Bunker Bay near Dunsborough

Geographe Bay

Busselton jetty

Busselton Underwater Observatory

River mouth near Vasse

The town of Busselton, situated approximately 220kms south of Perth, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in rural Western Australia and a premier seaside resort and coastal playground. Busselton has been awarded Top Tourism Town status in the State on numerous occasions.

Busselton jetty

Where is it?: Western Australia: South West . Busselton is 238 km south of Perth and 25 km south west of Bunbury on the shores of Geographe Bay

Things to see and do:

Underwater Observatory: Busselton is probably well 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.
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.
Previously, the privilege of viewing these aquatic wonders beneath the jetty was limited to divers, until the new Underwater Observatory was opened to the public. It is located 1.8 kilometres from the shore, almost at the end of the 2 kilometre long Busselton Jetty. The Observatory can accommodate 40 people at one time. 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.

Surrounding area:

Busselton is the gateway to a region of contrasts, from the tranquil waters of Geographe Bay, to the rugged cliffs of the surfing coast; from ancient caves to picturesque vineyards; from sprawling pastures to magnificent forests.
Beyond Busselton along the sweeping shores of Geographe Bay are the villages of Dunsborough, Yallingup and Cape Naturaliste, all extremely popular holiday destinations offering safe swimming areas for children as well as excellent boating and fishing.
Yallingup is probably best known for its excellent surf. The west coastal area of the Shire beyond Yallingup contains some of the State's most famous surfing breaks and a number of the State's best known and most prestigious wineries and caves as well as large areas of national park and State forest.
A short drive to Busselton's south is the Margaret River winery region and the south west corner of the state, one of the most attractive, picturesque corners of Australia's largest state.

Location: 230 km south of Perth.

Vasse: The nearby village of Vasse holds a unique place in the history of the European discovery and exploration of Australia. The village and the river that runs through it take their name from Thomas Timothe Vasse, a French helmsman second class who visited Australia's shores in May 1801 with a French expedition led by Nicolas Baudin on the ships Geographe and Naturaliste. By all accounts an excellent seaman, Vasse was dumped by a wave during a storm on Geographe Bay, disappeared without trace and was presumed drowned. Baudin later revisited the area hoping to find trace of Vasse but missed the spot and sailed on. The Vasse River was named 'Riviere Vasse' in his honour. In 1834 some Aborigines showed British settlers the grave of a white man who they said used to spend his days gazing out to sea waiting for his ship to return. It seems that this man was Vasse, and contrary to what Baudin believed, Vasse appears to have survived his ordeal and had waited in vain for the return of his captain.

View Larger Map