Things to Do in Mandurah, a Local's Guide

You'll know when you've arrived in Mandurah. It is that instant ahhhh, slow down and relax feeling. Drive through town along Mandurah Terrace, look toward the grassed, shady foreshores, and you will see locals and visitors making the most of them: walking, riding, swimming, scooting, paddling, fishing, boating, firing up a barbecue or spreading out a picnic, with events and gatherings in clusters all along the waterfront.

If you are searching for things to do in Mandurah, this is the guide we give our own guests at check in. It is not an exhaustive tourism directory. It is the places we love and the things we recommend to friends and family, written from our Mandurah accommodation on the Port Mandurah canals in Halls Head, less than an hour south of Perth.

The Mandurah Foreshore, Where Every Visit Starts

The Mandurah foreshore is where the whole town comes out to play, and almost all of it is free. You'll see groups of locals meeting for a catch up in the cafes or heading out on their morning walk, kids playing and seagulls stealing chips. You'll spot families of black swans sipping fresh water from the seawall drains, schools of fish, crabs and stingrays, and if you are really lucky, a wild dolphin. Maybe a few, or even a pod.

There are two sides to it. The Eastern Foreshore runs along Mandurah Terrace in the heart of town, and the Western Foreshore sits across the water on our side of the bridge. Directly across the road from us is Hall Park and the Western Foreshore, an A class recreation reserve. What a treasure! Grassed, shady foreshores, barbecues, the huge Koolaanga Waabiny nature playground, a competition level skate park and a basketball half court. We have basketballs, books and games for guests to borrow anytime.

A path follows the waterfront along the Western Foreshore. In one direction it connects with the Mary Street path and the Halls Head Coastal Path. In the other it takes you across the bridge into the heart of Mandurah. Fishing platforms, public swimming spots, cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops are all a short walk from our holiday apartments in Mandurah. Ten minutes at most, unless you are having a leisurely stroll, which we highly recommend.

Old Halls Head, Doddi's Beach and Blue Bay

Halls Head beach life starts just around the corner from the resort, with a path all the way. Over in Old Halls Head you will find more grassed, shady beach foreshores, the local ocean swimming group gathering nearby, families at the playground, and locals and visitors swimming, paddling, surfing and fishing. Almost everyone makes it across the road at some point for a takeaway, a sit down meal or a drink.

On the way to Doddi's Beach you will pass Mary Street Lagoon and its boat ramp. This is where we direct guests to launch their boats. There is boat and trailer parking, and we offer our guests a free boat pen by appointment, subject to availability.

Blue Bay, my favourite Mandurah beach

Blue Bay is by far my favourite. The view from the cliff across the clear water is magnificent, with a popular diving reef and a surf break below. Around the corner is Doddi's Beach, on the same stretch of coast, reached from the Halls Head Coastal Path and only about 2 kilometres from the resort.

By foot, bike, scooter or car, this coastline is spectacular. I purposely detour to drive home along the coast because it immediately gives off happy, relaxed vibes. Grab a coffee at TODS Cafe, walk from Doddi's to Blue Bay, have a dip and walk back. You will pass a favourite herring fishing spot on the way when the winds are blowing in the right direction, but I'll keep that one a secret.

More Mandurah beaches worth the trip

Falcon Bay and its cafe are just gorgeous, and you have to check them out while you are here. Falcon has the same shady, hilly, beach shack suburb feel as Old Halls Head. For surf, the locals head to Avalon, Hunchies and the other breaks about town. On the town side, follow the Eastern Foreshore along to Town Beach, near Seashells. Fabulous!

A round of golf around the corner

Take a left off Mary Street onto Leighton Road and you will find the Mandurah Country Club, an 18 hole golf course and driving range that welcomes public bookings. It is so close you could almost walk there with your golf trolley.

Walk or Ride Into Town: The Boardwalk, the Markets and Dolphin Quay

You do not need the car to see the best of central Mandurah. From the resort it is a 7 to 10 minute walk across the bridge into the heart of the city.

Keep wandering through the Eastern Foreshore to the boardwalk entertainment precinct. We are so lucky to have the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre right on the waterfront, with Reading Cinemas and CASM, Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah, next door. You'll be amazed how many great events are staged there.

When are the Mandurah markets on?

The Mandjar Markets run on the Eastern Foreshore on Sundays from 9am to 3pm, from October through to May. Community markets pop up in these waterfront spaces at other times of the year too, so it is worth checking what is on for the weekend you visit. If a market weekend is the plan, our Mandurah accommodation deals page has the current offers for booking direct.

