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Busselton is a charming seaside city in Western Australia that has long been a popular beach break destination for Australians and international visitors alike. This family-friendly region has plenty of fun activities on offer, including whale-watching, snorkeling, biking, and hiking. Plus, it lies within easy reach of the scenic Margaret River Wine Region, where there are copious opportunities to wine tasting.
Let’s take a look at 19 of the best attractions in Busselton and the surrounding area to help you plan your visit.
1. Busselton Foreshore
Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald
- Address: Queen St, Busselton WA
- Opening hours: 24/7
Busselton Foreshore is considered to be the picture-perfect heart of the city. It’s here where you can enjoy beautiful views across Geographe Bay, sunbathe on the white sand beach, and enjoy a picnic or barbecue in the dedicated seating areas.
The waters are shallow enough for safe snorkeling but deep enough that dolphins often swim up and down the bay. There are also playgrounds to keep the kids busy and a host of great cafes and restaurants to enjoy. Check out Shelter Brewing Co. for a bite to eat and a refreshing craft beer.
2. Busselton Jetty
- Address: 17 Foreshore Parade, Busselton WA
- Opening hours: 8.30 am – 5 pm daily
A visit to Busselton wouldn’t be complete without a walk along the famous Busselton Jetty. Stretching an impressive 1.1 miles out into the Indian Ocean, it’s the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. It was originally constructed in 1864 and has been extended and repaired multiple times, surviving cyclones, storms, and even a fire.
Bring binoculars for bird watching or to look out for whales and dolphins. Give scuba-diving or snorkeling a try, or ride the fun jetty train. You can also check out the Interpretative Centre to learn about the jetty’s history and significance.
3. Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory
- Website: busseltonjetty.com.au/attractions/underwater-observatory/
- Address: 17 Foreshore Parade, Busselton, WA
- Opening hours: 8.30 am – 5 pm daily
Busselton Underwater Observatory lies right at the end of the jetty and is one of only six observatories of its kind in the world. The observation chamber offers 11 unique vantage points of Geographe Bay’s artificial reef, which is the largest in Australia. This is a fantastic way to see local marine life and learn about tropical and sub-tropical fish, corals, sponges, and invertebrates.
4. Dunsborough
Photo Credit: David Steele
Dunsborough is a popular vacation spot just west of Busselton and is renowned for its beautifully peaceful coves and beaches. Meelup Beach, Bunker Bay, and Castle Rock offer breathtaking views, and there are several picnic and barbecue points along this stretch of coastline, so you can enjoy lunch with a view.
A bike path connects Busselton Foreshore with Dunsborough, offering a stunning 15-mile ride along the coastline. If you visit by car, be sure to drop by Quindalup and Yallingup along the way, both of which are peaceful residential communities.
5. The Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary
Photo Credit: Ric Jacyno
- Address: Layman Road, Busselton, WA
- Opening hours: 24/7
There are several important wetland nature reserves in Western Australia, and Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary is one of the most valuable for the conservation of rare birds.
Some 75 different species can be spotted here, including greenshanks, herons, plovers, kites, eagles, and ospreys. There’s even more wildlife to be seen at the nearby Tuart Forest National Park, which is home to the likes of kangaroos, bandicoots, and possums.
6. Busselton Cultural Precinct
- Address: 2/4 Queen St, Busselton, WA
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm Monday to Friday / 10 am – 1 pm Saturday & Sunday
Busselton Cultural Precinct is the heart of the city’s history and arts scene. Here lies the Old Courthouse Arts Complex — a series of heritage-listed, 160-year-old buildings that once served as a courtroom, police station, jail, and bond store.
Many original features remain for visitors to learn about Busselton’s history, so take a guided tour to hear stories about famous court cases, convicts, and escapees. Another notable part of the Cultural Precinct is the ArtGeo Gallery. Set within a stately former bank, the gallery hosts a wide range of regional, national, and international exhibitions.
7. Busselton Visitor Centre
- Address: 17 Foreshore Parade, Busselton, WA
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Busselton Visitor Centre is one of the best places to visit when you first arrive in the city, as it can help you get the lay of the land and figure out where to explore. Be sure to pick up a free touring map to get acquainted with the Margaret River Region and check out the range of guidebooks for in-depth insights into local trails and wildlife.
8. Busselton Museum
- Website: busseltonmuseum.org.au
- Address: Precinct, Old Butter Factory Complex, 76 Peel Terrace, Busselton, WA
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm Monday, Wednesday to Sunday
Busselton Museum lies on the banks of the pretty Vasse River within the Heritage Butter Factory complex. The museum covers the history of the city across ten rooms, which are filled with interesting historic photographs, memorabilia, and tools.
