Perth to Esperance Loop 12 Days

Morning: After arriving at the Perth Cruisin’ Depot it’s time to get to know your home for the next 12 days – your motorhome. The amazing team will guide your through your vehicle, showing you all the features and things that you will need to know to have a smooth trip. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need, our team are there to make sure you are ready to hit the road with confidence.

Afternoon: The beginning of your trip is a wonderful time to kick off your trip with a visit to Rottnest Island. Famous for its beautiful beaches and the adorable Quokkas that call the island home, Rottnest Island is only a short ferry ride away. The ferries run from 7am onwards, but we recommend checking the timetable in case this changes. The island is a car-free zone, but you can rent a bike to get around or just enjoy the slower pace that walking can offer. A rite of passage for all those visiting Rottnest Iland is to attempt to get a Quokka-Selfie. Quokkas are known as the happiest animals on earth and many tourists get amazing shots with these little cuties.

Evening: If you don’t feel like staying on Rottnest Island for the entire day you can spend the early evening visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Freemantle Prison. Operating as a maximum-security prison up until 1991 until it was decommissioned and opened as a tourist attraction again in 1992. You can take a tour through the prison and hear the stories for the convicts and jailers who passed through the prison during its operation over its nearly 140-year history.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Discovery Parks – Coogee Beach. 3 Powell Road, Coogee WA 6166. Powered Site.

Image: Freemantle Prison – Tourism WA

Morning: The Busselton Jetty has been a part of life in Busselton since 1851 and is now a thriving tourist attraction. You can explore both above and under the water. You can take the Busselton Jetty Train and hear the fascinating history of the Jetty. You can also get up and close to the underwater environment at the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory which allows visitors to descend 8 meters below the surface to see the more than 300 marine species at Australia’s biggest artificial reef.

Afternoon: After spending the morning near the sea, it’s time to explore the treetops. Situated in the majestic Tuart Forest, Forest Adventures has over 70 activities for thrill seekers of all ages. You can climb, swing and soar through six unique high-rope courses including 15 flying foxes, with one flying fox stretching 150 meters!

Evening: Just out of the main CBD of Busselton is a thriving dining district, with plenty of options. We would recommend stopping in at Southern Flavours on King Street, to enjoy some amazing food with both dine-in and take-away options available. We recommend choosing to dine alfresco and enjoy the sunset with views over the Busselton Jetty and Geographe Bay.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: BIG4 Breese Holiday Parks – Busselton. 10 Earnshaw Road, West Busselton WA 6280. Powered Site.

Image: Busselton Jetty Train – Tourism WA

Morning: After a morning enjoying a laid back breakfast in your motorhome it’s time to get out and explore the waterways of the Margaret River. The Margaret River Canoe Tour leaves from Prevelly Beach each morning at 9:30am. You will be provided with everything that you need and given instruction, which makes this tour suitable for all ability levels. The bonus is that once you have had your fill of the stunning waterways, you will be treated to a bushtucker lunch as a special treat with a fantastic selection of food from around WA, including a lot of unique native tastings.

Afternoon: After spending another morning surrounded by water, a trip to the Boranup Karri Forest will give you the chance to walk off all that amazing bushtucker. Just a reminder that Cruisin’ Motorhome vehicles are not to be taken on unsealed roads – so unfortunately the Boranup Forest Drive is a no-go. However, there are plenty of walking trails for you to enjoy.

Evening: After another jam-packed day full of exploration, a quite evening in your motorhome might be in order. The Margaret River has plenty of wonderful take-away food options, but you might just want to bypass these all together and opt for something a bit more decadent – with a trip to the Margaret River Chocolate Company’s original factory. Open until 5pm daily you can enjoy watching the amazing chocolate being made through the production viewing window before stocking up on those sweet treats at the showroom café.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Big Valley Campsite Margaret River. 46 Boronia Road, Rosa Glen WA 6285. Powered Site.

Image: Margaret River Chocolate Company – Tourism WA

Morning: The Pemberton Tramway Company is a tourist railway that runs through the deep forests and picturesque countryside while telling stories of the history of the region. You will enjoy spectacular views and opt for either a round trip or one way journey on the tramway to best suit how long you wish to have to explore the Cascades. If you do opt for the one-way journey, you can walk back to the station, which is around a 10km walk that will take between 2 to 4 hours.