Dolphin Quay and the Mandurah Ocean Marina

Keep walking along the waterfront, or follow the rainbow path through Keith Holmes Reserve, and you reach the marina precincts and Dolphin Quay. Dolphin Quay is the cluster of restaurants, specialty shops and market style stalls at the Mandurah Ocean Marina, often with live music. Around it are more parks and playgrounds, and Lido Beach, a man made beach with safe swimming for families. More boats, kayaks, paddle boards, bike riders and scooters. Even a beach volleyball net. Pubs, cafes, restaurants and retail therapy on overload, and all of it walkable or rideable from the resort.

Our favourite walking and riding paths

The path network deserves a mention of its own. Our favourites are the Halls Head Coastal Path, which heads south along the coast from near the resort, the walk into town along the Eastern Foreshore, and the loop the locals call The Bridges, which takes in both of Mandurah's bridges. For maps and more detail, jump on the Visit Mandurah or City of Mandurah websites.

There are some fabulous tours and workshops in town as well. Try a pottery workshop with Get Muddy in the Smart Street Mall, hire a bike from The Bike Kiosk beside the Visitor Centre, or book a tour with Mandurah Cruises.

The Mandurah Canals, Dolphins and Time on the Water

Mandurah is built around water, and the canals are the best seat in the house. The Mandurah Estuary and Peel Inlet cover 134 square kilometres, twice the size of Sydney Harbour according to Visit Mandurah, and our resort sits alongside the Port Mandurah canal system in Old Halls Head.

Stay with us, or take a walk along the foreshores, and the chance of a dolphin encounter is high. Around 85 wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins live in the Peel-Harvey Estuary, according to Estuary Guardians Mandurah. Of course you can go on a cruise and it is pretty much guaranteed! Mandurah Cruises runs a dolphin cruise from the centre of town that takes about an hour and a quarter.

Boating, kayaking and crabbing

If you're a boatie you will be amazed by our incredible aquatic environment and vast waterways: the Peel-Harvey Estuary and Inlet, and the Murray and Serpentine Rivers. There are plenty of places to park up the boat, and a few restaurants and pubs on the river banks, including the very iconic Ravenswood Hotel, which often has Sunday sessions, live bands and concerts.

No boat? Mandurah Boat Hire in town hires out boats, kayaks and stand up paddle boards, so kayaking in Mandurah is as easy as turning up. We keep a longer list of Mandurah tours, cruises and hire operators on our website for anyone who likes to plan ahead.

Take your fishing and crabbing gear. Blue swimmer crabbing is a Mandurah tradition, with a closed season and strict bag and size limits, so check the current recreational fishing rules for blue swimmer crabs before you drop a net. The City of Mandurah manages 389 recreational and 36 commercial boat pens, and our guests can use the resort's own boat pens free of charge, by appointment and subject to availability.

Then there is December, when the canal homes light up for Christmas and the cruise boats run past them. That deserves a guide of its own.

Things to Do in Mandurah With Kids

Mandurah is an easy town to keep children busy in, and most of it costs nothing. Start across the road from us at the Western Foreshore, where the Koolaanga Waabiny playground, with its 12 metre tower, sits beside the skate park and the half court. From there the list writes itself.

• Swim at Lido Beach. The man made beach at the marina has calm water for little swimmers.
• Go dolphin spotting. Walk the foreshore or the canal edge and keep an eye on the water.
• Hunt for a giant. The Giants of Mandurah are free and hidden in nature around the region.
• Ride or scoot the paths. The foreshore paths are flat, wide and right on the water.

The City of Mandurah looks after more than 600 parks and reserves, so you are never far from a playground or a patch of grass. Back at the resort, the pool, heated spa and alfresco barbecues take care of the hours in between.

For families, room to spread out matters as much as the location. Our 3 bedroom apartments have a full residential style kitchen, dining and lounge area, so nobody is eating dinner on the end of a bed.

The Giants of Mandurah

The Giants of Mandurah is a nature based adventure that you simply should not overlook, and it is free. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, the giant wooden sculptures are hidden in nature around the region, the first time his Giants have appeared in Australia. They are magical, and you have to experience them to truly understand.

There are five to find around Mandurah. Some are accessible, one has an ocean view, others look over the estuary, and another is hiding in the bush. The last is a secret you unlock by finding the others. Our favourite by far is Santi Ikto, on the Halls Head coast, a short trip from the resort.

Pick up a map from the Mandurah Visitor Centre, or visit the official Giants of Mandurah website before you set out. They are a great excuse to get out amongst the elements, get the body moving and breathe in the fresh air! We have a page for guests planning a stay around the trail too, so have a look at our Giants of Mandurah accommodation page.

