22 February 2023
13 mins Read
Once a tiny fishing town, Mandurah is now a bustling city in its own right, and if you follow the Kwinana Freeway south from Perth for an hour you’ll discover a vibrant coastal community. Perched between the Indian Ocean and a vast estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour, Mandurah is blessed with an abundance of waterfront views and the rivers, lakes, wetlands and ocean make it an aquatic playground no matter what your adventure level.
Lake Goegrup is one of Mandurah’s many natural treasures. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Every December, the town swells with crowds flocking to see one of Australia’s most elaborate Christmas lights displays, but you can get up close to incredible ancient life forms, experience the land through the eyes of its Bindjareb custodians and take a selfie with the whimsical Giants of Mandurah all year round. Whether you’re dreaming of a holiday with the kids, a romantic weekend escape or a relaxing break, here are the best things to do in Mandurah.
Part puzzle, part outdoor exhibition and part nature trail, the four Giants of Mandurah (plus one in Subiaco) were an instant hit when they were installed in a series of stunning hidden locations around town late in 2022.
Seba’s Song is one of four Giants of Mandurah created by Thomas Dambo. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
Standing up to five metres tall and made entirely from reclaimed wood, each figure is expertly integrated into the natural landscape; one giant sits cross-legged and stares out over the Indian Ocean from a hilltop dune, while another rests beside a picturesque wetland filled with paperbarks and jarrah trees while holding a small tree.
Santi Ikto sits cross-legged and stares out over the Indian Ocean. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
Visit them all and you can unlock the location of a final giant, which is reached via a 3.5-kilometre walk through fragrant groves of peppermint gums and towering tuarts.
Little Lui rests beside a picturesque wetland. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
If you want to explore the region in style, you can’t do better that the Wild Seafood Experience on Mandurah Cruises, an indulgent three-hour feast that gives you a chance to see – and taste – the local marine life.
Get ready for a three-hour feast onboard a Mandurah Cruise. (Image: Visit Mandurah / Michael Bond)
Enjoy a welcome cocktail as you cruise out of the estuary and keep an eye out for dolphins jumping in the ship’s wake and ospreys swooping down to pluck fish from the water, then dig into a seven-course lunch featuring Western Australian oysters, crabs, salmon, octopus, scallops, barramundi and freshly caught rock lobster, all washed down with free-flowing drinks from Margaret River’s Howard Park Wines.
Catch your own rock lobster. (Image: Visit Mandurah / Michael Bond)
If you’re game, you can even haul up your own lobster pot and watch the private chef cook it up for you.
The Wild Seafood Experience on Mandurah Cruises is unforgettable. (Image: Visit Mandurah / Michael Bond)
The modern town of Mandurah lies on Bindjareb Country and its longstanding importance is reflected in their name for this land. Mandjoogoordap means “meeting place of the heart” and the words for river and umbilical cord are the same in the Bindjareb language.
Explore Bindjareb Country with George Walley. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
That ongoing connection to the land is one of the key themes of George Walley’s bus, walking and canoe tours with Mandjoogoordap Dreaming, which explore how the seasons, plants and waterways shaped the local culture over tens of thousands of years and allow you to see this remarkable environment through his eyes.
A Mandjoogoordap Dreaming tour will help you to see the region in a new light. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Every December, the foreshore transforms into a glowing amusement park with a castle big enough to walk through, a combi driven by Santa and a bridge lit up in Christmas colours.
Time your visit for December to see the foreshore transform into a Christmas amusement park. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
But it’s on the canals that the Mandurah Christmas lights show really goes into overdrive, with hundreds of houses competing to have the most eye-catching display of flashing Santas, sleighs and snowmen.
No expense is spared when it comes to creating Christmas magic in Mandurah. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
And instead of driving, you can cruise through the middle of the mesmerising spectacle on a pirate ship that glitters like it’s covered in Swarovski crystals, or get a few friends together and hire a barbecue boat for a self-guided tour of the festive show.
It truly is a contender for the best Christmas light display in the country. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
As you breathe in the fresh ocean air blowing over Lake Clifton, spare a thought for the thrombolites just below the pier. These rock-like communities of microbes are among the oldest forms of life on earth and some of them are over 2000 years old.
Take the boardwalk to see the wonders that await below. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
Even more amazingly, these remarkable organisms have barely changed since they provided the earth’s first atmospheric oxygen some 600 million years ago and you can see these evolutionary marvels up close from the short boardwalk that juts into the aquamarine lagoon.
These thrombolites are among the oldest forms of life on earth. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Michael Bond)
Any list of the best free things to do in Mandurah has to include a tour of the local swimming spots, and there are enough options that you could comfortably stay for a few weeks without visiting the same one twice.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches in Mandurah. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
Falcon Beach and Town Beach both face north and are protected from the southerly winds, making them great family options, while anyone craving a bit more action will enjoy the swells that roll into Pyramids Beach.
Falcon Bay Beach is a great option for families. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
The rock pools and reefs around Blue Bay mean there’s plenty to explore both above and below water, and if you don’t want to clean all that sand off at the end of the day, follow the squeals of delight to the Kwillena Gabi pool on the estuary. The name means “dolphin waters” in the Bindjareb language, and sometimes these curious creatures swim right through the pool, which has an accessible ramp and is suitable for kids of all ages.
Town Beach is a popular choice but you won’t find overcrowding here. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
Almost one hundred bottlenose dolphins live and play in the waters around Mandurah, and if you spend any time in the region you’re almost guaranteed to spot them feeding and frolicking near the shore. But the best way to see them up close is on an hour-long Dolphin Cruise.