Afternoon: If you opt to walk back to the train station at Pemberton, you can take the route through the Gloucester National Park to the Gloucester Tree. The Gloucester Tree is a renowned karri tree, where you can marvel at the 61-meter-tall tree that was named after the then Governor-General of Australia, His Royal Highness to Duke of Gloucester. The tree was selected as a “lookout tree” in 1947 and was one of eight such trees used as lookouts to spot bushfires.

Evening: If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal after your day out, head towards the Vasse Highway. There is an abundance of cafes and eateries located along the highway as it passes through Pemberton. You are sure to find something to suit your tastes.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Pemberton Caravan Park. 1 Pump Hill Road, Pemberton WA 6260. Powered Site.

Image: Gloucester Tree in Gloucester National Park – Tourism WA

Morning: this morning we will be heading aboard the Cheynes IV, the world’s only preserved Whalechaser ship. The ship is now home to Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, the last operational station of its kind and now a tourist attraction with a fascinating insight into the past. It is also recommended to stop in and visit the on-site café, where you can enjoy freshly cooked seafood, coffee and homemade cakes while enjoying the ocean view from the alfresco dining area.

Afternoon: Just a short drive from Albany is the Albany Wind Farm. The farm is home to 12 giant wind turbines each standing at a height of 100 meters tall. These massive turbines generate around 75% of the electricity used by the city of Albany. You can take a leisurely walk around the turbines but, just like at the Boranup Karri Forest the track for the scenic drive is unsealed, meaning that your Crusin’ Motorhome cannot go on these roads.

Evening: Evenings in Albany can be a mix of scenic harbour views and the cozy eateries. You can enjoy a sunset over the Princess Royal Harbour and find a great local spot for dinner.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park. 28 Flinders Parade, Middleton Beach WA 6330. Powered Site.

Image: Albany’s Historic Whaling Station – Tourism WA

Morning: The Ravensthorpe Museum is co-located within the local visitor centre, meaning that not only is this attraction packed with memorabilia and photographs, it also a great hub for local knowledge.

The museum collection showcases the history of local figures from early settlement, through the mining and agricultural industries and into the historic railway carriages, jail and Dance Cottage. The cottage was named after George Dance, the original owner and builder of the cottage which is now a step back in time to a working home of the 1900s.

Afternoon: The afternoon is a great time to stop by and visit the Ravensthorpe addition to the Public Silo Trail. The artwork titled Six Stages of Banksia Baxteri took the artist 338 litres of paint and 31 days to decorate the three silos with six images showing the flowering cycle of the Banksia. If the Public Silo Trail is something that spikes your interest you can check out the other six instillations in Western Australia.

Evening: One of the best things about travelling in a motorhome is that you can have a night in. This is a fantastic opportunity to rest up, as today does involve another drive as you head towards Esperance. We have some healpful tips and tricks for you to plan a fantastic home-cooked meal right in your motorhome.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Wavecrest Village and Tourist Park. 279 Hopetoun-Ravensthorpe Road, Hopetoun WA 6348. Powered Site.

Image: Six Stages of Banksia Baxteri on the Stout Group Silos– PUBLIC Silo Trail

Morning: The Woody Island Day Tour Adventure will give you the opportunity to explore and stretch your legs and see some native wildlife. You will be able to tour Woody Island with a walking guided tour, which includes information about the history and local wildlife of the island. You will also be able to enjoy a wonderful morning tea on the deck of the visitor’s centre and grab some lunch from the waterfront kiosk.

Afternoon: Upon your return from Woody Island, you can head to Esperance Stonehenge – the only full-sized replica of the famous landmark located on Salisbury Plain in England. The replica shows Stonehenge as it would have looked at around 1950BC with all 137 stones placed where they would have been almost 4,000 years ago.

Evening: There are multiple options for your evening meal near the Esperance Foreshore. You could choose to dine in or take-away. You could also choose to pick up some ingredients and make a delicious meal in your motorhome, if you are looking for inspiration check out our blog on motorhome meals that feel first class.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: RACV Esperance Holiday Park. Goldfields Road, Castletown WA 6450. Powered Site.

Image: Stonehenge Esperance – Tourism WA

Morning: Wave Rock is a massive 15-meter-high natural granite cliff that is shaped like a breaking wave. This natural attraction is estimated to be over 2.7 billion years old and features striking striped colouring. If you visit after winter the area is covered in a carpet of wildflowers, but no matter the time of year this striking attraction is well worth the visit.

