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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8 secret places in Western Australia you need to know about

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

    “Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

    From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

    Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

    1. Mimbi Caves

    You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

    “That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

    Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves.
    Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    2. Kalbarri National Park

    Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

    “I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

    An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge.
    Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    3. Hamelin Bay Wines

    Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

    Almost.

    Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

    “Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

    Spectacular views.

    A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset.
    Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

    4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

    Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

    Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden.
    Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    5. Hoochery Distillery

    Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

    Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

    People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia.
    Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    6. Geraldton

    The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

    woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park
    Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    7. El Questro

    Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

    Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

    Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro.
    Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

    8. Lake Argyle

    Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

    Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

    Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra.
    Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

    Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.