What is Cape Le Grand National Park?
Cape Le Grand National Park is a coastal park about 50 kilometres east of Esperance in Western Australia. It is famous for brilliant white beaches, granite peaks and kangaroos at Lucky Bay.
The park covers about 31,000 hectares of heathland, granite hills and coastline facing the Southern Ocean. It is named after an officer on the French ship L'Esperance, which visited the area in 1792.
Its best-known beaches include Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove and Le Grand Beach. The sand is fine white quartz, and the water ranges from turquoise to deep blue.
Walks and peaks
Frenchman Peak, a granite dome, can be climbed for views over the coast and the islands of the Recherche Archipelago. A coastal walking trail of about 15 kilometres links Rossiter Bay and Le Grand Beach via the main bays.
The park's heathland is rich in wildflowers, including banksias and many orchids, and is home to honey possums, quendas and many birds.
Campgrounds at Lucky Bay and Le Grand Beach are popular, especially in summer, and bookings are recommended.
Rossiter Bay is linked to the explorer Edward John Eyre, who met a French whaling ship there during his 1841 crossing.
Did You Know?
Western grey kangaroos at Lucky Bay are among the most photographed kangaroos in Australia.