Busselton sits on the sheltered shores of Geographe Bay, about two and a half hours south of Perth, and it has a way of slowing a family trip down in the best possible sense. There’s enough spread across beaches, heritage sites, caves, and wildlife to fill several days without feeling rushed. If you’re planning a Western Australia road trip with kids, here’s everything you need to know about things to do in Busselton.
Page Contents
- What’s the Best Things to Do in Busselton with Kids
- The Busselton Jetty Experience
- Parks and Playgrounds in Busselton
- Cape Naturaliste and the Caves Region
- Nature and Wildlife Encounters Around Busselton
- Culture, Heritage, and Indigenous Experiences
- Indoor Activities in Busselton
- Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Busselton
- Final Thoughts
- Where are the best places to visit in Western Australia?
What’s the Best Things to Do in Busselton with Kids
Busselton works well for families because the water is calm enough for younger or less confident swimmers, and there’s plenty to do without needing a car. In one day, your family could walk the jetty out to the underwater observatory, spend an afternoon at the foreshore beach and playground, and finish with a walk along the water as the sun goes down. It’s the kind of day that can work for a toddler and a teenager alike.
The town itself is compact enough that you can move between the foreshore, the jetty, and the main street without much effort, which matters when you’re managing kids of different ages and energy levels.
(This post includes affiliate links for which we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase. See our full disclosure and Privacy Policy for more information)
LOOKING FOR A GUIDED TOUR?
Check activity availability, the latest prices and book your tickets online here…
| Reader Note: Commissions may be earned from you clicking the links above |
Why Busselton’s Uniqueness Belongs on Your Family’s Western Australia Itinerary
Most coastal towns in Western Australia offer beaches and not much else. Busselton adds a genuinely unusual layer: a 1.8-kilometre timber jetty with an underwater observatory at the end of it, a tuart forest found nowhere else on earth, and a coastline that faces north across the bay rather than straight into the Southern Ocean. That north-facing aspect is what keeps the water so calm, a real practical difference from much of the WA coast. Add in the caves region and the wetlands nearby, and you’ve got a destination that rewards more than a single overnight stop.
The Busselton Jetty Experience
The Busselton Jetty is the kind of attraction that earns its reputation through what it actually delivers rather than through marketing. It’s the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching 1.8 kilometres out into Geographe Bay, and the experience of walking it, riding the jetty train, and descending into the underwater observatory is genuinely layered enough to fill a good half-day.
Walking the World’s Longest Timber Jetty
You can walk the full length of the Busselton Jetty and back, which is a solid 3.6 kilometres round trip. For families with younger kids, the jetty train runs the length of the structure and is a practical option for the return leg. The walk itself gives you open water on both sides, views back to the Busselton foreshore, and a sense of just how far out into the bay the jetty extends.
The Underwater Observatory: What to Expect
At the end of the jetty, the underwater observatory descends about eight metres below the surface into a viewing chamber surrounded by a coral reef that has grown around the jetty’s timber piles over more than a century. The reef supports a range of fish, invertebrates, and coral species that are visible through the observatory’s windows.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Jetty Visit
A few things make the visit run more smoothly with kids:
- Go earlier in the day if possible; the jetty gets busier through the afternoon, especially in summer
- The jetty train is included in some ticket packages; check current pricing and inclusions directly with Busselton Jetty when you book
- Bring sunscreen and a hat; there’s no shade on the jetty itself
- If the underwater observatory is a priority, book ahead rather than assuming walk-up availability
Check current pricing and tour availability directly with Busselton Jetty before your visit.
Busselton Beaches and Foreshore
The Busselton foreshore is where a lot of family time naturally ends up, and it earns that. The beach, the playground, the skate park, and the foreshore path are all within easy walking distance of each other, which means you can move between them without loading everyone back into the car.
Best Beaches for Swimming and Relaxing
Geographe Bay’s north-facing orientation means the water along the Busselton foreshore is generally calm and shallow for a good distance out. That makes it well-suited to younger kids who want to wade and splash without being knocked over by surf. The beach along the foreshore is sandy and accessible, with grassed areas nearby for picnics and shade. It’s the kind of beach where you can set up for a few hours and let kids move between the water and the grass at their own pace.
Busselton Foreshore Playground
The foreshore playground has a specific theme built around humpback whales and tall ships, and it shows in the design. There are large climbing frames shaped to reflect those references, rope ladders, nets, and a sandpit that younger kids tend to claim immediately. The scale of the equipment suits a range of ages, from toddlers working through the sandpit and lower structures to older kids who’ll push further up the climbing frames. It’s a well-considered playground rather than a generic one, and the proximity to the beach means kids can move between the two without much transition.
