Fishing at Dawesville Cut Mandurah

Four Days of Family Fun

There are so many BIG reasons to bring the family for a visit to Mandurah.

Go on a hunt for Thomas Dambo’s larger-than-life wooden Giants, explore the 134 square km’s of estuary waterways and canals, learn about the fascinating history and Indigenous culture of the region, and experience some of the tastiest, freshest local produce that our award-winning eateries have to offer.

Kaya Wandjoo, nidja Bindjareb Boodja, “hello and welcome to Bindjareb Country.” The following itinerary* will keep the whole family entertained, with four days packed full of adventure, fun and discovery.
*This itinerary is designed for a family of four (two adults & two children), and all prices are quoted accordingly. Operating hours outlined for the attractions and tours are applicable during school holiday periods.

Mandurah Caravan & Tourist Park

An absolute paradise for kids, Mandurah Caravan & Tourist Park is a Top Tourist Park that offers a huge range of facilities and activities for kids, including a heated swimming pool and water slide, playground, jumping pillow, kiosk, pedal cart hire, giant games, totem tennis, bocche ball hire, kids club activities, food trucks, BBQ gazebo and campers kitchen with flatscreen TV. Two-bedroom cabins and chalets are priced from just $111 per night.

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Accommodation

Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets

Family-friendly accommodation at modest prices, starting at $185 per night. The chalets are self-contained and located just 50m to a safe man-made beach and playground, as well as a short 2 minute walk to cafes, shops and restaurants.

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Accommodation

C Mandurah Resort

Situated on the canal front, many of the apartments at C Mandurah Resort offer picturesque water views. The resort is a short walk to the heart of the city centre and foreshore area. There is a large swimming pool with BBQ’s, and best of all there are free moorings available for those visiting by boat. Prices start at $199 per night.

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Accommodation

Mandurah Quay Resort

Mandurah Quay Resort is located right on the estuary waterways in the leafy suburb of Erskine, surrounded by unspoiled bird conservation areas with great hiking trails. The Resort has a 22m free-form swimming pool, and there are also boat pens available in their private marina. Prices start at $310 per night for fully self-contained villas.

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Accommodation

Seashells Mandurah

Enjoy 4.5-star luxury right on the beachfront at Seashells Mandurah. Enjoy uninterrupted ocean views and sunsets by the infinity edge pool that stretches right across the beachfront, or cook up a BBQ at the adjoining poolside terrace and spa area. Seashells offer self-contained apartments and beach villas, starting at $340 per night.

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Accommodation

Mandurah Houseboats

Live on the water for a few days, cruising through the rivers and estuary at your leisure. There are many options for waterfront dining with jetties that you can moor up. Discover some of the nearby islands, and hop in the water straight of the back deck whenever you fancy a swim or kayak. Prices start from $480 per night, and all houseboats have fully equipped kitchens as well as showers and toilets.

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Accommodation

9 am

Your first stop is the Mandurah Visitor Centre (MVC) which was crowned the best Visitor Centre in WA in 2022.  Nestled between Mandjar Bay and the Eastern foreshore in the heart of the city, the MVC is open every day from 9am-4pm. Speak to the experts for your personalised itinerary, best local tips and advice and your accommodation and tour bookings. Browse around the centre and read up on the local history, and admire the stunning wall-to-ceiling Welcome to Country mural created by local Indigenous artists Peta and Corey Ugle. Don’t forget to collect your clues and Traveller’s Companion to embark on a ‘Giants of Mandurah‘ expedition during your stay!

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10 am

It’s time to head off and search for your first Giant – Santi Ikto. This impressive Giant is overlooking the pristine beaches of Halls Head. It’s a 20-minute return walk from the carpark, but you will need at least half an hour to admire Santi Ikto up close and get plenty of photos of this larger-than-life beauty.

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Adventure & Sports

11 am

Feeling peckish after your walk? Stop by the Miami Bakehouse to pick up one of their award-winning gourmet pies or pasties for a late breakfast.

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Eat & Drink

11:30 am

It’s time to cool off with some serious fun on the water, via jet-ski. Getting out in the Estuary is your best chance to spot some of our resident Bottlenose Dolphins. Stag Watersports operate daily from the southern end of the Estuary in Dawesville. Their one-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Tour, a family-favourite, will cost the family $400.

