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Mandurah is having a moment. Often considered an extension of Perth, Western Australia’s largest regional hub, 70 kilometres south of the west coast capital, has undergone somewhat of a metamorphosis in recent times.
The coastal city has seen new public spaces, art installations and the influx of folklore-like giants around the city’s heart: the Mandurah Estuary and Peel Inlet.
Mandurah’s Venetian Canals boast picturesque bridges and thoroughfares.Credit: Mandurah Cruises
It’s rare for this water playground to be mentioned without its size being talked about – it’s massive. Also known as the Peel-Harvey Estuary, it covers a whopping 134 square kilometres with fishing, houseboat adventures and even jet-skiing with resident Indo-Pacific dolphins among its popular pastimes. Locals and tour guides love to boast about it being twice the size of Sydney Harbour but despite its impressive breadth, don’t expect to see ships sailing in this water; its average depth is just two metres.
Mandurah’s tagline is “relaxed by nature”. With a wealth of contrasting landscapes on its doorstep – serene beaches, jarrah forests, living ‘rocks’, abundant wildlife – matched with a laid-back social scene, it’s easy to see why Mandurah is a popular add-on to a Perth escape.
Mandurah is the place of big things: waterways, wetlands, and now, wooden giants. Late last year saw the arrival of the city’s newest mascots, Giants of Mandurah. Designed by Danish recycle artist and sustainability advocate Thomas Dambo, the free outdoor exhibition features five doe-eyed giants – each made from recycled timber and up to five metres tall – scattered throughout Mandurah’s pristine scenery.
One of Thomas Dambo’s giants.Credit: Visit Mandurah
Unfortunately, one fairytale giant, Vivi Cirkelstone, met an untimely horror-story end: burnt down by vandals just after the art installation’s opening. A replacement was unveiled in May.
Finding these wilderness wardens is an exciting adventure for the young and old, with some puzzle-solving involved to crack their coordinates. The Mandurah Visitor Centre offers free self-guided maps or, if you’re not in the mood for The Amazing Race: Mandurah, tours are available. Go by car or have a cheat workout on an e-bike half-day tour, cycling more than 30 kilometres along the coast and bushlands to see two giants, Santi Ikto and Seba’s Song.
It’s one thing to appreciate Mandurah’s natural assets but another to understand its global importance.
Mandurah Estuary and Peel Inlet is a mixture of shallow estuarine and saline waters, freshwater and brackish lakes, and world-protected wetlands. Its distinct makeup lures more than 100 native and migratory bird species, some making a 13,000 km long-haul flight from Alaska to frolic on Mandurah’s shores.
Thrombolites on the edge of Lake Clifton.Credit: Tourism Western Australia
Bird lovers will have a field day visiting Creery Wetland Nature Reserve. Local tour operator Ways to Nature offers walking tours that pass samphire salt marshes to spot local and migratory shorebirds.
You can also look out for nocturnal wildlife such as the critically endangered western ringtail possum, brushtail possum, quenda and other elusive creatures prowling Mandurah’s forests on a Salt and Bush Eco Tour. Or go visit the rocklike Lake Clifton Thrombolites, a living geological wonder about 2000 years old.
In recent years, Mandurah has transformed into a city of colour thanks to various street art projects and architectural designs established around its waterways.
The city’s newest is The Meeting Place. The immersive public artwork along the Western Foreshore intertwines Mandurah’s past and present. An eight-metre-high structure encircles pylon remnants from the Old Mandurah Bridge. However, the true spectacle is at night: the monument becomes animated and produces a sound and multi-colour LED light show responsive to the estuary’s elemental forces.
On the opposite side of the estuary is the new Kwillena Gabi Estuary Pool. There’s a big chance of spotting friendly fins as the free public pool sits next to the part of the estuary dubbed ‘Dolphin Highway’.
The Kwillena Gabi Estuary Pool, where you may spot a dolphin passing by.
Meanwhile, Mandurah’s Venetian Canals boast picturesque bridges and thoroughfares, best experienced on Mandurah Cruises’ self-drive donut-shaped eco barbecue boat. Cook snags while cruising along the canals, passing dreamy high-rise apartments and arched bridges on a unique aquatic adventure.
Mandurah’s other thirst trap is its little-known brewery and winery scene.
Boundary Island Brewery is a recent addition to Mandurah’s beer scene. The vibrant waterfront microbrewery restaurant is run by two local families and offers bold beer concoctions such as pina colada nitro ale. Not into brews? Kick back with a fruity seltzer made in-house.
To experience Mandurah’s wine scene, Kaleidoscope Tours showcases the region’s drops on a full-day tour that includes a pub lunch at the American-inspired brewery and smokehouse Thorny Devil. Just be prepared for the meat sweats.
Canal, beach, river, estuary – take your pick of scenery (or is that sea-nery?). Mandurah has many accommodation options along its stunning waterways – and on it.
It’s WA’s houseboat capital. Family-owned and operated Mandurah House Boats offers 16 houseboat options, from basic to luxe, that can sleep from four to 10 people. Some of these can feel like floating apartments, spacious and equipped with a kitchen, shower, toilet, barbecue, outdoor deck and swim platform with ladder and jacuzzi.
Mandurah is a water playground.Credit: Mandurah Cruises.
BYO captain’s hat as no skipper’s license is required to hire one. New captains can travel up to 23 kilometres along the Murray River (yes, WA has one too), with plenty of moorings en route. There’s something for everyone, from catching your next meal on the deck (Mandurah’s specialty is blue swimmer crabs) or enjoying the changing scenery while sipping bubbles in a hot tub.
Prefer to stay grounded? Experience life by the water at Seashells Mandurah. Mandurah’s premier luxury coastal accommodation overlooks the Indian Ocean and boasts a ’gram-worthy infinity pool. Besides hotel rooms, the resort has one, two and three-bedroom self-contained apartments and oceanfront villas with beach access.
Seashells Mandurah is the region’s premier luxury coastal accommodation.
On the flip side, wake up to dolphins outside your window at the Sebel. The Mandurah skyscraper fringes Mandjar Bay and Stingray Point Reserve and is a short walk from waterfront cafes, restaurants, and many other Mandurah sweet spots. Too easy.
The writer was a guest of Visit Mandurah.
STAY
Houseboats start from $320 per night, a minimum of two nights. See houseboatsmandurah.com.au
Rooms at Seashells Mandurah start from $238. See seashells.com.au
Rooms at The Sebel Mandurah start from $249. See sebelmandurah.com.au
VISIT
Ways to Nature offer walking tours around the Peel Yalgorup Wetland System. See waystonature.com.au
Salt and Bush Eco Tours offer custom-guided nature experiences around Mandurah. See saltandbush.com.au
Mandurah Cruises offers many cruising experiences, including eco BBQ boats. See mandurahcruises.com.au
Kaleidoscope Tours offers various customised tours in the Peel region. See kaleidoscopetours.com.au
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