Busselton

Busselton, on Western Australia's southwest coast, is best known for its jetty, the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere at 1.8 kilometres. Cruise passengers tender to the jetty itself, where a solar-powered train rattles along the full length to the Underwater Observatory at the far end. Down there, windows look out onto the marine life growing on the jetty's old timber pylons, including fish, sponges and corals. Beyond the jetty, Geographe Bay has calm, shallow water good for swimming. The Margaret River wine region starts about 50 kilometres south, with cellar doors open for tastings. Busselton's main street has a handful of cafés and a small museum. The town is quiet and the pace is slow, which is part of the appeal, though passengers with a full day in port often combine the jetty visit with a Margaret River trip to fill the time.