Discover the sapphire blues of Geographe Bay

Food always tastes better with a view. Along the coast there are plenty of options to choose from – offering local seafood flavours of lobster and dhufish, fresh sourdoughs, and of course a good flat white or a cheeky chardonnay.

After being completely destroyed by fire a few years ago, this icon of Busselton dining has returned to the foreshore serving the local faithful and its visitors. Sitting right on the beach at the foot of the Busselton Jetty, The Goose is the spot for cocktails at sunset, local craft brews, weekend breakfast or a special dinner out. The ocean views? One of the best in the region, hands down.

Sora is the perfect spot to sip your morning coffee after a beach walk or gather with friends and fam for breakfast or lunch. With its bright, airy vibe and relaxed atmosphere, it’s the ideal place to slow down and enjoy your holiday. The menu focuses on simple, delicious meals made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Located right by the Dunsborough foreshore, it offers stunning views of the bay through large, curved windows.

An understated restaurant on a prized piece of land is Toby’s. Mid-week specials are a great excuse to make this a regular dining choice and happy hour gives the endorphins a hit with 1970s-priced pints and house wines. Take a stroll along the beach before or after your meal and you can really make an occasion of it.

Luckily, Geographe Bay is home to a raft of accommodation options stretching along the coastline from Busselton to Dunsborough. Family cabins, boutique self-contained units and resorts give you plenty of choice. All accommodation is well placed to explore Geographe Bay, with many positioned right on the water’s edge.

Private Properties has a portfolio of 115 South West properties, many of which boast views of Geographe Bay from Busselton, Dunsborough, Eagle Bay and Bunker Bay. These holiday homes offer high-end luxury, with sought-after beachfront locations and a short stroll to the beach. If you’re looking for the ultiate place to take in the azure of Geographe Bay, the properties along Cape Naturaliste should be considered – check out Eagle Bay Beach House, Flametree, Bilyarra, Bunkers Beach House, and Farm Break.

A fabulous location with all the frills, Club Wyndham sits along the shores of Geographe Bay with spectacular views and the opportunity for morning walks along the sand. Great for families or large groups, Club Ryndam offers all the facilities of on-site dining (see Toby’s Restaurant), and space for wedding receptions or conferences.

Another fantastic option is Peppermint Grove Beach Holiday Park which is just over 2 hours’ drive from Perth – positioned north of Busselton. This is a family-run business built with families in mind. The campsite includes a wealth of facilities including mini golf, tennis and volleyball courts, and an onsite liquor store (which always comes in handy!), and the restaurant is open on Friday-Saturday with woodfired pizza. There are studio cabins available and four-wheel drive access to the beach right on the doorstep.

Geographe Bay not only offers an abundance of nature froth for the adventurist, but makes it so accessible, that even the more sedentary traveller can get involved. The wild beauty of the Meelup Regional Park, calm bays perfect for relaxing, and bike tracks for exploring the coast are just some of the activities on offer.

From November to April, Adventure Sailing offers 5-day live-aboard sailing courses, Starsand day charters, and private sailing experiences in Geographe Bay. The courses provide international sailing certifications, while the day charters offer a relaxing way to explore the bay. The team also run a year-round one-day Recreational Skippers Ticket course for those wanting to learn how to safely operate a boat or a jet ski.

Oceania Experiences offers daily Eco & Snorkel tours, inviting you to explore the breathtaking blue waters of the bay. Departing from Quindalup, these tours take participants to hidden gems that can only be accessed by boat. It’s more than just a tour; it’s an opportunity to connect with nature, discover vibrant marine life, and experience the beauty of the pristine coastline. Whether you’re an experienced snorkeller or a first-time explorer, this is the perfect tour to dive into an unforgettable ocean adventure.

Approximately 35,000 humpback whales cruise along the Geographe Bay coastline each year from September through to December. Having been hunted to almost the brink of extinction, the comeback of these marvellous creatures is truly phenomenal. And it’s not just the Humpbacks. Rare pygmy blue whales are occasionally spotted in the bay too, and southern right whales frequent the waters. To get a glimpse of these majestic mammals, book a whale-watching tour, or gaze out at the horizon at any given moment.

This part of the world is truly unique. A biodiversity hotspot with distinct wildflowers (in spring) and animal life that colour the coastline. Meelup Regional Park faces east and northwards, which means it has protection from the prevailing south-westerly winds. A drive along Eagle Bay-Meelup Road is one of the most picturesque parts of the region and does not disappoint – rent your own car with Northside Rentals, and explore more of the region’s transport providers.

Hole yourself up at Point Picquet or Castle Rock Bay for the day and have a picnic, play beach cricket and jump in and out of the water. There are plenty of sandy gems along the coastline of Geographe Bay, but as you get closer to the cape, the striking red rocks against the turquoise water and wide white swathes of sand will make you feel as if you have discovered a tropical paradise.

The Wadandi (Saltwater) people are the traditional owners of this part of Australia. Josh Whiteland is a Cultural Custodian and local Wadandi man who runs Koomal Dreaming – sharing local wisdom on native plants and animals and offering stories and meaning about the land and the Aboriginal seasons. A ‘Kaya’ Cape Experience tour with Josh will take you on a walk around the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse site and concludes with an artefact interpretation and a mesmerising didgeridoo session.

If you’re travelling with kids, it might be good to appreciate the bay from some of the region’s unique landmarks. A day spent in Busselton walking the jetty, riding the train to the end, and discovering the underwater aquarium reveals a wildlife haven below the sea. Geographe Bay is home to thriving reefs and sea life, and a visit to the underwater aquarium provides a more in-depth education piece on these creatures on the sea floor. A few fun facts to kick you off – fish have a strict social hierarchy and some can be bullies, and sting rays have an exceptional memory and can recognise days of the week!