Dolphin sightings are guaranteed in Mandurah. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Almost every day of the year, the playful creatures will leap out of the water beside the boat and ride its wake, and the crew have such a high success rate that they offer a Dolphin Guarantee.
Join a dolphin cruise to get up close to the local pods. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
The entire Peel region is known for its seafood, and no list of fun things to do in Mandurah is complete without a mention of the famous blue swimmer crabs. Morning and evening are the best times to catch them, and the tasty crustaceans are so plentiful that you don’t need a licence (though there are bag limits) and you can catch them from a jetty, a boat or even by wading into the shallows with nets. If you prefer a line and reel, the proximity of both estuary and beach means there’s great fishing for herring, black bream, mulloway and King George whiting.
Queensland might have the Gold Coast, but the abundance of courses within easy reach of Mandurah has led some locals to dub this the Golf Coast. Among the best options is The Cut, an internationally recognised network of rolling dunes and immaculately kept fairways in a jaw-droppingly beautiful location right next to the Indian Ocean. Nearby Meadow Springs has hosted seven Western Australian opens, while golfers at Mandurah Country Club are often joined by kangaroos that emerge from the surrounding bush in the afternoon to graze on the fairways.
Play a round of golf at The Cut. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Clip Media Motion)
If you’re looking for exciting things to do in Mandurah with kids, it’s hard to go past a voyage on the floating fancy dress party that is the Pirate Ship. Crack open the treasure chest full of pirate hats and eye patches, then set sail along the canals as you get to know your “ahoys” from your “avasts”.
Embrace being a pirate for a day. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
There are telescopes on hand in case you spot any dolphins, and little ones will love the chance to ring the boat’s bell and steer from the junior captain’s wheel right on the front deck.
Ahoy there! It’s time to set sail. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
It’s not just marine life that benefits from the vast estuary surrounding Mandurah. The entire region is also a hotspot for waterbirds, and it only takes a few minutes of paddling to leave the suburbs behind and find yourself in bird heaven. You’ll likely see more than a dozen species in that time, including ospreys, sea eagles, spoonbills and waders from as far away as Siberia.
Join at Salt & Bush Eco Tour to spot the birdlife atop a kayak. (Image: Tourism Australia)
And as Australia’s Top Tour Guide, Salt & Bush Eco Tours owner Jamie Van Jones can help identify any species that you’re unsure of. Silent kayaks let you get surprisingly close to the birds without disturbing them, and the unique foot paddling system means you can keep your hands free to grab the perfect shot.
You’ll spot more than a dozen species of birds as you kayak the pristine waters. (Image: Tourism Australia)
Once you’ve worked up a thirst, follow the craft beer and wine trail to find a range of thriving craft breweries that have popped up in recent years.
Follow the brewery trail in Mandurah to Three Rivers Brewing Company. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
The family-owned Three Rivers Brewing Company uses just four ingredients to brew a dozen classic styles that adhere strictly to the 500-year-old German purity law, while the lakeside Boundary Island Brewery is always busy thanks to a core lineup of hop-forward pale ales augmented by limited edition brews like the surprisingly refreshing pina colada beer.
Order up a tasting paddle at Boundary Island Brewery. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
Stay for lunch, and you can take advantage of a menu that follows a similar theme with pub classics like a smoked brisket burger alongside more adventurous options like the zucchini pomegranate salad.
Pair your tasting paddle with lunch. (Image: Visit Mandurah)
If you can’t decide between kayaking and sipping a few local brews, combine the two on the unique Paddle, Pint and Pub Tour. You’ll spend an hour meandering lazily along glassy river systems before arriving at a waterfront pub located in a protected bird sanctuary. Then you can rest up while enjoying some classic pub grub and a cleansing ale before hopping back on the water and following the current back downriver.
Mandurah is an easy town to explore on foot, but if you want to cover a lot of ground your best bet is to head to The Bike Kiosk on the foreshore. Rent an e-bike or scooter and you’ll be able to feel the wind in your hair as you explore some of the many cycling trails that follow the canals and beachfront, or you can let the owners guide you around the region on a tour of the Giants of Mandurah or the Mandurah Christmas lights.
Cycle the coastal trails to take in the sights in Mandurah. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Sandwiched between ocean and estuary and riddled with dozens of canals, Mandurah has no shortage of waterfront accommodation options. But even in this land of plenty, it’s hard to beat the views from Seashells Mandurah.
Seashells Mandurah has prime position overlooking Town Beach. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
You can gaze far out over lagoon-like Town Beach from the enormous fifth-floor apartments, or stay in one of the breezy ground-floor villas with shaded decks that are literally metres from the sand. And if even that’s too far to walk for a swim, just wander over to the heated mineral pool and drink it all in.
Marvel at the lagoon-like Town Beach from the comfort of the heated mineral pool. (Image: Visit Mandurah/ Russell Ord Photography)
If you can think of a way to move on water, rest assured you can do it in Mandurah. Avalon Point and Pyramids Beach are great places to ride the swells on a surfboard (if you need some tips, take a lesson from an expert), or if you crave a bit more power you can race over the waves on a jet ski.
Is the surf calling your name? Head to Avalon Point. (Image: Mark Randall/ Visit Mandurah)
And with dozens of beaches facing in different directions, you can practise paddleboarding on a glass-like bay, harness the wind with a fast-moving sail kayak or get some serious air while kitesurfing, often on the same day.
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