Cape Le Grand: Lucky Bay, Frenchman Peak & Hellfire Bay

On my journey of a long drive from Western Australia to South Australia, while recommended by a friend to visit Esperance’s amazing beaches, I discovered the nearby Cape Le Grand National Park. Home to the unrealistic white beaches with blue waters, ancient rugged coastline and large granite outcrops, Cape Le Grand is one that needs to be seen to believe it!

Campground / Caravan Park: Dunns Ecopark

The two campgrounds (Le Grand Beach Campground – 14 campsites; Lucky Bay Campground – 56 campsites | both $20 per night) in Cape Le Grand National Park are usually packed and need to be booked far in advance.

Dunns Ecopark Campground near Cape Le Grand National Park

Unable to book the Cape Le Grand campsites, I managed to book a campsite at Dunns Ecopark, situated just outside of the national park. For $40 a night, Dunns Ecopark offers a tranquil shaded forest of blue gum trees. It has great facilities while keeping things eco-friendly, such as clean compost toilets, solar-powered hot showers, potable water taps, BBQ, firepit, and a communal camp kitchen well furnished with refrigerators and microwave ovens. It is just a 20-minute drive from Dunns Ecopark into Cape Le Grand National Park (30 minutes to Lucky Bay).

Lucky Bay - Whitest Beach In Australia

Lucky Bay Beach Cape Le Grand National Park

After checking out of Dunns Ecopark in the morning, I headed straight to Lucky Bay Beach for a morning beach walk.

Just look at the transparent, light blue water!

It’s like the cleanest swimming pool with calm waves.

Crowned as the whitest beach in Australia, the sand in Lucky Bay is super fine. Powdery when dry, and almost muddy-like when wet, walking on the dry sand feels like walking on something plushy while the wet sand squeaks on every footstep.

Frenchman Peak - Cape Le Grand National Park

A short drive back to where I came from is the Frenchman Peak. It is a 262-meter granite outcrop, and the solid granite extends thousands of meters below the ground. This granite was born 1200 million years ago as a huge mass of molten rock deep within the Earth’s crust, where it slowly cooked and solidified. Its summit provides panoramic ocean views and a unique cave near the top. The return climb is 3km and could take around 1 to 2 hours depending on fitness. There are steep sections with smooth rock surfaces, hence it’s not suitable to hike on wet days.

9.37am: Entering Frenchman Peak trailhead by the car park.

(+6)9.43am: Start of the smooth rock surfaces track.

(+2)9.45am: Look out for the trail markers and stick to the track.

(+9)9.54am: With proper footwear, the dry smooth slopes are not too slippery, but do still keep precautions with every step.

(+7)10.01am: Passing by the cave, I first arrived at the summit of Frenchman Peak. From the summit, you get a 360° view of the ocean, and the surrounding outcrops and flat lands.

Frenchman Peak Cave

Heading back down, I took the short side trail to the cave just below the summit of Frenchman Peak (on the left of the main track before reaching the summit).

Frenchman Peak Cave Cape Le Grand National Park

This cave has openings on both sides (like a very short tunnel with wide openings). The cave is thought to have formed 40 million years ago, when sea levels were more than 250 meters higher than today’s. Waves relentlessly pounding the top of Frenchman Peak, slowly carving out the cave/tunnel.

Hellfire Bay - Cape Le Grand National Park

Hellfire Bay Beach Cape Le Grand National Park

After scaling Frenchman Peak, it’s time to cool down and take a swim at the clear water of Hellfire Bay beach. The name Hellfire Bay is believed to have been named after St. Elmo’s fire – a weather phenomenon in which bluish flame-like electrical discharges can occur on ship’s mast or other rod-like objects.