AUTISTIC NICK’S GUIDE TO BUSSELTON

This Wednesday I am heading away for a short break.

So, I along with my mum and sister are heading away for a few days to Busselton to take time to relax and spend time together as family.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BUSSELTON:

Geographe Bay and the Margaret River Wine Region incorporates the towns of Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River and Augusta.

It is an immensely appealing area, where the delicate beauty of nature and the handiwork of man combine to form a unique paradise of unlimited variety.

Come and discover magnificently contrasting spectacles of nature – white sandy beaches, secluded bays, pounding surf, wild caves, rocky cliffs, towering forests and the sloping fields of vineyards our region is renowned for.

Fine dining and world class wineries can be enjoyed throughout the region, from Busselton to Augusta.

Busselton, judged WA’s top tourism town in 1995, 1996 & 2005, is the State’s premier seaside resort town. Sheltered from most prevailing winds, it has 30 kilometres of white sandy beaches and is an aquatic playground remarkable for the variety it offers in the tranquil waters of Geographe Bay.

BUSSELTON

The life of the city is fuelled by the 1.8-kilometre-long Busselton Jetty and the amazing waterfront precinct which has developed around it.

With the jetty as a focal point, the waterfront is brimming with activity. Seaside cafes, kiosks, bars and restaurants give way to bike paths, large shady grassed areas and a calm tranquil white sandy beach.

Take a walk or train ride to the end of the Busselton Jetty, which is one of the main Busselton attractions, to the Underwater Observatory where you can see amazing marine life.

The bustling main street has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with superb alfresco restaurants, cafes and pubs and boutique shops. The allure doesn’t stop there with an events calendar bursting with sporting and cultural events.

Culture vultures can visit the Busselton Museum, the Old Courthouse Art Complex or St Mary’s Church – with countless other attractions like caves, historic lighthouses, wineries, craft breweries, art galleries, restaurants, pubs, beaches and scenic viewpoints just around the corner.

As one of Western Australia’s favourite tourism towns and as the gateway to Margaret River’s premium wine region, tourism is at the heart of this seaside town.

There’re so many things to do in Busselton and plenty of accommodation options ranging from absolute beachfront five-star resorts, private villas, family fun holiday parks, bed and breakfasts and everything in between.

But when we get there what is there to do?

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN BUSSELTON

1. The Busselton Jetty – Take the train or a leisurely stroll out the 1.8km jetty to the Underwater Observatory; voted the ‘No.1 Aquarium in the South Pacific’ by TripAdvisor.
2. Whale watching – charter boats operate from Port Geographe Marina from September to December.
3. Hitting the beach – the calm waters are perfect for swimming, fishing, paddling and snorkelling.
4. Enjoy a scenic drive or walk through the only pure tuart forest in the world. Enjoy a picnic by day or take the spectacular nocturnal possum walk at night.
5. Cycling the awesome beachside bike paths, you can even go all the way to Dunsborough.

This will be my first visit here and in advance of my trip I am preparing to make a list of items that I can have to hand in case of a sensory overload.

SENSORY OVERLOAD BAG: 

Possible contents – sunglasses, ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones, squeeze ball, aromatherapy lotion and anything that might help avert sensory overload.

A SAFE WORD

If it all becomes too much, agree beforehand on a safe code word you can use to alert the person you are with that it’s all becoming too much and that you need to step away to a quiet place/room

FOOD AND WATER:

Planning your food and water requirements is essential to the art of survival. Make sure that your favourite snacks are pre-packed before you head out, and that your favourite water bottle is filled up.

NOTEBOOKS:

A note book is a handy object to carry so I can sit outside in the sun light, write, compose my blogs and keep a journal. I will also be taking a book and a puzzle book as well as my I-pad which has solitaire on it.

NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES:

What a gift from the quiet police! Without noise cancelling headphones I wouldn’t be able to survive.

AN EMERGENCY NOTE:

If it all become too much and you find yourself going into panic, have this note prepared (if you are on your own):

“Hi, my name’s BLANK.
I have Autism, and I find it hard to speak sometimes.
Please call my mum on the following number: “

A WEIGHTED LAP BLANKET:

Basically, the weighted lap blanket releases things inside of your body that send calming signals to my brain if you have the jitters or are squirming and moving and aren’t able to sit still and concentrate properly.

Tonight I’ll be looking at the https://www.margaretriver.com/towns/busselton/ website to plan and work out what places I want to visit or attractions I want to go see.

I’m looking forward to heading away for a few days of rest and relaxation.

Carry on the Conversation

As always, I can also be found on Twitter: @AutisticNick9 and at my email autisticnick9@gmail.com

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Thank you for reading and I will see you next time for more thoughts from across the spectrum.