Busselton Travel Guide & Best Things To Do

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Busselton is one of the most popular coastal destinations in Western Australia’s South West region.

While it’s best known for its iconic jetty, there’s plenty more to do here — from beaches and playgrounds to family-friendly attractions and easy day trips nearby.

This guide covers the best things to do in Busselton, along with tips to help you plan your visit.

This lovely coastal town of Busselton is the perfect place to visit in the southwest region of WA, with breathtaking landscape, beautiful beaches and just a short drive to the world-famous Margaret River wine region!

There’s so much more to do in Busselton than just beaches though. We’ve put together the best things to do in Busselton with kids or for anyone looking for a fun beach destination south of Perth.

Fun Things To Do In Busselton With Kids

If you’re looking for family-friendly activities in Busselton plan to see all the best attractions in Busselton, it’s time to start preparing your itinerary!

While the city of Busselton is a small place within Western Australia there are plenty of places to visit in Busselton or within an hour that will entertain the whole family!

But let’s start with the most famous Busselton tourist attraction!

Busselton Jetty

The Busselton Jetty is an iconic landmark, stretching almost two kilometres out into Geographe Bay. The jetty is the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern hemisphere, at 1.841km long.

The heritage-listed jetty is operated by a non-profit organisation. There is a fee to access the jetty, which is currently $4 per person for a day pass during the Interpretive Centre hours. It is free outside those times.

This fee goes towards the maintenance of the jetty and the day-pass also allows you to fish, dive or swim from the jetty.

The walk takes around 1-hour return, but if walking almost 4km return doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, there is a train!

The Busselton Jetty train takes you from the Interpretive Centre to the aquarium at the end of the jetty.

The return train ride takes approximately 45 minutes, or you can get hop off and explore the jetty attractions and catch a later train once per hour.

The Underwater Observatory

Located at the end of the Busselton Jetty is the Underwater Observatory. This guided tour experience takes you 8m below the water surface to the ocean floor via the spiral staircase.

The Underwater Observatory at Busselton is one of only 6 natural aquariums in the world where you can view over 300 different marine life species in their natural habitat. 

The viewing windows allow you to experience the underwater world in a way that is usually only possible while snorkelling or diving.

Check the website prior to your visit to take note of pricing changes and availability.

Other Jetty Activities

There are also a range of other experiences available at the jetty, including diving, snorkelling, seasonal whale watching, and special tours.

You could easily spend a full day exploring this area alone.

Note: In 2019, Busselton Jetty was chosen to be the Australian location for the installation of an Ocean Guardian electrical shark barrier. This allows visitors to safely explore the underwater environment with swimming, diving and snorkelling.

Busselton Foreshore

The Busselton Foreshore is an ideal place to spend a morning with the kids or a lazy afternoon.

There is an incredible adventure playground with a nautical theme that our kids loved! The Busselton Foreshore Playground has a huge sunken shipwreck, a Kraken and loads of other cool play equipment.

With a huge playground, BBQ areas, picnic tables and more the foreshore is the perfect location for a day out with the family.

If your kids have their bike, scooter or skateboard with them, there is a great skatepark and there are also bike tracks that lead all the way to Dunsborough.

The foreshore is also a perfect place for a stroll as the sun sets in the afternoon.

Busselton Foreshore Markets

Held on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of each month, these markets feature local produce, food stalls, and handmade goods. A great stop if you’re visiting on the weekend.

Beaches

Swimming in Geographe Bay is a wonderful experience during the warm months. The foreshore area has plenty of space to put down a towel and your beach tent for some fun in the sun.

The kids will love climbing the ladders up onto the wooden swim jetty and jumping back into the water. This is a great spot for swimming with kids!

And if you’re lucky, you might even see some dolphins swimming out in the deeper waters!

Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands

Located just out of Busselton, the Vasse Wonnerup Wetlands are a great place to spend a morning.

This is an essential waterbird habitat in WA, home to around 90 different species of birds.

There are some wonderful walking trails to enjoy as you try and sport the birdlife and other wildlife along the way. And during the spring, the area has beautiful wildflowers everywhere.

Forest Adventures Park

Forest Adventures Park in the Ludlow Tuart Forest is a haven for adventure seekers, with more than 500m of flying fox runs and 6 courses to choose from.

The high ropes and zipline courses will give you all a fun challenge.

Whale Watching

Between June and early December, it is the prime whale-watching season in the Indian Ocean, with your chance to see Humpback whales and Southern Right Whales up close from your Busselton whale watching cruise.

ArtGeo Cultural Complex

If you’re looking for something a little different to do, the ArtGeo Cultural Complex is one of the Busselton attractions well worth a visit.

The heritage-listed buildings of the Old Courthouse and ArtGeo Gallery will give you plenty to explore, filled with Federation architecture and furniture over 100 years old.

