Busselton is a city situated in the Margaret River Region. A vast expanse of shimmering ocean borders it, blanketed with a white sandy beach. It is easy to see why Busselton has a reputation for being a lively beach town, filled with activities such as snorkelling, fishing, whale watching, swimming in the crystalline waters of Geographe Bay and exploring nearby white sandy beaches and coastal paths.
It displays gorgeous destinations that become the backdrop of your wedding dreams. Sometimes, a romantic walk along the coastal town. Busselton lures you in with its unparalleled diversity of tourist attractions. Moreover, it makes you plan a Busselton trip with your family or yourself. Furthermore, you can experience forest adventures, water activities, and art galleries during your Busselton vacation.
It’s also known for its mini-golf course, historic Old Broadwater Farm, or the endangered western ringtail possum in the Southern Hemisphere. These are some of the Busselton attractions. A holiday destination like this calls for scuba diving, the bustling markets, and the delicious staples of Western Australia. So, to make your journey a water-splashing roller-coaster ride, here is a guide to help you familiarise yourself with the things to do in Busselton.
1. A Long Walk Along the Busselton Jetty
The Busselton Jetty was built after the Busselton/Vasse settlement in 1865. As the longest timber-piled Jetty in Western Australia, it extends to a length of 1.81km. It’s the main attraction of Central Busselton. The Busselton Jetty is located in the seaside resort town of Busselton. It is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth, near the northern entrance to the Margaret River Wine Region. It is the most popular attraction in the coastal town, with a stunning view of Geographe Bay to soothe your eyes.
You can take the Busselton jetty train and look around the Busselton area. It also gives you a serene view of Geographe Bay. For campers, Busselton has Caravan Parks where you can park your caravans. So, set your alarm clock! You can have a romantic walk along Busselton Jetty hand-in-hand with your lover. Make memories with the shimmering twilight reflecting on the romantic ocean.
2. A Deep Sea Pool For You to Walk Through
The community organization BJECA built the iconic Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory and Interpretive Centre. Visit Busselton Jetty to see one of the world’s six underwater observatories. The Stocker Preston Express ride around the length of the Jetty gives you 360-degree views of Geographe Bay.
You will be greeted by one of the welcoming tour guides at the end of the Jetty, who will lead you through the underwater observatory. The Jetty’s piles create Australia’s largest artificial reef. It is home to a forest of tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish, and invertebrates. As you descend below the ocean’s surface, you will be guided through the natural wonders beneath the Jetty. You can add this to your list of things to do in Busselton.
3. Ziplining Adventure Through Busselton Forests
In Busselton, you can have family-oriented experiences. Give the kids—or your inner child—a high-adrenaline excursion in Tuart Forest, outside Busselton, with towering trees—race over six distinct sections of ziplines. With varying degrees of difficulty in the form of challenges, experience Tarzan swings and obstacles. Moreover, by ziplining through Tuart Forest National Park, you can experience the forest adventures of Western Australia.
Do your children have school holidays? Could you bring them to this vibrant beach town? Visiting Busselton and its ziplining adventures is a combination that tastes better when eaten together. With such things to do in Busselton, you won’t regret it.
4. Step Inside Busselton’s Arts Complex
One of Busselton’s oldest structures is the Old Courthouse Arts Complex. It is a significant part of the town’s early history on the heritage list. With many things to do in Busselton, you can’t forget about the town’s history.
The Old Courthouse offers an intriguing look into life in the township 160 years ago today. Imagine being imprisoned for 14 days for disruptive conduct in a public place as you explore the chilly, gloomy cells of the prison.
5. The Playgrounds For Kids That Gives Adults Relief
In Busselton Foreshore, you will almost find a swimming area to yourself. It has what looks like an unending expanse of white sand beach. In the summers, visiting Busselton Foreshore is your staircase to heaven. It is safe to swim here under normal circumstances. This foreshore and beach are particularly well-liked. Moreover, at the west of the main Busselton Jetty is a temporary swimming area, which is accompanied by a permanent swim jetty.
Three playgrounds for kids of various ages disperse along the beachfront. Don’t forget to check out the brand-new shipwreck adventure playground, replete with a Kraken and a half-sunken ship. There is a playground designed specifically for toddlers with a railroad motif. If the adults want to dip into swimming pools without worries, this is for you. You can find it between the Busselton Visitor Center and the Youth Precinct.
The foreshore offers several shaded picnic areas with chairs, public BBQs, and restrooms. A vacation to Busselton and missing this destination? Don’t forget to add Busselton Foreshore markets to your list of things to do in Busselton!
6. Step Back in Time with The Busselton Museum
The Busselton Museum is a must-add to your things to do in Busselton. It is located in the Old Butter Factory Precinct. It is a one-hectare area tucked along the banks of the picturesque Vasse River. It’s one of the many Busselton attractions. But, its charm is different from others.
