Busselton Jetty
The Longest Wooden Piled Jetty In The Southern Hemisphere, Extending Almost Two Kilometres Into Geographe Bay Since 1865, With A Small Train Running Its Length And An Underwater Observatory At The Far End Looking Out On An Artificial Reef Of Soft Coral · Busselton, Western Australia
Busselton Jetty is a slender wooden structure running almost two kilometres into Geographe Bay from the small Western Australian town of Busselton, two hours south of Perth, and it has held the title of longest wooden-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere since the pilings first went in during 1865. It began life as a working cargo wharf for the timber trade, was extended in stages, survived storm damage and a slow decline, and was eventually restored as a tourist attraction rather than torn down. A small open train now runs its length on rails laid along the original deck, carrying visitors out to the underwater observatory, a chamber sunk eight metres below the surface where the pilings have grown into an accidental artificial reef thick with soft coral and reef fish that would otherwise need a dive trip to see. Walkers can cover the same distance on foot for free, fishing is popular from the sides, and the view back toward Busselton's beach is reason enough to walk out even without the train or the observatory.
On Geographe Bay in Busselton, about two hours south of Perth, Busselton, Western Australia, Australia
The jetty itself is open to walk daily from early morning to early evening, roughly 8am to 6pm with seasonal variation, and walking the deck is free. The jetty train runs a shuttle service most of the day, generally on the half hour or hour depending on season and demand, with the underwater observatory tour timed to meet it at the far end - exact departure times and the last tour of the day shift with daylight saving and season, so confirm the current timetable at the booking kiosk near the shore end. The observatory tour is a fixed-length guided visit, not a self-paced wander, and both the train and the observatory close in genuinely severe weather. The jetty precinct, including the train and observatory booking office, is closed on Christmas Day.