Categories > Guides and Tips
Our Mandurah Travel Guide
- How to Get Around Mandurah
- Where to Stay
- Seashells Mandurah
- Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets
- The Sebel Mandurah
- Where to Eat
- Silk Thai Restaurant
- Redmanna Waterfront Restaurant
- Flics Kitchen
- Top Things to Do
- Marvel at the towering sculptures at the Giants of Mandurah Information Centre
- Watch a show at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
- Explore the Creery Wetland Nature Reserve
- Unearth the prehistoric thrombolite reef at Lake Clifton
- Hop on a Murray River cruise
- Spot dolphins at the Mandurah Ocean Marina
- Bushwalk at Yalgorup National Park
- Chug along the Eastern Foreshore on the Tourist Fun Train
- Walk like a giant at Amaze Miniature Park
- Which Neighbourhoods to Visit
- Halls Head
- Madora Bay
- Falcon
Mandurah’s waterways are more than just a forefront for boating and fishing gigs. Along, in, and on them, attractions overflow, from pathways framed by giants to prehistoric creatures submerged in a crystalline lake.
What’s more, this coastal city has restaurants dishing out international flavours. And if you’re tuckered out, don’t worry, some world-class digs will recharge you in no time.
We know that too well because we just took a trip recently. Our guide below spills the beans on everything that made us say, ‘This won’t be the last time, Mandurah!’
How to Get Around Mandurah
By Train: Boarding the Mandurah line is a solid choice for entering or zipping around in Mandurah. It halts in a station that’s 5 minutes away from the city’s business district, and the tickets grant free bus rides—as long as the time printed on hasn’t run out.
You may also board the Tourist Fun Train for a more whimsical journey. This kid-friendly option passes by and stops at major destinations like the marina and Mandjar Bay.
By Bus: Transperth buses 588 and 589 are the quickest and breeziest options for getting around Mandurah. Their routes will take you through key spots, and there are numerous bus stops within the city, like the ones in the shop-lined Mandurah Terrace.
By Boat: Since Mandurah is a coastal city, travelling by boat is a no-brainer. Several cruise/boat operators are in the city, including Murray River Cruises, Mandurah Boat Charters, and Mandurah Estuary Dolphin Cruises.
By Taxi/Rideshare: Several taxis and rideshare services operate in Mandurah, and you can hail them from virtually anywhere in the city. The cost structure includes an initial fee of $3.10 to $12.20, a cost per minute of $.40 to $.80, and a cost per km of $1.20 to $2.50.
By Car: Mandurah’s roads are a breeze to navigate, and the abundance of city car parks makes things more convenient for drivers. Notable ones include the Mandurah Station Multi-Storey Car Park, Sholl Street Parking Precinct, and Boardwalk Parking Station.
By Bike: The terrain in Mandurah is pretty flat, so biking is a no-brainer. In addition, there are cycle lanes throughout the city, and even if you don’t own a bike, you can always hire one from places like The Bike Kiosk.
On Foot: Mandurah is a very pedestrian-friendly city, thanks to its many well-maintained paths, open spaces, and waterside boardwalks.
Where to Stay
Seashells Mandurah
From seashellsmandurah
Address: 16 Dolphin Dr
Contact Details: +61 8 9550 3000
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: 10 am
Pricing: $$
Website
Perched between the Indian Ocean and Dolphin Quay, Seashells ticked our ‘scenic getaway’ box. The rooms didn’t slack either, with sun-bathed villas and apartments suited for all budgets and group sizes.
In our case, we bunked in a 2-bedroom, 81m² apartment, roomy enough for four and flaunting marina scenery. Snoozing was also a dream, thanks to the luxe twin bedding, while the spa bath meant we could unwind indoors.
Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets
From marinachalets
Address: 6 The Lido
Contact Details: +61 8 9535 8173
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: 10 am
Pricing: $$
Website
For those who love a deal, Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets come in clutcher than MJ. These self-contained, inclusive stays won’t bleed your wallet dry but still come with the essentials—a kitchenette, air con, and a private bathroom, for instance.
The two-bedroom chalet is a hit with families, sleeping 4 in comfort, though it’s not pet-friendly like the other options. Meanwhile, lovebirds might fancy the Spa Chalet, where the ensuite bath sets the mood for a heartwarming escape.
