The town of Busselton in Australia’s south-west has been rapidly growing in popularity. You will soon see why as you discover everything it has to offer on a Perth to Busselton Road Trip.
Busselton and nearby Dunsborough offer visitors stunning sheltered beaches, world-class wineries and beautiful forests. All easily accessed down a single highway from Perth.
Those with limited time can still see some of the top highlights on a day trip from Perth. Ideally you want to take your time and explore everything the area has to offer over 2 to 3 days.
This Perth to Busselton road trip guide will show you the best way to spend from one to three days in Busselton and the surrounding area.
Table of Contents
Distance from Perth to Busselton
The distance from Perth to Busselton is 222km by road. This is about 2.5hrs of driving.
Best Time of Year for a Perth to Busselton Road Trip
If you want to make the most of the beaches then plan your trip from summer to early autumn. For whale watching the calving season runs from early September to late November.
Hiring a Car in Perth
Check out the best prices for hire cars in Perth using the form below. No matter where in the world we travel, we always use this search tool to find the best price between various operators. They have an option to include full insurance with no excess, which is highly recommended.
The Best Travel Insurance for Australian Road Trips
If you are travelling to Australia from overseas then make sure you have good travel insurance before hitting the road. We use Heymondo when we travel as it’s perfect for adventures such as hiking, surfing, road tripping etc.
For peace of mind while abroad, Heymondo is one of the most reputable travel insurance companies that will provide you with simple and flexible coverage. Whether you are into adventurous activities or simply looking for trip cancellation and basic medical insurance, Heymondo has you covered.
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Perth to Busselton Road Trip Guide
Day 1
Busselton
Aim to get on the road nice and early today for the 2.5hr drive down to Busselton. Especially if doing this as a day trip you’ll want to make the most of the daylight hours.
Set your GPS for Busselton jetty and you can hit the ground running with your first stop of the day. This is a great spot to come first thing in the morning as the angle of the light is best for photos.
Busselton Jetty
There is a lot to do on and around the jetty. The beach that it extends from has lovely white sand and is perfect for swimming. You can explore the jetty itself in several ways. The most fun of these is the miniature train that runs the full length of the jetty.
Of course you can head out there under your own steam but keep in mind it’s 1.8km each way! The final way to explore the jetty is from underneath. Check out the Underwater Observatory at the end of the jetty to see loads of marine life without getting wet! This experience is only found in 6 places in the world and includes your train ride.
If you want to get wet then the team at Dive Busselton Jetty can organise scuba dives and undersea walks. They also hire out snorkel gear but keep in mind that they don’t operate over the winter months.
Dunsborough
This small town is located another 25km west of Busselton and is surrounded by many of the best attractions in this region. Our recommended lunch options are near here so if you are hungry then you can swap the following two stops around.
If you are doing this Perth to Busselton road trip in 2 or 3 days then staying in Dunsborough will put you closer to tomorrow’s attractions.
Ngilgi Cave
This awesome cave system is less than 10 minutes from the centre of Dunsborough. The semi-guided tours last for one hour and depart every 30mins. You will have an introductory talk from the guide and then have the rest of the time to explore the cave.
This cave offers a really high quality visitor experience, with a boardwalk and thoughtfully placed lights to highlight the best of the formations. The visitor centre has some great interpretive displays detailing the natural history and native legends of the cave.
Opening Hours
9am to 5pm – Daily
Cost
Adult: $22.50
Child (4-16yrs): $11.50
Seniors: $20
Lunch – Wise Wine / Eagle Bay Brewing Co
At this point you should have built up a pretty solid appetite. There are two fantastic options near Dunsborough that combine delicious food & drinks with awesome views. These options are located opposite each other across Eagle Bay Rd. They sit at the top of a hill from which you can see all the way to the coast.
Eagle Bay Brewing is of course all about the beer and serves pub style food. This is the cheaper option of the two and geared towards more casual dining.
Wise Wine has more refined cuisine and is a great spot to visit on a special occasion (or just to spoil yourself!). They have a range of high quality wines and spirits produced locally.
Hit the Beach
After a big lunch, the perfect activity is spreading out a towel and lazing around in the sun! Dunsborough has some of the best beaches in W.A. so you will be spoilt for choice.
If you are just doing a one day Perth to Busselton road trip then head straight for Meelup Beach. This sheltered bay is nice and calm for swimming and has nice soft sand to relax on.
If you want a little more space then Bunker Bay is also a stunning beach with a nice long stretch of sand. It’s also nice and close to the next stop and Bunkers Beach House is another fantastic option for lunch.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
This lighthouse was built in 1904 and is still operating today. There are a couple of options to explore this area; guided tours of the lighthouse depart the visitor centre every hour and detail the inner workings as well as providing the best views from the top.
You don’t have to take a tour to enjoy the area as there is a nice viewing platform overlooking the coast. You can also take photos of the pretty lighthouse and it’s prominent red door. There is a fee to access the site however, which is payable in the visitor centre.
During the whale migration season from early September to late November you might even spot them from here. If you are doing a multi-day trip then you can get up close tomorrow!
