Jaimen Hudson was born and raised in Esperance, and now he shows the best of the island to tourists through his company, Esperance Diving and Fishing, and Esperance Island Cruises.
I was born and bred in Esperance and grew up loving the outdoors. My earliest memories are of days on the ocean with mum and dad, who owned Esperance Diving Academy. I learned to dive when I was 10 and fell in love with the underwater world. From that time forward, I spent my time surfing, skateboarding, motorbike riding and diving until I had a motorbike accident at the age of 17. It turned my life upside down. I’ve been confined to a wheelchair ever since.
The coastline around WA is beautiful, particularly here in Esperance. My wife and I operate Esperance Island Cruises and we love taking visitors out on the water to see some of the 105 islands in the archipelago. Our national parks and beaches are the best in the world.
“The coastline around WA is beautiful, particularly here in Esperance." (Image: Jaimen Hudson)
When we get away for a weekend it’s an overnight camping trip to somewhere like Wharton Beach near Duke of Orleans Bay, about 100 kilometres east of Esperance in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
Without a doubt, the most mind-blowing moment of my travels was featured in my documentary, Jaimen Hudson: From Sky to Sea. We travelled to Exmouth up north to film my return to the ocean for the first time in 13 years since the motorbike accident. I was very lucky to free-dive with humpback whales, whale sharks and dolphins. For someone with limited mobility, it was an amazing experience.
“I have been lucky enough to see and photograph many unique wildlife scenarios in Esperance." (Image: Jaimen Hudson)
Living where we do, I have been lucky enough to see and photograph many unique wildlife scenarios in Esperance: people paddleboarding with giant whales, dolphins surfing waves, whales and dolphins interacting. I’m so grateful I can enjoy these magical experiences in my own backyard in WA.
I love living in Esperance because so much of our daily lives revolve around the ocean. It’s so nice to raise my son in a town like Esperance, with such beautiful, untouched nature at our doorstep. My family has operated Esperance Island Cruises, Esperance Diving & Fishing, and Yot Spot Holiday Apartments since 1983. My wife Jessica also operates Esperance Yoga. It keeps us busy, but we are truly passionate about sharing our magnificent landscape with visiting tourists.
It is not until you get up close and personal on one of our boat trips that you see the sea lions, fur seals, dolphins, sea eagles and just the magic colours in the landscape.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Trade early morning phone alarms and city chaos for bucolic serenity and gastronomic delights.
Peaceful birdsong and coastal winds meet rolling green hills and turquoise waters; there’s no better place to start your day than in Western Australia’s Denmark. This picturesque coastal town, a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the pristine Rainbow Coast, offers bucolic bliss in spades.
A hidden retreat lies just a 10-minute drive from the town centre, inviting guests to slow down and connect with nature. At Heyscape Denmark, the ultimate refuge from the rat race and the perfect setting for a rural escape await.
Whether it’s for a refreshing weekend away or a regenerative week-long sojourn, this idyllic pocket of the world will leave you feeling anew.
Where to stay
Make the most of outdoor baths. (Credit: Jarrad Seng)
Located on the 880-acre Raintree Estate, Heyscape Denmark is an award-winning, off-grid cabin retreat ideal for anyone craving time in nature while also enjoying sustainable, luxury comfort. Just 15 are sensitively embedded in the rural environment, ensuring privacy and the perfect setting to switch off. Choose from one-bedroom, two-bedroom or 4-person cabins. Four-legged friends can also join in on the fun with pet-friendly cabins available.
Check in, to check out.
The modern accommodations are well-appointed with queen beds dressed in lush linen and pillows; a bathroom with a warm shower, flushable toilet and botanical shampoo and conditioner; and an indoor kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker. Outside, find timber decks with seating to spot resident kangaroos from, Heston Blumenthal barbecues for whipping up delicious meals using local produce, and outdoor baths to soak up incredible nighttime skies – Denmark’s lack of light pollution makes it an exceptional spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Great Southern Ocean, William Bay National Park and Karri tree views.
Wellness is at the forefront of Heyscape Denmark with thoughtful touches including Note to Self prompts, gratitude cards and a botanical sleep spray ready to help you unwind. And for the ultimate weekend of R&R, two-bedroom cabins are fitted with saunas.
Where to eat
Catch your own freshwater crayfish, then have a chef prepare it for you.
The Great Southern region’s Mediterranean climate and nutrient-rich soils make for some of the most incredible produce in the world – and a stay at Heyscape Denmark lets you sample the very best of it. The estate farms over 200 black Angus cattle, marron – a freshwater crayfish endemic to the South-West of Western Australia –, hemp and French black truffle.
Just steps from these cabins sits the estate’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Dam. Featuring lofty jarrah ceilings, polished concrete and expansive windows revealing calming dam views, it’s a stunning spot for lunch or dinner, alongside an outdoor playground to keep little ones happy and busy.
Acclaimed chef Jason Jujnovich utilises ingredients from Raintree Estate’s regenerative farm in his hyper-local, Modern Australian menu. Seasonally changing dishes include the likes of wagyu beef lasagna and pistachio crumbed chicken cotoletta. Or join in for pizza night on a Friday, where the mushroom and truffle pizza is an easy winner.
Meals are designed to be paired with sips from the property’s innovative Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which concocts house-made hemp spirits and seltzers using ingredients grown onsite. Taste unique drops such as the Sativa Gin with warm citrus and pepper notes and the Pineapple Passion seltzer.
Another stand-out gastronomic offering is Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience, which lets you hand-catch freshwater crayfish from the property’s pristine dams and have them prepared and cooked to perfection for you by chefs. Those wanting to enjoy a meal from the comfort of their cabin can fire up the barbecue and grill their fresh catch or order a gourmet dinner box with mouthwatering wagyu steak and antipasti against golden peaceful sunset views.
Things to do
Spend a day enjoying the idyllic Lights Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA)
There’s no shortage of things to do in Denmark, and basing yourself at Heyscape Denmark puts you within easy access to it all. Nature lovers are spoiled with unbeatable spots for swimming and snorkelling, plus coastal hiking trails at William Bay National Park – a protected coastal reserve with approximately 1734 hectares of stunning landscapes ready to be explored.
Hire an e-bike from the property and cycle just 15 minutes to the unbelievably clear waters and white sands of Greens Pools, a naturally sheltered beach. Or the idyllic Lights Beach, which features three beaches, dunes, natural wading pool and scenic walking trails. Keen surfers should turn their attention to Ocean Beach with its world-class surf breaks.
Wander the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Stroll past towering Karri and giant Red Tingle trees on the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The 600-metre walkway rises 40 metres above the ancient forest floor and meanders through the hardwood trees, endemic exclusively to the Great Southern region.
Denmark is also a haven for creatives, and Butter Factory Studios is a must-stop on any itinerary. The contemporary art gallery, working artist studio and gift shop are housed within a historic building where workshops and exhibitions support and showcase creators from the region.
With the winning trifecta of delicious food, a pristine environment, and secluded accommodation, Denmark proves to be the ultimate destination for relaxation.
