Hellfire Bay, Esperance: Location, swimming & entry fee

Near Esperance, Hellfire Bay offers white sand, turquoise ocean and giant granite boulders. You’ll need to pay the Cape Le Grand National Park entry fee before swimming, though.

Hellfire Bay is one of the most impressive beaches in Australia. But because it is a long way from any of the major cities, it doesn’t get nearly as many visitors as it should do.

Hellfire Bay is Cape Le Grand National Park, near Esperance in Western Australia. Like neighbours Lucky Bay and Wharton Beach it has stunningly white sand. But the picture is completed by usually calm, turquoise water and the big granite boulders dotted at either end of the beach.

How long is Hellfire Bay beach?

The main Hellfire Bay beach is about 600 metres long.

The bay gets its name from the St Elmo’s fire phenomenon – the blue flame that sometimes appears in an electrical charge created around’s ships’ masts. If the name instils a sense of foreboding, then don’t fret – it shouldn’t do.

Swimmers are generally safe at Hellfire Bay, although they should watch out for rips, particularly at the eastern end of the beach.

Things to do at Hellfire Bay

There are barbecues and toilets near the Hellfire Bay car park, but don’t expect anything else in terms of facilities. In terms of things to do at Hellfire Bay, there are no organised activities such as surfing lessons, but you’ll struggle to find a more scenic places for a game of beach cricket. You can also visit as part of the walk along the Le Grand Coastal Trail.

Getting to Hellfire Bay from Esperance

Hellfire Bay is near Esperance, but that’s ‘near’ in Western Australian standards. The drive from Esperance to Hellfire Bay is 61km long. Head west along Merivale Road until you reach Merivale.

There, turn right down the Cape Le Grand Road.

After entering the Cape Le Grand National Park, turn right down Lucky Bay Road and, after Frenchmans Peak, right again down Hellfire Road.

The entry fee for Cape Le Grand National Park is $15 per vehicle.