Our insider’s guide to the top things to do in Busselton

Katrina LodgeBy Katrina Lodge
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This not-so-secret Western Australian coastal town will have you wishing you could linger longer.

West Aussies have been flocking to the South West town of Busselton for decades – where bedazzling beaches, world-class wine and immersive nature experiences are on the doorstep. Just 2.5 hours from Perth by car – and now with direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne – the gateway to the Margaret River Region is having a moment. Ready to dive in?  Here’s our list of things to do in Busselton.

1. Jump off the jetty

an aerial view of the Busselton Jetty, Geographe Bay
The longest timber pile jetty extends into the turquoise seas of Geographe Bay. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Walk, train or snorkel along the longest timber pile jetty in the southern hemisphere – 1.8 kilometres. An iconic Western Australian landmark, Busselton Jetty gracefully extends herself into the turquoise seas of Geographe Bay like the leg of a supermodel. At the end is an underwater observatory – one of only six in the world – where you can descend beneath the ocean without getting wet. Immerse yourself in the artificial reef with a fish-eye view of marine life and swaying seagrass. Keen scuba divers can explore the underwater sculpture trail – completed in 2024 – clinging to the ocean floor. Flick a fishing rod with locals at sunset.

2. Sample the region’s finest wine

wine tasting at Aravina Estate in the Yallingup
Sip on award-winning wines at Aravina Estate. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Busselton is a fabulous launchpad to the renowned vineyards of the Margaret River Wine region. Yet, you’ll also find vino options closer to town. In the heart of town adjoining Busselton Pavilion , is The South West Wine Shop – an eclectic curation that leans into Western Australian wines. The space feels more like a fun wine library, with expert advice and a daily changing wine-by-the-glass list. Expect the unexpected.

Whicher Ridge , a twenty-minute drive, claims the position of closest cellar door to Busselton. This small-batch winery has a sensory garden for an immersive wine experience.

Flametree Wines , near Dunsborough, is a skip across the road from the sandy shores of Geographe Bay. With a relaxed Hamptons-style cellar door and deck, luscious lawns, plus James Halliday-approved, award-winning wines, what’s not to love? It’s kid and pet-friendly too. Aravina Estate in the Yallingup area is a 180-acre sprawling property of vines and gum trees. For a relaxed afternoon, spread out with a picnic blanket on the expansive lawns by the dam and order a pizza from their pizza bar. Or if attentive service is your thing, book the restaurant. Be sure to check out their renowned surf gallery – a partnership with Surfing WA – bursting with memorabilia, as well as a private collection of cool vintage cars.

3. Head to a brewery

lunch and beer tasting at Shelter brewery
Enjoy lunch with your chosen brew at Shelter. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

There are plenty of top-notch breweries in the Margaret River region. Lapping the edge of the Busselton foreshore is Shelter . Plonk yourself down for an afternoon of award-winning beer, where the kids can play on the grass, the ocean shimmers like a sequinned backdrop and locals bommie off the jetty. Or don your sustainability cap at Rocky Ridge Brewing , Australia’s first certified sustainable brewery. Their taphouse is centrally located near the jetty in a refurbished 1930s house with over 40 frothies on tap and burgers to team them with. A short 30-minute drive away, on a working farm, is Eagle Bay Brewery . This ocean-view brewpub and winery attracts crowds, including families, for relaxed long lunches and produce from the kitchen garden.

Feeling spirited? Beyond Distilling produces a range of sustainable craft spirits, sourcing ingredients directly from WA farmers. It’s open daily for tastings. Or take a road trip to Cowaramup – Cow Town to locals – to try West Winds Distillers .

4. Wander on Wadandi Country

limestone walls inside Ngilgi Cave, Wadandi Country
The labyrinthine network of karst limestone in Ngilgi Cave. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Immerse yourself in Wadandi Boodja Country with cultural custodian Josh Whiteland and Koomal Dreaming . Listen to the haunting sound of the digeridoo reverberating off limestone cave walls deep within Ngilgi Cave. Local bushtucker is also on the tour menu, along with learning about – and spotting – native flora and fauna. Go at your own pace with a semi-guided interactive tour on the scenic pathway of the Ngilgi Cave Ancient Caves Land Experience.

