Mandurah

With the new rail link to Mandurah, this southern city is continuing to grow in popularity as the ideal place for a mini escape from Perth.

The once sleeping fishing village has come of age in recent years, evolving into a modern and stylish getaway. You can still drop a line for crabs in the silken waters of the estuary or have a family picnic on its shores, but these days you may be just as likely to be dining in a swanky waterside restaurant, posing in a wine bar or shopping in a funky fashion boutique.

The relatively new Dolphin Quay Marina is a particularly popular, with waterside restaurants, cafes, markets and shops. Nearby you’ll find the newly opened Australian Sailing Museum, which incorporates the America’s Cup Museum and a whole host of interactive activities.

While there is much new about Mandurah, you can still indulge the time-honoured iconic Mandurah traditions – a sunset cruise along the canals perhaps, or a hit of golf? Or what about really doing something different and spending a weekend in Mandurah on a houseboat?

Beyond Mandurah there’s something for everyone who visits the Peel Region. Stretching from the white sands and blue waters of Preston Beach to the rugged terrain of the Darling Scarp there’s a wide range of activities from visiting wineries to bush walking along the trails of the vast Jarrah forests.

If you’re not sure where to start when deciding what to do, drop into the new Visitor Welcome Centre at the train station for tips or the Mandurah Visitor Centre near the foreshore.

Top things to do in Mandurah

• Go shopping in Dolphin Quay at the beautiful Mandurah Ocean Marina operating 7 days a week 9am - 5pm.
• Take a cruise around the canals and estuary - keep an eye out for dolphins!
• Enjoy a picnic on the eastern or western foreshores overlooking the estuary
• Play a round of golf at one of the world class golf courses in the region
• Throw in a net and catch fish under the bridge, off the beach or on a fishing charter
• Enjoy a cycle trail or self guided walk on the Mandurah Foreshore and Inner City Heritage Walk.
• Visit the fascinating Australian Sailing Museum.
• Take time out to enjoy a 'cafe crawl' along the foreshore
• Bring the whole family and visit the landscaped gardens of Abingdon Miniature Village.
• Go exploring and discover the many wineries in the region

For more information on Mandurah, visit the Mandurah Visitor Centre website.