BUSSELTON

When you visit Busselton, you join a long history of holiday-makers who’ve imparted a unique character on this vibrant beach town.

So many families have made memories here, and people return throughout their lives to recreate them for the next generation. While the town itself has grown, what’s important here remains true: holidays are rituals, and they are essential to our lives. Ritual in Busselton centres around the 1.8 kilometre Busselton Jetty, nostalgic in its original timber build. Morning strolls along it take you out to sea, from where you look back in awe and appreciation. Revellers fish, crab, boat and swim in the waters that surround it, and share in what they reap. These are the timeless activities that holidays in Busselton are made of. There’s a sense that these things are preserved here, even as new buildings and precincts form and the event calendar proliferates, full of artistic and cultural glory. Busselton gives so much, and its joys are passed from parent to child, local to visitor, person to person. And so the timeless value of holidaying lives on. Busselton. Pass it on.

BUSSELTON HIGHLIGHTS

Busselton’s city precinct and foreshore offers the perfect fusion of coastal and city life. Spend the morning perusing quality shops, cafes and pubs along Queen Street, then, find perfect views of the famous jetty and of breaching whales along the foreshore where playgrounds, skateparks, and eateries abound.

Busselton Jetty: Built in 1865, the Busselton Jetty has always been the centre of activity in this vibrant beach town. Along its 1.8 kilometre timber piling and in the waters beneath, locals and holiday-makers alike walk, fish, swim and snorkel.

Crafty Pints: Busselton is the unoffcial home of craft beer in the south west, with urban, seaside and bush-block breweries - all of which welcome the whole family - offering up a taste of the region’s best.

Free Events: The event capital of Western Australia, Busselton has a calendar packed full of arts, cultural and sporting events, from CinefestOZ and South West Craft Beer Fest to the iconic Busselton Jetty Swim.

ArtGeo Cultural Complex: This is where Busselton’s art and heritage meet; experience historical tours, witness working artists’ studios, and wander galleries and exhibitions.

Geographe Bay: The seclusion and safety of Geographe Bay defines holidays in Busselton: free and plain enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. From exploring rock pools and sand-castle-making, to long walks with the dog and fishing escapades, Geographe Bay is home.

Fish or Eat Fish: Holidays in Busselton impart new skills, hobbies and memories, generation on generation. Fishing, crabbing and boating are just some of the unique experiences that holidays are made of here; and if you don’t catch anything, there’s always the quintessential fish and chips on the foreshore!

BUSSELTON JETTY

Equinox Restaurant and Bar Playground

BUSSELTON FORESHORE Skate Park The Goose Beach Bar & KitchenJetty Train tours Dive Busselton Jetty Shelter Brewing Co

SIGNAL PARK

ARTGEO Merenj Boodja (bush garden) COMPLEX Artgeo Gallery

Weld Theatre MARINE TCEEsplanade Hotel

20 min

1.4 km

Fat Duck Cycles & Espresso Busselton Central Shopping Centre ORANA CINEMA QUEEN ST

Bistro Breton Zen Body Massage

Hillzeez Down South Surf Shop Fusion Jewellers Phil Hollett Gallery

Busselton Books

TO DUNSBOROUGH BUSSELL HWY

TO PERTH

Town Map

Visitors Centre Restaurant

Café

Bar

Gift Shop Gallery Supermarket Pedestrian/cycle path Dining/shopping precinct Green Space

BUSSELTON’S CRAFT

BEER BOOM

The fact that the Margaret River Region is wine country is not exactly news, but what might come as a surprise to many, is that the region’s largest city – Busselton, loves its crafty pints. New large-scale breweries, fledgling operations, and up-and-comer brewers are defining Busselton as the place with the best (and most audacious) beers in the state.

SHELTER BREWING CO One of the region’s newest breweries that has quickly garnered a loyal following, Shelter Brewing Co takes centre stage on the Busselton Foreshore. It’s big, with a capacity for 600, and designed to maximise the iconic views of Busselton Jetty and Geographe Bay. The impressive two-level structure features an open brewery, function rooms, lounge area, viewing gallery, café and a kids playground complete with a custom built wooden retro caravan. The venue is open all day, starting with coffee and cinnamon scrolls at 7am, then setting up the brewery at 10am. The beer doesn’t come any fresher, straight from the tank to the tap with the core range of beers being

Watch the sunset over the Busselton jetty from Shelter Brewing Co.

pale ales, lagers, and a summer sour. Shelter is born and brewed in Busselton, just like it says on the tin.

