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REGION: South West

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The waters of the capital of the region known as the South West and Western Australia's second largest population centre, Bunbury, mark the point where the warm Indian Ocean waters collide with those of the cooler Southern Ocean. This area is renowned for its abundant wildlife, as well as its bountiful rivers.

The city was named more than 150 years ago after Lt Henry William St Pierre Bunbury, who was sent to explore the lands south of Fremantle in 1836. It now provides visitors with an excellent base for their own regional explorations, although the city itself offers many attractions - a stretch of beaches, caves and inlets, beach-and sea-fishing opportunities, lagoons, superior yachting facilities, picturesque picnic spots and dolphin cruises.

The surrounding hinterland features superb karri forests, spectacular coastline, pretty orchards, verdant grassland and farmstay opportunities. The surrounding towns are worthwhile exploring. Donnybrook is known for its apple orchards, wineries, arts and crafts, while at Harvey visitors will find some of Western Australia's prime beef and best oranges.

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Tourist info

Bunbury Visitor Information Centre

  • Ph: (08) 9721 7922
 

Parks/Reserves

  • Leeuwin Naturaliste NP

latest stories

Margaret River

Busselton is protected from the Indian Ocean swells which makes it a good family beach visitWA | 2009-01-13 | South of Perth, from the city of Mandurah to Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River area in the South West, there are excellent family beaches, some with barbecue facilities. | read more

Scuba Diving in Busselton

Australia's clear oceans make for excellent diving and snorkelling experiences - Image Natural Wanders visitWA | 2009-01-13 | Busselton's Geographe Bay, WA, is home to some awesome scuba diving spots. | read more

Walpole-Nornalup National Park

admin | 2009-01-08 | Walpole-Nornalup National Park in the south of Western Australia is nearly 20,000 hectares of towering karri and tingle forests to coastal heath. | read more

WA Tree Top Walk

Elevated walks protect the natural habitat from human impact - Image Tourism WA visitWA | 2009-01-08 | Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk near Nornalup, south west WA, is a success for Eco-tourism, something that is of great importance to Australians. | read more

 

latest business reviews

Terrible service. Rooms lacking.

razberri | 2009-03-30 | Service rude. Does not comply with building code. | read more

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Main Attractions

Manjimup

  • This region is best known for its towering karri and jarrah forests and is also home to the 'Four Aces' - 4 giant karri trees over 400 years old. The other karri trees here are hundreds of years old and grow over 75m tall.

Australind

  • This historic town is popular for boating, sailing, fishing, prawning, crabbing and windsurfing.

Bunbury

  • Bunbury offers a cosmopolitan seaside atmosphere of beaches, cafes and shopping and many nature-based attractions, such as the Mangrove Boardwalk.

Dolphin Discovery Centre

  • Experience the sight and sounds of these amazing sea mammals through an audiovisual show.

Koombana Bay dolphins

  • The bay is famed for its dolphins, which frolic in its protected waters.

Koombana Bay dolphins

  • The bay is famed for its dolphins, which frolic in its protected waters.

Mangrove Boardwalk

  • Mangroves have been growing here for about 25 000 years.

Old Goldfields Orchard and Cider Factory

  • Here the workings of Donnybrook's historic goldrush era are recreated, with gold panning just one of the activities available. There is a boutique cider factory where adults can taste different brews.

editors picks

Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory

Busselton Jetty, Busselton - Image Tourism WA visitWA | 2009-01-07 | Described as Australia's greatest artificial reef, the Busselton Jetty, WA, is home to an awesome forest of brightly coloured corals, sponges and fish. | read more

Walpole-Nornalup National Park

admin | 2009-01-08 | Walpole-Nornalup National Park in the south of Western Australia is nearly 20,000 hectares of towering karri and tingle forests to coastal heath. | read more

Margaret River

Busselton is protected from the Indian Ocean swells which makes it a good family beach visitWA | 2009-01-13 | South of Perth, from the city of Mandurah to Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River area in the South West, there are excellent family beaches, some with barbecue facilities. | read more

WA Tree Top Walk

Elevated walks protect the natural habitat from human impact - Image Tourism WA visitWA | 2009-01-08 | Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk near Nornalup, south west WA, is a success for Eco-tourism, something that is of great importance to Australians. | read more

Scuba Diving in Busselton

Australia's clear oceans make for excellent diving and snorkelling experiences - Image Natural Wanders visitWA | 2009-01-13 | Busselton's Geographe Bay, WA, is home to some awesome scuba diving spots. | read more

Blackwood River Valley

Apple Harvest in Donnybrook, WA - Image Tourism WA visitWA | 2009-01-07 | In Western Australia, the Blackwood River Valley area is the perfect place to hibernate in some nice accommodation with a good bottle of red, a great book and your favourite person. | read more

Best Places to Go Surfing in Australia

A very stormy Bells Beach, Torquay. greatbig | 2008-12-10 | My home beaches near Mallacoota get good surf occasionally, but other spots in Australia are known worldwide for their quality surfing action. Most head straight for the Gold Coast point breaks (QLD), Bells Beach (VIC) or Margaret River (WA). | read more

Bridgetown Holiday

Bridgetown was once the apple-growing centre of WA - Image Tourism WA visitWA | 2009-01-07 | Bridgetown, WA, is the place to head to for tranquillity and an escape from the everyday. | read more

 

 
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