Lucky Bay (Cape Le Grand)

Meet the site

Lucky Bay is one of Australia's most photographed beaches – a 5 km sweep of very fine white sand and turquoise water in Cape Le Grand National Park, about an hour east of Esperance, where western grey kangaroos regularly laze on the beach. Matthew Flinders named it in 1802 after finding shelter here from a storm while charting the Recherche Archipelago in HMS Investigator.

The bay is sheltered and generally calm, which makes it good for swimming and snorkelling, and for launching small boats to explore nearby islands. The underwater interest is concentrated at the western end, where the granite headland continues underwater as boulders and ledges with kelp, sponges and coralline algae. Herring, sweep, old wives, wrasse, scalyfin and leatherjackets are common, with stingrays, eagle rays and schools of Australian salmon over the sand in autumn, and dolphins frequently cruise the bay. The broad sand and seagrass areas are good for spotting rays, flathead and cuttlefish.

For scuba divers, Lucky Bay is a relaxed shore dive rather than a destination site – depths are modest and the reef is limited – but it is an excellent option for divers camping in the national park who want an easy dive or snorkel close to camp. The DBCA campground has hot showers and toilets and is very popular, so book ahead.

The park has several other bays within a short drive: Thistle Cove, a granite-framed cove with sheltered snorkelling; Hellfire Bay, with its striking granite and picnic facilities; and Le Grand Beach. On calm days, divers with boats can explore the Recherche islands just offshore.

What you might see

Herring, sweep, old wives, wrasse, scalyfin, leatherjackets, stingrays, eagle rays, Australian salmon (autumn), dolphins, cuttlefish, flathead, kelp, seagrass

Location

Five-kilometre crescent of white sand in Cape Le Grand National Park, 60 km east of Esperance, famous for kangaroos on the beach; sheltered water with granite reef at the western end.

Facilities nearby

DBCA campground (bookable) with hot showers, toilets, gas barbecues and camp kitchen; day-use parking; small-boat beach launching; kiosk/van in season. Park fees apply. Nearest air fills in Esperance (64 km).