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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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

    Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

    The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs.
    Adventure starts where the road ends.

    1. Discover Broome, and beyond

    Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

    At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

    If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

    Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea.
    Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

    2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

    Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

    At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

    Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

    Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

    A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters.
    Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

    3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

    You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

    Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

    4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

    These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

    If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

    Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

    A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs.
    Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

    5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

    Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

    A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance.
    See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

    6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

    You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

    Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

    If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

    aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia
    Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .