Find our coastal city of creativity! The beach, inlet and the city side-by-side, that’s just one of the amazing things about Bunbury. The fact you can be walking down the main street, turn right, left or continue straight ahead and hit water still kinda melts our heart. Moreover, Bunbury has become an awesome destination for art and food-lovers, with trendy restaurants and alluring little coffee houses dotting street art corners and hidden alleyways.
Check out a jam packed 48 Hours in Bunbury itinerary.
Day One – Perth to Bunbury
Escape Perth at 3pm and be in Bunbury for sunset cocktails! Drive south on Forrest Highway. Allow 1 hour, 45 minutes to 2 hours. Alternatively, take the Australind Train.
Stay
Check into your accommodation – check out our website for inspiration. Try Bunbury Hotel Koombana Bay on the historic Bunbury Waterfront, Bunbury Seaview Apartments or Quality Hotel Lighthouse for an awesome sunset, Hotel Lord Forrest for access to Bunbury’s Victoria Street, or Quest Bunbury Apartment Hotel and Discovery Park Bunbury Foreshore for beach and inlet views.
Table for Two
After Friday afternoon drinks at Bunbury’s historic institution, The Rose Hotel, your next stop is Market Eating House in Victoria Street. Described as a destination restaurant, it’s the sort of place you plan your weekend around. The food is sublime, the service sensational, and the atmosphere relaxed and cosy. Before returning to his hometown of Bunbury, co-owner Brenton Pyke was the head chef of George Calombaris’ Little Press & Cellar in Melbourne. Put your faith in the kitchen and order the Feed Me menu – who doesn’t like a surprise?
Nightcap
End your night at the ultimate hipster hang-out, Lost Bills – a tiny bar with a banging craft beer list, eclectic spirits, and some damn good wine.
Day Two
On Your Bike
The best way to see the Bunbury is by bike. Kick start the day with breakfast at Melo Velo then hire an impressive treadly for the day.
Seek Produce at The Bunbury Markets
No foodie evolution is complete without a decent farmers’ market and there is an impressive one each Saturday morning in Bunbury’s Queens Gardens. Pick up some farm-fresh local produce, plants, wine and more. Continue around the 5km Leschenault Inlet path on your bike, checking out the cafes and pubs at the East Bunbury precinct.
Explore Koombana Bay & Park
Head across the road to Koombana Park to explore Australia’s southernmost mangroves and take in the view at the architecturally designed Koombana Park Lookout. Park the bike and beam along the pathways on an e-scooter, the first in WA (re-opening after COVID soon!). Download the Beam app and you’re away – whizzing past the stunning five and a half metre steel bust, Wardandi Boodja and onto the shipwreck inspired Koombana Footbridge.
Be at One with Dolphins
It’s time to get up and close to nature. A group of around 100 to 150 dolphins live in our surrounding waters. Approximately 20 to 40 of these are considered residents of Koombana Bay and regularly visit the Dolphin Discovery Centre public interaction zone. A must-do activity is the 12 noon Dolphin Eco Cruise where they can often be seen frolicking, playing, sleeping and feeding. Afterwards, head into Australia’s $12M premier dolphin centre which includes an interpretive experience with themed aquariums.
Shopping Time
Ease into the weekend with a commitment-free shopping trip around the Victoria Street precinct where you’ll find little boutiques that are big on style. Start at Sabotage. You’re destined to do some damage here, with the leading Australian labels – think Assembly Label, Stevie May, Neuw Denim, One Teaspoon, and more. Life and Soul Boutique has some of our favourite brands (Auguste, Arnhem, Nobody Denim, Camilla & Marc, Thurley, and Empire Rose, just to name a few), as well as talented up-and-coming designers to discover.
Gin Time
Next up, take a gastronomic trip to Bunbury’s new-kid-on-the-block, Cuprum Distillery. Cuprum is located in a cool warehouse with a grungy, old school whisky bar vibe. Soon they will be releasing their signature gin, which incorporates botanicals that are Indigenous to the South West, and will be open for gin tastings, tours and workshops.
Dinner
Start your night with a wine in Mojo’s streetside sea container. Mojo’s Kitchen, Bar & Bottleshop has one of the biggest wine lists in the region, including local Geographe wines. Sommeliers, Jake Atkinson oversees the selection and runs the craft and local beverage driven bottleshop. Meanwhile, Chef Lee Collins (previously Eagle Bay Brewing) puts his brew food expertise to great use with dishes such as Beef Brisket braised with Rocky Ridge beer, or a Chocolate Stout mousse. Tapas lovers should also try nearby, Funkee Monkee Eatery & Bar.
Martini Moments
Bar come restaurant, Yours or Mine has an eclectic wine list, craft beer and a knock your socks off espresso martinis. If you’re still hungry it also serves incredible South American food. Devour pulled pork tacos, grilled marron with chimichurri or, once again, we recommend saying ‘yes please’ to the Feed Me menu option.
Day Three
Lazy Sunday Sparkling Breakfast
Begin your morning ritual with a Sparkling ‘Champagne’ Breakfast and some of the best views in Bunbury at Vat 2. For only $45 per person, indulge in a fruit platter, French pastries, choice of breakfast off the a la carte menu, coffee or tea, and a bottle of sparkling per couple. Nearby, Corners on the Bay is another local favourite. Afterwards, get some sand between your toes at Jetty Baths or take the walk trail to Bunbury’s famous chequered Lighthouse and Wylaup Rocky Point.
Culture Up
Bunbury is home to the largest collection of street and public art in regional Australia. Pick up the ReDiscover and Out of the Box Street Art Map by Six Two Three Zero and discover the city from a different perspective. Also, find the whimsical characters painted by leading WA artists on 20 electrical boxes scattered through the CBD.
Late Lunch Pit Stop
Seek out a fabulous cafe along Victoria Street. Get your teeth into a dirty south burger at Townhouse Bunbury. If the sun is shining, head to their banging backyard featuring wall murals by local artists. Dine street-side and watch the world go by at Benesse Bunbury.
Remember that charming bistro you visited last time you were in Paris? Venture down Central Arcade to La Pause Miam, a Parisian café with Scandi style. Expect everything from Parisian croquet madame, to duck burgers, bacon and eggs, and stacked pancakes. The pastries are baked fresh and melt in your mouth. Locals vote their coffee as the best in the city! Or, if you are on a health kick visit Plant Organic Cafe & Market for a green smoothie with home-made almond milk and a famous choc spirulina superfood ball.
BRAG About It
It’s sacrilege to visit Bunbury without a pit stop at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries (BRAG). Housed in a very distinctive pink convent, the Galleries are the perfect backdrop for an Insta pic. It is home to the largest collection of public art in regional Western Australia and also offers a program of exceptional rotating art exhibitions.
Stock Up
As you head home, one of your last stops should be the Bunbury Farmers Market. This place is legendary; so much so, many Perth residents travel the two-hour drive to shop. The produce here – much of it sourced from surrounding farms – is mostly organic and explodes with flavour. Grab gourmet pies, homemade soups, the most amazing local and French cheeses, and so much more.
Have more time? Add a side trip to the Ferguson Valley; take a wine tour and cruise through the valley in a classic 1968 convertible Mustang!
