Busselton, colloquially known as “Busso”, was our gateway to Western Australia (or simply “WA”). We had a short but stopover in this laid-back coastal town and northern doorway into the world-famous Margaret River wine region.
This isn’t a thorough review of Margaret River Region wines, nor a connoisseur’s breakdown of vintages and varietals. This is a snapshot of how we made the most of 24 hours in Busselton (including stepping off our plane and hitting four wineries in five hours).
While Busselton itself sits about 45 minutes north of Margaret River township, our stopover delivered an inviting introduction to the region: elegant cellar doors, an unforgettable sunset, a walk along one of the world’s longest jetties, and a visit to a local brewery to round out our first taste of WA.
- Busselton Itinerary-At-A-Glance
- Where Exactly Is Busselton?
- Getting Into and Out of Busselton
- Where To Stay
- How to Arrange a Wine Tour
- Our DIY Half-Day Margaret River Wine Tour
- Where To Eat and Drink
- Things To Do: Busselton Jetty
- Add This To Your Busselton To-Do List
Busselton Itinerary-At-A-Glance
- Day 0.5: Land from Melbourne, drop bags at the hotel and freshen up. 12:00 PM Pickup for self-arranged wine tour, 5:30 PM beach walk, grocery store dinner.
- Day 1: Breakfast from Old Post Office Cafe, Busselton Jetty Walk and Mini-Tour, Lunch at Shelter Brewing.
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Where Exactly Is Busselton?
Busselton sits on the southwest coast of Western Australia, about a 2.5-hour drive south of Perth. If we hadn’t needed to link up with our host in nearby Balingup, it might never have become a stop on our route through Australia. Western Australia is vast, covering nearly one-third of the continent, and before this trip, the only place I could name (or place on a map) was Perth.
Busselton is best known as a family-friendly holiday town and a launchpad for exploring the Margaret River wine region and Western Australia’s southwest coast.
Getting Into and Out of Busselton
We flew direct from Melbourne to Busselton on Jetstar Airways, leaving just after 8:00 a.m. and landing at about half-past 10:00 a.m. The Busselton Margaret River Airport is tiny. Within minutes of deplaning we were in a taxi (pre-arranged by our friend) and on our way to the hotel – a quick 10-minute drive. After dropping our bags and freshening up, we met our driver for a self-styled wine tour that kicked off at noon.
Jetstar is a perfectly fine budget airline, though they’re (they = budget airlines in general) strict about baggage limits given the smaller aircraft. Carry-on allowance is just 7kg (about 15 lbs), and standard checked baggage is capped at 20kg (44 lb.) – worth noting if you’re packing heavy or coming from the U.S., where most airlines allow up to 23kg (50 lb.).
We upgraded to Starter Plus fares, which gave us a 25kg limit and let us pre-select seats. With multiple flights and different airlines across our three-week trip, a portable luggage scale comes in handy (I prefer a manual scale that doesn’t need to be charged). Without one, every check-in feels like a gamble – especially after a little Melbourne shopping.
When it was time to move on, we made our way north from by South West Coach Lines. Our host kindly dropped us off at the station in Bunbury so we could complete our tour of Western Australia (visiting Rottnest Island and Fremantle before flying out of Perth).
The ride from Bunbury to Fremantle and Perth takes about 2.5-3 hours with stops. Buy tickets online in advance and make sure to allow for extra time if you’re catching a flight, and be mindful of the 23 kg stowed + 5 kg carry-on allowance (you can buy additional baggage allowances online).
Where To Stay
When it came to Busselton accommodation, we opted for the shiny new arrival on the foreshore: the Hilton Garden Inn Busselton, barely a year old when we booked. For our one-night stopover, it struck the right balance of modern comfort and and ideal location.
Locals had suggested The Esplanade Hotel just across the street, but the Hilton felt like the better fit. Our room came with a window bench and a view, and the property features a pool. With Australia just turning the corner from spring into summer, it was warm enough for a morning swim, though some noisy maintenance men briefly disturbed the serenity. The hotel still seemed to be ironing out a few details, but nothing that spoiled our stay.
The location can’t be beat. The Hilton is right across from the Busselton Visitor Centre, practically next door to Shelter Brewing Co., and just a short walk to the iconic Busselton Jetty.