The Sebel Mandurah
From sebelmandurah
Address: 1 Marco Polo Dr
Contact Details: +61 8 9512 8300
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: 11 am
Pricing: $$
Website
Tourists chasing a classic hotel stay should make a beeline for The Sebel Mandurah. It’s a 4.5-star destination where you can do laps in a 15-m pool, hit a cutting-edge gym, and kick back in sleek, modern rooms.
The Superior King Room is a no-brainer pick, balancing price with quality perks like a king bed, a furnished balcony, and free Wi-Fi.
But if you’re out to splurge, the Water View King Spa Suite is the way to go, with its separate living space and Mandurah Estuary views.
Where to Eat
Silk Thai Restaurant
From lornarogers261
Address: 52 Mandurah Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9536 2373
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 11:30 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 8:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 2 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Local Thai food is already a crowd-catcher, but Silk Thai Restaurant dials its appeal to another level of goodness with creative twists. Their curry menu, for instance, is a choose-your-own-feast deal—beef, lamb, tofu, and whatever fiery or sweet base you’re craving.
Green curry is the popular option; its green chilli and coconut base connect well with seafood’s umami. A gutsier alternative is the Thai-Malay Panang curry, which is rich, nutty, and fuses deliciously with any meat or vegetable.
Redmanna Waterfront Restaurant
From redmannamandurah
Address: Unit 5/9 Mandurah Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9581 1248
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Sat – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Pricing: $$$
Website
The moment we landed in Mandurah, the seafood cravings kicked in, and Redmanna Waterfront Restaurant was more than up for the job. Those waterfront views seen through glass walls didn’t hurt either.
We downed their $185 seafood tower, stacked with the city’s freshest oceanic bounties, from pineapple oysters to crispy salt and pepper squid. The most praised, though, was the earthy crayfish drenched in cheesy mornay.
Flics Kitchen
From flicskitchen
Address: Sontoy Ballroom Arcade, 3/16 Mandurah Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9535 1661
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Pushing the boundaries of modern Aussie grub, Flics Kitchen dished up sharing plates that went beyond our Tuesday sarnie.
Small plates brought the finesse—like a dry-aged beef tartare with a touch of cheesy funk—while the big plates filled us up with a lean rump steak headlining.
The twice-cooked pork belly was the most flavoursome. Roasted with precision, the silky meat encapsulated next-level umami, while the outer layer oozed sweetness wrapped with smoky, not too bitter, nuances.
Top Things to Do
Marvel at the towering sculptures at the Giants of Mandurah Information Centre
From ransom_offroad
Address: 75 Mandurah Terrace
Operating Hours: Daily – 7 am to 6 pm
Website
The Giants of Mandurah Information Centre gave us a lesson in conservation with a side of ‘titanic’ spectacle. Their free outdoor art trail wasn’t just easy on the eyes; it had a message, too, delivered by enormous sculptures made entirely from recycled wood.
Each of these five-metre wonders pulls a different cheeky pose, and some are so well-camouflaged in nature that we had to put in extra effort. We tracked them all down with the centre’s Traveller’s Companion guide, but no spoilers here—that’s half the fun.
Watch a show at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
From mandurahpac
Address: 9 Ormsby Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9550 3900
Website
Mandurah bleeds creativity, and the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is at the heart of it all. Whether you’re keen on a Beatles tribute or want an evening soaked in orchestral grandeur, this joint delivers and often transcends expectations.
It’s not all highbrow, too. This place knows zingers and gags, with the ‘heavenly’ comedy musical ‘Nunsense’ as an example.
If that’s not enough, you can gawk at galleries, get your mind scrambled by illusionists, or watch circus performers defy death and gravity!
Explore the Creery Wetland Nature Reserve
From tims_australian_nature_pics
Address: Dudley Park
Contact Details: +61 8 9550 3777
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
Massive cheers to our teammate Ava for putting us onto the 29-hectare Creery Wetland Nature Reserve. The place was bursting with birdlife, from ospreys and black swans to bee-eaters and even a few raptors.
We didn’t even have to trudge through knee-deep muck to see the other aquatic flora and fauna, as there’s a wide boardwalk. Other than that, the place gave us solitude sweetened by birdsong, a rarity in the city centre.
Unearth the prehistoric thrombolite reef at Lake Clifton
From jesse.chance
Address: Lake Clifton
Website
No way we were skipping the southern hemisphere’s biggest thrombolite reef at Lake Clifton. Fortunately, it was so clear when we rocked by that the 2,000-year-old limestone-like formations were flaunting their prehistoric beauty without a hitch!
