I once watched a mother dolphin who had stunned a large fish, continually toss it up in the air so her calf could practice catching it. I often take international scientific visitors around the region and they just can’t believe the beauty and abundance of wildlife. They tell me we are so, so lucky and I agree.

I thoroughly enjoy my time in Mandurah. As soon as you arrive you feel like you’re on holiday. It has such a relaxed atmosphere and I love that you don’t have to pay for parking! 

Also, where else can you pull up at a jetty in your research vessel on the way to work, hop out and buy a coffee and drink it as you watch the sunrise? I think Mandurah is unique in that you can watch dolphins from the shore at so many locations. Everyone can enjoy them – you don’t have to spend money. It feels like the dolphins really belong to the people of Mandurah.

I think the best thing about Mandurah is the estuary. You can swim in it, fish in it, go kayaking and kite boarding, walk a dog around it – its uses are endless and it’s beautiful and protected, just great for families.

I also love the hub of bars and restaurants at the base of the new bridge. Places like Redmanna, Bar Therapy and Flics Kitchen are all great and it’s a terrific part of town. Where we live in Falcon, the kids have kangaroos at the back door, the ocean over their right shoulder and the estuary over their left. It’s the best place to live and I wouldn’t be anywhere else.

The thrombolites at Lake Clifton is one of my favourites and my pick of all the great beaches is Blue Bay in Halls Head. The new bridge at sunset is a spectacular shot and make sure you keep an eye on the water for our resident dolphins which are fun to photograph. Mandurah is so picturesque it’s hard not to get a good photo.

I know a lot of people associate Mandurah with the water – and for good reason. It’s just so accessible from everywhere. People are always asking me if it’s crab season or if the fish are biting which is kind of funny because I don’t own a boat and I don’t fish but I do go kayaking and the family spends many weekends in summer four wheel driving on Preston Beach – one of the closest beaches to Perth where you can drive right up onto the sand. 

I also love that Mandurah is coming of age in terms of places to eat and drink – it’s not just about going to the pub or having a chicken parmie anymore.

This three-day spring festival, which showcases Mandurah’s natural and built environment to perfection, attracted over 100 artists in its first year. Another significant project I enjoyed leading was Wearable Art Mandurah. 

This quirky competition started in 2011 with eleven locals creating sculpture for the body. Last year, there were over 100 entrants and a competition prize pool of over $15,000. The theatrical spectacular known as the Wearable Art Mandurah Showcase attracts a local, national and international audience, followed by the exhibition at Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah.

At the heart of my personal art practice sits my love of plein air painting. Spending time outdoors, being in the moment and capturing beautiful surroundings is good for the soul. It focuses the senses and allows me to connect directly with my subject. The Peel Region provides endless inspiration with its beaches, inland waterways, forests, and everything in between and although I love to travel and paint, there is no place like Mandurah.

BARB’S TOP THREE PAINTING SPOTS

• Great for photography too! Creery Wetlands Mariners Cove Natural wetlands, bird-life, a marina and Nourishing the Soul Café – one of my favourites. 
• Mandurah CBD There are so many options:  Administration Bay behind Simmos, anywhere along the eastern foreshore, around the boardwalk precinct. Spoilt for choice! 
• The Thrombolites at Lake Clifton. Painting the thrombolites during low tide, from the elevated boardwalk, is quite an experience.

Speaking to people who are visiting us for the very first time, many say they are sorry they only booked to stay one night. Seafood is such an integral part of Mandurah’s identity and it’s drawing more and more visitors, particularly from Asian countries. Add in all the opportunities for waterfront dining with dolphins and birds as your background view and it’s a perfect combination. 

We’ve recently branched out with a more casual bar and dining option, The Bridge Garden Bar on the foreshore. From time to time the end of Mandurah Terrace is closed and The Bridge and all the other bars and restaurants in the area work together to provide a great festival-like experience where people are welcome to wander in and out of the different venues. It’s been really popular and I think sums up what Mandurah is all about at the moment; fine, fresh food, on the water in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

JASON’S TOP THREE SUGGESTIONS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

• Go on a cruise. Mandurah Cruises or Pirate Ship Mandurah will give you a birds’ eye view of the waterways. 

• Check out what’s happening on the foreshore. There’s always something from markets to concerts and festivals and even ice skating in the winter. 
• Eat, drink and be merry. Sample our great local bar and restaurant scene with everything from cocktails to seafood, modern Australian, Thai, tapas and more.

Running a business and having a young family keeps me pretty busy but the best thing about this part of the world is still the surfing and kite surfing and I get out there as often as I can. Geary’s Beach in Falcon would have to be one of my favourite places in the world.

It’s also hard to go past everything Mandurah’s waterways have to offer when it comes to quality family time. Apart from the phenomenal beaches, the estuary and foreshore offer so many activities. 

The thing that really gets me about this area is we have legit stuff here – everything a visitor could want and there’s no reason to travel too far. 

I’ve had a coffee roasting business, Frothin’ Coffee for around five years and in 2018 I took a leap of faith and helped my Mum, Lynne Gould, open her coffee business, Groundswell Drivethru on Pinjarra Road. 

The response has been fantastic with local coffee lovers and the local business community being really supportive. People might be surprised by the number of people around town who really know their coffee. We’re proud to offer a genuinely good product that has a uniqueness and a lot of passion and love put into it. I think Groundswell is a good example of how Mandurah is continuing to evolve and change and become even more attractive for visitors. I’m just a big fan of Mandurah and I can’t wait to see more visitors drop in for a coffee as time goes on.

THE GOULD’S HOLIDAY AT HOME

One of the most fun family holidays we have had was just a few kilometres from home at Seashells Resort. We did all the touristy things and it was the coolest little break. I highly recommend it.

Our visitors learn so much about the region’s waterways, the lobster industry and the crustaceans themselves. The feedback is always overwhelmingly positive. I’m seeing a big jump in the number of tourists enjoying Mandurah, many of them from China. They seem to really appreciate our natural attractions and big open spaces. 

Whether you’re here for a day or a week, from an hour away or half a world away, there’s so much for people to do. I’ve seen some big changes since 1972 when the population was just 6000 (or 6001 as someone graffitied on the welcome sign as they drove into town). 

This place has a lot going for it. The hills are just 18 kilometres away, you’ve got the ocean and the estuary at your front door and more recent additions like Dolphin Quay at the marina and the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre give people more things to do.

It will be no surprise to anyone though that my favourite day in Mandurah is any day I’m out on my boat fishing. I’ve never had to buy seafood and I never plan to.

IVAN’S TOP SPOTS 

• Fishing If you have access to a boat, Five Fathom Bank, just off the coast between Mandurah and Dawesville. From the beach, White Hills in Bouvard, where I’ve even seen people land dhufish. 

• Crabbing My favourite spot is just off Southern Estuary Road at the very southern end of the Peel Harvey Estuary, by the mouth of the Harvey River. It has a nice barbecue area too. Make sure you use a good bait such as fish heads.

When people learn I’m the Mayor of Mandurah, the first thing they talk about is how beautiful the estuary and coastline are. They talk about the abundance of wildlife and beautiful nature experiences. There’s a real buzz about this place and it’s on the cusp of being WA’s next best thing.

WHERE DOES THE MAYOR CHILLOUT? 

• Avalon Beach in Falcon – the best beach in Mandurah
• Dwellingup – for the farmers market and nature