Best things to do in Busselton, WA: Busselton Jetty helmet walk

There are several things to do in Busselton. But if you’ve only got time for one Busselton activity, make it the Busselton Jetty helmet walk.

The Western Australian town of Busselton is generally seen as a staging post on the drive between Perth and Margaret River. A bus from Busselton to Perth takes around two hours. But there is one Busselton activity that makes it worth stopping by.

Things to do in Busselton, WA

Busselton’s major landmark is the jetty that’s so long, a train runs 1.7km along it out to sea. In the past, this was used by ships loading up with wheat, livestock and timber. Nowadays, Busselton Jetty is mainly used by tourists heading to the underwater observatory at the end.

There’s another way to check out what’s under the water’s surface, though, and that’s Dive Busselton Jetty’s rather ingenious helmet walk. This essentially gives the benefits of diving without having to undergo the training.

The king of Busselton activities involves donning a large, heavy helmet, clipped onto an air tank worn on the back with a harness. The gear is so heavy that it has to be put on in the water at the end of a ladder. This is so it only feels a tenth of the weight. A winch is used to get it there.

5 Busselton experiences worth booking in advance

See ultra-cute, rare marsupials on an after-dark visit to a private wildlife sanctuary.
Taste wines, beers, ciders and gins on a tour of the Margaret River region.
See whales up close on a whale-watching cruise.
Tackle ziplines and a ropes course in an adventure through the forest.
Discover hidden spots on a coast and wildlife tour.

Top Busselton accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Busselton are:

For resort villas surrounded by parkland: Bayview Geographe Resort.
For a solid quality, relatively cheap motel: Busselton Ithaca Motel.
For more a more luxurious stay with a large pool: Sebel Busselton.
For family-friendly facilities: Big4 Breeze Holiday Park.

How the Busselton Jetty Helmet Walk works

Before going under, the guides talk through equalising. You need to make your ears pop by blowing your nose every few seconds as you descend to deeper depths where the pressure is higher.

Once down on the ocean floor, the limitations of the system become apparent. There’s not the freedom to swim around as with diving gear. You have to walk bolt upright to stop water seeping in, which means you can’t see your feet as you’re walking. This makes for an odd experience, and the guide from Dive Busselton Jetty has to lead by the hand as you get the hang of walking in a very different, stilted manner over rocks and pieces of old wood that have broken free from the jetty.

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But it’s worth it, as it’s an astonishing experience. The support pillars of the jetty are covered in brightly-coloured coral, some of it swaying with the ocean current. There are also dozens of fish species down there – including sizable samsonfish and swollen-cheeked pufferfish. There’s also a chance to kneel next to an octopus as the odd cuttlefish swims past.

Busselton Jetty helmet walk cost

The helmet walk experience is not cheap at $183, but it is something completely different. And that makes it the best thing to do in Busselton.

Given that Busselton is 223km from Perth – a two hour and 20 minute drive – this is not the best day trip from Perth. But if you’re on the way to wine tasting in the Margaret River region, a helmet walk off Busselton Jetty is an excellent option for breaking the journey. Night tours to see obscure marsupials such as woylies and quendas are amongst the other things to do in Busselton. Turn up in February, however, and you can take part in the Busselton Jetty Swim.

Accommodation options in Busselton include the Abbey Beach Resort.