--- title: "Things to Do in Mandurah" description: "Dolphin cruises, crabbing on the canals, coastal trails, and seafood straight off the boat in Western Australia's waterfront city." canonical_url: "https://atsiolevart.com/mandurah/things-to-do" last_updated: "2026-05-10T01:34:48.674Z" --- Mandurah is a water city. The canals, the estuary, the Indian Ocean coastline, the Murray River feeding in from the east: nearly everything worth doing here involves being on, in, or beside water. That's not a limitation. The variety of experiences the waterways support, from dolphin cruises to blue swimmer crab fishing to multi-course seafood banquets on a boat, gives Mandurah a coherence that scattered attraction lists often lack. You come here for the water, and the water delivers. The city also sits at the northern edge of the Peel Region, one of Western Australia's most underrated outdoor destinations. The jarrah forests around Dwellingup, the Murray River's upper reaches, and the wetlands of the Peel-Harvey Estuary (a Ramsar-listed site of international ecological significance) are all within a 30 to 45-minute drive. Mandurah works equally well as a base for exploring this hinterland or as a destination in its own right. ## On the Water ### Dolphin Cruises Around 100 bottlenose dolphins live permanently in the Mandurah Estuary and canal system, making this one of the most reliable places in Australia to see dolphins in the wild. Mandurah Cruises operates daily one-hour dolphin tours departing from the boardwalk precinct, with a dolphin guarantee that provides unlimited return trips until you spot them. In practice, sightings happen on the vast majority of cruises. The dolphins are wild and unhabituated to feeding, so the encounters feel genuine rather than staged. The standard dolphin cruise costs around AUD $30 per adult. For something more indulgent, the Wild Seafood Experience combines a dolphin cruise with a seven-course seafood banquet prepared by an onboard chef, featuring Western Australian rock lobster, prawns, and oysters with complimentary wine and beer. It's roughly AUD $150 per person and runs for around two and a half hours. The Murray River Lunch Cruise is another option: a longer journey upriver with a three-course lunch and a walking tour at historic Cooper's Mill on Coolenup Island. ### Crabbing Blue swimmer crab fishing is something close to a local religion in Mandurah. The estuary and canals hold healthy crab populations, and catching your own dinner is a genuine and accessible activity rather than a tourist gimmick. Drop nets and scoop nets are available from tackle shops in the town centre (around AUD $15-30 to buy, or included with some boat hire packages). The basics are simple: bait the net (chicken frames or fish heads work well), drop it from a jetty, canal bank, or boat, wait 15 to 20 minutes, and pull it up. The legal minimum size is 127mm across the carapace, and there are strict bag limits (10 per person in the estuary). The best crabbing months are December through April, when the crabs move into the estuary in large numbers. Many [canal-side accommodations](/mandurah/where-to-stay) provide crab nets and cooking pots, and there's a particular satisfaction in catching, cooking, and eating blue swimmers on a jetty as the sun goes down over the estuary. It's one of those activities that sounds modest on paper but becomes a holiday highlight. ### Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding The canal system and estuary offer kilometres of flat, sheltered water ideal for kayaking and paddleboarding. Seven marked canoe trails cover different sections of the waterways, ranging from short, easy paddles through the marina canals to longer routes into the estuary's quieter reaches. Kayak and SUP hire is available from operators on the boardwalk (around AUD $25-40 per hour). The best time to paddle is early morning, when the water is glassy and the birdlife is most active. Pelicans, black swans, cormorants, and egrets are common throughout the estuary. Dolphin encounters from a kayak, sitting at water level as they surface a few metres away, are a very different experience from watching them off the side of a cruise boat. ### Boat Hire For independent exploration, self-drive boat hire from Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire puts you on the water without a guide or schedule. Small aluminium dinghies (no licence required for boats under certain power thresholds in WA) cost around AUD $80-120 for a half day. BBQ pontoon boats, which fit groups of up to 10, run around AUD $250-400 for a half day and come equipped with an onboard barbecue, eskies, and crabbing gear. A half day on a pontoon boat, crabbing and swimming in the estuary with lunch cooked on board, is arguably the most enjoyable way to spend a day in Mandurah. Bring supplies from the Mandurah Farmers Market (held on the boardwalk every Saturday morning) and you have everything you need. ## On Land ### The Boardwalk Precinct Mandurah's boardwalk runs along the eastern foreshore of the estuary, connecting the town centre to the marina at Dolphin Quay. It's the social centre of the city: restaurants, cafes, bars, and ice cream shops line the waterfront, with views across the estuary and regular dolphin