My Favourite Family Stays in Busselton

Busselton is a bayside town I keep drifting back to, and I'm a little in love with how gently it handles a family holiday.

This time I'm retaking a trip I fumbled once, so I've gathered my favourite places to sleep around the days I'd plan the second time.

The Frame That Failed

My first family-style trip down this coast went wrong for a dull reason: I chose a bed before I chose a day.

Years of closing the books as a hotel night auditor taught me the base is the whole trip, and I still got it backwards.

So the retake starts with the plans and ends with the pillow. If you'd like to compare as you read, there's a full list of Busselton accommodation.

Jetty Mornings

The jetty is the first thing I'd fix. It reaches 1,841 metres into Geographe Bay, which is about 1.8 km of timber.

The Underwater Observatory sits 1.7 km along it, and tours depart on the hour.

I'd book the observatory first and build the morning around it, because children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult and tired little legs set the schedule.

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   Esplanade Hotel Busselton

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   Esplanade Hotel Busselton - my pick for jetty mornings, just 0.2 km away, with a children's playground for restless legs! Stay here for the walkability; you trade resort-style grounds for it. See hotels in Busselton.

Bay Days and Whale Season

Geographe Bay is the real star of the second attempt. On the Busselton whale-watching cruise, a marine biologist is on board for every tour, and children's prices run up to age 17.

If you'd rather sail from Dunsborough, the Naturaliste Charters tour looks for humpbacks, southern rights and, with luck, rare blue whales on their migration.

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   Broadwater Resort Wa Tourism Awards 2025 Gold Winner

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   Broadwater Resort Wa Tourism Awards 2025 Gold Winner - the beachfront resort for bay days, with two pools, a tennis court and a games room to wear the kids out! Stay here for the water's edge; you trade a compact town base for resort grounds.

A Long Lunch, Without the Guilt

Every family trip deserves one grown-up day. The Margaret River Winery, Brewery Tour with Gourmet Lunch says all ages are welcome, which is the one I'd choose.

For a quieter pace, Tannin Road caps groups at 11 guests and collects you from your accommodation.

If you like a project, Wine for Dudes lets you blend your own wine to drink with lunch.

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   The Timothee Resort

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   The Timothee Resort - a calm Vasse River base for day-trippers, 1.2 km from the town centre and a five-minute drive from the airport, with Curry Port on site for easy dinners! Tripadvisor ↗

Underground and Up in the Trees

Jewel Cave is the largest show cave in Western Australia, and its guided tour winds through three huge chambers, past one of the longest straw stalactites in any Australian tourist cave.

For older kids, Forest Adventures is a 2.5-hour run of climbing walls, tree ascents and ziplines across eight acres of bushland. I'd do the cave in the cool of the morning and the treetops after lunch.

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   Busselton Villas And Glamping Village

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   Busselton Villas And Glamping Village - the self-catering pick for big excursion days, with a kitchen in every room and a pool, play area and games room for the afternoon slump! The beach is an 8-minute walk. Booking.com ↗

Toward the Capes

At Yallingup, Ngilgi Cave starts above ground with the Ancient Lands Experience, an accessible pathway with interactive installations you can wander at your own pace.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is an easy climb of just 59 steps, with a Lightkeepers' Museum in an original cottage.

Further south, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is the tallest on mainland Australia. That's a long day, so I'd pick it only if everyone is happy in the car.

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   Siesta Park Holiday Resort Absolute Beachfront Resort

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   Siesta Park Holiday Resort Absolute Beachfront Resort - my pick if the capes are the plan, with self-contained villas between Busselton and Dunsborough, scattered playgrounds and its own private jetty! You trade town walkability for lawns and sand. Official site ↗

Summer Festival and Street Party

If you can plan around it, the Festival of Busselton is the family event I'd choose. It brings free family events across Busselton and nearby towns from 31 December 2026.

There's a sandcastle competition on the beach, which suits a bucket-and-spade crowd.

In spring, the Queen Street Party on 13 November has live music, food and kids' activities.

What Can Still Spoil It

The big variable is crowds. Ironman Western Australia on 6 December 2026 takes over the jetty and the bay beachfront, so book early if you'll be there.

On the jetty train, prams aren't allowed, so bring a baby carrier.

After midnight, guests at my desk always asked the same thing: where can we eat right now, and is the pool open? Before you book, ask the front desk about cots, late arrival and pool hours, and confirm each one in writing.

The Retake, Judged Honestly

If I had to choose one base for families who want sand and playgrounds, it would be the beachfront villas at Siesta Park.

For no-car days around the jetty, I'd go with the Esplanade.

Treat all of this as a starting sketch. Prices and availability can change, so confirm when you book, and browse the wider Western Australia hotels and apartments if the capes pull you further afield.

Then wander, get a little lost, and find your own favourites!