10 Day Perth to Esperance Itinerary: The Perfect South Coast Road Trip
If you have 10 days to travel from Perth to Esperance, I recommend taking the scenic route through Margaret River, the Southern Forests, Denmark and Albany rather than driving directly there.
This is one of my favourite ways to experience southern Western Australia because the scenery changes constantly. You’ll go from Margaret River’s wineries and surf beaches to towering karri forests, the spectacular coastline around Denmark and Albany and, finally, the white-sand beaches of Esperance.
There’s a fair amount of driving involved, but I’ve deliberately avoided changing accommodation every night where possible.
And most importantly, I’ve allowed three nights in Esperance. If you’re going to drive this far, you want enough time to enjoy it rather than arriving, taking a photo of Lucky Bay and turning around again.
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10 Day Perth to Esperance Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Overnight | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Margaret River | Perth → Busselton → Margaret River |
| Day 2 | Margaret River | Margaret River wineries & attractions |
| Day 3 | Pemberton | Margaret River → Augusta → Pemberton |
| Day 4 | Denmark | Pemberton → Walpole → Denmark |
| Day 5 | Albany | Denmark → Albany |
| Day 6 | Albany | Albany & Torndirrup National Park |
| Day 7 | Esperance | Albany → Esperance |
| Day 8 | Esperance | Cape Le Grand National Park |
| Day 9 | Esperance | Esperance & Great Ocean Drive |
| Day 10 | Perth | Esperance → Perth |
Best for: Beaches, scenery, food & wine, forests and nature
Trip style: Self-drive road trip
Car needed: Yes
Pace: Moderate with one very long final driving day
Ideal time: 10 full days
Day 1 – Perth to Margaret River via Busselton
Leave Perth reasonably early and start your journey south.
Your main stop today is Busselton, around Geographe Bay.
Take a walk along Busselton Jetty or catch the train to the end. If you’d like to visit the Underwater Observatory, allow extra time and book your session before you arrive.
Have lunch in Busselton before continuing towards Margaret River.
There’s no need to fill the evening with sightseeing. Check into your accommodation, explore Margaret River town and enjoy dinner.
Day 1 route
Perth → Busselton → Margaret River
Day 1 highlights
Busselton Jetty • Geographe Bay • Margaret River
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Things to do in Busselton →
My Tip 💡
If you want to visit the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory, book ahead. Sessions can sell out, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Day 2 – Explore Margaret River
Give yourself a full day to enjoy the Margaret River Region.
The area is famous for its wineries, but you don’t have to spend the entire day wine tasting.
I’d choose a couple of wineries you really want to visit and combine them with some of the region’s other attractions.
Depending on your interests, you could include a cave, brewery, local produce, Margaret River town or some time on the coast.
If everyone wants to enjoy the wine, consider booking an organised wine tour rather than having someone drive.
Day 2 highlights
Wineries • Local produce • Caves • Breweries • Margaret River town
Stay: Margaret River
Read next: Best Things to Do in Margaret River →
Day 3 – Margaret River to Pemberton via Augusta
Today you leave Margaret River and head towards the forests of the South West.
Drive south towards Augusta, where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet around Cape Leeuwin.
If you have time, visit Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse before continuing towards Pemberton.
You’ll notice the landscape changing as you drive into the tall karri forests.
Spend the remainder of the afternoon around Pemberton rather than trying to squeeze too much into the day.
Day 3 route
Margaret River → Augusta → Pemberton
Day 3 highlights
Augusta • Cape Leeuwin • Karri forests • Pemberton
Stay: Pemberton
Read next: Best Things to Do in Augusta → and Best Things to Do in Pemberton →
Day 4 – Pemberton to Denmark via Walpole
Continue through the Southern Forests towards Walpole.
One of the main stops today is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, where elevated walkways take you through the canopy of the giant tingle trees.
Continue along the south coast towards Denmark.