The Old Butter Factory Complex is a heritage-listed structure. It features exhibit rooms filled with artifacts, equipment, and photos. They chronicle Busselton’s family, social, civic, commercial, and maritime history.
7. Let The Lighthouse Signal You Ashore
The northernmost tip of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge divides Geographe Bay’s protected waters from the southern Indian Ocean. With so many grounded things to do in Busselton, let’s add altitude to the mix. Bullock wagons were used to transport limestone from a quarry about 1.5 kilometres away.
Overlook the magnificent scenery while the strong winds freshen you up. The altitude makes for the best social media posts that garner praise and likes. With so many things to do in Busselton now, don’t forget to add this to the list.
8. Busselton Fishing and Boating
In Busselton, fishing is a favourite sport and many great fishing places. And you don’t need a boat to get there, thanks to the vast Jetty! The Busselton Jetty is an excellent spot for fishing because you can catch a wide range of species at any time on its length. It is not impossible to find larger varieties such as samson fish, mulloway, tuna and salmon. The most common fish caught on the Jetty are herring, skippy, gardens, tarwhine, crabs and squid.
Furthermore, if you can access a boat, Geographe Bay has plenty to offer. If you are looking for a place to catch some of the best fishing in Geographe Bay, or if you’d like to explore this beautiful coastline and many sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, there are three boat ramps at Busselton.
9. Rome Through The Vineyard Of Awarded Wines
You are visiting Busselton and aren’t tasting wines? Ape Naturaliste Vineyard is located behind Smiths Beach in a lovely valley. The now-renovated inn offers a charming backdrop to the vineyard. It was once used as a staging area for the coaches travelling from Perth to Margaret River.
The historic stone milking shed served as the property’s cellar entryway. Moreover, it offers the best wines that are made naturally. You can take brewery tours and enjoy wine tasting or sophisticated tongues; this vineyard is heaven you can’t miss in Busselton.
10. The Night With Nocturnal Animal Tour
Nocturnal Animal Tour is a distinctive bush experience in Australia. The journey for it starts with hotel pickups 30 minutes before sunset. It is followed by a short drive to a neighbouring private conservation area to which this group has been granted special access.
You can access the animal viewing area after a brief guided jungle walk from the sanctuary’s entrance. You’ll discover some of the great qualities of the woylies and intriguing local information as the first of the woylies emerges. Kangaroos, bandicoots, and possums are just a few other Australian animals that might be observed on the tour.
If you visit the place, you get a constructed woylie viewing spot in a wildlife sanctuary. The tour includes bush food, native biscuits, endangered plants, and Billy tea. You’ll be taken back to the pre-arranged drop-off spot after your woylie encounter.
11. Visit During The Whale Watching Season
Visiting Busselton and skipping whale watching is the biggest sin. Let’s add it to your list; with such fun things to do in Busselton, you can’t lose the Australian spirit! The annual migration of the Southern Right and Humpback blue whales draws most tourists. Furthermore, Geographe Bay is a rest stop for them, as is Humpback Whale’s southern migration.
Every year, early September marks the start of Busselton’s southern migration whale-watching season through late November. The humpback Migration passes through Geographe Bay, changing the season slightly. You can also observe many activities among the humpback whales, including close mother-calf interactions. Enjoy the spectacle of whale watching.
12. Visit Busselton’s Art Galleries
Are you running out of things to do in Busselton? Don’t fret! The marvelling at Art Galleries to your bucket list. ArtGeo Cultural Complex is one of Busselton’s oldest structures. Moreover, the heritage-listed Courthouse complex was crucial to the town’s early settlement. Additionally, the ArtGeo Gallery is housed in a stunning neoclassical structure constructed in 1938. The gallery hosts a regularly changing calendar of exhibitions by contemporary Australian artists.
You can learn about the colourful history of law and order in Busselton. You know about the infamous people who frequented these facilities. Moreover, you can experience them as you stroll in the magistrate’s room, bond store, police station, gaol cells, and exercise yard. Explore the Old Courtroom’s gift shop! Here, you’ll find a fantastic selection of local artwork, jewellery, pottery, glasswork, cards, and woodwork.
13. Experience The Wonnerup Wetlands Biological Diversity
The Ramsar Convention has designated the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands in Busselton as “Wetlands of International Importance.” It’s because of their contribution to maintaining biological diversity and protecting endangered species.
Each year, more than 30,000 waterbirds from 90 different species use this area. Nowadays, many of these species are incredibly rare. These wetlands are home to Western Australia’s largest regular breeding population of black swans. By visiting these wetlands, you can see teal and black ducks.
