4WD on the Whitest Sand in Australia at These Beaches Near Esperance, WA

When you 4WD on the white sand of Esperance’s beaches, it squeaks. With the clear aqua water on one side and the coastal scrub on the other, it’s one of life’s joys. Here are some of the best beaches for 4WDing in WA.

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

The Esperance region is known for its beautiful white beaches, aqua ocean, scenic granite headlands, and kangaroos who love a bit of beachcombing. Luckily, we can legally use 4WDs on some of these beaches.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

The most famous of these drivable beaches is Lucky Bay, which regularly tops the list of best beaches in Australia. However, we believe there are even more beautiful drivable beaches around Esperance.

Whether you’re an experienced beach driver or a novice, there are some handy tips to know before hitting the beach.

Read more: Road Tripping the Best 4WD Beaches in WA’s South West

4WD Beach Driving Tips

• Reduce tyre pressure
• Check the tide times before heading out
• Don’t drive on the dunes where animals could be nesting
• Take recovery equipment
• 4WD with mates
• Remember, the road rules still apply!

Read more: How to Drive on the Beach: Safety Tips for You, Your Car, & Nature

1. Wharton Beach

Distance from Esperance: 93km east
Time from Esperance: 1 hour
Length of beach: 4.5km
Entry fees: Free

The sweeping bay of Wharton Beach is one of our favourite locations for 4WDing. A large granite outcrop rises majestically out of the eastern end of the sand. The ocean is so clear, blue and inviting, despite being somewhat chilly.

The signs on Wharton Road point to a car park on the left and beach access on the right. The sandy track is soft.

Most 4WDs park up on the left for the protection of the granite rock, or drive 4.5km along the beach to Cheyne Point. The beach may look firm but hidden ruts or washaways caused by water and wind can cause damage to your car or passengers if hit at speed.

2. Little Wharton and Crystal Cove

Distance from Esperance: 93km east
Time from Esperance: 1 hour
Length of beach: 500m
Entry fees: Free

A bit further on from Wharton Beach is Little Wharton Beach. To get to Little Wharton, there’s a series of short beaches like Hammer Head Beach West and Crystal Cove linked by 4WD trails. We stopped at Crystal Cove for a swim. Drop your tyres for this adventure as the sand is exceptionally soft in places.

There are still further beaches to explore, many accessed by a maze of sand and rocky tracks. They can be hard going and require a good level of 4WD expertise.

3. Yokinup Bay Beach

Distance from Esperance: 122km east
Time from Esperance: 90 minutes
Length: Yokinup Bay Beach is 1.5km
Entry fees: Cape Arid National Park fees apply $17 per vehicle

Yokinuo Bay Beach is in the remote Cape Arid National Park where Thomas River flows onto the beach with access to some remote beach driving and beautiful scenery.

When compared with Cape Le Grand, Cape Arid is relatively quiet. The sand is soft with rocky outcrops to cross. There are a couple of designated campsites with basic facilities. You need to be self-sufficient, including having your own drinking water.

4. Lucky Bay

Distance from Esperance: 63km east
Time from Esperance: 50 minutes
Length of beach: 5km
Entry fees: Cape Le Grand National Park fees apply $17 per vehicle

Move over Whitehaven and Hyams Beach. Lucky Bay, in Cape Le Grand National Park has proven to have the whitest sand in Australia.

The famous kangaroos like to hang out at the western end of the beach. They’re accustomed to people, but remember they’re wild animals and shouldn’t be fed. The beach is often crowded with parked 4WDs.

The track down to the beach is to the left of the Lucky Bay campsite. Booking the campsite is through the Park Stay website 180 days in advance. It gets booked out in summer. 

5. Le Grand Beach

Distance from Esperance: 33km east
Time from Esperance: 1 hour
Length of beach: 22km
Entry fees: Free until you exit at Le Grand Beach campsite where Cape Le Grand National Park fees apply $17 per vehicle

One of the joys of visiting Cape Le Grand National Park is getting there by 4WD along the beach. At Wylie Bay, there’s a car park for dropping tyre pressure and a soft sandy track to access the long beach. It’s 22km of mostly, but not always, firm sand heading towards Mt Le Grand, a 345m granite rock.

Read more: Family Escape to the Greatest Campground in Australia

Watch out for seaweed poking through the sand as it’s a trap for unsuspecting 4WDs. Seaweed that has been dumped on the beach by storms is covered by sand and becomes a bogging hazard.

6. Wylie Head Beach

Distance from Esperance: 11.5km east
Time from Esperance: 13 minutes
Length of beach: 1.3km
Entry fees: Free

At Wylie Head, two granite rocks rise out of the ocean with only a tiny sandy gap in between. Those two rocks are connected to the mainland via a white sand spit in a hammerhead formation. The isthmus of white squeaky sand often offers protection from the local prevailing winds.

A beautiful aqua ocean laps both sides of the sand bar on a sunny day.  Most people park up here to enjoy the view or drive along the beach to the west.

Nearby Wylie Head is a bigger granite rock that some experienced offroaders drive up. It’s not for the faint-hearted as it’s very steep.

Wylie Bay is just out of Esperance on Fisheries Road. Follow the signs turning into Bandy Creek Road and Wylie Bay Road. Access tracks are soft and boggy, while the beach is usually firm.

7. Eleven Mile Beach

Distance from Esperance: 10km west
Time from Esperance: 12 minutes
Length of beach: 6km
Entry fees: Free

On the west side of Esperance runs Great Ocean Drive, an 18km bitumen rollercoaster of hills and gorgeous bays such as West Beach, Blue Haven, Salmon Beach, Forth Beach, and Twilight Beach. As the road turns inland, there’s a road on the left to Eleven Mile Beach. At the end of that road is a car park, lookout, and tracks down onto the beach.

While Twilight Beach has calm, sheltered water, Eleven Mile is a rougher surf beach. The rocks at the entry to the beach look like ancient brick paving.

The track down is soft, steep, and well used. It’s easy going down onto the beach, not so much when coming back. Engage low range 4WD, drop your tyres down, and remember, momentum is your friend when going back up to the car park.

FAQs Beach Driving Near Esperance

Where is Esperance?

Esperance is 700km south east of Perth on the South Coast of Western Australia.

How do I get to Esperance from Perth?

There are a few ways to drive to Esperance:

• Via Lake Grace is the shortest – 696km
• Via Hyden to include Wave Rock – 714km
• Via Albany – 899km
• Via Kalgoorlie – 983km

There are also daily flights from Perth to Esperance on Rex Airlines.

However, car hire companies don’t allow you to take the 4WDs onto the beach in their rules and regulations.

Where to Stay in Esperance?

Esperance has a full range of accommodation options, including hotels, motels, and Airbnbs.

There are caravan parks in Duke of Orleans and Esperance with powered sites and cabins.

Cape Le Grand National Park has two camping areas – Le Grand Beach and Lucky Bay, which need to be booked through the Park Stay website. Sites can be booked 180 days in advance and it gets busy in summer holidays.

Do you need experience to drive on Esperance beaches?

Yes, you require some experience driving a 4WD in sand on these remote beaches.

Can I take my AWD onto the beach?

No, AWDs aren’t designed for driving on beaches. Although the beaches may be firm, the entries and exits can be really soft.

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