10 Affordable Family-Friendly Activities

If you’re popping down to visit the much-hyped Giants of Mandurah, or just looking for fun day trip ideas with the fam, check out our 10 fun family activities that won’t break the bank.

Affordable Family Fun

10 Affordable Family-Friendly Activities Around Mandurah

by Troy Mutton for PerthisOK!

In case you missed the memo, Mandurah is poppin’ right now with so many BIG reasons to visit!

Along with winning a host of tourism awards over the last two years including Australia’s Top Tourism Town 2023, the coastal city continues to expand its offerings, including the much-hyped Giants Of Mandurah attraction, which has been capturing the imagination of people from all over the state.
Thomas Dambo Giants of Mandurah
Little Lui by Thomas Dambo, Parklands

The Giants of Mandurah are the latest addition to WA’s ultimate aquatic playground, one that features vast stretches of beautiful beaches and lovely inland waterways and an array of fun and unique activities to enjoy.

Indeed, it’s an epic spot to take the whole family – including a heap of activities that won’t break the bank, just like the 10 we’ve listed below:

Pirate Ship Cruise

Sure you could drift around the waterways of Mandurah on a normal old boat, but if you ask us conquering the canals aboard a pirate ship is way, way cooler. This 45 minute cruise is great for all the family, and kids can have a go at steering the wheel, shooting water cannons and ringing the bell while you can sit back and relax, making sure to keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins. A family ticket will only set you back $75.

The Pirate Cruise Mandurah School Holiday Activities Mandurah
The Pirate Cruise

Dolphin Views & Cruise

Speaking of dolphins, your best chance at spotting Mandurah’s beloved bottlenoses is aboard Mandurah Cruises’ Dolphin Cruise & Views Tour. The one-hour scenic voyage explores the waterways of Mandurah with guides giving you the lowdown on Mandurah history, heritage landmarks and coastal sites along the way. Along with dolphins you’ll also spot an array of amazing waterbirds, grab a drink from the licensed bar and more. Family passes are $88, and come with a guarantee – if you don’t see a dolphin on your trip you can come back any time in the next year for free!

Dolphin Cruise Views Mandurah
Dolphin Cruise & Views, Mandurah Cruises

The Bike Kiosk

While cruising Mandurah’s waterways is a lot of fun, it can be equally as cool to explore Mandurah on land, and one of the most fun ways to do so is on an e-scooter or e-bike. The Bike Kiosk is located next to the Mandurah Visitor Centre and you can choose from a range of e-rideables to suit all preferences and experience levels.

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Riding e-scooters along Mandurah's Eastern Foreshore

Amaze Miniature Park

It might be called the Miniature Park, but Amaze is so big you might need a whole day to tackle it all! The centrepiece is of course the 70 miniature buildings on display complete with interactive model trains, manicured lawns and even a replica of Perth’s famed Blue Boat Shed. There’s also the 1000 square metre hedge maze to get lost in, mini golf (included free with admission), shaded playground, the Tiny Teapot Café, and an incredible LEGO Exhibit as well.

The best part? Family passes are only $50.

Amaze Miniature Park 1

Mandurah Boat Hire

Explore the wonders of boating life with Mandurah Boat Hire, offering an affordable and exciting experience for the whole family! Be your own captain and cruise through the picturesque waterways of Mandurah and keep an eye out for playful dolphins along the journey. Renting a 4-person dinghy is hassle-free and budget-friendly, priced at just $105 for a delightful 1.5-hour adventure.

Boat Hire Mandurah

Peel Produce Market

When you’re road tripping away from Perth there’s nothing better than finding a fresh farmers market with goods direct from the source, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at the Peel Produce Market, every Saturday morning from 8am-midday. There’s always plenty of free kids activities happening around the market to keep them busy while you stock up for the pantry or a picnic lunch.

Peel Produce Market 1
Kids activities at Peel Produce Market

Mandurah Skate Park + Koolaanga Waabiny Playground

As far as public open spaces go, Mandurah has truly levelled up in the past couple of years with the expansion of their popular skate park, and the completion of the spectacular Koolaanga Waabiny Playground next door. Both are part of the $22m Mandurah Waterfront Project, with the skate park now featuring a massive new competition bowl, with three zones suitable for all levels.

Skate Park Mandurah
Mandurah Skate Park

Meanwhile its neighbour boasts a 12m high play tower, swinging and climbing zones, slides, shaded cubby pods, music play zones, balancing logs, a spinning carousel and even a human hamster wheel. You won’t be able to drag them away!

Koolaanga Waabiny Playground Mandurah
Koolaanga Waabiny Playground. Western Foreshore Mandurah

Instagram Trail

Phones are of course a part of life for both adults and kids these days, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be incorporated into fun activities with positive outcomes. The Mandurah Instagram Trail is a great way to experience Mandurah’s picturesque natural and unique environments, while creating long lasting holiday memories you can look back on for years to come. There are more than 10 stops to snap, including murals, memorials and more.

Mandurah Instagram Trail 3D Pelican
3D pelican at Mandurah Ocean Marina, Mandurah Instagram Trail

Family-Friendly Restaurants + Great Picnic & BBQ Spots

While Mandurah is flush to the gills with great restaurants, it’s hard to go past one of the many delicious fish and chip shops around town. For an affordable seafood feast you’re truly spoilt for choice by the likes of Foreshore Fish & Chips, Halls Head Fish & Chips, Smiley Joe’s Fish & Chip Shop, Ginger Groper Blue Bay Fish & Chips, Sharky’s Fish & Chips… The options are endless, though must always finish with some sweet treats from Simmo’s or Cool Eats on the foreshore.