There’s plenty to see along this stretch, so don’t worry about adding lots of additional attractions.
Arrive in Denmark and enjoy a relaxed evening.
Day 4 route
Pemberton → Walpole → Denmark
Day 4 highlights
Karri forests • Walpole • Valley of the Giants • Denmark
Stay: Denmark
Read next: Best Things to Do in Walpole→ and Best Things to Do in Denmark→
My Tip 💡
Don’t underestimate how long today’s journey can take once you add stops. Leave Pemberton reasonably early so you don’t have to rush through the Valley of the Giants.
Day 5 – Denmark to Albany
You only have a relatively short distance to travel today, which gives you time to explore the spectacular coastline around Denmark.
Head to William Bay National Park and visit Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.
Allow time to walk around and enjoy the area rather than treating these as quick photo stops.
Continue towards Albany later in the day.
Once you’ve checked in, explore the town or simply enjoy an easier afternoon after several days on the road.
Day 5 route
Denmark → Albany
Day 5 highlights
Greens Pool • Elephant Rocks • Denmark • Albany
Stay: Albany
My Tip 💡
Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks are right beside each other, so visit them together. I’d allow at least a couple of hours here if the weather is good rather than racing through both.
Day 6 – Albany & Torndirrup National Park
You have a full day in Albany, so there’s no need to rush.
Start with Torndirrup National Park, home to some of the most dramatic coastal scenery along the route.
Visit The Gap and Natural Bridge, and allow time for some of the surrounding viewpoints.
Later, head back towards Albany.
If you’re interested in history, visit the National Anzac Centre. Depending on the season, you may also be able to go whale watching.
Day 6 highlights
The Gap • Natural Bridge • Torndirrup National Park • National Anzac Centre • Albany
Stay: Albany
Read next: Best Things to Do in Albany→
Day 7 – Albany to Esperance
Today is one of the longer driving days of the trip.
Leave Albany in the morning and head east towards Esperance.
I wouldn’t plan lots of sightseeing stops today. Take regular breaks, stop for lunch and concentrate on arriving in Esperance with enough daylight left to settle in.
Once you’ve checked into your accommodation, take a first look around town or head to a nearby beach if you still have the energy.
Save the major sightseeing for the next two days.
Day 7 route
Day 7 highlights
South Coast scenery • Esperance
Stay: Esperance
Read next: Best Things to Do in Esperance →
My Tip 💡
Fill up when you have the opportunity and take water and snacks with you. Distances between towns in regional WA can be much greater than visitors expect.
Day 8 – Cape Le Grand National Park & Lucky Bay
Today is likely to be one of the highlights of your entire Perth to Esperance road trip.
Spend a full day exploring Cape Le Grand National Park.
The star attraction is Lucky Bay, famous for its incredibly pale sand and turquoise water.
But don’t drive all this way just to see Lucky Bay.
Explore more of the national park, stopping at beaches and viewpoints and allowing time to swim or walk if conditions are suitable.
If you’re keen on hiking, you can incorporate one of the park’s walks into your day.
Day 8 highlights
Cape Le Grand National Park • Lucky Bay • Beaches • Hiking • Wildlife
Stay: Esperance
My Tip 💡
Go to Cape Le Grand with a flexible plan rather than trying to tick off every beach. If you find a beautiful spot and the weather is perfect, stay and enjoy it.
Day 9 – Esperance & Great Ocean Drive
Your second full day in Esperance is deliberately more relaxed.
Drive the Great Ocean Drive, stopping at some of the spectacular beaches and viewpoints along the route.
Twilight Beach is one of the best-known stops, but there are plenty of places where you’ll want to pull over.
Spend the rest of the day exploring Esperance, revisiting a favourite beach or simply having a slower afternoon.
After a week of travelling, you don’t need another packed sightseeing schedule.
