Eat, drink, adventure or just enjoy the incredible inland & coastal scenery
Thinking of getting away are heading down south? We have compiled all the best things to do in Bunbury & the Geographe Bay Area for your convenience!
Local tips
- Wade knee-deep in the calm waters, take an eco-cruise, or swim with the wild (yet curious) bottlenose dolphins in Koombana Bay.
- Harvey Dam, Honeymoon Pool and Wellington National Park offer great picnic spots, with amazing scenery, great walks and free barbecues.
- Discover the growing range of galleries, wineries and breweries in the Ferguson Valley. Time your visit for an art, wine and beer event.
- Hire a kayak and explore the Leschenault Inlet in Australind. Teeming with bird life, dolphins and native animals, it is a nature lover’s ideal outing.
- Try your hand at water sports, with water-skiing at Lake Stockton, stand-up paddleboarding at Koombana Bay, kitesurfing, white-water rafting and more.
- The perfect day trip is to take a walk through the jarrah forest on trails by picturesque waterways, complete with rapids and natural swimming pools.
- Enjoy that picnic you packed, sizzle a sausage on the free barbecues or, better still, reward yourself with a nearby winery lunch, ranging from ploughman’s to a five-course degustation.
- Many of the smaller wineries have varying opening days, so if you are planning on going out to the Ferguson Valley for wine tasting and lunch, phone ahead to avoid disappointment.
- Don’t leave town without making sure you have a pocket full of coins, or a few fivers. There are so many farm gate stalls you’ll be filling the fruit bowl and veggie basket with the freshest of produce.
Swim with dolphins
The Dolphin Discovery Centre in Koombana Bay, Bunbury is the only place in Australia where you can swim with wild dolphins. It’s an experience you will never forget. Not only can you wade, cruise or swim with the dolphins, you can also learn how to do your bit to conserve the population. Dolphin swim tours operate daily from October to April.
TIP In winter, fewer dolphins visit the centre’s interaction zone. Your best bet is early mornings in summer time.
Rest with a roo
Get up close to the animals at the Bunbury Wildlife Park. It more than lives up to its billing, the kangaroo experience is one of its best attractions, with a shady lawn paddock where you can feed, pat and just laze around with them.
Bunbury CBD
Feast on art
Make your own art trail enjoy a walk through Bunbury's art gallery, take in street art in the CBD, then venture out into the surrounding region to private galleries, studios and winery exhibitions. A purpose-built gallery has just opened in Collie, and features a diverse range of artists.
Country drive
If you like driving, you’re in the right region to go for a spin. Becoming known as the ‘Harvest Highway, the South Western Highway winds its way through small country towns, past orchards with farmgate stalls, vineyards, and forests.
Gnomesville
Take a trip to Gnomesville
Whether you have little people in tow or not, a visit to Gnomesville in Dardanup is a must (and often hilarious!). Something like 3000 gnomes have gathered at the junction of Ferguson and Wellington Mill roads. A perfect stop after wine- and beer-tasting in the Ferguson Valley.
Take a dip
Bordered on the west side by the Indian Ocean, the Geographe Region’s long, white sandy beaches are a trademark. Koombana Bay has calm waters for swimming, while the Indian Ocean is ideal for surfing and fishing, and the Leschenault Inlet is home to mangroves and waterbirds.
For kids
Let the little ones (and the not-so-little ones) run wild at the Donnybrook Apple Fun Park. It's Australian largest free entry playground, with hours of fun, plus free barbecues and cafes either side.