Jayco Newcastle Blog

WHO: The Smith Family – Carol, Adam, Logan & Luke @barefoot_and_breastless
VAN: Jayco Journey Outback Pop Top
LOCATION: Busselton, WA

Busselton is a coastal town 220 km south-west of Perth and really has something for everyone. We spent a total of 10 days in Busselton and started our stay on a calm, warm beautiful day. The water was crystal clear and being school holidays there were families everywhere enjoying the water. Groups of children launched themselves off a jetty platform into the sparkling waters with a splash as we meandered to the end to see what it was all about!

We stayed at Busselton Jetty Tourist Park. The location was spot on, just a stroll over the road to the main Busselton Foreshore which boasts a beautiful, netted swimming beach and boarded pool, restaurants, cafes, information centre, and the best play park ever (according to the boys, 5 and 7)! In addition, the location is within walking distance to the main town shopping area where you can grab your groceries or stop in at a café for a coffee. The tourist park facilities were fantastic, clean, modern and there was plenty of grass and trees to provide shade. We absolutely loved walking down to the Busselton jetty from the caravan for sunset and an arvo park play or quick beverage at the local waterfront brewery named ‘Shelter’.

Busselton is known for having the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. The 1.814-kilometre-long jetty has survived a cyclone, storm and fire! You can either walk the jetty or take the jetty train to reach the Underwater Observatory at the end. It is essential to book the family passes ($99) which include a return train journey and tour of the Observatory as they book up quick. The Observatory is an underwater gallery that takes you 8m down amongst the jetty’s wooden piles. You ascend down a beautiful elliptical staircase with windows like artwork revealing the vivid hidden world of coral, sponges, fish and invertebrates. Over 300 species are ready for you to explore both through the windows and on a touch screen database which the boys delightedly scrolled through trying to spot what they found outside. It was well worth the money.

The train was also a hit! At each end of the jetty, the train is required to unhook and drive to the other end of the train to pull it the other way! The kids loved to watch this and although the train goes no faster than you could walk the jetty, it is a unique and fun way to travel.

During business hours it costs $4 per adult to access the jetty but before 9.30 am and after 4.15 pm Sunday-Friday it’s free so an evening fishing or walk along the jetty won’t cost you anything. (Saturday’s hrs – 8.30am-5:15pm).

Busselton is a beautiful spot to base yourself if you want to day trip to the Margaret River area with the wineries and beautiful beaches not far south within an hours drive. We ventured to the following places which we would highly recommend:

• “The Aquarium” in Yallingup. This is an excellent rock pool great for snorkelling and swimming in a protected area tucked away from the ocean swell. It requires a 15minute walk from the Canal Rock Lookout.
• “Canal Rocks Bridge” in Yallingup. This is a timber walkway over Canal Rocks where you can view the surge of the ocean swell being squeezed between a narrow gorge rock platform. A nice spot to sit and soak up the ocean.
• “North Point Beach” is a great lookout and beach to access if you have a 4wd. The track there is simple but narrow and great fun for 4wd beginners.
• “Wyadup Rocks – Injidup Natural Spa” is a great natural rock pool where the ocean surge topples over into the pool creating a natural cascade of bubbles filling the rock pool.
• Hamelin Bay Boat Ramp – you can visit here if you want to see stingrays up close in the shallows. If you’re lucky you may be able to touch one as they flap up onto the beach with the surge of the water.
• “Mammoth Caves” – located in Forest Grove, Mammoth Caves is an easily accessible nature experience, home to ancient fossil remains. It is open 9 am to 5 pm daily. You can book self-guided audio tours Adult $22.50, Child (4-16yrs) $11.50, Seniors $20.
• “Beerfarm” located in Metricup. We visited here for a fantastic lunch and the best lamb ribs we have ever had and fantastic brews! It also has a long ‘slip and slide’ for the kids in the warmer months.

We recommend booking ahead of time for your first few nights if you plan on visiting the Busselton and Margaret River areas, especially during the school holiday period as a lot of families travel down from Perth during these times. There are several wineries with powered sites where you can stay for the cost of a bottle of wine each night to numerous holiday parks and some campgrounds to choose from. Our pick was Busselton and if we were to stay in the area in future we would not hesitate to use Busselton as our base to explore more of what this region WA has to offer.

WHERE: Busselton Jetty Tourist Park

COST: $66.00 per night – 2A 2C – Powered Caravan Site

FACILITIES: BBQ & Camp Kitchen area, Pet Friendly, Laundry, Dump Point, onsite cabin accommodation, powered grassed caravan and tent sites, some sites with concrete pads