Mandurah is a water lover’s playground, located less than an hour from Perth. With a great selection of ocean-encompassing activities and glorious waterfront dining, this is one destination to add to your must-visit list.
Private Properties’ List of Top Things to Do in Mandurah
From a quick day trip to a cruisy weekend away, Mandurah’s close proximity to Perth and its many seaside attractions affords visitors the best of things to see and do on a coastal-orientated holiday.
Here are our top picks of things to do in Mandurah in 2024.
SEE AND DO
There are heaps of things to see and do in Mandurah, no matter the day or time of year. When there isn’t an event like the Mandurah Christmas Lights Trail or Mandurah Crab Fest on, there are plenty of other activities just waiting for you to experience and/or discover.
Hunt for the elusive Giants of Mandurah
We’re going on a bear giant hunt, and we’re going to find a big one… For a fun day out that encompasses both art and nature, find one (or all) of Thomas Dambo’s larger-than-life wooden giant sculptures. These gentle giants, made from recycled wood, can be found “hiding” in plain sight, at locations dotted across Mandurah.
Image credit: Visit Mandurah
Walk among living fossils at Lake Clifton
Yalgorup National Park’s thrombolites are micro-organisms too small for the human eye to see. They form rock-like mounds that date back billions of years. Located on the edge of Lake Clifton, they can be viewed along a boardwalk that also forms part of the 5.8km Lake Clifton Walk Trail – a gorgeous walk that leads you past the thrombolites and through tuart and peppermint forest.
Spend a day on the green
Did you know that Mandurah is home to a number of world-class, award-winning golf courses? Spend the day or weekend teeing off at holes that overlook sweeping coastline, meander through towering tuart trees and share their surroundings with kangaroos and joeys. Our recommendation: The Cut Golf Course in Dawesville features 18 internationally recognised holes that stretch over rolling dunes and feature stunning ocean views.
Image credit: Visit Mandurah and Clip Media Motion
DIVE AND CRUISE
Set against a backdrop of magnificent beaches and a huge estuary, Mandurah has a water-fuelled adventure for everyone.
Cruise Mandurah’s famous waterways
Mandurah’s estuary, marina and canals are best explored by boat, canoe or SUP. We recommend a sunset cruise with Mandurah Cruises, or, for something a bit different, why not jump on board their BBQ Boat – a donut-shaped, eco-friendly boat – for a lunchtime float?
Image credit: Visit Mandurah
Splash and swim
Mandurah is home to plenty of idyllic, family-friendly beaches and swimming spots. The manmade Kwillena Gabi (Dolphin Water) Pool is surrounded by floating pontoons that form a circle-sized swimming space that’s perfect for the kids, while Town Beach is, yup, you guessed it, close to town, and is also patrolled by surf lifesavers throughout summer. Wave chaser? Head to Pyramids for some sweet swell
Spot bottlenose dolphins
Mandurah’s calm, protected waters are the perfect sanctuary for wild, bottlenose dolphins. As such, you can expect to spot pods of these friendly creatures regularly cruising Mandurah’s waterways. Some of the best places to glimpse these water-dwelling mammals are at Dawesville Cut, Mandurah Estuary and Mandurah Ocean Marina.
Image credit: Visit Mandurah
EAT AND DRINK
Seafood – tick. Award-winning pubs – tick. Boutique wine – tick. Divine breakfast treats – tick. For those looking for a feast (or just somewhere nice to eat), Mandurah offers a rich smorgasbord of foodie fare that’s yummy for one-dish diners or people who love to share.
Feast on locally caught seafood
Mandurah has long been known as one of Western Australia’s seafood centres, home to an abundance of crabs, lobsters and crayfish. Come on down to the annual Mandurah Crab Fest for a crabtastic celebration of the Blue Swimmer Crab, pop into Redmanna Watefront Restaurant for a mouth-watering seafood tower with a waterfront backdrop, or try your luck catching a herring, whiting, bream, cobbler, tailor or garfish for dinner.
Image credit: Next Level Drone & Photography Services and Visit Mandurah
Enjoy outdoor alfresco dining
Feel like watching dolphins over breakfast? What about soaking in a southwest sunset while enjoying a feast of equally impressive proportions? Whatever you fancy, find it along Mandurah’s foreshore or at Dolphin Quay – both great options for water-meets-alfresco dining.
Wine, dine and craft good times at one of the region’s breweries or wineries
Lovers of craft beer and connoisseurs of fine wine will find plenty of lip-smacking delight in Mandurah and the Peel region. But where to start? Try this self-guided Peel Region Craft Beer and Wine Trail, or, for something a bit special, head out to the picturesque Millbrook Winery.
HIDE AND SEEK
The whole family in-tow? There’s plenty of things to do in Mandurah for big and little kids. Here are three of our favourites:
Swing like Tarzan
Tarzan, Jane and maybe even George (of the jungle) will spend hours navigating between the trees at Treetop Adventure in Dwellingup, which features a flying fox and ropes course comprising eight different courses and 23 ziplines, suspended approximately 25 metres above the ground.
Play all day
Nothing kills the time (and the boredom) quite so satisfyingly like a well-thought-out park or playground. We love the Koolaanga Waabiny Playground, which features a tree-inspired, 12m-high climbing tower, and the miniature buildings, Lego exhibit, hedge maze, scale model trains, mini golf and playground found within four acres of the Amaze Miniature Park. We also think Ranger Red’s Zoo – a boutique conservation park that gives you the chance to hand-feed animals, hold a snake and even be a zookeeper for a day – is pretty cool, too.
Sail one of the seven seas
Ahoy, Me Hearties! For a swashbuckling experience like no other, join Pirate Ship Mandurah for a pirate-themed cruise along Mandurah’s canals. Steer the pirate wheel, ring the bell or practise your arrs and yers. Eye patches and pirate clothes optional.
Our range of holiday homes in Mandurah is just what you need to relax after a day of exploring.
