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Busselton
 BLESSED
with glorious white beaches and set on the tranquil waters of Geographe
Bay, it is no surprise that savvy Perth residents have long been
drawn south to the spectacularly attractive township of Busselton.
The wonders of this gem of the south west has inevitably attracted
the attentions of fun-loving grey nomads, as well.
Unfortunately, however,
free and cut-price camping in the area is now virtually non-existent.
Some locals say that these spots were attracting a 'troublemaking
surfie element' which has unfortunately led to their demise. Nonetheless,
Busselton has a big selection of caravan parks and although they
are not cheap, the wonders of the region do provide sufficient incentive
to stretch the budget a little.
A comfortable three-hour
drive from Perth, Busselton boasts some 30 kilometres of sheltered
sandy beaches with calm, clear and safe waters. Many nomads use
the township as a base from which to explore the region's numerous
other attractions. The wonders of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park,
Ngilgi Cave and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse are only a short drive
away.
All along the coastline
you will discover spectacular craggy scenery and some sheltered
tucked-away beaches. Spots like Eagle Bay and Meelup Beach in the
national park are just beautiful. On the western side of the Cape
surfers revel in the larger waves and rougher seas, while sure-footed
fishermen clamber over the rocks in search of salmon.
For the bushwalkers
among you, there is an impressive array of walking trails throughout
the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park with views of the powerful
sea, wildflowers and wildlife. It doesn't get any better than this.
For all its amazing natural attractions, it is its 1.8-kilometre
timber jetty which is Busselton's main clam to fame. Reputed to
be the longest structure of its kind in the southern hemisphere,
the 139-year-old jetty has become something of an icon for tourists
to the region.
Visitors can now choose
to enjoy a stroll along the impressive structure or take a small
train to the end. The Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory opened
for business a couple of years ago and became an instant sensation.
In the first year alone, 86,000 visitors were amazed by the unique
underwater experience on offer. More than 300 individual marine
species have been recorded under the jetty.
If all of this sightseeing
is leaving you a mite thirsty, then you have come to the right part
of the world. Between here and the fabled winery district of Margaret
River half an hour away, there is a myriad of small and not-so-small
wineries dotting the landscape. Goodness, it's a tough life on the
road, isn't it?
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