Day 9 highlights
Great Ocean Drive • Twilight Beach • Esperance beaches • Coastal viewpoints
Stay: Esperance
Day 10 – Esperance to Perth
Today is the challenging part of this 10-day itinerary.
The direct journey from Esperance to Perth is roughly 700 km, so you’re looking at a full day on the road once you include breaks.
Leave early, share the driving if possible and take regular rest stops.
I wouldn’t add Wave Rock to this day. Although it may look tempting on a map, adding another major sightseeing stop makes an already long day unnecessarily tiring.
Once you reach Perth, return your hire car and enjoy a well-earned rest.
Day 10 route
Esperance → Perth
My Tip 💡
I wouldn’t book an international flight from Perth for the evening of Day 10. Stay overnight and fly the following day so you aren’t worrying about delays during a long drive from Esperance.
Where to Stay on This Perth to Esperance Itinerary
I’ve deliberately given you multiple nights in Margaret River, Albany and Esperance. It means you can properly explore those destinations rather than packing your bags every morning.
Margaret River – 2 nights
Margaret River town is a convenient base for wineries, food and attractions.
If beaches are more important to you, you could stay around Dunsborough instead.
Where to Stay in Margaret River →
Pemberton – 1 night
Stay around Pemberton town for easy access to the surrounding forests.
Denmark – 1 night
A night in Denmark lets you enjoy the town and visit William Bay National Park before continuing to Albany.
Albany – 2 nights
Two nights gives you a full day for Torndirrup National Park and Albany itself.
Esperance – 3 nights
I wouldn’t cut this down.
You’ve driven a long way to reach Esperance, and three nights gives you two full days for Cape Le Grand National Park and the local coastline.
How Much Driving Is Involved?
This is a substantial road trip, but most days are manageable because the journey south is broken into relatively short sections.
The two significant driving days are:
Albany → Esperance
and
Esperance → Perth
The final day is particularly long.
If you prefer a slower road trip, I’d add another night and break the return journey around Hyden, which also gives you the opportunity to visit Wave Rock.
That turns this into an excellent 11-day itinerary.
Should You Drive Perth to Esperance Directly?
You can drive directly between Perth and Esperance, but for a holiday I much prefer travelling one way through the South West.
Margaret River, the Southern Forests, Denmark and Albany aren’t simply places to break up the journey — they’re major destinations in their own right.
If your only objective is Esperance, however, taking the direct inland route gives you more time at your destination.
Can You Add Wave Rock?
Yes, but I wouldn’t add it to this exact 10-day itinerary.
Instead, I’d add an 11th day and stay overnight in Hyden:
Day 10: Esperance → Hyden + Wave Rock
Day 11: Hyden → Perth
That’s much more comfortable than trying to visit Wave Rock while driving from Esperance to Perth in a single day.
Best Time for a Perth to Esperance Road Trip
This itinerary covers southern Western Australia, so conditions change significantly throughout the year.
Summer is excellent for beaches, although inland areas can become very hot.
Autumn can offer pleasant temperatures and fewer peak-season crowds.
Winter is cooler and wetter, particularly through the South West and Albany.
Spring is one of my favourite times for a southern WA road trip, particularly if you’re interested in wildflowers.
Read: Best Time to Visit Western Australia →
What If You Only Have 7 Days?
I wouldn’t try to follow this entire route.
With seven days, either concentrate on Perth and Margaret River or make Esperance the focus and take a much more direct route.
7 Day Western Australia Itinerary →
What If You Have 14 Days?
Two weeks gives you enough time to follow this route at a more relaxed pace and return to Perth via Hyden.
You can also add additional nights around Margaret River, Denmark or Esperance.
2 Week Western Australia Itinerary →
Road Trip or Itinerary?
This itinerary tells you how I’d divide 10 days between the destinations on the journey. For more detailed route options, driving information and alternative stops between Perth and Esperance, see my dedicated Perth to Esperance road trip guide.
Perth to Esperance Road Trip Guide →
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