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Aquatic & Coastal

1:30 pm

Head back into town for a delicious seafood lunch at Sharky’s Mandurah, situated on the waterfront in the Mandurah Ocean Marina. As you take in the beautiful marina views, the kids can get rid of some of energy on the restaurant’s indoor playground.

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Eat & Drink

3 pm

Now that you have refuelled, it’s time to explore the picturesque foreshore precinct of Mandurah. Stop by The Bike Kiosk at the MVC (open daily from 10am-6pm during school holidays), to arrange e-scooter hire. One-hour rental will set you back just $88 for the family, and scooters are suitable for children aged 6-12 years. Alternatively, if you have younger or older kids, you can hire e-bikes and trailers.

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Family Fun

5.30 pm

After you have returned to your accommodation to get ready, it is time to drive over to Boundary Island Brewery for a scrumptious meal. The brewery was born from two local Mandurah families who love craft beer, delicious food and a great atmosphere. When you dine at Boundary Island, you can rest assured you will be enjoying gorgeous water views and fantastic food made with fresh, local ingredients.

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Eat & Drink

7 pm

Continue south on the road to Lake Clifton to join a world-class Star Gazing Tour led by award-winning Naturalist Guides, Jamie and Base of Salt & Bush Eco Tours.  Lake Clifton is a prime location to view the vast skies with absolutely no light pollution. Sip your complimentary hot chocolate as you gaze up at the vast skies and be mesmerised by stories that will make your mind expand with how amazing our universe is. This area is also home to an extremely rare and beautiful Thrombolite reef. The Thrombolites, or ‘living rocks’, are 2,000 years old and are the largest known collection in the southern hemisphere.

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Nature & Wildlife

8 am

Start your day by travelling down to the Peel Produce Markets in Dawesville (open 8am-12pm every Saturday). Pick up a freshly brewed coffee and breakfast from one of the many market stalls selling fresh food and produce. Then, while away a couple of hours meandering and enjoying live music and free kids’ entertainment.

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Eat & Drink

10 am

Now it’s time to find your second Giant – Seba’s Song. Seba’s Song watches over the estuary waterways from the shoreline at Wannanup, and with Soulmate Charters you can get an exclusive 360* view of this impressive Giant that is not possible from land. Hop on the 45-minute cruise from the Port Bouvard Marina.

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Aquatic & Coastal

11 am

Pick up a takeaway lunch from La Belle Patisserie & High Tea House, a charming French provincial themed café in Wannanup (open Tue-Sun, 7am-3pm).

La Belle Patisserie and High Tea House

Eat & Drink

11.30 am

Your next stop is the Amaze Miniature Park, open Mon-Sat, 9:30am-4pm during school holidays. For just $50 for the family, you are guaranteed to keep the kids entertained for hours. Amaze features over 70 miniature buildings, model trains, a hedge maze, mini golf, playground and pedal cars. Then you can enjoy your picnic lunch – with four acres of beautifully manicured gardens and plenty of trees, you are guaranteed to find a quiet, shady spot all to yourselves.

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Family Fun

3 pm

Stop in at the Mandurah Indoor Rock-Climbing Centre on your way home for an hour or two. There is something for everyone of any age and ability. Experience top ropes, bouldering, speed wall, slack lining, aerial skills, trapeze, ninja training and much more.  You can visit any day of the week, and the total cost with harness hire for the group is $86.

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Adventure & Sports

6 pm

Treat yourself to a delicious dinner and waterfront views at Boardwalk @ DQ, open daily until late. The menu here has been created with seaside dining in mind, from freshly shucked oysters and sashimi to large seafood platters that you can share with the whole family.

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Eat & Drink

8 pm

After dinner it is time to experience some arts and culture at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre (MPAC). MPAC is a nationally recognised centre for performing arts, and the venue itself is placed right on the waters of the stunning Mandjar Bay. MPAC features multiple theatres, an art gallery and dance studio. The main boardwalk theatre is a tiered auditorium with state-of-the-art acoustics that regularly hosts concerts, festivals, theatre productions, film screenings and comedy performances.

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Arts & Culture

8 am

Indulge in a mouth-watering, award-winning breakfast at Wood & Stone Café. In 2022, the café took out Best Breakfast at the prestigious Gold Plate Awards – and it’s easy to see why! Wood & Stone is run by a sixth-generation local Mandurah family who are passionate about providing exceptional food using top quality produce.

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Eat & Drink

9.15 am

It’s time to take in some history with the Walk the Waterways tour. Departing from the Mandurah Visitor Centre every weekend on school holidays, this 1.5-hour tour will take you on a journey across Mandjar Bay and the Eastern Foreshore.

