BUNBURY
WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S SECOND CITY 
 
    Just over two hours drive south of Perth is the State's second city, Bunbury. One hundred and fifty years ago, Lt Henry William St. Pierre Bunbury gave this city its name and since then it has been the centre from which explorers and tourists have travelled and discovered the South of Western Australia.
    Bunbury is more than just a jumping off point - it provides a holiday in itself .....
    Wide golden beaches, 8 km of them along Ocean Drive alone, superb yachting harbour facilities, caves and inlets, great restaurants and accommodation, beach and sea fishing, quiet lagoons, picturesque picnic and barbecue areas close to the city - all make Bunbury a place to linger and enjoy.
Dolphin Fun
 
    And very special - most mornings dolphins, freely and of their own accord visit Koombona Beach near the inlet mouth of the harbour. There is no promise they'll turn up on time - but this is one of the few places in the world where you can get a really close up view of these magnificent mammals behaving naturally. These dolphins turn up because they want to.
A Look Around the City and Beyond
    There's lots to see - the harbour is one of the oldest and most picturesque in the State - you can drive along the long breakwater right up to Koombana Bay. Or you can take another form of transport - the miniature railway dodging in and out of the trees in Forrest Park. Or take a really good look out over the harbours and beaches from Marlston Hill Lookout or an inland view from Boulters Heights with its tinkling waterfall. Then there's the Big Swamp Bird Park with a large walk-in aviary Kings Cottage is another attraction. This is a home built from sun-baked clay bricks made on the site in 1870 which has been furnished with items from the settler period. St. Marks Church Picton is possibly the second oldest church in the State and was first opened for worship in 1842 - its well worth a visit.
    Bunbury is a natural centre for touring the South with its awesome karri forests, splendid coastline and rolling grasslands.
 
The Backpackers Guide to WA says:- 
All areas of the south-west enjoy a daily train and bus service to and from Perth with connecting bus services south of the “south west capital city”, Bunbury. 
In Bunbury there are two specialist backpackers accommodation hostels, along with numerous hotels, motels, guest houses and caravan parks. 
There are restaurants, cafes and food halls to cater for any taste or budget. All hotels offer counter meals for either lunch or dinner. 

Bunbury is famous for its friendly dolphins which come into Koombana Bay just east of the Sailing Club and within easy walking distance of the City Centre. Unlike Monkey Mia, they do not come in to be fed but to merely frolic in the protected waters of the bay. Visitors are welcome to swim or snorkel among these beautiful creatures. 

The city boasts a deep water port catering mainly for the export of mineral sands and woodchips from the nearby tall timber country. 
There are many tours available from Bunbury that can be organised through the Tourist Bureau who can also advise on the many attractions to be seen in and around town. These include Marlston Hill Lookout, the Lighthouse built in 1870, the 150 million-year-old Basaltic Rock, the Twin Cathedrals and many others. 
The Bunbury Recreation and Aquatic Centre is open seven days a week. It has an indoor heated pool, a sauna, solarium and a spa. Located at Hay Park, the centre also offers a gym, squash courts, massage centre, a kiosk and an outdoor picnic area. 

For the surfer, Bunbury has magnificent beaches right at the city’s doorstep off Ocean Drive. 
For the backpacker with a car there are four excellent tours, each a comfortable full day trip that cover most of the south west. 

Plans of these tours can be obtained from the Bunbury Tourist Bureau. 


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