Location

Canal Views is located on the beautiful Piccolo Place, Halls Head.

Perfectly located on the beautiful canals of Mandurah

Mandurah is Western Australia’s largest regional city and less than an hour from Perth. 

It is set against a backdrop of magnificent beaches and an estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour. Originally known as Mandjoogoordap, Mandurah means ‘meeting place of the heart’.

Locals and tourists enjoy the waterways, beaches and much more. Watch out, you will fall in love with the place.

Things to do

There is so much to see and do in Mandurah.

It is most well-known as the ultimate outdoor water playground, but it’s also a dream for those with creative passions with wonderful local galleries and artistry on show.  And let’s not forget that Mandurah is easily satisfying even the biggest foodies – the Mandurah region is rich in local culinary talent and fresh produce.

Our website www.canalviews.com.au provides a little information on some of the highlights, but we recommend that you check out Trip Advisor or www.visitmandurah.com for a huge range of options and places to book.

Fishing and crabbing

Mandurah is well known for fishing and crabbing.

Locals and tourists fish for herring, sand whiting, bream, cobbler, tailor or garfish in the Mandurah Estuary. In season you can fish for salmon and tailor on the beach, and the Dawesville Cut is the best place to catch King George whiting. 

Canal Views provides basic fishing and crabbing gear that you can use off the jetty.  If you are a serious fisherman, professional fishing gear is available for hire in Mandurah.

A fishing licence is required for freshwater and boat fishing.  These can be obtained from fish.wa.gov.au.

You don’t need a licence to catch crabs, however they can only be caught from 1 December to 31 August and there are minimum size and bag limit regulations.  Best local spots are Mandjar Bay, Mandurah Estuary, The Peel Inlet-Harvey Estuary by Boundary Island, Sticks Channel, Mandurah Estuary Bridge and Dawesville Cut.

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Fishing, boating and seafood tours

Mandurah is well known for hosting a variety of tours for tourists – providing a range of options for you to consider.  Most are advertised on Trip Advisor.  For your convenience, here are a few for you to consider:

  1. Mandurah Cruises – for 2 hour, half day or full day fishing They’ll even teach aspiring fishermen how to catch local ocean fish such as dhufish or snapper.
  2. Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire – for those that prefer to go out fishing by yourself, boats and fishing gear can be hired on hourly or daily rates.
  3. Mandurah Cruises’ Wild Seafood Adventure – for those wanting finer seafood, this group offers tours to help haul up crayfish pots before serving you a delicious barbecue lunch with local wines on board as you cruise the calm estuary waters.
  4. Mandurah Cruises – can take you crabbing on their customised crabbing vessel where you can try your hand at “scooping” for Mandurah’s famous crabs in the shallow waters of the Peel Inlet.
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Bike hire

  1. Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire – hire bikes for couples or groups. Plenty of options include from hourly rates to daily rates.

Kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing and more

The Mandurah Estuary and canals are used by all levels of kayakers and paddleboarders.  It is an especially magical experience to paddle during sunrise or sunset.

We provide two adult and two children kayaks in our lockable storage under our private jetty for those with an adventure streak. 

It is not compulsory in Western Australia to wear a life-jacket, but we do recommend that you use one.  We do not provide life-jackets and if you don’t have your own, you can hire them from Mandurah Boat & Bike Hire.

There are a number of local companies who hire kayaks, canoes and Stand Up Paddleboards and some offer lessons – you can find many on Trip Advisor.  For your convenience, here are a few that we know of:

  1. Mandurah Boat & Bike Hire
  2. Kayaks 4 U
  3. Star Surf
  4. WhatSUP Board Hire and Adventures
  5. Mandurah Waterbikes
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Dolphins

We can’t guarantee that will see a dolphin on your trip to Mandurah, but we can say that we have never experienced a visit without a dolphin sighting from our deck or jetty. 

The dolphins that live and play in the estuary and canals are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and are highly social, friendly and curious.  They love to pop out of the water and do a few tricks.  There’s a Facebook page specifically dedicated to our local dolphins called Mandurah Dolphin Sightings where people post about the daily adventures of our local dolphins.

Dolphins are in our estuary all year round, but the best times to see them is between September and May.

There are plenty of ways to see them:

  1. Sit on our deck – the lazy way to enjoy dolphin sightings, while enjoying the sunshine and maybe an afternoon drink as they swim by our private jetty.
  2. Book a cruise – A dolphin cruise is a great way to see these friendly creatures while enjoying a scenic tour. The friendly, playful dolphins often surf on the wake of the boat, sometimes stopping to take a good look at the people on board!
  3. Hire a waterbike – from Mandjar Bay and pedal your way through the waterways on your quest to spot a dolphin.
  4. Hire a boat – if you don’t have your own, you can hire one from Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire and cruise around the estuary.
  5. Paddle in a kayak – we’ve got a few kayaks available. It’s fun when the dolphins suddenly pop up right next to you as you paddle through the water.
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Birdwatching and wildlife

Mandurah and the Peel region is filled with an amazing array of birds and wildlife. 

Every year, the area attracts thousands of bird watchers to seek out rare and colourful land and waterbirds around the estuary and inlet.  As well as native birds, the area also attract a wide range of migratory birds who nest and feed on the estuary and inlet.