sightings from the shore. The boardwalk is at its best in the late afternoon, when the light softens over the water and the restaurant terraces fill up. The Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, a well-regarded regional venue, sits at the northern end. Weekend markets operate on the foreshore, selling local produce, artisan food, and crafts. It's a pleasant place to wander without a plan. ### Giants of Mandurah Danish artist Thomas Dambo's Giants of Mandurah is an outdoor sculpture trail featuring six large-scale wooden trolls hidden in locations around the city. Each sculpture is built from recycled timber, stands several metres tall, and is integrated into its natural surroundings. Four giants have published locations; finding the fifth and sixth requires clues from the others. The trail works as a self-guided scavenger hunt that takes a few hours by car or a full day by bike. The sculptures are well made and the settings are thoughtfully chosen, making this more engaging than the concept might suggest. It's free, family-friendly, and a good way to explore parts of Mandurah beyond the waterfront. ### Dwellingup and the Murray River Forty-five minutes inland from Mandurah, the small timber town of Dwellingup sits in the jarrah forests of the Darling Range. The town is the starting point for several walks and trails, including sections of the Bibbulmun Track (one of Australia's great long-distance walking trails) and the Munda Biddi mountain bike trail. The Murray River at Dwellingup is a different waterway from the broad, tidal estuary at Mandurah. Here it's narrow, fast-flowing, and shaded by forest. White-water rafting operates during winter and spring when water levels are high (June to October, from around AUD $90 per person). In summer, the calmer sections are excellent for swimming and gentle kayaking. The Hotham Valley Railway, a heritage steam train, runs between Dwellingup and Etmilyn through the forest on selected days. The Forest Discovery Centre on the edge of town provides context on the jarrah forest ecosystem and the timber industry that built the region. ### Thrombolites at Lake Clifton Roughly 20 minutes south of Mandurah, Lake Clifton contains one of the few remaining colonies of thrombolites, living rock structures built by microbial communities over thousands of years. A boardwalk extends over the lake for close viewing. The organisms are related to stromatolites, the ancient life forms found at Shark Bay further north, and represent some of the oldest forms of life on earth. It's a brief stop (30 minutes is sufficient) but a genuinely unusual one. The thrombolites don't look dramatic from a distance, but the interpretive signage explains their significance effectively, and the lake setting is attractive. Combine it with a drive down to the Yalgorup National Park, which protects the coastal bushland and tuart forest south of Mandurah. ## Food and Drink ### Seafood Mandurah's fishing fleet operates from the marina, and the blue swimmer crab, rock lobster, and fin fish it lands are the foundation of the local dining scene. Cicerello's, the well-known WA fish and chip chain, has a waterfront location at the marina. For something less casual, the restaurants along the boardwalk and at Dolphin Quay serve fresh seafood in settings that make the most of the estuary views. The Saturday Farmers Market on the boardwalk foreshore is the best place to buy fresh and local produce, including seasonal seafood, fruit, vegetables, bread, and prepared foods. It runs from early morning until around midday and is worth building a Saturday morning around. ### Wine The Ferguson Valley and Geographe wine region, roughly 90 minutes south of Mandurah, is an emerging area producing good Shiraz, Tempranillo, and Chardonnay. It's less well known than Margaret River (three hours south) but offers a quieter, less commercial wine-tasting experience. Several cellar doors welcome visitors without appointment. ## Practical Notes **Getting here.** Mandurah is 72 kilometres south of Perth, connected by the Kwinana Freeway (roughly one hour by car) and the Mandurah Line train from Perth CBD (70 minutes, frequent services). The train station is within walking distance of the boardwalk precinct. **Best time to visit.** The Western Australian summer (December to March) offers the warmest water, the best crabbing, and the longest days. The shoulder months of November and April are pleasant and less busy. Winter (June to August) brings rain and cooler temperatures but green landscapes and dramatic coastal weather. The [beaches](/mandurah/best-beaches) are swimmable from October through May. **Getting around.** A car is useful for reaching the southern beaches, Dwellingup, and Lake Clifton. Within the town centre and boardwalk precinct, everything is walkable. The canal system makes boat travel a practical alternative for reaching waterfront restaurants and accommodation. **Budget.** Mandurah is significantly better value than Perth or Margaret River. A seafood lunch on the boardwalk runs AUD $25-40. Beach days cost nothing. The most expensive activity, the Wild Seafood Cruise at around AUD $150, includes seven courses and drinks. For travellers accustomed to European or Caribbean pricing, the value here is striking.