Busselton Foreshore Skate Park
The Busselton Foreshore Skate Park has one of the largest bowls in Western Australia, which makes it a draw for experienced riders. What makes it genuinely accessible for families is that it also has separate, easier zones designed for beginners and younger kids who are still building confidence on wheels. Kids on scooters and beginners on boards can use the gentler sections while more experienced riders use the bowl.
The Sunset Foreshore Walk
The foreshore path runs along the bay and is a relaxed way to end an afternoon. The walk is flat, paved, and open to the water, which means the light across the bay in the late afternoon is worth timing your walk around. There’s no particular start or end point that matters; most families just walk as far as feels right and turn back. It’s a public path with no access restrictions, so there’s nothing to plan or book.
Parks and Playgrounds in Busselton
The Foreshore Playground covered above is the main draw, but it’s not the only play space in town.
Rotary Park Playground
Rotary Park sits back from the beach near Causeway Road, fenced on both sides and shaded by mature trees, which makes it a calmer option than the foreshore if your family wants a break from the crowds. It suits younger kids especially well, and the walking trails around it make for an easy extension if everyone’s ready to stretch their legs.
Cape Naturaliste and the Caves Region
The stretch of coastline north of Busselton toward Cape Naturaliste adds a different texture to a family trip. The landscape shifts from the flat bay foreshore to limestone headlands, coastal heath, and underground cave systems. It’s an easy drive from Busselton and worth at least a full day.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Tours
The Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse sits at the tip of the cape with views across both Geographe Bay and the Indian Ocean. Tours of the lighthouse take you inside the structure and up to the light itself, with guides covering the history of the cape and its role in maritime navigation. It’s a compact experience that works well for kids who are curious about how things work, and the views from the top give a clear sense of the geography of the region.
Ngilgi Cave: Underground Adventure
Ngilgi Cave is a limestone cave system near Yallingup, a short drive from Busselton, with a mix of stalactites, stalagmites, and cave formations that have been developing for hundreds of thousands of years. Guided tours take you through the cave’s main chambers, and the scale of the formations tends to land well with kids who’ve never been underground before. Tour structures and access can vary by season, so it’s worth checking ahead with the cave directly before you plan your visit.
Simmo’s Ice Creamery and Family Fun Par [Between Busselton and Cape Naturaliste]
Simmo’s Ice Creamery and Family Fun Park is located in Dunsborough, sitting between Busselton and Cape Naturaliste, and it’s a well-established stop that families are known to enjoy. Beyond the variety of ice cream flavors, there’s an 18-hole mini golf course, an adventure playground built around a wooden fort with boat and plane structures, and open lawn space for ball games. It works as a mid-drive stop or as a destination in its own right on a slower day.
Nature and Wildlife Encounters Around Busselton
The natural environment around Busselton gives your family access to experiences that go well beyond the beach. From ancient forest to coastal wetlands to offshore whale watching, the region has a range of wildlife encounters that suit different ages and energy levels.
Exploring the Ludlow Tuart Forest
The Ludlow Tuart Forest is the only remaining natural tuart forest in the world. Tuart trees are a species of eucalyptus found only in a narrow coastal strip of southwestern Western Australia, and the Ludlow forest is the largest intact stand of them. For families, the forest has more than walking trails. There’s a high ropes and zip line course set in the tree canopy, with activities suited to kids from around age four. It’s a bookable experience rather than a walk-up one, so check availability and current pricing with the operator before you go. There’s also a cafe and picnic area on site, which makes it easy to build a relaxed half-day around the visit.
Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands for Birdwatchers
The Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands sit just outside Busselton and are recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. For families with kids who are interested in birds, the wetlands support a large and varied population of waterbirds, including migratory species that travel from the northern hemisphere. The viewing is accessible from the edges of the wetland system without needing to go deep into the reserve, which makes it manageable with younger kids. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Nocturnal Animal Tours After Dark
The bushland around Busselton is home to a range of nocturnal animals that most visitors never see because they’re not out at the right time. Guided nocturnal tours take small groups into the bush after dark with spotlights and knowledgeable guides who know where to look. For kids, the combination of being out after dark and the genuine possibility of seeing animals like quokkas, possums, and gliders up close makes this a memorable experience. These tours run on a structured booking basis, so check availability with local operators before you plan your evening.
Whale Watching Off the Busselton Coast
Humpback whales migrate through the waters off the Busselton coast during their annual journey between Antarctic feeding grounds and warmer northern waters. The season runs through the cooler months of the year in general terms, though the exact window varies, and sightings are never guaranteed. Boat-based tours operate from the region during the season, and some operators also offer the chance to see southern right whales and dolphins. Check with local whale watching operators for current season dates, tour availability, and pricing before you plan around it.
Culture, Heritage, and Indigenous Experiences
Busselton has more cultural and historical depth than its beach-town reputation suggests. The entries in this section cover a range of experiences, from Indigenous cultural knowledge to colonial history to local arts, and they’re worth weaving into your family’s time in the region rather than treating as rainy-day fallbacks.
