Mandurah and Peel
Get away to Mandurah and Peel - Perth's aquatic and adventure playground and the perfect destination for a day trip or short break from Perth. Thongs, bathers and a towel are the only essentials required. Alive with holidaymakers year-round the region is filled with the scent of sausages barbecuing on the Mandurah foreshore and the laughter of families as they picnic and play, while adventure seekers head to the forests and waterways of the Murray region.
Mandurah and Peel is just a short train ride or an hour's drive south of Perth City, encompasses the coastal city of Mandurah and the inland destinations of Pinjarra, Dwellingup, Waroona and Boddington. The region offers a wide range of activities from exploring vast waterways and national parks, to visiting wineries and bush walking along trails through the Jarrah Forests.
From across the globe, holiday-makers flock to build sandcastles along wide stretches of beach and spot wild dolphins dancing in protected waters. Wetlands teem with black swans and pelicans, the estuary and inlet brimming with blue manna crabs and crayfish. So revered are the claw-clad crustaceans, they have a festival dedicated to them. Hire a boat or jet ski, try your hand at fishing, grab a steak and cook it onboard your own Eco BBQ Boat as you steer your way through Venetian-like canals and the Ocean Marina. Meanwhile, accessible boardwalks invite diners and shoppers to wander and enjoy the sunshine.
Inland from Mandurah, a trailblazing adventure awaits in the Peel region. Raise your oars and launch your kayaks, lace up your hiking boots and pump up your bike tyres, ready for an outdoor adventure like no other. Mandurah and Peel is a prime spot to forget about the hustle and bustle of city life and instead be completely relaxed by nature.
Top Things To Do
You won’t be left wondering what to do in Mandurah and Peel with plenty of adventures to be had on land and sea. Some of the best things to do include:
- Head out to see Thomas Dambo's Giants of Mandurah, a magical adventure that will take you into some of Mandurah's most iconic landscapes and breathtaking scenery.
- Have fun on the water - catch a cruise, book a tour aboard Mandurah’s very own pirate ship, hire a houseboat, or jetski - keep an eye out for dolphins.
- Hire an e-bike or e-scooter to explore Mandurah’s 600 kilometres of cycleways tracing the ocean and estuarine waterways.
- Visit the 2,000-year old thrombolite reef at Lake Clifton and see what life was like when the Earth began.
- Play a round of golf with stunning scenery at some of Australia’s top golf courses.
- Ride the Tourist Fun Train to the heart of the city and the popular eastern foreshore.
- Visit Dolphin Quay at the Mandurah Ocean Marina and The Mandurah Boardwalk.
- Explore the beautiful state forests and national parks in the region and enjoy a range of fantastic nature and wildlife experiences.
- Take a paddle by canoe or kayak along the winding Murray River.
- Follow a section of the Bibbulmun Track or Munda Biddi Bike Trail.
- Try one of the Holy Grail Mountain Bike Trails, there's a trail to suit all experience levels.
- Hop aboard the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway in Dwellingup.
- Try fishing for trout or marron and camp overnight.
- Visit wineries, markets, and galleries in the quaint townships.
- Visit Yalgorup National Park to see the amazing Thrombolite living fossils.
- Enjoy a day at the races in Pinjarra.
Explore Mandurah's Waterways
Looking to plan a short escape but not sure what's on or what to do in Mandurah? Then you've come to the perfect place. Over recent years, Mandurah has grown from a small seaside town into a lively and cosmopolitan city and is famed for its beautiful waterways and relaxed holiday atmosphere. It’s also the perfect place to base yourself and take day trips out to explore the Peel region.
The waterways provide endless water activities and tours, such as fishing, swimming, crabbing and kayaking. No trip to Mandurah would be complete without a boat cruise on the vast, silken waters of the estuary. There are several boating options available from chartering your own pontoon to hiring a houseboat. Or you could join a cruise through the award winning canals with Mandurah Cruises. Be sure to keep an eye out for the wild bottle-nosed dolphins, regular visitors to the Mandurah waterway. If you are visiting over from December - January, ensure you jump aboard a Mandurah Christmas Lights Cruise! You can even hire an electric BBQ boat!
The Mandurah Ocean Marina consists of 390 recreational boat pens, 36 commercial boat pens and 213 club pens. In addition to offering a safe and sheltered mooring for your vessel, the marina is well equipped to cater to all your boating needs. With plenty of attractions including an aquatic fun park, carnival and free space to run around, the kids will love Mandurah's eastern foreshore. Tree lined walkways, grassed picnic areas and safe swimming beaches make it a perfect destination for the whole family.