How to Arrange a Wine Tour
With just one afternoon to spare, I first considered a Half Day Wine and Sights Discovery Tour. It promised two wineries, a stop at Cape Naturaliste, and tastings of locally made olive oil and chocolate. The reviews were excellent, and for travelers wanting a mix of wine and nature sightseeing without any planning – or driving – it’s a great value. (It’s also fully refundable within 24 hours if you change your mind or make other arrangements.)
The fixed itinerary was the deal-breaker for us. We wouldn’t be able to choose which wineries we visited (and I had done my research). I wasn’t about to trade wine time for olive oil.
The alternative was hiring a private driver. Busselton has several car services that will not only get you safely from winery to winery, but also help plan a route. They’re a better value if you’re traveling with a group, but less so for just two people.
In the end, we got lucky: we were able to hire a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend with time on his hands to chauffeur us between “cellar doors” (Aussie speak for tasting rooms). We paid less than we would have for a private service, chose the exact wineries we wanted, and enjoyed the freedom of our own flexible itinerary. A win-win (wine-wine?) scenario.
Our DIY Half-Day Margaret River Wine Tour
For our wine tour, I mapped a route west from Busselton toward Cape Naturaliste, then continued south along the scenic Caves Road, winding through vineyards and patches of forest.
Most Margaret River cellar doors charge a small tasting fee ($10–$20), often credited back if you buy a bottle. Many welcome walk-ins, while others offer guided tastings, food pairings, or premium experiences that need to be booked in advance. With only a few hours to spare, I decided to improvise rather than stick to a rigid schedule. I knew roughly where I wanted us to be, and when.
We managed to fit in four wineries in half a day – a speedy but worthwhile tour. Who knew when we’d ever find ourselves back in this part of the world?
Note: Most wineries close by 5:00 p.m. If you’re short on time, start early – we went straight from the airport to the first cellar door.
Flametree Winery (Dunsborough)
Our first pour of the day was at Flametree Winery, a bright and airy cellar door just outside Dunsborough. While it’s the closest of the wineries we visited to the coast, you can’t see the ocean from the tasting room. What you do get are strong beach-house vibes: whitewashed spaces, a wall of windows, and a relaxed lawn with outdoor seating that’s both family- and pet-friendly. Of the four stops on our route, Flametree felt the most boutique.
On our way out we grabbed a bottle of their Embers Chardonnay, blended with none other than 100% Margaret River Chardonnay grapes.
Fishbone Winery (Wilyabrup)
Fishbone Wines‘ cellar door and restaurant was easily a highlight of our tour. We couldn’t be expected to survive an afternoon of wine tasting (after stepping off a morning flight) without eating.
We were lucky enough to snag a walk-in table for a late lunch – as reservations are usually essential. We ate outdoors overlooking fields where cows grazed in the distance, adding to the relaxed country atmosphere.
Fishbone is known for its Japanese-inspired menu, and it didn’t disappoint. We shared agedashi tofu, karaage chicken, eggplant salad, and a double salmon sushi roll. Each dish was fresh, flavorful, and colorful.
Left to our own devices, we would have opened a bottle and spent the entire afternoon there, but more vineyards were calling. If Fishbone is on your Margaret River wine tour list, reservations are a must.
Cullen Winery (Wilyabrup)
After the modern feel of Flametree and Fishbone, Cullen Wines was a complete contrast: rustic, storied, and one of the oldest wineries in the Margaret River region. We dropped in for a casual walk-in tasting, where I splurged on a sip of their iconic Diana Madeline, a red Bordeaux blend named after the winemaker’s mother.
Cullen is renowned for its approach to farming and harvesting according to the biodynamic calendar. It’s Australia’s first carbon neutral, certified organic biodynamic winery.
After our tasting, we wandered through the gardens, took some very classy photos (see above), and purchased a bottle of Amber (60% old-vine Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon), a pick inspired by our WA host, who counts Cullen among her favorites.
Vasse Felix (Cowaramup)
Just across the road from Cullen Wines is Vasse Felix, the founding winery of the Margaret River region. I’d hoped to squeeze it in with Cullen, but we ran out of time.
In addition to walk-in tastings, Vasse Felix offers a range of elevated experiences: a guided cellar tour, a five-course tasting menu at its acclaimed restaurant, and even a package that pairs a vineyard walk and Cape tour with a chef’s menu.
