A note before we get started: CARRY YOUR SUNSCREEN WITH YOU IN WA SUMMERS. I am so very sunburnt today.
We started out at 8am to ensure we beat the traffic and had time to wander around Busselton foreshore before our jetty train trip to the underwater observatory. We have both been to Busselton before but don’t really remember it as it was many years ago….and we had never been on the jetty train!
The drive from Perth was about 2hrs 40 mins and we arrived with plenty of time so had some nibbles and drinks at the Shelter Brewing Company. It did seem very decadent to enjoy a cider and a beer at 10:30am. Normal people would sit there and “people watch” but I dog watched instead….so many dogs! The views around the brewery and foreshore are lovely. We didn’t go in the water (a bit cold) but there were lots of kids swimming in the enclosed beach net and jumping off the platforms.
The jetty train (return trip) and underwater observatory tour cost was $36 each to prebook online. The trips going out there still had a few tickets left when we arrived but as it’s school holidays and summer, they were very close to full. The train is electric and solar powered – very cool. It takes you the length of the jetty (1.8kms) with a little commentary about the local area as you travel. At the other end of the jetty is the underwater observatory which is one of only six in the world.
When you get off the train you head inside for your observatory tour. I felt this part was a bit unorganised while we were there – the guide kept telling everyone to be quiet and stay with her as we circled down but there wasn’t enough space on each landing as the tour had so many people so neither kids or adults were listening to her. We ended up staying at the back of the group and just coming down one level at a time behind them. It is very interesting to learn about the artificial reef and how it attracts the fish, you also get to see the fish swimming around and how they change as the levels change while looking through viewing windows. They told us there is a “special needs” seal who sometimes comes and says hello but we didn’t get to see her.
They give you an hour at the observatory but even if you stop at every level and look at each window it won’t take that long. We ended up with 40 mins left so walked up to the end of the jetty for some photos and then waited to catch the train back. Quite a few people from our train opted to walk back the 1.8kms rather than wait ages but I had forgotten sunscreen so we just waited in the shade instead.
We then headed onwards to Margaret River! We stopped at Candy Cow in Cowamarup (a town which embraces its name through the placement of SO MANY GIANT COW STATUES around the place) and bought some snacks while cow-spotting just a few of the 42 life sized fibreglass cows in the local herd.
We are spending the first few nights at an air bnb at Margaret’s Forest Holiday Apartments right in the centre of town. Even though it’s in the town centre, it’s surrounded by bush and is very quiet. There are two balconies we can sit on to enjoy nature (and wine) as well as a fully self contained kitchen. The pricing was very reasonable at $149 a night.
Dinner tonight was prebooked at “Morries” which came highly recommended for their tapas selection and cocktails. Morrie’s was about a 9 min walk from our accomodation at the “other end” of the town strip. They were full (Saturday night) so I was glad we had booked and they also have a 2hr window to be aware of. We tried 4 of their cocktails between us and they were all very good – properly made and no “glossing over” the alcohol amounts. We also tried 4 different tapas dishes and our thoughts are below. We give this place an 8/10 and would return. Bs only issue was the pork belly and mine was the same issue at every place down here – which is they are seriously understaffed so service is a bit of a disaster.
- Croquettes: mmmm cheesey melty goodness
- Pork belly: the sauce was nice but the pork belly bites were a little dry
- Beef cheeks: this dish was melt in your mouth delicious
- White chocolate brownie dessert: even with a GF brownie this was still pretty good
Mel's Travel Blog 