Cape Le Grand NP 3 – 4 February 2007

After a leisurely start, we ventured east of Esperance to Lucky Bay, in the Cape Le Grand NP, an area of wild coastal scenery, rugged granite peaks and sweeping stunted heathlands. When we rounded the final corner a magnificent view unfolded of yet another aquamarine bay and blinding white sand, which filled our vista. We camped at a very comfortable National Park Campsite at Lucky Bay, which was a vast crescent shaped inlet, with a wide sandy beach set between two smoothly weathered rocky promontories. Although it was quite windy in the afternoon, we had a peaceful walk along the beach where the white, fine sand was packed surprisingly hard. Our night was set against the rhythmic crash of the waves.
The next morning was still windy and overcast, as we set off to explore the park.
The coastline alternates between shrubby sand embankments covered in low heath and the smooth mounds of the mountains and with the grey weather we thought of Scottish highlands. Thistle Cove was our first stop, where we saw a wonderful wind sculptured ‘wave rock’ called Whistle Rock. The next destination was Hellfire Bay and felt more like hell if it had frozen over! Then onto Le Grand Beach also allowed camping, however it was very exposed compared to Lucky Bay and reminded us of Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa. We headed home to lunch and a rather brisk swim in the sheltered waters of Lucky Bay whilst the sun was out. An afternoon exploration to the end of the road in this park took us along a rough corrugated road to Rossiter Bay, named after Captain Rossiter of the Mississippi who rescued Eyre from certain death from that very beach, after his disastrous expedition across the Nullarbor. The view was different but still had a feeling of wildness disappearing into distant mountains accompanied by the never ending sand and surf.