Photography – Helen Janneson Bense

Locations – Ayatana by the bay | Busselton Jetty Train ride and Underwater Observatory | Wonnerup beach | Forest beach | Aquarium | Injidup Natural Spa | Ludlow Tuart Forest

Bookings – Ayatana by the bay

Welcome to Ayatana by the bay, a luxury, coastal inspired home on the Geographe bay beachfront in Busselton. 

Ayatana means “the place where your senses dwell” It’s a nurturing, calming space to rest and retreat, to adventure and explore, to immerse your senses and spark joy. The carefully thought out design and well stocked amenities made it feel more like a home than most stays. 

The beautiful and calm Geographe bay is right on your doorstep. Each morning I would head to the beach with a chai and watch the sunrise. During the day I was exploring the many wonders of this region, paddle boarding, swimming and hiking. Afternoons were spent soaking in the luxurious bathtub, enjoying the sun on the front deck or taking a little nap in the super comfortable master bed. In the evenings I relaxed in the alfresco area with the magnificent sunset views. And at night I enjoyed a toasty outdoor fire as the dark night sky came alight with a kaleidoscope of stars. 

What sets this space apart is its stunning beachfront location, dreamy ocean vistas, and amazing fire pit overlooking the beach. Ayatana is the ideal vacation home for families, couples, or a group of friends. It’s a beautifully designed 4 bedroom beach house with 2 kitchen spaces, 2 bathrooms plus multiple lounge spaces to enjoy for groups. There’s also ocean toys, a kayak, stand up paddle board and bikes for guest use. 

The outdoor area at Ayatana really deserves special mention as it is perfectly situated for watching the sunset. Enjoy a complimentary wine while soaking in the quiet beachfront views in luxe comfort. The space is setup up with privacy screens, night mood lighting and a heater. When the afternoon sun hits, lounge in one of the comfiest sun chairs and soak up that glorious sun. There’s a bbq so you can enjoy dinner while taking in the quiet peacefulness of the evening. 

In the cooler months you can light the outdoor fire and even order in and have dinner by the fire. The well equipped kitchen has marshmallows on hand for roasting over the fire pit. There’s also a beautiful selection of high quality teas including the most delicious chocolate chai. 

Make sure to bookmark this spot for your next trip down south. For first timers to the Margaret River region this is an ideal location to be close to shops, restaurants and its proximity to the Busselton jetty and beach. Make sure to explore some of the local spots like Wonnerup beach, Ludlow Tuart forest and Forest beach. A little further afield there is Cape naturaliste, Injidup natural spa and the Aquarium which are all iconic locations to visit on any trip to the Margaret River region.

Take a short drive or a walk along the beachfront path to Busselton jetty and enjoy breakfast at the idyllic beachfront cafe The Goose. Head on the Busselton jetty train tour, an electric solar powered train that runs along a 1.8km scenic ride and learn about the history of the jetty. At the end of the jetty make sure to explore the underwater observatory. You’ll descend 6 flights of stairs in a 9.5m diameter observation chamber to see the largest artificial reef in Australia. It has 11 viewing windows and is filled with over 300 different species of marine life. If you’re feeling adventurous you can snorkel and dive here and explore the underwater sculptures created by local WA artists. A waterproof map can be purchased from the interpretative centre. They even have a shark deterrent in place for those concerned about shark interactions.

Here is a little information and a few travel tips for this region –

• Injidup Natural Spa – To avoid big crowds go early between  8-10am. Visit in the shoulder seasons and avoid summer school holidays. Be careful of big waves. They can come out of nowhere and it’s incredibly dangerous with so many rocks. 
• Aquarium – located on the Cape to Cape trail between Smiths beach and Canal rocks. It’s a 15-20min hike starting at a carpark located on canal rocks rd as you near Canal rocks. Bring water and all your gear you need as it’s a long walk back to the car from the Aquarium if you forget something. Be aware of snakes on the trail, especially in spring and summer.
• Busselton Jetty train tour – it’s runs on the hour every hour from 10am – 4pm. Ensure you book in advance especially during school holidays or summer.
• Restaurants – book ahead for popular restaurants and wineries as they book up fast especially over peak seasons. We love Glenarty road, Clairault Streicker, Cape lodge, Lamont’s, Casina, Wise wines and Meelup farmhouse.
• Make sure to visit the Ludlow Tuart forest. It is the last remaining tall Tuart forest in the world. Estimated to be over 300 years old.
  

At Ayatana by the bay you’ll be within the Margaret River region and right on the doorstep of world class wineries, restaurants, surfing and art. There is an abundance of activities to do from wildlife tours, marine life tours, winery tours, cave exploration, hiking, abseiling,  indigenous tours and so much more! If you need any help planning your perfect trip always feel free to message me.