And finally, if you prefer to pack your own lunch there are BBQ facilities at most reserves around Mandurah, including the Eastern Foreshore Reserve, Dawesville Foreshore Reserve, Caterpillar Playground and Henry Sutton Grove. Forget the snags? Never fear, there’s plenty of great butchers in town who’ll help you out.

Family BBQ at Falcon Bay Beach Mandurah
Falcon Bay Beach

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Giants of Mandurah Tours

Enjoy an active, fun-filled day on our guided tours of Thomas Dambo’s amazing Giants.

Giants of Mandurah Tours

Discover the Giants of Mandurah on a guided tour

Enjoy an active, fun-filled day on our guided tours of Thomas Dambo’s amazing Giants.

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Outdoor Activities

The natural beauty of Mandurah and the Peel region offers lots of outdoor adventures for families.

Outdoor Activities

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Outdoor Activities

The natural beauty of Mandurah and the Peel region offers lots of outdoor adventures for families.

Explore the Wetlands

The internationally significant Yalgorup Wetlands System is a habitat for a vast number of birds, animals, and plant species. Explore and spot wildlife by the many walking trails, reserves, and viewing platforms. Many places also have information signs to help children learn about this vital eco-system. Find out more.

For an inspiring guided nature walk through the precious ecosystem, contact local tour operator Salt and Bush Eco Tours.

creery-wetlands
The Mandurah region boasts a wealth of protected waterways, national parks, nature reserves and nature parks.

Boat Cruises

Exploring Mandurah’s spectacular waterways is something the whole family will enjoy. Join a cruise with Mandurah Cruises and learn all about the marine environment as you tour the canals, estuary and wetlands.

On the Pirate Ship Mandurah cruise, kids can dress up as pirates, steer the wheel, ring the bell and look through a telescope. Find out more.

Boat-Tours-and-Cruises
Explore an estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour.

Water Adventures

Get everyone’s adrenaline pumping on a jet ski tour with Stag Watersports.

In winter, take the family fast water rafting on the Murray River with Dwellingup Adventures.

Kids can experience the thrill of catching their own dinner fishing from the estuary, beach, or on a fishing charter. Mandurah Cruises and Skills2Fish offer tours and clinics to teach kids how to fish. In season you can go scooping for blue swimmer crabs in the shallow waters of the estuary.

Kids can also learn how to sail at one of the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club clinics that are held throughout the year.

To explore at your own pace, hire a boat, paddleboard, or kayak.

But to really get away from it all, take the family for a holiday on the water and completely unwind as you slowly meander through the waterways in a houseboat from Mandurah Houseboats.

Water-adventures-mandurah
Experience Mandurah to its fullest on these adrenaline pumping water activities. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

Adventure and Amusement Parks

Treetops Adventure in Dwellingup is a tree rope obstacle course the whole family can enjoy, offering 9 different levels and over 20 flying foxes. Dare Adventures in Dwellingup and the Fairbridge Village Adventure Course in Pinjarra are outdoor adventure camps with a range of activities, especially for kids.

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Swoop, swing and fly your way through a thrilling day on a flying fox or treetop adventure that will make even the biggest adrenaline junkie jealous.

Amaze Miniature Park

The Amaze Miniature Park has hedge mazes, a miniature English village and railways and mini-golf.

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This wonderful attraction has an extensive display of scale model miniature buildings and railways

Train Rides

Mandurah Tourist Fun Train in the City Centre is a fun way to tour Mandurah. The child-sized Mini Toot runs along the Eastern Foreshore and the Big Toot is a hop-on/hop-off tour for all ages. Purchase tickets at the Mandurah Visitor Centre or when boarding the train.

The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway in Dwellingup will take you on a journey back in time on the historic Steam Ranger (Sunday, May – October) or through the forest on the open-air carriages of the Forest Train (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays all year).

Mandurah Tourist Fun Train Company
“The Spirit of Mandurah” (BIG TOOT) is our larger train for groups of up to 60 people and stops at 10 designated Stations around the City.

Cycling & E-Scooter

Cycling is a great and easy way to get out and explore with the kids. Mandurah has good cycle paths around the city centre, marina and along the coast. Hire an e-bike or e-scooter from The Bike Kiosk to explore Mandurah.

About a 45 minute drive from Mandurah, there are also family-friendly forest cycle trails.  Dwellingup Adventures offers bikes for hire as well as guided tours.

Mountain-Biking-&-Cycling
Explore winding forest tracks and Mandurah’s best cycling trails.

Skate Parks & BMX Tracks

Skateboarding, scooter and bike riding are great ways to get outdoors and get active. Kids of all ages can test their skills and have fun at Mandurah’s skate and BMX parks which include multiple features to challenge riders and boarders alike.

  • Mandurah (Bill Bowler) Skate Park, Leighton Pl, Halls Head
  • Falcon Skate and BMX Park 3 Flame Street, Falcon 
  • Pinjarra Skate Park Roe Avenue, Pinjarra
  • Mandurah BMX Track Milgar Street Reserve, Mandurah
  • Duverney Reserve Skate and BMX Zone 221-239 Wanjeep Street, Coodanup

Discover
how the
locals
like it

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Guide to Mandurah!

Cover of 2024/25 Mandurah Visitor Guide

Mandurah is the ultimate aquatic and nature playground. Trip planning and experience making is easy with our destination information guide.

Find more inspiration

Take a look at some of our best picks