Our last day in Albany was spent wandering the historical part of town, especially the old church in York Street, the Courthouse, Convict Gaol including an excellent overview of the Anzac’s history, and the replica of the Brig Amity (brought the first settlers to Albany). The historical museum and the regional natural and social history museum in The Residency (built in the 1850s as the commissariat and stores for the convict hiring depot) are both excellent. There are a number of old cottages in the same precinct dating back to the 1830s – young when compared to European historical homes, but old in Australian terms. However what really caught my attention was a rather stunning native plant I hadn’t seen before, and I just have to share it!

Stunning native flowers

On Wednesday we headed west toward Esperance on another stunning warm and sunny day. Our original plan was to stop at Ravensthorpe, a 300km trip. The road was very good with little traffic, so after a brief stop for lunch we continued on another 200kms, passed the significant open pit Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine, a major local employer, and on to Esperance. We had considered a detour to the coastal town of Hopetoun, home of a number of beautiful white beaches, and bordering the Fitzgerald National Park. Because we will be in SA and VIC in winter months, and have spent a month enjoying WAs hospitality we aren’t doing an all points trip, just picking out the best

Here in Esperance we’re enjoying the hospitality of the local waterfront caravan park. Esperance is the major port supporting local mining interests – this is the only port in south-east WA, and is shrouded in controversy over the escape of nickel and lead dust, allegedly contaminating waters and killing thousands of birds. For a short period the exporter was banned from exporting lead, until the current Premier over-turned that ban.

Esperance was first settled in the 1870s and the historical town jetty was built in the 1890s following the discovery of gold in the eastern goldfield region.

Steve striding passed the ‘chemist shop’ in the historical precinct

There is also a delightful historical precinct in the centre of town, formed through the relocation of a number of original shops and church, that today house a number of local boutique businesses.

Esperance is known for its magnificent coastline of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. There are 5 national parks near town and a number of salt lakes, the Pink Lake being the best known of the group due to the pink hue as a result of the red algae living within its waters. Apparently Esperance is also home to the cyclops wave – the world’s heaviest wave with massive amounts of water unloading onto the shallow reef. We haven’t witnessed this so can’t make comment. Most of our time has been spent riding, enjoying the nature walks around the lakes and ogling at/walking the stunning beaches close to town, and those in the Cape Le Grand National Park – Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove and the magnificent Le Grand Beach, which you can 4 wheel drive from Esperance.

The beautiful Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park

Cape Le Grand has a number of camping areas close to the water and the rocky granite terrain and mounts make for adventurous climbing and walks. I apologise for all the photos of white sandy beaches, blue sky and  turquoise waters – and these shots don’t even do the area justice – its just that once we leave here we won’t see this again, so there are lots of shots to dream over in the future!

We had planned to stay at Cape Le Grand National Park, however for the last 36 hours we’ve contended with the minor and somewhat temperamental remnants of a cyclone that came ashore near Ningaloo WA that has managed to extend its tentacles as far afield as Esperance. Temperatures have plummeted for a few days and it really isn’t beach and long walk/rock climbing weather. So our day trips will have to suffice, and tomorrow we head off toward Norseman, the cross roads leading to either Kalgoorlie or the Nullarbor…..and just so that you really are over dosed on this region here’s just one more photo!

Just another stunning beach