Voted one of the top 10 places to visit in the world by Lonely Planet, the Geographe Bay region in Western Australia is famed for its breathtaking natural beauty.
Located just two hour drive to south of Perth, here you will experience the extraordinary – from the heights of the largest remaining tuart forest in the world at the Ludlow Tuart Forest, to the depths of Australia’s greatest artificial reef at the Busselton Jetty. The Geographe Bay region is home to the vibrant seaside towns of Busselton, Dunsborough and Yallingup. The 30km of pristine, white sandy beaches create the perfect family holiday destination.
Busselton is the gateway to the Margaret River Wine Region. Named after a prominent pioneering family the town offers much insight into the region’s cultural heritage, with attractions like Wonnerup House, the Old Courthouse Gallery, the Old Butter Factory, Pioneer Cemetery, and St Mary’s Church; and of course, the famous Busselton Jetty and Underwater Observatory are not to be missed.
Busselton makes an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding areas including the Margaret River Wine Region to the north, and Augusta to the south. There are numerous great caravan parks in the surrounding area to enjoy what nature has to offer. Mandalay Holiday Resort and Tourist Park are the more popular ones because they are located right in the heart of Busselton with the gentle waters of Geographe Bay right on the doorstep. The beachside resort is a member of Top Tourist Parks.
Cape Le Grand National Park – Western Australia
Cape Le Grand National Park is situated approximately 30 minutes from Esperance in Western Australia. The park was named after Le Grand, an officer of ‘L’Esperance,’ a ship in the French expedition that was headed up by Admiral D’Entrecasteaux in 1792. This pristine park is renowned for its impressive scenery, including granite outcrops and beautiful beaches. Visitors can swim, bushwalk, fish and camp in the park.
One of the more unusual experiences that Cape Le Grand National Park offers visitors is the opportunity to see kangaroos sunbaking on the beach! Lucky Bay is a good place to view them soaking up the sun.
Kangaroos aren’t the only mammal species to call the park home. Mobs of Emus can be seen just outside the park in the late afternoon, while the honey-possum feasts on banksias, and, after dark, visitors might be lucky enough to spot a quenda, or southern brown bandicoot.
Spring is a great time to visit the park, as wildflowers burst into colour. There are a number of excellent bushwalking trails that take in the impressive coast and the beaches. The Coastal Trail is 15kms one way, a six to eight hour trek which can be broken into smaller sections. The Le Grand Heritage Trail is a shorter option, a 1km circuit.
The Bird Sanctuary, home to numerous native birds, is also worth a visit. It’s an easy walk from Rossiter Bay car park.
Tourist Information:
– Hire Campervans in Australia: DriveNow.com.au
– Caravan Parks: Mandalay Holiday Resort
– Places of interest: Ludlow Tuart Forest, Busselton Jetty, Cape Le Grand National Park,
– Towns of Interest: Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup
– Buildings of interest: Wonnerup House, the Old Courthouse Gallery, the Old Butter Factory, Pioneer Cemetery, St Mary’s Church
