Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance
Cross the Wheatbelt to Wave Rock, reach the gold-rush city of Kalgoorlie and its Super Pit, then run south to Esperance and the white beaches of Cape Le Grand.
- Distance
- 1,215 km (755 mi)
- Driving
- 13 h 15 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 11
- States
- Western Australia
- Updated
- April 28, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 1,215 km (755 mi) with 11 stops, from Perth to Lucky Bay Campground. About 13 h 15 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Western Australia · More road trips from Perth
Route description
Leave Perth early for Hyden, about 340 km east-south-east (roughly four hours) across the Wheatbelt, with wide farmland and canola or wheat paddocks. Wave Rock is a 14 m granite wall about 110 m long, best walked at the base and along the top. Hippo's Yawn is close by. Fill up before Hyden, and keep a watch for kangaroos at dawn and dusk.
From Hyden to Kalgoorlie is roughly 380 km, about four to five hours, joining the Great Eastern Highway at Southern Cross. Distances between fuel stops are long, so top up whenever you can. In Kalgoorlie, Hannan Street's balconied hotels recall the 1890s gold rush, and the Palace Hotel is a good example. Allow a late afternoon for the town.
Spend the morning at the Super Pit Lookout, which overlooks a terraced open-cut gold mine over 3 km long and several hundred metres deep. After lunch, drive south about 390 km to Esperance via Coolgardie and Norseman; the road is sealed, with few fuel stops, so fill up at Norseman. Beware of roadtrains and of kangaroos at dusk, and plan to arrive before dark.
Esperance has the best beaches of the trip. Twilight Beach is on the Great Ocean Drive loop west of town. Cape Le Grand National Park, about 55 km east, has Lucky Bay with its kangaroos, the steep climb of Frenchman Peak and a national park campground at Lucky Bay. Book the campground early in school holidays and take water for the climb.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Perth
Western Australia - 2345 km
Hyden
Western Australia - 34 km
Wave Rock, Hyden
NatureHyden, Western AustraliaA 14 m granite wall about 110 m long, shaped like a breaking ocean wave, at Hyden in the Wheatbelt. Walk along the base, then over the top for views. Hippo's Yawn and other rock formations are nearby.
- 4369 km
Kalgoorlie
Western Australia - 56 km
Super Pit Lookout, Kalgoorlie
ViewsKalgoorlie, Western AustraliaA lookout over the Fimiston open pit, Australia's largest open-cut gold mine, a vast terraced hole more than 3 km long and several hundred metres deep. Giant haul trucks crawl along the benches.
- 65 km
Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie
StaysKalgoorlie, Western AustraliaA grand 1890s goldfields hotel on Hannan Street, with wide balconies and the look of gold-rush Kalgoorlie. Even if you only stop for a drink, it shows what the town looked like in its boom years.
- 7418 km
Esperance
Western Australia - 89 km
Twilight Beach, Esperance
NatureEsperance, Western AustraliaA white-sand bay on Esperance's Great Ocean Drive, with clear turquoise water and granite headlands. Lovely at sunset; check the surf before swimming, as the Southern Ocean waves can be powerful.
- 947 km
Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
NatureEsperance, Western AustraliaCape Le Grand's famous white beach, where kangaroos rest on the sand beside turquoise water. The fine sand squeaks underfoot. Keep a respectful distance from the animals and never feed them.
- 106 km
Frenchman Peak, Cape Le Grand
NatureEsperance, Western AustraliaA granite dome rising 262 m above the coastal heath in Cape Le Grand National Park, with a cave near the top. The climb is steep and exposed, and slippery when wet. Start early; summer heat is strong.
- 115 km
Lucky Bay Campground
CampingEsperance, Western AustraliaA national park campground behind Lucky Bay's beach, with kangaroos wandering through. It is popular in summer and school holidays, so book ahead through the parks agency. Facilities are basic.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
5 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Perth → Hyden · 345 km · 3 h 46 min
- Day 2: Hyden → Wave Rock, Hyden · 4 km · 0 h 02 min
- Day 3: Wave Rock, Hyden → Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie · 380 km · 4 h 09 minOn the way: Kalgoorlie, Super Pit Lookout, Kalgoorlie.
- Day 4: Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie → Esperance · 418 km · 4 h 34 min
- Day 5: Esperance → Lucky Bay Campground · 67 km · 0 h 44 minOn the way: Twilight Beach, Esperance, Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, Frenchman Peak, Cape Le Grand.Overnight at the campsite itself.
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually March–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June–August and December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance?
5-day road trip of about 1,215 km (755 mi) with 11 stops, from Perth to Lucky Bay Campground. About 13 h 15 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance?
We suggest 5 days: about 13 h 15 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance start and end?
It starts in Perth and ends in Lucky Bay Campground.
Which states does Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance pass through?
Western Australia.
When is the best time for Wave Rock, the Goldfields and Esperance?
The most pleasant months are usually March–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in June–August and December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
