The park itself isn't a foodie hub, but the camp kitchen and undercover BBQ area genuinely come into their own here. We loved cooking up freshly caught Blue Manna crabs from the estuary right at the park, with a cold drink in hand and the kids racing back from the playground for dinner. Stock up at the local IGA just down Old Coast Road before you settle in for the night.

For your morning coffee fix, Benesse is the original local hero, with a cult following for the espresso and a cracking Big Brekky with freshly squeezed juice. We stopped in on the first morning and it set the tone for the whole stay. A short drive into Bunbury, The Happy Wife on Stirling Street is all riverside warmth and generous slices of cake, and we couldn't go past the breakfast board.

For lunch with a view, Dôme Café Koombana Bay sits right on the waterfront in Bunbury, ideal for a frothy cappuccino and fruit toast after a dolphin spotting walk along the foreshore. If the weather turns, it's our pick for a long, slow brunch.

Come dinner, Market Eating House leads the way with a seasonal menu built around local Geographe produce, and it's worth booking ahead on weekends. For something more casual, Froth Craft Brewery pours small-batch beers alongside woodfired pizzas and share plates in a buzzy beer-hall setting, while Mojo's Kitchen, Bar & Bottleshop on Victoria Street nails modern Aussie pub classics with an onsite bottleshop for the trip back to your cabin.

The park sits a short stroll from the Leschenault Estuary, and honestly, this is the heart of any stay here. We loved early mornings on the foreshore watching dolphins feed close to shore, with black swans drifting past and pelicans loafing on the jetty. The 2.2km return Australind Jetty Walk is an easy warm-up, and if you've brought a kayak or a crab net, you're already sorted for the afternoon.

For a bigger day out, the Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park is just across the inlet, with bushwalks, snorkelling spots, sheltered beach swimming and 4WD tracks running along the ocean side. Pack a picnic, because once you're over there, you won't want to leave.

A 15-minute drive south drops you into Bunbury, where the Dolphin Discovery Centre at Koombana Bay is a must with kids. The Interaction Zone tours are the pick if you want to wade in shallow water with wild dolphins, and the rooftop views over the bay are a quiet bonus. Nearby, Bunbury Wildlife Park lets the kids hand-feed kangaroos and meet a cheeky cast of cockatoos.

If you've got a spare day, point the car south for the wineries, surf beaches and tall-tree forests of the Geographe and Margaret River regions, all within an hour. Time your stay around the monthly Bunbury Farmers Market on the first Saturday for the freshest local produce in the region.

We found mornings on the estuary side amazing for dolphin and bird spotting, so set the alarm and wander down early before the breeze picks up.