Good thing there’s a boardwalk, too, because taking a dip or stepping into the waters is prohibited. The view is crystal-clear from above, especially if you follow our route and head there between January and May.
Hop on a Murray River cruise
From mandurahcruises
Address: Mandurah Boardwalk, 73 Mandurah Terrace
Contact Details: +61 8 9581 1242
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 9 am to 4 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9:30 am to 4 pm
You can’t call it a coastal city trip without jumping aboard Mandurah Cruises. These legends get you right on the water, whether you’re aiming for a laid-back sunset cruise with dolphins tagging along or a seafood experience where you catch your own meal.
There are also lunch buffet cruises, which throw in a secluded tour of a heritage island. Moreover, you can throw private events, including cocktail parties or formal bashes, with 60 to 90 mates sipping booze as Mandurah drifts in the background.
Spot dolphins at the Mandurah Ocean Marina
From ultratraining
Address: Fathom Turn
Contact Details: +61 8 9550 3707
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 am to 4 pm
Website
If your wallet isn’t ready for a full-blown sunset cruise, you’re in luck; the Mandurah Ocean Marina’s waterfront experience doesn’t cost cash!
Just wander through, and you’ll be treated to a lineup of breezy cafés and swanky homes, all perched along Venetian-style canals.
Oh, and stick around until the golden hour, as it gets prettier, and make sure to look out for dolphins. They frequent this area!
Bushwalk at Yalgorup National Park
From estebanthenatureman
Address: Preston Beach Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9303 7750
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
Yalgorup National Park might claim Lake Clifton, but this 12,888-hectare respite has more than just ancient thrombolites. For instance, we took on the 4.6-km Heathlands Walk Trail, and the walk gave us some prime views of Lake Preston and more.
The track wound through dunes and paperbark swamps, where mobs of kangaroos popped up. Being a coastal stretch, it was also teeming with birdlife. Black swans and kingfishers were our common sightings, followed by some dotterels and black cockatoos.
Chug along the Eastern Foreshore on the Tourist Fun Train
From touristfuntraincompany
Address: Station one Eastern Foreshore, 73 Mandurah Terrace
Contact Details: +61 410 550 777
Operating Hours: Sat to Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
Website
Travelling with kids meant one thing—there was no dodging a ride on the Tourist Fun Train.
We hopped aboard the Spirit of Mandurah (a.k.a. Big Toot), Australia’s only trackless train, for a sunset cruise past the city’s foreshore on a 10-stop loop.
But if you’re after a shorter jaunt, there’s the Mandjar Bay Fun Train (Mini Toot), perfect for a quick lap around the bay.
Walk like a giant at Amaze Miniature Park
From amazeminiaturepark
Address: 24 Husband Rd, Barragup
Contact Details: +61 493 299 753
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 9:30 am to 4 pm
Website
Amaze Miniature Park brings a pocket-sized version of Europe right to Mandurah, with over 70 scaled-down replicas of historic buildings from the UK, France, and Germany.
Manicured gardens and water features give the place a storybook feel, too, making it a dream for architecture buffs and day-trippers alike.
The fun doesn’t stop at mini landmarks, either. There’s a tea house featuring a LEGO display, picnic spaces where bringing your own lunch is allowed, and interactive train models for locomotive or history buffs to be lost in.
Which Neighbourhoods to Visit
Halls Head
From louisa.larado
West of the Mandurah CBD, Halls Head is a quaint suburb known for lavish homes and canal estates. It’s not just all about the big manors and waters, though, as we found other attractions here, primarily Santi Ikto, one of the Giants of Mandurah.
Other than that, most of the area is family-friendly, with parks, playgrounds, beaches, and country clubs in spades.
Madora Bay
From colinsmout
Madora Bay owns the word ‘picturesque.’ As the city’s northernmost suburb, it’s the no-brainer starting point for the Mandurah Instagram Trail, lined with waterways, urban paintings, and the Mandurah Bridge.
Not hitting the trail doesn’t change this tight-knit spot’s appeal. In a single location, you can unwind on the beach, shoot hoops in a reserve, and shred through obstacles in a pump track!
Falcon
From wb750177
If Mandurah were to be compressed into a smaller area, the result would probably be Falcon. Stretching along the Western Australian coastline, this southern suburb breathes the coastal lifestyle the city is loved for.
To top it off, it’s a hotbed for water sports, primarily kayaking, surfing, and boating. But if you just want a mental reset, Falcon has a plethora of family-friendly beaches and eateries for that.
