Perth to Busselton by car: Distance, driving time & stops
The distance from Perth to Busselton by car is 222km, with a driving time of 2h19m. Road trip attractions on the way include Penguin Island, Red Ranger’s Zoo and the Leschenault Peninsula.
The Perth to Busselton drive brings you from Western Australia’s state capital to the gateway city for the Margaret River wine region. Most visitors will take on this drive as quickly as possible, wanting to get to the wineries as fast as they can.
However, the Perth to Busselton drive can easily be turned into an enjoyable road trip with plenty of attractions along the way.
Before leaving, Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special
- Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
- Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
- Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
- Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.
Perth to Busselton distance and driving time
The distance from Perth to Busselton by car is 222km, with a driving time of around two hours and 19 minutes. At first, this journey passes through Perth on the Kwinana Freeway.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
5 fantastic experiences to book in Rockingham
- Go swimming with wild dolphins in Shoalwater Bay.
- See dolphins, penguins and sea lions – on a Shoalwater Bay islands cruise.
- Get closer to the wildlife – on a kayaking tour.
- Try flying with a jetpack – or flyboarding.
- Take a guided sunset hike to Point Peron – with a glass of sparkling wine as a reward.
Where to stay in Rockingham, WA
The best Rockingham accommodation options are:
- For a quality apartment hotel: Quest Rockingham.
- To be close to the wildlife cruise departure point: Island Villas Accommodation.
- For beachside location: Spinnakers by Rockingham Apartments.
- For a pool: Nautilus by Rockingham Apartments.
There are a few short diversions to the coast that may be of interest. You can take the boat to Penguin Island near Rockingham Beach in Rockingham, play links golf in Port Kennedy and take a dolphin-spotting cruise from Mandurah.
4 experiences to book in Mandurah
- A wildlife-centric dolphin-watching tour.
- A shameless fun in the sun pirate boat cruise.
- Hiring a BBQ boat to explore the waterways.
- An atmospheric sunset cruise.
Perth to Busselton drive: Forrest Highway
Just before crossing the Murray River, the Kwinana Freeway becomes the Forrest Highway. The next town along is Pinjarra, home of Ranger Red’s Zoo.
The Forrest Highway then skirts the edge of Yalgorup National Park near Preston Beach. The star attraction here is the ancient thrombolites at Lake Clifton.
Binningup Beach is another delightful stop further south, as is the Leschenault Peninsula near Australind. For most, though, the most likely stop is Bunbury, the second largest city in Western Australia.
Perth to Busselton road trip attractions: Bunbury and beyond
The best things to do in Bunbury include taking a dolphin-watching cruise on Koombana Bay from the Dolphin Discovery Centre.
What to book in Bunbury – 5 fabulous experiences.
- Koombana Bay dolphin-watching cruise – the dolphins live in the bay, so you’ll definitely see them.
- Geographe region wine tours – explore boutique wineries in the up-and-coming region.
- Swimming with dolphins. They’re wild – this is not a dodgy aquarium experience.
- Forest, wine and brewery day tours.
- Dolphin Discovery Centre entrance tickets.
Top Bunbury accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Bunbury are:
- For Koombana Bay location, near the Dolphin Discovery Centre: Discovery Parks Bunbury Foreshore.
- For good quality apartments on the coast: Bunbury Seaview Apartments.
- For affordable rates in a city centre location: Rose Hotel and Motel.
The Bunbury to Busselton leg of the Perth to Busselton drive is only 53km long. There are some excellent beaches along the way. Dalyellup Beach from Dalyellup and Stirling Beach from Stratham act as appetisers for the 14km long beach near Capel known as Peppermint Grove Beach at the northern end, and Forrest Beach in the south.
You can also spot possums and handsome old trees in the Tuart Forest National Park.
Once in Busselton, the centre of attention is the absolutely enormous jetty. Get to the end of it, and you can do an ocean floor walk while wearing an emormous diving helmet.
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.
It’s also possible to take a bus from Busselton to Perth or vice versa. This service takes at least three hours and 38 minutes.
DON’T MISS OUT! 9 fabulous Perth experiences to book today ✅
- ✅ See the Rottnest Island quokkas the smart way – with a ferry and bike package.
- ✅ Be amazed by the abundant wildlife – on a dolphin, penguin and sealion cruise.
- ✅ See clear night skies in a moon-like desert – on a Pinnacles stargazing experience.
- ✅ Indulge in chocolate, cheese & premium wines – on a Swan Valley food and wine tour.
- ✅ See the city sunset from the water – on a Swan River dinner cruise.
- ✅ Watch gold being melted and poured – on a Perth Mint gold tour.
- ✅ Combine nature with imperious city views – on Kings Park Segway tour.
- ✅ Face your fears and get the thrill of your life on a – on a 15,000ft skydive.
- ✅ Find all the best hidden hangouts – on a small bar and street art tour.
More Western Australia travel
Hit the surf at Trigg Beach or swim at Leighton Beach in Perth.
Where to buy Smartrider in Perth.
Swim at Zebedee Springs and Emma Gorge from the El Questro Homestead.
How long is the drive from Perth to Carnarvon?
Where to stop on the drive from Perth to Monkey Mia.