9. Margaret River Wine Region
Busselton is the ideal south-west location for exploring the Margaret River Wine Region, so book a wine tour to appreciate some of the high-quality wineries in the area. Some tours focus on wine tasting to help you decipher what suits your palate, and others focus on the winemaking process by providing behind-the-scenes access where you can meet the winemakers themselves.
Some tours also have interactive elements, such as letting you blend your own unique bottle of wine.
10. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Photo Credit: alfotokunst
- Website: capesfoundation.org.au
- Address: Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, 1267 Cape Naturaliste Rd, Naturaliste, WA
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and its Lightkeepers’ Museum offer fascinating insights into the Cape’s maritime history. You’ll discover what life has been like for lighthouse keepers over the years and how the challenging coastline has led to several shipwrecks. Plus, when you climb the 59 steps up to the lighthouse’s tower balcony, you’ll get to enjoy amazing panoramic views of the coastline.
11. Wonnerup House
- Website: ntwa.com.au/places-to-visit/wonnerup-house
- Address: 935 Layman Rd, Wonnerup, WA
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm Friday & Saturday
Wonnerup House is a heritage-listed farm precinct that serves as a crucial surviving example of early farm life for pioneers in the 19th century. There are several buildings on the grounds, including a restored stately homestead, a blacksmith’s workshop, and a school.
12. Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience
Photo Credit: Mino Surkala
- Website: westernaustralia.com/uk/tour/ngilgi-cave-ancient-lands-experience
- Address: 76 Yallingup Caves Road, Yallingup, WA
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 4 pm daily
The Ancient Lands Experience begins with a winding walk through scenic bushland, where interactive installations share insights into the Wadandi people’s cultural connection with the land and its wildlife. The walk continues below ground once you reach the entrance to Ngilgi Cave. Here, you’ll see magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites.
13. Jewel Cave
- Website: westernaustralia.com/uk/attraction/jewel-cave
- Address: Jewel Caves Rd, Deepdene, WA
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Jewel Cave is one of the most spectacular caves in the world, thanks to its impressive display of natural crystal ornaments. It has three huge chambers that are softly lit with golden spotlights to highlight the sparkling crystals. The showstopper is a hollow straw stalactite that is the diameter of a single drop of water and an astounding five meters long.
14. Fremantle
The city of Fremantle is a 2.5-hour drive up the coast from Busselton. It lies at the mouth of Swan River amongst limestone hills, which have lent themselves to the construction of the city’s attractive heritage buildings. Fremantle is swathed with gorgeous beaches and offers good opportunities for ferry and boat rides up the river. If you’re planning a road trip to Perth, Fremantle is a great stop along the way.
15. Eagle Bay
Photo Credit: Gordon Bell
Eagle Bay is one of the most luxurious places in Western Australia for a beach break, with the region’s rich and famous flocking to this secluded area to surf, scuba, wine, and dine.
You can easily take a day trip to Eagle Bay to enjoy some fun outdoor pursuits. Check out the local cycling and walking trails, give body-boarding a try, or go snorkeling to admire the artificial reef surrounding the HMAS Swan wreck. When you’re ready to relax, head to Eagle Bay Brewing to enjoy tasty craft brews and a bite to eat.
16. Albany
Photo Credit: imagevixen
Albany is a four-hour drive south of Busselton, but it’s well worth the road trip if you’re a nature lover. There are some incredible natural sights to admire here, such as The Gap and Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park. Albany is where the first European settlers landed in Western Australia, so visit the city’s museums and galleries to learn about its history.
17. Bunbury
Bunbury is a 40-minute drive up the coast and famed for its friendly wild bottlenose dolphin population. Take a dolphin-watching boat tour to see them out in the bay and even swim with them. Sometimes, the dolphins venture right up to the shallows of Koombana Bay so that you can simply wade out from the beach and hang out with them.
18. Tuart Forest Adventures
- Website: forestadventures.com.au
- Address: 12 Ludlow Park Rd, Ludlow, WA
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Thursday to Sunday
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to hang out in the treetops of a forest, this is your chance. Traverse the trees via ropes and wires to see a unique side to the pretty Tuart Forest. There are six large courses set across eight acres of bushland, so set aside around 2.5 hours to make the most of it.
19. Broadwater Nature Reserve
Broadwater Nature Reserve is a suburban wetland that provides vital habitat for a huge range of species, especially migratory water birds. Explore the footpaths and dirt tracks on foot to admire the calm waters and appreciate the birdsong.
Plan Your Busselton Getaway
These are some of the best Busselton attractions on offer but this region of Western Australia has even more to discover when you start exploring. Which must-see sights will you be visiting on your Busselton vacation?
