Just before we headed to Esperance I quickly googled to see if there was anything to see along the way especially as this was a 5hour drive and we would need a few breaks. I found out that we could detour to Bluff Knoll along the way without adding too much to our journey. So we started the next leg leaving Albany toward Bluff Knoll.
Albany to Bluff Knoll
Before any road trip, a good breaky is needed so we popped into Kate’s Place in Albany, where we had afternoon tea on the previous day (read part one here).
Filled up we were ready to head from Albany to Bluff Knoll. I have never been to Bluff Knoll however my partner has. However, I’ve heard that it is a really beautiful spot.
As you start getting closer to the Bluff Knoll car park which has multiple lookout points, the surrounding terrain changes significantly. It begins to look completely different to what I have seen before. As soon as we turned off we were forced to go via the park pass purchasing machine. I drove straight through as I already purchased a 1month pass through the RAC which gives you 50% off. You can also get yearly passes. I highly recommend getting your pass from the RAC in advance if you have a membership.
We were also greeted with a few warning signs about steep roads and warnings to not tow caravans up the road. As we got closer to the lookout I understood why the warnings were in place. It was so steep!!
Don’t be put off by the steep road, the drive from Albany to Bluff Knoll is pretty easy. I’ve definitely done more challenging drives before. It just feels a little intimidating at first.
The whole car park was surrounded by amazing views with multiple viewing platforms. It’s up there with one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. I only wished we had planned to walk it as well. Sadly we would have arrived in Esperance too late. After soaking in the views we continued on.
Driving to Esperance
Our next stopping point was Jerdacuttup, a tiny town but a good place for a rest. We fuelled up and after a look around town, we decided to grab a pie and ice cream for lunch. Classic road trip food!!
Wanting to beat the storm that seemed to be getting closer we continued on. Our next break was in Ravensthorpe a much bigger town compared to Jerdacuttup where we grabbed a small iced coffee from the local shop.
Arrival in Esperance!
After what felt like ages we finally arrived in Esperance. We had booked into the Sure Stay Best and Western which was almost impossible to find with no signage other than a sign for the restaurant. Finally, after some googling we worked out that we were in the right spot.
I went in expecting the same friendliness as the Albany branch. The lady at the front desk (I think she may have been the manager) was pretty abrupt and didn’t exactly create a welcoming atmosphere. It felt like we were being talked down to. At least the other staff were fantastic and kinda made up for it. The room was pretty basic but served its purpose as a place to crash. If you’re wanting a sleep in I would recommend some earplugs as I found myself being woken up at 6.30ish as people left for work.
33 Degrees | Bar
Given that it was our 10 year anniversary, we decided to make sure we had dinner booked. We ended up choosing a fairly new spot called 33 Degrees as it was right on the ocean and looked pretty cool. (Note, if you are wanting to dine out in a small town I recommend booking especially on weekends as they are all packed atm given that people can’t go overseas).
As this was a pretty special day we both ordered a steak and a drink each. I was so glad this was within walking distance of the hotel, as it meant I could completely relax and have a few drinks.
After dinner, we still had a little room and opted to get a dessert each!
All of the food was delicious. I highly recommend visiting.
To be continued…
In part 3 of this adventure, we begin to explore Esperance and the surrounding area.
If you haven’t already read of part one of this epic road trip, a Weekend in Albany.
Let me know in the comments if you travelled from Albany to Bluff Knoll and did the hike?