Koomal Dreaming Cultural Tour
Koomal Dreaming is a Wardandi Noongar-led cultural experience that gives families a genuine introduction to the Indigenous history, knowledge, and connection to country of the Busselton region. Tours cover traditional plant use, storytelling, and the relationship between the Wardandi Noongar people and the land and sea around Geographe Bay. It’s the kind of experience that adds real context to everything else your family does in the region, and it’s worth approaching with the attention it deserves.
ArtGeo Cultural Complex
The ArtGeo Cultural Complex in the centre of Busselton brings together gallery spaces, artist studios, and a courtyard precinct in a heritage building setting. The galleries rotate exhibitions, so what’s showing will vary depending on when your family visits. It’s a relaxed space that doesn’t demand a long visit, and it gives kids a chance to see working artists and local creative work in a setting that’s more accessible than a formal museum.
Wonnerup House and Colonial History
Wonnerup House is a National Trust property a short drive from Busselton that preserves one of the earliest colonial homesteads in the southwest of Western Australia. The property includes the original house, a dairy, and outbuildings, and it gives a clear picture of what early settler life in the region looked like. For kids with an interest in history, the physical scale of the buildings and the detail of the furnishings make the period feel more concrete than a textbook account would.
St Mary’s Church: A Historic Landmark
St Mary’s Church in Busselton is one of the oldest churches in Western Australia, with parts of the building dating to the 1840s. It’s a modest timber structure rather than a grand cathedral, which makes its age all the more striking. The churchyard contains graves from the earliest years of European settlement in the region, and the church itself is still in use. It’s a short stop rather than a long one, but it adds a layer of historical grounding to a walk through the older part of town.
Busselton Museum
The Busselton Museum is housed in the Old Butter Factory precinct on the banks of the Vasse River, which gives it a setting that’s worth noting in its own right. The museum covers the social and agricultural history of the Busselton region, with collections that include domestic objects, farming equipment, and local records. On a hot day or when the weather turns, it’s a genuinely useful option for families who want to stay engaged without being outside. The precinct setting also gives kids some space to move around between exhibits.
Origins Market
The Origins Market is a recurring indoor market in Busselton that combines local produce and artisan stalls with dedicated kids’ activities. It’s framed as a family outing rather than just a shopping stop, and the kids’ activity component means it holds attention beyond the stall browsing. The indoor setting makes it a comfortable option regardless of weather.
Indoor Activities in Busselton
Between the museum, ArtGeo, and Origins Market covered above, Busselton already has good indoor options if the weather turns or the heat sets in. Here are three more worth knowing about, each offering something different.
Timezone Busselton
This is a straightforward video arcade and games venue in the town centre, a genuinely useful option if your family wants an hour of easy, air conditioned fun that doesn’t need any planning. It’s popular for birthday parties too, so it can get busy on weekends.
Busselton Library
The library on Cammilleri Street is a quiet, welcoming space with a garden outlook, and it runs regular community workshops if you want to check what’s on while you’re
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Busselton
When is the Best Time to Visit Busselton
Summer, from December through February, brings the warmest weather and the longest days, which suits beach-focused families well, though it also coincides with Australian school holidays and the busiest crowds. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn offer milder temperatures and fewer visitors, and the whale watching season falls in the cooler months, making it a draw for families who want to combine beach time with wildlife. School holiday periods across all seasons tend to push accommodation demand up, so planning ahead pays off regardless of when you go.
How to Get from Perth to Busselton
The drive from Perth to Busselton is the most common approach, covering roughly 230 kilometres via the Forrest Highway and taking around two and a half hours under normal conditions. Coach services also run between Perth and Busselton, with departures from the Perth city area; check current schedules and booking options with the relevant operators. Having your own vehicle once you arrive makes a significant difference given how spread out the region’s attractions are.
Final Thoughts
Busselton rewards families who give it more than a single day. The jetty and the foreshore are the natural starting points, but the caves, the tuart forest, the wetlands, and the cultural experiences are what turn a beach trip into something more layered. Start with the things to do in Busselton that match your kids’ ages and energy levels, then let the rest of the region fill in around them. Check current pricing and availability for any ticketed or guided experiences before you go, and give yourself enough time to actually slow down.
Where are the best places to visit in Western Australia?
Western Australia stretches from Broome in the tropical north, all the way down and around the coast to Esperance in the south. It’s the country’s largest state, and the landscape shifts dramatically along the way: red desert, coral reef, wild southern coastline, and karri forests, all in one region. If you’re in this region or considering a trip there, check out our Western Australia activity guides for family-friendly stops all along this vast coastline.
DISCLAIMER: This article/page contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, then we may receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you. See our full disclosure and Privacy Policy for more information. Thank you for supporting our site and helping make it the inspiring location-independent, long-term family travel and worldschooling blog it aims to be!