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Busselton is a sunny beach city in the South West region of Western Australia, some 138 miles south of the state capital of Perth. It has long been a popular vacation destination for Western Aussies thanks to its attractive white sand beaches and bright turquoise waters.
The wider Margaret River region surrounding Busselton is home to copious vineyards and beautiful countryside in which to drive, hike, and camp. This is a great destination for a family vacation because there’s plenty to do to keep the kids entertained. The dreamy scenery and high number of excellent wineries and restaurants also make it an excellent base for a romantic getaway.
Due to its popularity as a tourist destination, Busselton has plenty of hotels and resorts on offer, but not all of them are set within the city itself. Let’s take a look at some popular neighborhoods in the Busselton region to help you decide where to stay on your upcoming visit to this idyllic seaside city.
Busselton for Classic Beach Breaks
Photo Credit: anek.soowannaphoom
Highlights: Busselton Jetty, Busselton Marine Discover Center, Busselton Underwater Observatory
The heart of Busselton is the ideal place to stay if you’re looking for a classic beach vacation with easy access to the city’s main attractions. Busselton Foreshore is where people flock to soak up the sun and lounge on the beach. The ocean views across Geographe Bay are awesome, and the waters are shallow and calm enough for paddling, swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. There’s also a fun playground for kids featuring a life-sized shipwreck, a giant octopus, and a whale’s tail.
The foreshore is home to the historic Busselton Jetty, which is the Southern Hemisphere’s longest wooden jetty. It stretches just over a mile out to sea and is the perfect place to watch migrating whales between May and December. There are lots of fun family-friendly things to do on the jetty such as riding on the solar-powered Jetty Train, learning about ocean life in the Marine Discover Centre, and experiencing Australia’s largest artificial reef at the Underwater Observatory.
There’s no shortage of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in Busselton, and many of them are within easy walking distance of the jetty and foreshore. Highlights include Bistro Breton which specializes in classic French crepes, and Shelter Brewing Co. which serves craft ales alongside delicious bites.
Where to Stay in Busselton
Check in at one of these top Busselton hotels:
- Busselton Jetty Chalets are family-friendly self-catering units that lie just 700 meters away from Busselton Jetty. Amenities include a covered barbecue area, a children’s playground, free parking, free WiFi, and a free cancellation policy to give you flexibility. Each unit has air conditioning, a private bathroom, and a kitchen equipped with a microwave, toaster, kettle, and full-sized fridge.
- Amalfi Resort Busselton lies 2.8 miles away from Busselton Jetty and is just a three-minute walk away from the beach. Each apartment has a private courtyard or balcony and there are several communal areas to make use of including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a wading pool, a BBQ area, a play area for children, and a tennis court. Units are equipped with kitchens, laundry facilities, lounge areas, TVs with DVD players, and free WiFi.
- Hilton Garden Inn Busselton is a 4-star hotel within a short walking distance of Busselton Jetty and the town center. It has a heated outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
- Aqua Resort Busselton provides luxury self-contained accommodation and beach houses. Some of their units are equipped with private pools, but there’s also a communal infinity pool and an outdoor spa to enjoy. Other facilities include a gym, tennis courts, and a steam room.
- The Ship Inn is an institution of West Busselton having been in operation since the 1840s. This friendly guesthouse has multiple dining areas, a lounge, a sports bar, and a beer garden, and is a firm favorite with the locals who visit to socialize over a few drinks.
- Abbey Beach Resort holds a prized beachfront location that makes this the perfect venue for a relaxing vacation. One, two, and three-bedroom apartments are available with either pool or lakeside views, and there’s a range of facilities to make use of including a gym and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
- Busselton Ithaca Motel & Manor is set on a historic property that dates back to 1896. Seven rooms with shared bathrooms are available in the historic manor house, while the motel has 13 rooms with private bathrooms. There are pretty gardens on-site along with barbecue facilities and a relaxing gazebo area.
- Gale Street Motel and Villas provides comfortable, affordable accommodation less than 800 yards away from Busselton’s main shopping district. Guests here have access to secure, gated car parking and barbecue facilities.
Dunsborough for Sophisticated Seaside Vacations
Photo Credit: bmphotographer
Highlights: Dunsborough Foreshore, Meelup Beach, Castle Rock, Eagle Bay, Bunker Bay, golf courses, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, wineries, breweries
Dunsborough is a 25-minute drive away from Busselton but it has enough excellent bars, restaurants, spas, and boutique stores that you don’t have to miss out on an indulgent vacation. This relatively small and peaceful neighborhood is highly walkable and packed with guesthouses, hotels, motels, and resorts. Its foreshore has white sands, turquoise waters, and trees offering welcome shade. There are several other beaches and swimming holes in the nearby area, such as Meelup, Castle Rock, Eagle Bay, and Bunker Bay.
There are plenty of activities on offer in Dunsborough. The town has two golf courses – Dunsborough Lakes and Dunsborough Country Club — and there are several parks, nature reserves, and hiking trails to explore. Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse offers fascinating insights into the history of lighthouse-keeping in this area — climbing to the top will reward you with incredible panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, Geographe Bay, and the Margaret River Wine Region.
Where to Stay in Dunsborough
The RAC Busselton Holiday Park is one of the best places to stay in the Dunsborough area. It is a 20-acre tourist park nestled amongst natural bushland and a short drive away from Margaret River. There’s a range of self-contained accommodation options to choose from including motel-style rooms and cabins, as well as powered and unpowered campsites and caravan pitches. Some of the accommodation is also pet-friendly.