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Aquatic & Coastal

10.45 am

The tour concludes at the southern end of the foreshore, where you will find the Whizz Pop Candy Shop (open daily 9am-5pm). With their huge range of quality sweets from around the world, including local WA products, there is something to satisfy every sweet tooth, young and young-at-heart.

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Eat & Drink

11 am

All aboard the Spirit of Mandurah! Hop onto the Tourist Fun Train for a lift back up the foreshore and across to the Mandurah Ocean Marina. Your ticket is an all-day ticket, so you can get on and off at any of the 10 stations around the city as many times as you like. The Tourist Fun Train operates every day over the school holidays, and you can choose from open-air or sheltered wagons.

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Family Fun

12 pm

Once you wave goodbye to the Train Conductor, its time to be your own Captain on the water. Hire a self-drive BBQ Boat and cruise through the charming Venetian Canals. Let Mandurah Cruises take the stress out of your day by including BBQ hire with your boat, leaving you to enjoy your lunch on the water in true Mandurah style – relaxed by nature. Eco BBQ Boats operate daily and will cost you $269 for 1.5-hour hire.

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Aquatic & Coastal

2 pm

Get ready to stretch your legs and get moving again on your hunt for the third Giant of Mandurah – Little Lui. This Giant is set amongst bushland in a beautiful nature reserve and is a 45-minute return walk from the carpark. Be sure to bring your camera for this one!

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Adventure & Sports

4 pm

After your long trek, it’s time to cool off at Kwillena Gabi Pool on the Mandurah Foreshore. Kwillena Gabi, or ‘dolphin waters’ in traditional Noongar language, is a natural circular swimming pool on the estuary created by floating pontoons.

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Aquatic & Coastal

6.30 pm

Embark on a truly sensational culinary adventure at Mandurah’s multi-award-winning restaurant, Flics Kitchen. In 2022 alone, Flics took out the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, the AGFG Reader’s Choice Award, LUXlife Culinary Excellence for Creative Cuisine, and Restaurant of the Year. Time your trip to include one of Flics’ iconic Native Dinner Series, a highlight in Mandurah’s food and cultural calendar. Each dinner in the series is based on one of the Noongar people’s six seasons. A truly special evening connecting guests with the history of the land and region, and a journey into the ancient traditions of the Noongar people.

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Eat & Drink

8 am

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Mataya Eatery, open daily. Mataya’s team of food specialists spend hours each week sourcing fresh seasonal produce to create a menu that is wholesome and nourishing. Their spacious courtyard area is perfect spot for families, and there is even a lovely little curated gift shop.

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Eat & Drink

9 am

After breakfast, embark on a cultural tour with George Walley of Mandjoogoordap Dreaming. The one-hour Yaburgurt Trail Heritage and Historical tour operates Fri-Sun, and costs $90 for a family of four. Yaburgurt was a Noongar leader in the region, and this tour explores how Yaburgurt and his wife interacted with one of the first European settler families in Mandurah, the Suttons. This reflective tour includes stories of the ancient land use, WInjan’s Camp, Yaburgurt’s grave and an ocean drive that reflects his totem.

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Cultural Experiences

10:15 am

Afterwards, wander over for some more free time exploring the Dolphin Quay Indoor Markets (open daily 9am-5pm), at the nearby Mandurah Ocean Marina. Afterwards it is time to check out of your accommodation, however, the adventure is not quite over.

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Shopping & Services

12 pm

Enjoy a relaxed lunch at Mandurah’s newest boutique café, Turquoise Café, open daily from 7:30am.  There is something for everyone at this delightful café, and of course you will be treated to gorgeous water views while you dine.

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Eat & Drink

2 pm

A swashbuckling escapade awaits you on board the Pirate Ship Mandurah, for a 45-minute interactive cruise that is truly unforgettable. Be entertained by the crew in full costume, and as you cruise through the canals make sure you get plenty of snaps of the kids playing pirate, steering the pirate wheel and ringing the bell. The cost for your cruise is $68 for the family.

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Family Fun

3 pm

Stop by the Mandurah Visitor Centre before heading home and browse the range of unique souvenirs hand-made by local artisans, to find a little piece of Mandurah to take back home with you. You can also crack the code to reveal the location of the final secret Giant to plan your next holiday to Mandurah!

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Shopping & Services