Opening Hours
9am to 5pm – Daily
Cost
Site Access
Adult: $4
Child (4-16yrs): $2
Family: $10
Tours
Adult: $15
Child (4-16yrs): $7.50
Seniors: $13
Where to Stay in Dunsborough
You’ll be ending the day in Dunsborough and starting it here tomorrow so it makes sense to book accommodation nearby. Busselton is super close however and has some great beachfront caravan parks if you are camping.
Budget
Dunsborough Beachouse YHA – This hostel also offers basic private rooms for a good rate. You will have the beach in your backyard as well as BBQ facilities. There is a free shuttle into town.
Mid-Range
Lanterns Retreats – This is the best value place you will find in Dunsborough. They have beautifully furnished rooms with large bath tubs. The shared lounge is amazing and you will be walking distance from town and the beach.
Luxury
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort – This place offers pure relaxation after your days out exploring. Their pool area is stunning but Bunker Bay is also on your doorstep. There is an onsite bar, restaurant and spa/fitness centre.
Day 2
Explore the Coastline
The coastline on the western side of the peninsula is full of beautiful viewpoints and photogenic rock formations. Check out some of the popular spots below or alternatively just pick an amazing beach and relax!
Quinninup Falls
This is the furthest south point on the itinerary so if you want to visit here then you can work your way back towards Dunsborough. You will have to navigate to ‘Moses Rock Rd Carpark’ as this is the closest spot. From here it’s a 5.3km return walk along a coastal track to reach the falls.
This is a lovely walk along remote coastline and great way to start the day. The falls are not always flowing in spectacular fashion, in summer they may be close to dry. The walk will take around 1.5hrs.
Injidup Natural Spa
Heading back north along the coast, the next recommended stop is Injidup Natural Spa. This inviting rock pool has a semi-closed off channel to the ocean. When the waves crash into the coast some of the water flows over the rocks and creates a spectacular natural waterfall.
Canal Rocks Bridge
This is a great spot for photographers, with a photogenic bridge crossing a narrow channel between two rocky outcrops. The ocean flows underneath and can be quite exciting during large swells.
Sugarloaf Rock
This one is right back up the peninsula near the lighthouse. Being quite far from the other spots on this list you might want to leave it for later. The lookout here is a fantastic spot to watch sunset this evening.
Sugarloaf Rock is a large rocky outcrop separated from the mainland by a small channel. The hilltop lookout offers great views along the coast and a chance to spot pods of dolphins that frequent the area.
Country Life Farm
This is a great stop if you are doing this Perth to Busselton road trip with kids. This is a comprehensive petting zoo where kids can feed and interact with farm and native animals. There are also extensive and varied playgrounds and rides. If you bring some BBQ food then you can tie this visit in with lunch as they offer picnic and BBQ facilities.
Opening Hours
9:30am to 5pm – Daily
Cost
Adults: $24
Pensioners: $22
Children: $22 (children under 2 years old are free)
Dunsborough Whale Watching Eco Tour
Timing your Perth to Busselton road trip to coincide with the whale calving season is really worth the effort. This is a top spot to get up close to humpback whales, southern right whales, and (if you’re lucky) blue whales.
The whales migrate north along the coast starting from June. In the season above they settle in the sheltered bays around Dunsborough to give birth and nurse their calves. This is when you’ll have an almost guaranteed chance to see them up close.
This recommended tour departs from Dunsborough on a modern boat providing refreshments and snacks. The tour is led by a marine biologist who can give you some interesting info and ensure the protection of these majestic creatures.
Click here to browse times and availability
Sunset
As mentioned in the Sugarloaf Rock section above, this spot is fantastic for watching a sunset over the ocean. Just be careful when driving around the sunset hours as this area has many kangaroos that love to hop on the road.
Day 3
Over the last two days you will have seen most of the highlights in the area. There are several options for how to spend the third day. If there’s anything you missed from above then the first option would be to go and check those spots out.
The second option would be to spend the day taking a well earned rest on the beach. There are so many beautiful beaches around here and it’s always a great time exploring new ones to find your favourite.
The third option and my personal favourite is a wine tour to the nearby Margaret River wine region. This world class wine region produces 20% of Australia’s premium wine even though it only accounts for 3% of grapes grown.
Keep in mind that if you do this tour then you may need to book a third night in your accommodation.
Margaret River Winery and Brewery Day Trip, Plus Gourmet Winery Lunch
This tour has an incredible 5 star rating from hundreds of reviews. They offer pick up in both Busselton and Dunsborough. The day will include tastings at some of the best wineries in the region as well as a delicious lunch of local produce.
You can’t forget about the brilliant craft beer scene either. This tour includes a stop at one of the top craft brewers as well as a cheese and chocolate producer. An all round fantastic way to spend your last day down south.
Click here to browse times and availability
Returning to Perth
If you are visiting Perth on holiday then make sure to check out our comprehensive guide to spending up to 5 days in Perth. There are also loads of other amazing day trips and weekend getaways from Perth just waiting to be discovered!
Designing road-trips is our specialty; if you are looking for more amazing ways to escape the city then have a look at our Perth to Esperance and Perth to Exmouth itineraries.
I hope you have found this guide useful and have as much fun on this trip as we did! Safe travels.
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