Murray
Pinjarra and Dwellingup, situated in the Shire of Murray, are beautiful places to visit boasting a range of adventure activities. Resting on the banks of the tranquil Murray River, Pinjarra is one of the oldest established towns in Western Australia. With its rich grazing lands, the town quickly became known as a centre for dairy and cattle farming. The area is also becoming increasingly celebrated as the country horse racing capital of Western Australia.
If you prefer walking, the Pinjarra Heritage Walk Trail skirts the Murray River and is a fascinating way to view the region. Families can experience a close encounter with native wildlife at Ranger Red's Zoo & Conservation Park. 23km further inland resides the evergreen forested township of Dwellingup. Here you can take to the Murray River's swollen winter rapids by raft or sedately canoe down its slower moving segments.
Dwellingup is a popular camping destination and you can also hike, moutiain-bike or horse ride along the area’s many trails - information can be found at the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre. Kids can even enjoy a tree top adventure ropes experience at Treetops Adventure. The long-distance walking trail, The Bibbulmun Track, runs through the middle of town and uniquely meets with the Munda Biddi Trail. The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway travels through town every weekend throughout the year and is a magical way to see the tall timbers of the ancient forests.
Waroona
Located on the South Western Highway, the character township of Waroona lies between forest, farmland, lakes and sea. The town itself has grown over the years to encompass cafes, fine examples of colonial architecture, antique shops and art galleries and is particularly well known for Lake Navarino and the Waroona Dam where thrill seekers from far and wide come to water-ski, canoe or fish.
Yalgorup National Park also falls under the shire of Waroona's jurisdiction and covers an area of over 12,000 hectares. The park contains 11 coastal lakes and wetlands which are home to hundreds of migrating birds, some of which have travelled thousands of kilometres to breed and recuperate amongst the areas’ rich eco systems. The park also boasts several stands of rare Tuart trees and some of the first living creatures on earth - the captivating Thrombolite living fossils. Preston Beach at the southern end of the park is a superb location for four-wheel driving, swimming, picnicking or fishing from its pristine white sandy shores.
Food, Wine and Produce
A fantastic array of dining options can be found along the waterfront and inland throughout Peel's countryside, catering for all styles of taste and budget. Why not indulge in seafood fresh from Mandurah's waters; be sure to try some of the sweet crab meat for which Mandurah is so renowned.
The Mandurah Boardwalk, which stretches from the picturesque eastern foreshore to the stunning Sebel Mandurah, comprises of quality eateries, bars, accommodation, theatre, cinema, chocolatier, ice creamery, café’s, boat and bike hire and ferry services, all with the spectacular Mandjar Bay frontage. You'll also find a great array of food and produce markets across the Mandurah and Peel region, as well as quaint cafe's offering the best of local ingredients.
Inland, you'll find an award-winning bakery in Pinjarra, a range of fantastic cideries around Dwellingup and locally-sourced food in quaint cafes dotted along the Murray River. Eat, shop, play and stay - Mandurah and the Peel region is the perfect place to enjoy a family outing.
Arts and Culture
Looking for things to do in Mandurah and Peel in the world of arts and leisure? The state-of-the-art Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is a distinctive feature overlooking the waters of Mandjar Bay and showcases a wide range of local, national and international creative talent. Learn about the region's fascinating history and heritage at several sites, including Edenvale Heritage Precinct, Fairbridge Village, Hugh Manning Tractor & Machinery Museum and Mandurah Community Museum.
Local galleries can also be found, including the Mandurah Art Gallery, CASM - Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah, Emma Blyth Gallery, Murray Arts and Crafts Society, Lost Eden Creative, Liveringa Art Gallery, the Forest Discovery Centre and the Waroona Visitor Centre & Gallery, which all display fantastic local art. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the local indigenous culture of the area with Goolamwiin.
Adventure Experiences
Graced with endless stretches of pristine coastline, there are plenty of places to go swimming and surfing right on Mandurah's doorstep. There are also numerous limestone reefs offering a diverse variety of fish which makes Mandurah an ideal spot for divers to get below the surface and enjoy the deep blue sea. Thanks to a mild Mediterranean climate, water temperatures are moderate all year round and the area is protected from any major boating or shipping channels.
Those looking for more action-packed things to do can skydive onto a Mandurah beach or land in the magnificent Pinjarra countryside. Tackling the fast-water rapids and Murray Valley Bike Trails in Dwellingup, and hiring a jet ski in the Mandurah Estuary are also popular local activities to get the adrenaline pumping!
For those wanting to explore the great outdoors, there is an excellent selection of walk trails, bike trails and wildflower trails throughout Mandurah and the Peel region that meander alongside the rivers, by the estuary and along the ocean's shores.