ROCKY RIDGE From ‘ground to glass’ Rocky Ridge is one of a few breweries that also grows its own hops on their local farm. The cellar door isn’t on the farm but situated in a renovated 1930s house in the heart of Busselton with 25 taps serving six core beers and 16 or more seasonal brews. Margaret River Burger Co food truck is parked up each day to feed the hungry.

EAGLE BAY BREWERY A packed car park is always a good sign and walking in, it’s easy to see why. Eagle

Bay Brewing feels elegant. A modern venue that enjoys sweeping views over the lawn, and onto the Indian Ocean. The microbrewery is popular with families offering space outside for kids including a playground with a sand pit, long tables, high ceilings and big bi-fold doors that bring the outside in. Open daily from 11am, Eagle Bay Brewing Co pours six handcrafted beers that are naturally brewed: Kolsch, Pale Ale, Lager, India Pale Lager, Cacao Stout and Amber Ale mid strength. The food menu is based around seasonal local produce designed for sharing.

WILD HOP BREWING COMPANY With pretty views over a dam, a valley and onto vineyards beyond, the expansive alfresco area dotted with umbrellas and tables parked under shady cottonwood trees make this place a favourite. The family run Wild Hop Brewing Company does things a little differently. Inside the cellar door, there’s ten taps of batchbrewed beer that are continuously changing, the only constant being the Short Shorts Czech Pilsner. When it comes to food, don’t leave without trying a beer battered pickle. It blew my mind it was lip-smackingly good in a crisp, sweet and salty way.

BEERFARM Beerfarm is exactly what the name implies, an old 80-acre dairy farm with beer. And on the farm are Black Angus cows that feed on grass as well as grains from the by-product of the brewing process, all to minimising waste. Inside the big welcoming barn there’s a fire, high and low tables and at the bar, a core range of beers along with seasonal and speciality brews. The menu changes regularly depending on what’s available from neighbouring farms and local suppliers, with a focus on smoked dishes that are cooked over a combo of fire, charcoal and smoke.

MONKEY BAR VASSE Vasse has been rapidly evolving before our eyes with new bars, creative outlets and retail popping up. Cheeky Monkey brewery have joined the hotspot, and have opened up their production facility in Vasse, wacked in a bar, added some seating, a pool table for fun along with a menu serving pizzas to create Monkey Bar Vasse. Good news, it saves a trip down Caves Road to their main cellar door to grab their freshly brewed beer, which is incidentally loved by families for its spacious setting and huge playground.

BLACK BREWING CO The colossal Black Brewing Co impresses before you even set foot inside. The grand indoor area is flooded with light from large windows, a sky-high wood-panelled ceiling, traditional stonework housing a fireplace that also separates the tasting area and retail space from Black Brewing Co, and several large outdoor areas, plus a deck that overlooks a lake complete with a fountain. Tasting paddles are available, along with Dune Distillery spirit tastings and Ground to Cloud wine tastings. The pared-back menu caters for a range of tastes with dishes such as Korean bang bang chicken wings, miso rosemary roasted pumpkin, maple glazed beef along with a range of woodfired pizzas.

ARAVINA TAPHOUSE — 8 WAVES BREWING CO No longer just making wine, Aravina Estate has launched a new craft beer label, 8 Waves Brewing Co, pouring beers from five rotating taps in the new Taphouse, situated underneath the restaurant. Aptly named after eight famous surf breaks in the region, the 8 Waves Brewing Co ties in nicely to the established WA Surf Gallery that was formed in collaboration with Surfing WA some years ago. Inside, the Taphouse wall is donned with a colourful mural from the distinctive local artist Aidan Lee Smith. The Taphouse offers a tasting paddle, tap cider, cocktails and a casual dining menu featuring seafood baskets, duck spring rolls and a range of stonebaked pizzas. •

BEST VALUE PRODUCER

Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2021

CABERNET OF THE YEAR

Reserve Cabernet, 98 points – Ray Jordan 2021 Reserve Cabernet, 99 points – Halliday 2020 & 2018

BEST OF THE BEST

Reserve Cabernet – Ray Jordan 2021 Estate Rosé – Ray Jordan 2021

CELLAR DOOR OPEN 7 DAYS 889 COMMONAGE ROAD, YALLINGUP WA 6282