5. Go whale watching

Coined the humpback highway, migratory humpback, southern and blue whales meander along the south-west coastline from August to November. The calm waters of Geographe Bay off Busselton offer extraordinary opportunities to witness these gentle giants. Or head to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, on the tip of the cape, for sailor views from the observation platform. Take the Whale Lookout Walk Trail (2.4km long) from the lighthouse carpark for specky views. Listen for the deep, guttural echo and the misty whistle as they exhale, often very close to shore. If ocean-faring is more your style, book a tour with the region’s pioneers of whale tours, Naturaliste Charters .

6. Lap it up at the many  brilliant beaches

the white sand shore of Meelup Beach from above
The bush meets the white sand of Meelup Beach. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

From protected waters to surging surf, Busselton is within cooee of some of the best beaches in Western Australia. Busselton foreshore boasts its own stretch of blinding white sand and brilliant blue water. With calm waters for swimming, a nautical-themed playground and the Aquatastic water playground, it’s the ultimate family-friendly beach. Or head to Castle Rock Bay at Cape Naturaliste and dive into the glass-clear turquoise water that is protected from the westerly breeze. Just around the corner is Meelup Beach where grass parkland and drooping peppermint trees make the perfect picnic spot on the edge of the sand. Fringed by Meelup Regional Park, take a walk on the spectacular coastal track for breathtaking views where the bush meets the sea. It’s a unique opportunity to hear both birds sing and whales blow.

7. Cool down with a treat from Simmo’s ice-cream

Something of a local legend, this ice creamery – just a few minutes from Dunsborough township – will keep any sized kid happy. Be prepared to procrastinate. Simmo’s whacky experiments can be something of a Willy Wonka experience, with 60 delectable flavour choices, including vegan options. With sprawling grass, a playground and 18-hole mini golf lick away the afternoon here. Hot tip: make it a double serving. 

8. Stroll the pristine beaches in Yallingup

hikers on top of a rocky cliff overlooking a beach in Yallingup
Yallingup is home to dramatic rocky cliffs and stunning surf beaches. (Image: Tourism Western Australia/@travel.withcharlie)

The coastal hamlet of Yallingup is near a 30-minute drive from Busselton. Hugged by a national park, the appeal of this one-road-in township is its sandy-toed surfer vibe. Old-school beach shacks hold court with million-dollar mansions. Stroll the length of one of the most beautiful beaches in WA with ivory sand and thundering offshore swell. Take a dip in the pristine azure lagoon at the southern end, for safe swimming and snorkelling.

Yallingup pub, Caves House, is an emblematic venue in the South West. Wander up from the beach via the Ghost Trail.  With a rambling garden, this 1903 landmark venue has great pub grub and live music. Join locals – and maybe even a ghost or two according to legend – for the famed summer Sunday session.

Discover the best things to do in the Margaret River

Katrina Lodge
Katrina Lodge is a freelance journalist living in Dunsborough, WA. A lifetime lover of words and travel, she relishes combining the two and transporting readers to the places she discovers. From getting dusty on outback roads, to floating atop an azure sea and languishing in sumptuous boutique hotels, Katrina finds joy, and a story, in a myriad of destinations.
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Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

    Monique CeccatoBy Monique Ceccato
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    Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

    Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023 , it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

    Aerial view of Mandurah.
    Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

    The best things to do in Mandurah

    Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

    In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

    While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

    If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries . The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

    Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
    Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

    You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

    Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah  sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

    Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

    The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
    Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

    Where to eat in Mandurah

    Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery . Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery ; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

    On a Murray River Lunch Cruise , the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

    Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

    The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

    If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience , where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

    A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
    Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

    Where to stay in Mandurah

    With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

    Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
    Stay right by the sea.

    The Sebel Mandurah , just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre , cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

    But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats . You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

    A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
    Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

    Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.