They also have pelicans, stilts, coots, avocets, herons, egrets, ibis, spoonbills, grebes, cormorants, sandpipers, plovers, and stints. These are some of the other waterbirds that gather in their thousands. The habitat’s waters teem with freshwater crabs, fish, and mussels.
14. Hike in the Tuart Forest National Park
A picnic, a walk through the forest, or a time to observe nature are all ideal activities in the tranquil Tuart Forest National Park. On the Swan Coastal Plain, it is home to the tallest and most giant Tuart tree specimens. Moreover, some trees are over 33m tall and 10m in circumference. Driving or walking through an entire forest of these magnificent trees is a fantastic experience.
To appreciate and reflect on the sights, smells, and sounds of the forest, there are many signposted hikes and picnic areas. The forest is as beautiful at night as during the day when the creatures are most active. The nocturnal possum stroll is a terrific area to observe forest life in action.
The forest is bordered by the Wonnerup wetland, which has plenty of waterbirds, frogs, and reptiles. They contribute to the food chain of the forest. This is one of the many reasons you should add Australia to your bucket list. It’s a place full of wonders of nature.
15. Night Fireworks In The Festival Of Busselton
Enjoying a fireworks festival in Australian summer is one of the many things to do in Busselton. Begun in 1964, the Festival of Busselton offers free entertainment to tourists during the whole month of January. This family-friendly festival has provided locals and visitors with a tremendous lineup of events and activities. It helps enhance a wonderful vacation in the Margaret River Region.
The Busselton Foreshore offered carnival rides and a free outdoor movie. Busselton’s Biggest Water Fight and the South West’s Biggest Sandcastle Competition also occurred. People participated in the Log Chop and the renowned Petticoat Lane Twilight Markets. This festival ends with everyone’s favourite, the main event concert and fireworks. Count this as a highlight of Busselton’s activities.
17. Em race The Lap Of Sugarloaf Rock
One of the most breathtaking sites in the Northern Cape is Sugarloaf Rock. A stunning new lookout provides spectacular views of the cliff and the ocean. It is a must-see during your visit due to the ample parking lot and amenities.
A vast granite rock known as Sugarloaf Rock rises dramatically from the Indian Ocean, not far from land. You will see why Sugarloaf Boulder is one of the most popular coastal landmarks in the area as you get closer to it.
It’s a gigantic rock that the water has sculpted. Moreover, it is a wildlife preserve and a shelter for seabirds that nest there. It is also the location of the elegant red-tailed tropic bird, which breeds here every year from September to February. You might also observe other types of wildlife. Moreover, playful bottlenose dolphins frequently leap through the nearby surf break, sometimes alongside the surfers.
18. Visit The Rocky Ridge Brewing
A stop at Rocky Ridge Brewing Co. will leave you with an excellent aftertaste of beers. Don’t forget the delicious burgers to fill your stomach, supplied by the team at Margaret River Burgers.
As part of a day trip to Busselton, the location is practical. Families who prefer to leave no one behind can bring their dogs. There is also a quick table service available to quell your hunger. You can get beer tasting along with the food. However, with various craft beers and fantastic food, you can bask in the sunshine of Busselton, Western Australia.
19. Snorkel Tours On Busselton Beaches
Unsullied and undisturbed sandy beaches are a blessing in Busselton. With high visibility and clear blue water, the beaches of Busselton are perfect for all kinds of recreational activities, such as boating, snorkelling, swimming or fishing in Busselton.
From east of the marina to Dunsborough in the west lies Busselton’s rocky beaches. Moreover, you can see the beaches of the South West region, close to the magnificent beaches of Meelup, Eagle Bay, and the vast South West region of the Margaret River. The weather’s so good at the beach every day that walking or cycling along the harborside is an excellent family activity all year round.
20. Experience The Buzz Of Shelter Brewing Co
Shelter Brewing Co. captures the essence of Busselton. For the locals, Busselton is their little piece of paradise and their corner of the globe. With the sand beaches, clear blue ocean, giant fig trees, rows of pines, and, of course, the fabled Busselton jetty.
Relaxed, friendly, and sincere—a place to take in the view of the bay and the warmth of the sun. With a short walk from the iconic Jetty, you get a marvellous brewing experience. It not only welcomes you to a new perspective in town but also celebrates the Busselton you might have known and loved from the internet.
Wrapping up
Home to the longest wooden Jetty, Busselton offers you the iconic Busselton Jetty, Busselton Jetty undersea walk, Busselton Foreshore, and much more. With a destination brimming with hotspots, there won’t be confusion regarding decisions.
You can visit the long shelter of Busselton jetty one day and Busselton Museum the other. Moreover, you can leave your children at the playgrounds of Busselton Foreshore while you immerse yourself in the ArtGeo Cultural Complex. Overall, you have a variety of places to visit, and with each destination, you can check things off your list to do in Busselton.
Last Updated on January 19, 2024 by namitasoren