An absolute must visit! After travelling around the whole of Australia, I can confidently say that Wharton Beach is my all time favourite.
It has some of the whitest sand I’ve ever seen, so soft and powdery it squeaks beneath your feet. The first time we pulled up to the top carpark, we were in awe of the vivid shades of blue. It was a colour unlike anything we’d seen at any other Australian beach. The contrast between the tropical blue water and the blinding white sand makes this one of the most picturesque and idyllic beaches you’ll ever come across. To top it off, the beach is dog friendly, has gentle surf, great snorkelling along the rocks, and you can drive your car onto the sand to set up for the day and make the most of your time here.
The conditions of the beach are always changing, so It's not always suitable for 2WD's to drive onto the beach. We've seen quite a few get stuck at the drive on entrance as the sand can be really soft.
There's a few different parking options for those without a 4WD. If you follow the main road in all the way to the end, you'll reach an elevated carpark which is perfect for van life as you have amazing views over the entire beach and direct beach access through a dirt path. From this carpark, there’s also a walking trail to the left that leads to the top of a massive boulder, which you can climb for epic views over the area. It’s absolutely breathtaking and hard to beat.
Wharton Beach is about an hour from Esperance, and since there isn’t much else around, it’s best to pair your visit with a stay at the nearby Duke of Orleans Bay Caravan Park. Just make sure to leave Esperance with all the supplies you’ll need.