Mandurah

Mandurah is a vibrant city easily accessed from Perth by car or train in under an hour. Perched on the coast overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean, this is where the locals come to holiday. Canals make up many of the city streets and water activities abound; fishing, swimming, crabbing, surfing, scuba diving, white water rafting, canoeing and jet skiing. Tour boat operators can take you around the canals and waterways, and Bouvard Cruises can take you on a canal or dolphin watching cruise, a leisurely lunch trip or an all day tour. 80 Mandurah Tce, Mandurah Phone 9581 1242. There are children’s swimming beaches on the central foreshore and at the marina, providing shallow swimming for all ages.

Whether you're doing water aerobics, hydrotherapy, laps or just relaxing by the pool, The Swim Shop has chlorine-resistant swimwear to suit your needs. Let them help you find a one-piece, tankini or separates that will both flatter you and be comfortable. Shop 1/3 Dower St, Mandurah, Ph: 9583 5858.

The city's name has been adapted from Mandjar, the Aboriginal name for the area, which translates to 'meeting place', and Mandurah offers a wealth of meeting places to suit all types of visitors. Stroll along the waterfront to one of the numerous cafes and restaurants perched on the water's edge where you'll find everything from traditional fresh fish and chips to award winning restaurants, bakeries and bars, or walk to the foreshore parklands for great picnic and barbecue spots overlooking Mandjar Bay. The Stage Door Bar & Brasserie is located within the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on the water. Ormsby Tce, Mandurah Phone 9586 3733. At the opposite end of the foreshore is the Red Manna Restaurant adjacent to the old traffic bridge, with views of the water back down the bay. 5/9 Mandurah Tce, Mandurah Phone 9581 1248. Cicerello's Mandurah, much more than your average fish and chip shop you'll find a world-class aquarium display so you can explore the spectacular local marine environment without even getting your feet wet! 73 Mandurah Terrace, Mandurah. Phone 9535 9777

Enjoy the art galleries, museums and shops in the Boardwalk precinct or take in a show at the magnificent Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, one of Australia's premier regional entertainment venues. A walk along the boardwalk will take you past the new Australian Sailing Museum. An architectural statement in its own right, the museum houses a private collection of sailing memorabilia from around the world, collected by an internationally renowned sailing identity Rolly Tasker, now a local resident. 22 Ormsby Tce, Mandurah Phone 9534 7256.

Ready for a sleep over? The Crest Hotel Group are Mandurah’s leading accommodation providers, offering a number of properties and styles of accommodation, on the water or in the CBD. Whatever your choice, Crest will ensure that your experience is exceptionally accommodating. Crest Mandurah Motel & Apartments is located at 10 Mandurah Tce, Mandurah Phone 9582 9488 or (tollfree within Australia) 1800 334 714.

Centrally located in the hub of these activities is the Mandurah Visitor Centre just look for the italic ‘i’ sign at 75 Mandurah Terrace, phone 9550 3999. The visitor centre is in the Boardwalk area, at the final stop for the free shuttle bus operating from the railway and bus station.

Along the eastern foreshore is a heritage art walk - a series of statues and mosaics that depict people, events and activities from the area's Aboriginal and settler history. You can follow unique markers that share the story behind the artworks.

A visit to Mandurah can be as busy or relaxing as you like with a variety of activities on offer to suit all tastes.
Beautifully preserved heritage buildings are dotted around the city and provide an insight into life as it once was in Mandurah. Take the Mandurah Community Museum's history walk, to see buildings such as the Eureka Cottage - built in 1862 - to learn more about the city's history.

Further afield you'll find a myriad of activities including bushwalking on a section of the famous Bibbulmun Track which passes through the region, horse riding and wildlife parks. There are interesting wineries and national parks to explore, nearby towns to visit, festivals and live performances to attend and markets with locally grown produce and unique gifts to tempt you. If golf is your passion you can choose from no less than seven spectacular courses throughout the region. You can explore Mandurah on a day excursion from Perth, or spend some extra time to really enjoy the region whilst relaxing in a range of superb holiday accommodation.

Transperth operates trains on the Mandurah line; travel time from the centre of Perth is approximately 50 minutes. A free shuttle bus runs between Mandurah station and the Boardwalk area and regular bus services can take you further afield.

If you plan to explore this area by car, you can leave from the city by several routes. The Kwinana Freeway will take you inland beside the Mandurah train line, or you can head west from the city centre along Stirling Highway to Fremantle, then south along Hampton Road then Rockingham Road and Mandurah Road.