Afternoon: North of Wave Rock is Mulka’s Cave, named after the indigenous legend, that is associated with the cave. It is said that the handprints on the cave belonged to Mulka, who lived in the cave and resulted to eating human children as he was incapable of providing for himself through hunting.

Evening: The Wave Rock Salt Baths are a wonderful way to end the day, where you can take the time and experience the sensation of floating in the pool filled with natural salt water, whose buoyancy and therapeutic properties are greater than those found in the dead sea.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Wave Rock Caravan Park. 1 Wave Rock Road, Hyden WA 6359. Powered Site.

Image: Mulka’s Cave – Tourism WA

Morning: The Corrigin Pioneer Museum will take you back in time with their display of early Australian farm machinery located inside the old pipeline pump station. You can walk through the collection of tools and restored machinery, see the one-room school, blacksmith shop and shearing shed. You can also see the towns commemoration of the early settlers at the Pioneer Memorial Wall that is located at the entrance to the museum.

Afternoon: It may seem morbid to suggest visiting a cemetery, especially one that is the final resting place for hundreds of dogs, however the Dog Cemetery in Corrigin is a tribute to man’s best friend. Founded in 1975 after a local man was looking for a place to rest his four-legged best friend, it has since grown and the locals take pride in giving their beloved pets a proper resting place.

Evening: Corrigin is home to many parks and reserves, tracks and trails that would make the perfect way to enjoy a quiet walk to end the day before heading to your campsite for the night, where you may want to enjoy another quiet night in your motorhome, and possibly facetime your furry family members.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Corrigin Caravan Park. 20 Kirkwood Street. Corrigin WA 6375. Powered Site.

Image: Corrigin Dog Cemetery – Tourism WA

Morning: In York you will find the community-owned and operated York Motor Museum. The museum is dedicated to preserving Australian and world-heritage vehicles. The museum is also home to a unique piece of movie mermorabilia, the original Valiant Utility that was used in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee. The vehicle also has Paul Hogan’s autograph on the dashboard.

Afternoon:  This afternoon we are continuing our step back in time with a trip to the Residency Museum, located inside the former home of the town’s resident magistrate. After being used as a part of the Old York Hospital in the early twentieth century, the building was restored by a band of volunteers who still help to manage the site.

Evening: The Mount Brown Lookout is the perfect destination to end the day, equipped with amenities that make it a perfect site for an evening barbeque, the lookout stands 342 meters above sea level and offers a panoramic view of York and it’s surrounds.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Starry Skies Caravan Park. 2 Eighth Road, York WA 6302. Powered Site.

Image: Cruisin’ Motorhomes’ 6 berth Deluxe

Morning: The Scitech Discovery Centre promotes an engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathmatics), through interactive exhibits and live shows that are created by their in-house team. It is also home to the largest planetarium in Australia which allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the night sky as they gaze into the cosmos.

Afternoon:  After an education-filled morning it’s time for a little retail therapy at the Hay Street Mall. You can enjoy the sunshine as you take your time wandering through this open-air chopping area in the heart of the Perth CBD. With everything from the big department stores to smaller speciality shops, the Hay Street Mall has everything. Just be sure that you take the time to appreciate the many heritage-listed buildings that make up this bustling shopping district.

Evening: After you have shopped to your hearts content, you can enjoy your last evening by taking a stroll along Elizabeth Quay, the stunning waterfront precinct located on the banks of the Swan River. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants for you to choose from for your evening meal.

CAMPSITE RECOMMENDATION: Discovery Parks – Swan Valley. 91 Benara Road, Caversham WA 6055. Powered Site.

Image: Elizabeth Quay – Tourism WA

Morning: Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks, and it’s also a site rich in cultural heritage. It is also home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden, home to over 3,000 species of Western Australia’s flora – which is unlike anything else in the world.

You can spend the morning wandering the gardens and enjoying some of the on-site cafés giving yourself plenty of time to discover all that the park has to offer, like the giant boab tree, floral clock and multiple walkways and lookouts. The Park also has multiple places to stop for lunch, so your morning is all set.

Afternoon: Our final destination is the Perth Mint. If you take the 1:30pm tour you will be able to watch a live gold pour, and even mint your own medallion as a memento of your trip. We advise booking in advance for all tours, and the 1:30pm tour, which lasts approximately 60 minutes, will give you plenty of time to get back to our depot by 3:30pm for your vehicle drop-off.

Image: Perth Mint – Tourism WA