Cherubino Winery (Wilyabrup)
Our final stop of the day was Cherubino Wines. After three cellar doors (counting our sushi-and-sauvignon lunch at Fishbone Winery), we were ready to rest our feet and swap tasting pours for a proper glass.
Cherubino marries Italian-style elegance with vineyard simplicity. With tastings wrapping up for the day, we opted for a glass of red instead. Sitting on an outdoor bench and watching the light fade over the vines was the perfect mellow ending to our whirlwind Margaret River wine tour.
Ending our Day in Busselton
After our big lunch and many tastings, we hadn’t much of an appetite or plan for a formal dinner. Our driver dropped us back in Busselton in time for sunset, so we set out for a barefoot stroll along the beach. The sky blazed pink and orange, and we had it nearly all to ourselves.
Instead of booking another restaurant, we leaned into hotel downtime. After sunset, we wandered into Woolies (Woolworths) for a “grocery girl dinner”: a tub of hummus and a bag of Chicken Twisties – an Aussie classic we’d been told we had to try. It was exactly the meal we wanted: one we could enjoy in pajamas.
Where To Eat and Drink
The Old Post Office Café. For breakfast, we skipped the hotel buffet in favor of a grab-and-go at this quaint little cafe walking distance from the hotel. I had a savory scone with bacon and scallions (paired with a Woolies yogurt for nutritional value). Attached to the café is a small craft and gift shop stocked with handmade local items worth browsing.
Shelter Brewing. It’s impossible to miss Shelter, set right on the Busselton Foreshore next to the jetty. Big, busy, and family-friendly, it feels like half of WA gathers here in summer when school holidays kick off.
Expect a wait at peak mealtimes, but once seated you’ll find a selection of pizzas and classic brewpub fare, including burgers and cones of hand-cut chips. The potato pizza was fine but not great… the brat-style sausage on a pretzel bun was better. We sampled our way through a four-beer tasting flight each. Shelter also offers cider, if hops aren’t your thing.
Shelter’s merch game is strong too: tees and hats featuring gulls and their signature beer cans, and for the bold, bright pink budgy smugglers.
Things To Do: Busselton Jetty
You can’t visit Busselton without experiencing the Busselton Jetty. At 1.1 m (1.8 km), it’s the longest tourist jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching deep into Geographe Bay.
Walking end-to-end takes about 20-30 minutes at a leisurely pace, though you can also buy a ticket for the train that travels (rather slowly) from end-to-end. We chose to walk, which was well worth it for the fresh air, the shifting shades of turquoise and green, and the sight of the Busselton foreshore shrinking in the distance.
At the far end of the jetty is the Busselton Underwater Observatory, a tower that descends beneath the surface to reveal fish, crabs, and other marine life moving with the currents. The full guided tour runs about 1 hour 45 minutes and includes the train ride, with tickets selling out well in advance online – especially during school holidays.
We hadn’t booked in advance, so we tried our luck at the ticket office in the morning for the shorter self-guided mini tour, which allows for 15 minutes inside the observatory at a set time. For us (and likely for most adults traveling without kids), 15 minutes was more than enough time to take in the underwater world.
Whether you walk or ride the train, a trip to the end of the Busselton Jetty is a must, for a shot of sunshine and Vitamin Sea.
Add This To Your Busselton To-Do List
The Berry Farm (Rosa Glen). One spot I really wanted to dine at was The Berry Farm, famous for its country-style lunches, homemade jams, vinegars and berry wines. Unfortunately, it is about a 45-minute drive from Busselton and only open until mid-afternoon.
It came highly recommended by our local host, though making it work would have taken up most of our day. With just a 24 hours to play with, we couldn’t justify the detour.
If I were to do anything differently (aside from staying much, much longer in Margaret River), I’d have dropped one winery and lingered longer over lunch with a glass in hand. That’s the dilemma of travel, though – the world is big, and you never know if you’ll get the privilege of returning to the same place twice, especially when it’s on the other side of the world. You do as much as you can.
We got a wonderful taste of the region. Personally, I leaned toward the more modern cellar doors – Cherubino and Fishbone especially, the latter thanks to its exceptional food – over the old guard. The beauty of wine country is that there’s so much character and variety to partake of.
What a way to kick off our Western Australia adventure! Our local host and friend (we’d met the year before in Puglia) insisted on collecting us mid-afternoon from the hotel for the hour-long drive inland. Why? To avoid kangaroos on the roads at dusk. Only in Australia.
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