Busselton
Busselton lies just two and a half hours drive south from Perth on the sweeping shores of pristine Geographe Bay. Crystal blue waters and 30 kilometres of dazzling, white sandy beaches stretch away towards Cape Naturaliste.
Busselton’s tranquil waters are an aquatic playground for those who love to water-ski, snorkel, dive, fish and sail. It’s the perfect place to take the family, indulge in a romantic getaway, or just to sit back, relax and watch the world go by. The town offers a variety of venues for eating out, from relaxed coffee shops to sophisticated and trendy bars, cafés and fine restaurants. There is plenty of adventure, entertainment, nature and historic attractions to keep the whole family happy including mini golf and archery, or even cycling on the foreshore.
As the northern gateway to the Margaret River Wine Region, it attracts visitors year round and is an ideal starting point for a visit to Australia’s South West.
Busselton is named in honour of the Bussell’s - an early and notable family of pioneers - and is probably best known for its 140 year old jetty, which is the longest wooden structure in the Southern Hemisphere. Described as one of Australia’s most unique eco-tourism sites and greatest artificial reef, it is gaining worldwide recognition for its Underwater Observatory placed near its end. It is located 1.8 kilometres from the shore, almost at the end of the two kilometre long Busselton Jetty. From eight metres below the surface of the water, visitors can see the amazing coral and fish life through eleven viewing windows. With more than 300 individual marine species, the Busselton Jetty is host to an awe inspiring “forest” of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates.
Each year during autumn and winter, the Leeuwin Current brings a narrow band of warm water down the Western Australian coastline. This warm southerly current is responsible for introducing an incredibly diverse array of tropical and sub-tropical species into Geographe Bay, resulting in coral growth at a latitude of 33 degrees south. A remarkable phenomenon when compared to the western coastlines of other southern hemisphere continents, which have no coral growth below five degrees south. The interpretive centre, which is 50 metres offshore, gives visitors a glimpse into Busselton Jetty’s rich past and its exciting future.
Many natural and historic attractions are worth a visit in the area surrounding Busselton. The Ludlow Tuart Forest is situated approximately seven kilometres east of Busselton on the Bussell Highway towards Bunbury. It is the finest and only natural stand of tuart forest now to be seen in the world. The trees are estimated to be between 300 and 400 years old. Enjoy the peaceful forest setting with many picnic areas and walk trails.
Take a 22 kilometre scenic drive to Wonnerup House near the Vasse Estuary Wetlands. Built by the Layman family, it’s an important surviving example of early farm pioneering in Western Australia. There is a magnificent homestead (1859) and earlier house (1837) which was later converted into a dairy, plus a kitchen, stables and blacksmiths, teacher house and school. These National Trust buildings set in beautiful gardens have all been restored with many original items and furniture on display.
Take the time to visit the Heritage Park and Trail which commences opposite the Busselton Visitor Centre. The trail includes a range of contemporary sculptures which link the past and present, and includes the acclaimed ‘Aboriginal Interpretative Garden’ as well as a number of historic landmarks such as the Ballarat Steam Engine, Saint Mary’s Church and Pioneer Cemetery.
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