Mandurah Attractions That Make it Australia’s Worst-Kept Secret

When you first see the pink sunsets over looping canals and perfect aquamarine water lapping at the steps of palatial estates, it’s easy to confuse Mandurah with that other floating metropolis. But Venice can only wish for seafood as good as what you’ll find in Western Australia's second largest city.

An hour’s drive south of Perth waterways make up the majority of this revelation of a city, and over the past decade it has gone from closely-guarded retirement secret to one of the best getaways in the country. Here are the best places to visit in Mandurah.

Mandurah’s Peel-Harvey Estuary is a playground for those who know that life’s better when it’s wetter. The gorgeous estuary is twice the size of the Sydney Harbour, as no shortage of locals will tell you, and connects to the Indian Ocean.

Over 130 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins call these waters home, with hundreds more stopping by to visit each year. It's known as the 'dolphin highway,' and catching sight of them playing in the canals is pure magic. The Kwillena Gabi Estuary Pool has no nets or barriers so it gives swimmers a chance to get up close and personal with these cheerful locals.

Named by the Bindjareb people of the Noongar Nation, Kwillena Gabi means ‘dolphin waters’ and the super-accessible pool is one of the top things to do in Mandurah for free. Dip your head underwater and you can actually hear the whistling and clicks of the dolphins.

Pro tip: You can hire a self-drive boat Mandurah Cruises and explore the canals at your own pace. Shaped like a donut, the electric boats are fitted with a barbecue and picnic table so you can make a day of dolphin watching and rubbernecking at the mansions on the waterline.

Address: Kwillena Gabi Estuary Pool, Eastern Foreshore Reserve, 17 Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah WA 6210

The Mandurah Arts Festival transforms the town into a living canvas each spring, with pop-up galleries, street performances, and creative workshops showcasing local talent.

In honour of the city’s name, a few of those local artists unveiled an eight-metre high installation by the remains of the Old Mandurah Bridge. At night, the ‘Meeting Place’ sculpture lights up and becomes responsive to the estuary’s elemental forces with sound and multi-colour LEDs.

The sculpture’s name is also thanks to the local Aboriginal Bindjareb people, who named the area Mandjoogoordap. ‘Mandjoo’ means 'meeting place' and ‘goordap’ translates to ‘of the heart’, so Mandjoogoordap means ‘meeting place of the heart.’ As they are known to do English settlers changed the name, when they found it too tricky to pronounce, to ‘Mandurah.’

Art here, you’ll come to realise, is big. Giant, actually. Hidden around the city’s fringes are five monumental secrets, the Giants of Mandurah. The massive outdoor art installation by Thomas Dambo blends whimsy and environmentalism, with towering wooden figures built from recycled materials peeking out from unexpected corners.

The Giants of Mandurah outdoor exhibition, including the Subiaco Giant which is in Perth, was launched in November 2022 and will stick around until the end of 2026. To hunt all five Mandurah giants, start at the Visitor Centre for clues and maps.

Pro tip: Each giant involves a walk of varying length and difficulty and distances vary from 500m to 3.6km return. If you’re in Mandurah without a car, speak to your friendly hotel reception team about booking a tour to see the Giants.

Address: Mandurah Visitor Centre, 75 Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah, Western Australia, 6210

The food scene in Mandurah? Criminally underrated. The blue manna crab, Mandurah’s unofficial mascot, stars on menus across town and even has its own festival that pulls a crowd of more than 100,000 people every March.

W.A’s largest regional festival, Crab Fest is more than just a celebration of its signature crustacean; it’s a bona fide crustacean carnival. Rows of fresh seafood stalls, live music from around the world, and fireworks that light up the estuary like a fever dream.

The best bite in town for the other 11 months of the year is likely found at The Peninsula (The Pen, in local lingo). Right on the waterfront, almost directly below the beautiful Sebel Mandurah, here you can find an elevated pub meal with a view, and a huge beer garden to soak up that West Australian sun.

For something special, Redmanna has an incredible menu that changes to follow locally available produce, from Cone Bay barramundi to Stirling Ranges sirloin, Cervantes crayfish to lamb from Amelia Park. Again, the views are exceptional.

For a great coffee, Frothin Coffee on Pinjarra Road roast their beans in an Italian woodfired roaster and will even sell you a bag of their best to take home. Or if you like to stretch your commerce muscles with your morning latte, Frisky Deer on San Polo Vista matches beautiful textiles, ceramics and clothing with Coffee by Humblebee and fresh bakery treats.

Pro tip: Download the self-guided Peel Region Craft Beer and Wine Trail, a map to ten excellent vineyards and breweries in and around Marunda. Treat yourself to a delicious Hazy Devil IPA and plate of American style BBQ under the gum trees at Thorny Devil Brewery, conveniently close to one of the Mandurah Giant sculptures.

Address: Thorny Devil Brewery, 185 Clifton Downs Road, Herron WA 6211

As one of the best cities in Australia for travelling with kids, there are a huge amount of dedicated family activities in Mandurah. The Amaze Miniature Park is a nostalgia bomb of hedge mazes, mini-golf, and tiny village replicas that even the surliest teens will crack a smile at. King Carnival is a classic regional amusement park with plenty of rides and a well-stocked arcade, right on the estuary.

For some non-dolphin nature thrills, the Lake Clifton Thrombolites are thousands of round, rocklike organisms which are around 2000 years old - one of the earliest organisms on Earth. Less than a half hour’s drive from Mandurah, there’s an excellent observation walkway to see the trippy, ‘living rocks’.

Over at the Dolphin Quay Markets, you’ll find everything from local crafts to fresh eats, making it the perfect spot to let kids explore while you enjoy a coffee that doesn’t come in a sippy cup.

Pro tip: Rent a kayak and paddle through mangroves where you’ll also get a good look at the hundreds of migratory birds that swing by the estuary each year.

Address: Mandurah Boat Hire, 20A Ormsby Terrace, Mandurah WA 6210

Mandurah is proof that you won’t always find the best destinations on a tea towel map of Australia at the airport. Sometimes the smaller jewels have a bigger dazzle. Whether it’s the playfulness of the dolphins, the whimsy of hidden giants, or tasty meals of blue manna crab, this coastal treasure knows its way around a good time.