a few places you could easily miss otherwise. Some stops are obvious, while others are tucked away behind small parking areas or short walking trails.
The best stops along the Great Ocean Drive Esperance
We’ve actually driven the great ocean drive Esperance both ways, and while most people start near Tanker Jetty and work their way west, we honestly preferred doing it the other way.
Starting your morning at Bread Local (from Thursday to Saturday) for a coffee and a delicious breakfast. It’s honestly the perfect way to begin your drive. The pastries and toasties here are incredible. And it gives you a slow, relaxed start for an adventurous day ahead.
From there, you can gradually work your way through the beaches, lookouts and walking trails. We also found that doing the Great Ocean Drive Esperance in this direction was more impressive with better ocean views.
Pink Lake Lookout
After Bread Local, this is the first official lookout you’ll pass on the Great Ocean Drive Esperance. We quickly stopped, but we weren’t blown away. The Pink Lake is no longer pink, but apparently, the sunset is beautiful from here.
11 mile lagoon
This was probably our favourite place for that first cool morning dip. Walk down the stairs and go either left or right to enjoy this incredible start of your journey.
10 mile lagoon
This is a great spot for fishing and swimming. What’s good to know is that this is also the access point for “free beach” where clothes are optional for those who want less restriction in their lives.
Nine Mile Beach
Nine Mile Beach is an explorer’s delight. There are many rock pools for dabbling and paddling, and the protected lagoons are perfect for snorkelling.
Observatory Point and Observatory Beach
Observatory Point gives you some of the best elevated views along the Great Ocean Drive esperance. There’s a staircase with 80 – 85 steps, leading to the viewing area. It feels like a bit of a workout, but it’s absolutely worth it.
The access road down towards the beach is very steep and not accessible for towing.
Twilight Beach
Twilight Beach is easily the most famous beach in Esperance. It definitely deserves a (long) stop during the Great Ocean Drive. Not just to relax at the beach, but to jump of the iconic rock.
The beach is known for its huge granite boulders, turquoise water and soft white sand.
If you’re visiting during summer, this is the only patrolled beach on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Fourth Beach
Fourth Beach is long, open and incredibly exposed to the wind. This is one of the main kitesurfing beaches in Esperance, and you’ll often see colourful kites filling the sky on windy days.
If you’re not into watersports, this long stretch of white sand is perfect for a long beachwalk.
Salmon Beach
Just around the corner from Blue Haven is Salmon Beach, which often gets overlooked.
Compared to some of the busier beaches around Esperance, this one felt much quieter and more peaceful.
Blue Haven Beach
Blue Haven is probably one of the most photographed beaches along the Great Ocean Drive Esperance and once you see the staircase leading down to the water, you’ll understand why.
On calm sunny days, the water here looks almost unreal.
When we visited (both times), it was incredibly windy. Esperance weather can change quincy, so don’t be discouraged if conditions aren’t perfect. But even on a windy day, the colours are still beautiful.
Salmon Beach Wind Farm Heritage Trail
This stop combines scenery with a little local history.
Esperance was home to Australia’s first commercial wind farm, and while most turbines are now gone, one still remains as part of the heritage trail.
There’s also a lookout tower here offering elevated views across the coastline.
Chapmans Point
Chapmans Point is another beautiful stop along the Great Ocean Drive Esperance.There’s also a short walking trail leading down towards the rocks where you get fantastic coastal views back towards Esperance.
West Beach
West Beach is one of the best surf beaches in Esperance and has a much wilder feel compared to the calmer beaches around Cape Le Grand National Park.
Even if you don’t surf, this stop is still worth it purely for the scenery.
We actually came here a few mornings with takeaway coffees just to sit and watch the waves rolling in.
Lovers Beach Lookout and Lovers Beach
Lovers Beach is one of those hidden spots that feels a little adventurous to reach. There’s a short loop walk from the lookout, but getting down to the beach itself involves navigating a steep rocky section with an assistance chain. It’s definitely manageable if you’re reasonably fit, but proper shoes help.
Once you get down there, it feels incredibly secluded. The beach is stunning and much quieter than the other more popular beaches.
Rotary Lookout and Walking Trail
This ended up being a surprising stop on the Great Ocean Drive Esperance. From Rotary Lookout, you get panoramic views over Esperance town, farmland and the islands offshore. The walking trail through the bushland is easy to follow and gives you a completely different perspective of the coastline.
The colours here are incredible when the sun is out. Deep blue ocean, bright turquoise bays and white sandy beaches all contrasting against the rugged coastline.
Taylor street jetty
Taylor Street Jetty is a smaller stop, but worth pulling over. Especially late afternoon to enjoy a beer or a drink at the restaurant.
The historic buildings, small marina and calm water make it feel completely different from the wild coastline you’ve seen during the drive.
Tanker Jetty
If you’re following our way, then Tanker Jetty is your final stop along the great ocean drive Esperance. It’s a great place for a sunset walk and just enjoy the ocean. The jetty is a very impressive construction, and it’s long enough to fully enjoy and reflect on a great day in Esperance.
It’s also a great spot for fishing, and during sunset, you might catch some squid here.
Great Ocean Walk and Cycle Trail
If you don’t want to experience the Great Ocean Drive by car, there’s also a walking and cycling trail following much of the coastline.
The trail stretches around 25km and connects many of the beaches and lookouts along the route.
It’s a great option if you’re staying in Esperance for a few days and want to explore the coastline a little slower.
Great Ocean Drive Esperance
The Great Ocean Drive ended up being one of our favourite things to do in Esperance. We waited for a few weeks to do this drive, and if you have the time, wait it out because it’s one of the most beautiful coastal drives in Western Australia.
The best advice we can give you is not to rush it. Pull over often, walk down to the beaches, spend time at the lookouts and leave some extra room in your day for unexpected stops. That is the best way to experience the Great Ocean Drive.
➤ If you are planning a bigger trip around the area, make sure to read our complete guide to Beaches in Esperance for more beautiful places to explore.
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