You can even explore some of those old gaol cells while you are there for a unique look back into the area’s history.

Take A Nocturnal Animal Tour

Take a unique Australian bush wildlife experience to see woylies if you’re looking for something to do in Busselton at night. Visit the exclusive purpose-built woylie viewing site in a conservation sanctuary to see these adorable and furry creatures up-close.

Woylies are small relatives of kangaroos and not an animal you would normally see in the wildlife.

Wonnerup House Museum

If you want to experience what life was like in the area many years ago, then a visit to Wonnerup House Museum is sure to give you some insight.

This heritage-listed building has been restored and filled with items from days gone as an important surviving example of early farm life.

The museum provides insight into the important and sometimes tragic history of the area and Aboriginal culture.

Tours From Busselton

Want to take the planning out of your visit and have someone else do the planning for you? If so, these organised day tours are perfect to see a lot when you don’t have heaps of time to plan your own Busselton itinerary:

• Half-day Wine and Sights Discovery Tour Busselton – See some of the most beautiful scenery in the Busselton, Margaret River and Dunsborough region and sample some local wines and gourmet treats.
• Margaret River Wine Adventure – Take a guided winery tour without having to worry about who is driving! This is a great way to sample a few of the best wineries in Margaret River.
• Half-Day Coastal and Wildlife Eco Tour – Explore the Cape Naturaliste area with a local tour guide to see wildlife, breathtaking scenery and the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.

Day Trips From Busselton

There are plenty of day trips to enjoy from the Busselton region, with a perfect location for exploring the southwestern part of Western Australia.

Margaret River & Dunsborough Region

The most obvious day trip from Busselton is to head to the Margaret River region. And it’s not just for wine lovers, either! There is so much to do in Margaret River with kids.

Many of the wineries and breweries in the region are very family-friendly, with exceptional playgrounds and meals to keep their younger visitors entertained with mum and dad sample some local wine and craft beer.

There are also several places that offer animal encounters in the area, such as Sunflower Animal Farm.

Or if you want some more energetic fun with the kids, a visit to Yallingup Maze, A Maze’n or Xcape The Cape offers plenty of entertainment.

But the thing that really stands out in Margaret River (aside from the wineries) is the natural attractions.

There are several caves with public access, with semi-guided tours, such as Ngilgi Cave. And Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse has a guided tour to the top.

There are also some of the most beautiful beaches in Western Australia, including Bunker Bay, Eagle Bay and Meelup Beach and their white sandy beaches.

Augusta

Head further south from Busselton and Margaret River to see Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta. The drive will take you approximately an hour and 20 minutes, at the most south-westerly point of Western Australia.

This is also the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet.

This is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and it is still a working lighthouse.

The vantage point of the lighthouse is especially wonderful during humpback whale migration season, with spectacular views.

While in Augusta, you can visit Jewel Cave, go stand up paddle boarding or canoeing along Blackwood River, play mini-golf or visit the skatepark.

Check out our 10-day Western Australian road trip itinerary.

Where is Busselton?

Busselton is on the southwest coast of Western Australia. It’s located about 223km south of Perth. The Perth to Busselton drive takes approximately 2.5 hours by car.

Busselton is located around 40 minutes North of Margaret River.

Is Busselton Worth Visiting?

Yes — Busselton is definitely worth visiting, especially if you’re travelling through the Margaret River region.

It’s a relaxed coastal town with plenty to do, making it a great stop for families and road trips.

How Long Do You Need in Busselton?

You can see the main highlights in half a day, but staying overnight or longer gives you time to explore more of the area.

It works well as a base for visiting Margaret River and nearby attractions.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Busselton?

Busselton, WA is a perfect weekend escape from Perth and is especially popular in the summer months when looking for a beach vacation!

This can also be a great time to plan a long weekend Margaret River road trip to enjoy all of what this region has to offer and explore this vibrant beach town.

In the winter months, it is far too cold to enjoy the beaches and water activities, but you will still find plenty to see and do in the region.

Where To Eat In Busselton

There are plenty of dining options around the foreshore, including cafes, takeaway, and restaurants.

Shelter Brewing Co is a great spot for a relaxed meal, while Equinox offers beachfront dining.

👉 Don’t miss Simmo’s Ice Cream — a local favourite.

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There are plenty of things to do in Busselton, from wine tastings to exploring the local wildlife and experiencing the iconic Busselton Jetty. With plenty of family-friendly activities available, Busselton is a great weekend getaway from Perth with beautiful beaches, great dining options and a chance to enjoy the outdoors in the Western Australia south west!

We hope these ideas on things to do in Busselton help you plan the perfect visit! Will you be walking the length of the longest wooden jetty?