Geographe for Quiet Getaways
Photo Credit: Ric Jacyno
Highlights: Wonnerup House, Wonnerup Beach, Sabina Nature Reserve
Geographe lies just a couple of miles east of Busselton and is considered a suburb of the city. However, Geographe is where ‘Sandylands’ — one of the first houses in Busselton — was built in 1840 by the brother of one of the earliest settlers of Western Australia.
Nearby is another notable property and a popular tourist attraction known as Wonnerup House. Established in 1832, Wonnerup House represents the challenges faced by aboriginal peoples and settlers during the colonization of this area in the 1830s. The house is surrounded by peaceful bushland where there are great hiking opportunities.
Geographe is a little quieter than Busselton but still has some good restaurants, cafes, and hotels. It has lots of green space to enjoy too, including several small parks surrounding the attractive Port Geographe Marina. You’re within easy reach of Busselton when you stay in Geographe but you might benefit from having a car to help you reach the city’s main attractions.
Where to Stay in Geographe
These are our best hotel picks for Geographe:
- The Sebel Busselton offers modern, self-contained apartments set within attractive, peaceful grounds surrounded by wineries. On-site facilities include tennis courts, squash courts, swimming pools, and a gym.
- Bayview Geographe Resort is a family-friendly property with a four-star rating that offers private villa rentals of varying sizes. Guests can enjoy tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, a heated indoor pool, and direct access to the beach.
- Ringtails Motel offers comfortable, affordable accommodation just ten minutes away from Busselton Beach on foot. It has a seasonal outdoor pool, laundry facilities, and free WiFi.
- Broadwater Resort is a pet-friendly site with a combination of apartments and self-contained villas to choose from. There are lots of recreational activities to try on-site including bicycling, sailing, swimming, fishing, and hiking.
- Discovery Parks is the perfect destination for an adventurous getaway, with accommodation options to suit all styles. There are tent pitches, caravan pitches, glamping tents, and cabins to choose from, and amenities include a swimming pool, laundry facilities, barbecue facilities, playgrounds, a camp kitchen, and an on-site store.
Margaret River for Romantic Holidays
Photo Credit: Margaret River via Flickr CC 2.0
Highlights: Margaret River Farmers Market, Kevill Road Waterfall, hiking, whale-watching
Margaret River is a small town that lies some 30 miles southwest of Busselton and is considered the heart of the Margaret River Wine Region. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and with a stretch of rugged, sandy coastline on its western edge, Margaret River is a beautiful place to stay that’s perfect for a romantic couple’s getaway.
The center of Margaret River is lined with chic art galleries, cool surf shops, charming cafes, and friendly pubs. You can expect extensive wine lists in the town’s restaurants and bars, and fantastic food to complement the tasty local wine. Foodies should head to the popular Farmers Market that takes place on Saturday mornings. It’s where local growers and makers sell a wide range of fresh produce and artisanal food and drink products.
If you enjoy nature and the great outdoors, the Margaret River region is for you. The coastline here is great for spotting humpback whales between June and December. The bush surrounding the town is incredibly biodiverse and looks spectacular when wildflowers are in bloom between August and November. The Wadandi Track and the Cape to Cape Track are two popular hiking routes that offer great opportunities to spot wildlife and take in the beautiful scenery.
Margaret River is a 40-minute drive from Busselton but is a great alternative for those who want to explore the bush. Although the town lies a little inland, the beaches of Kilcarnup, Gnarabup, and Gnoocardup are within easy reach by car.
Yallingup for Surf Trips
Photo Credit: Ric Jacyno
Highlights: Surfing, vineyards
Yallingup is 21 miles west of Busselton, just beyond Dunsborough. It’s famed for its impressive surf breaks at Smiths Beach, Yallingup Beach, Three Bears, and Injidup which are known by surfing enthusiasts all over the world. For those who prefer to swim and fish, there are plenty of sheltered spots to be found along the rocky coastline too.
There are some award-winning wineries in the Yallingup area, such as Cape Naturaliste Vineyard. If you’re a wine-lover the town makes a great base for exploring cellar doors and sampling local chardonnay, cabernets, semillons, and merlots. The area is also known for its exceptional fresh produce so be sure to explore its eateries for delicious gourmet grub. Highlights include Barnyard 1978 and Cape Lavender Teahouse.
Peppermint Grove Beach for Family Vacations
Photo Credit: exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au via Google Images CCL
Highlights: Tuart Forest National Park, Peppermint Grove Beach Lookout
Peppermint Grove Beach is a small residential area 15 miles up the coast from Busselton. Its pretty beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and fishing, and it has a children’s playground nearby to make sure the kids burn off steam.
Tuart Forest National Park lies close to Peppermint Grove Beach and is a popular attraction for families. Head out on foot to admire the towering Tuart trees, some of which tower more than 110 feet tall. Set out on the high ropes course to walk and zipline amongst the treetops, then enjoy a peaceful picnic in the heart of the forest while looking out for wildlife.
Book Your Beachside Stay in Busselton
Now you’ve got the lay of the land in Busselton, you can get started choosing the perfect accommodation for your beach break. What type of accommodation will suit your style and pace of travel when you visit Busselton?