Where to Eat and Drink in Mandurah

Dining recommendations really come down to personal taste, but you are spoilt for choice because there is so much on the doorstep. Just a short walk away across the bridge are plenty of restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops. It is more fun to discover your own favourites, but ours are Flics Kitchen, Wood and Stone and Brewvino if you are wanting fabulous food, drinks and views. Brewvino, I believe, has it all, including live music at times, and the view across the waterways is sublime.

For breakfast we recommend Wild Waffle Project, Perch'd, Wood and Stone, Cafe Rene, The Hummingbird and TODS Cafe, which has cafes in both Mandurah and Halls Head.

Kick your heels up in one of the many pubs, a lot of them on the waterfront. Murphy's is very popular and has a sky bar upstairs. Little Stiller has that young, cool and hip vibe. The Pen, The Bridge and the Brighton are all worth checking out.

Breweries and a gin distillery

There are a few breweries in our region, plus a gin distillery. Little Stiller is on the waterfront in central Mandurah and often has Sunday sessions, live music and other events. Boundary Island Brewery is my favourite, and you could ride there from the resort, with a path all the way. Others include All Malt Brewing in central Mandurah, Wedgetail Brewing in Falcon and Spinifex Brewing Co out to the east.

Stocking up and cooking in

Just next door to us is the Old Coast Plaza, with an IGA, Jack's Bakery, The Pipers Inn tavern, takeaway food, a doctor's surgery, a chemist, hair, beauty and massage, and a liquor store. Our 1 bedroom apartments and larger are self contained with a full residential style kitchen, so you can pop next door, stock up and cook your own meals in the apartment, or on the barbecues in the poolside alfresco area. On our other side is the heritage listed Sutton's Farm, a lovely piece of Halls Head history.

Day Trips From Mandurah

Three easy day trips start from Mandurah: east to Pinjarra, further east into the hills to Dwellingup, and south to the Thrombolites at Lake Clifton.

Pinjarra and Dwellingup

Head east if you want to experience quirky and delightful Pinjarra, full of antique stores and arts and crafts. The Exchange Hotel, restored and reopened in 2024, often has live music and events, and it backs onto the grassed, shady banks of the Murray River as it runs through the town.

Keep driving into the hills, about 45 minutes from Mandurah, and you will find our little treasure, Dwellingup. It is a tiny timber town so gorgeous it would be a crime not to check it out. It is close to Lane Poole Reserve, where you can walk or ride the trails, camp on the river, and swim or paddle in the water holes and through the rapids when the river is flowing.

Try Treetops Adventure or the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway, visit the Forest Discovery Centre, or hire a kayak or a bike from Dwellingup Adventures. The bike trails are amazing, as are the Dwellingup Hotel, Caraholly Orchard and Redgum Wine Estate. The perfect day trip!

South to the Thrombolites and Yalgorup

Head south for about half an hour to visit the Thrombolites at Lake Clifton, then explore Yalgorup National Park and the southern end of the Peel-Harvey Estuary. Thorny Devil Brewery, nearby, is fabulous. There are sensational beaches all along our coastline, with spots for four wheel driving, fishing, surfing and camping along the way.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Mandurah?

Spring and summer are definitely Mandurah's most popular seasons, but you will never be short of something to do in any season. We have a Mediterranean climate, and even in winter you are not too restricted with outdoor activity, especially if you bring your brolly or raincoat and that adventurous spirit.

If you like to plan around an event, Mandurah Crab Fest is a sensational destination event, and the next one is on 13 and 14 March 2027.

Mandurah was originally named Mandjoogoordap, which translates as meeting place of the heart. Spend a couple of days by the water here and the name makes perfect sense.

Mandurah at a Glance

Where to Stay: C Mandurah Apartment Resort

C Mandurah Apartment Resort is in central Mandurah at 20 Apollo Place, Halls Head, built alongside the Port Mandurah canal system, across the road from Hall Park and the Western Foreshore and next to the Old Coast Plaza. We offer studio and hotel style rooms and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom self contained apartments, with servicing available.

Guests have free parking, free wifi, a pool, a heated spa, alfresco barbecues, a gymnasium and boat pens by appointment. The resort has lush gardens and a tropical vibe, there is a bus stop out the front, and we are a 7 to 10 minute walk across the bridge from the heart of our great city. If the water is what you are coming for, have a look at our 2 bedroom waterview apartments.

Coming with a team, a club or the whole extended family? Our group and long stay bookings page has the details.

To see the place before you book, browse the photos of the resort, or call us on (08) 9535 9599 and we will help you plan your stay.

Frequently Asked Questions