Locals believe the best places to observe birds are between the two Mandurah bridges on the shores, amongst the marshes and on the islands of the Peel Inlet.

As well as the birdlife, our local animals are also a wonderful attraction for locals and tourists.  There are a number of local vantage points to see kangaroos, emus and other wildlife (Melros Beach and Florida Beach Reserve in late afternoon are both worth a visit).

But if you are after more than a quick look, a local tour could be your thing.  There are a range on Trip Advisor, and we have listed a few for your convenience:

  1. Salt and Bush Eco-tour
  2. Ways to Nature
  3. Ranger Red’s Zoo and Conservation Park
  4. Cohunu Koala Park

There are also a few local farm tours that include interactive feeding and education for the children.

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Hiking and walking tours

Hiking, walking, trekking or tramping – whatever you call it there’s plenty of outdoor beauty ready for you to explore around Mandurah and the wider Peel region.

There’s a whole range of distances and different tracks to cater for varying levels of fitness and ages.  You’ll find a wide range on Trip Advisor with feedback from other trekkers, but a few standouts that you may wish to consider are:

  1. Pinjarra Heritage Walking Tour (20 mins from Mandurah
  2. Tullis Bridge and Tullis Rail Trails (1 hr from Mandurah)
  3. Joseph and Dulcie Nannup Trail (10 mins from Mandurah centre)
  4. Creery Wetlands sanctuary (5 mins from Mandurah)
  5. Kitty’s Gorge (45 mins from Mandurah)
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Mountain Biking

For those that are more into bush mountain bike riding, Serpentine-Jarrahdale is a spectacular option.  The area has long attracted world-class mountain bike competitors, as well as novices.  Serpentine-Jarrahdale is around 1 hour from Mandurah and the drive under the canopy of trees is breathtaking.

Here’s a few off-road options to consider:

  1. Murray Valley Trails
  2. Turner Hill Trail
  3. Marrinup Cycle Trail
  4. Langford Park

And for a local up-close Halls Head and Mandurah experiences, try out these ones:

  1. Halls Head Coastal Trail
  2. Bridges Ride, Mandurah
  3. Mandurah Ocean Marina
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Arts and Culture

Immerse yourself in the rich history and thriving arts and culture scene of the region. Discover Aboriginal stories and traditions, pioneering history, local arts and crafts, talented artists, stirring performances and exciting events.

Aboriginal history and culture

The first people of the region were the Bindjareb people of the Noongar Nation, who named the locality Mandjoogoordap (now Mandurah) which translates to ‘meeting place of the heart’.

You can learn the stories, secrets and traditions of one of the oldest surviving cultures on earth on an Aboriginal history and culture tour, at significant sites and art galleries.  A few information and culturally rich options you may wish to consider are:

  1. Manjoogoordap Dreaming tour with George Walley in Mandurah
  2. Goolamwiin tour of Noongar people in Mandurah
  3. Kaarak Dreaming tour in Dwellingup
  4. Bindjareb Park and Dreamtime Stories in Pinjarra
  5. Forest Heritage Centre including Aboriginal Stories in Dwellingup
  6. Mandurah Community Museum
  7. Explore the Bilya Country Story trail in the Peel Yalgorup Wetlands which has special cultural significance for Noongar people

Theatre

Love theatre?  Check out what is on at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and you will be in for a real treat.

Public art

Mandurah also has two public art trails – the light blue and dark blue trails.  The light blue trail starts from the Stained Glass Window at the Mandurah Visitor Centre and the dark blue trail starts from the Yaburgurt Memorial.  Trail maps are available for download on the www.visitmandurah.com website.

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Galleries and Museums

Mandurah and the Peel region boast a number of traditional and contemporary art galleries and museums – located both in town and in satellite townships such as Pinjarra, Dwellingup and Jarrahdale. 

A few highlights to consider include:

  1. Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery
  2. Black Stump Gallery
  3. Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah
  4. Liveringa Gallery
  5. Dwellingup Arts Collective
  6. Mandurah Community Museum
  7. Halls Cottage
  8. Edenvale Homestead Pinjarra
  9. Dwellingup History and Visitor Information Centre
  10. Waroona Historical Museum
  11. The Old Post Office Museum Jarrahdale
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Adventure and sports

For those adrenalin junkies and sports enthusiasts, the Mandurah playground has you covered! 

Here’s a quick list from www.visitmandurah.com for you to consider:

  1. Golf – tee off at one of many world-class golf courses in Mandurah and Peel region
  2. Jetski – hire a jetski or go on a tour
  3. 4WD – drive right on the beach for a picnic, fish or a swim. Preston Beach, White Hills Beach and Tim’s Thicket are the best spots to go.
  4. Zip line and walk amongst the trees at Lane Poole Park, only 45 mins from Mandurah
  5. Mountain biking – across the many off-road trails in the region
  6. Jet boat – West Coast Jet cater for adrenaline junkies in the summer season offering a thrilling jet boat experience
  7. Scenic Flight or Sky-Dive – take to the skies with Royal Aero Club of WA or WA Skydiving Academy (Pinjarra)
  8. Surfing – ride the waves at Pyramids, Tim’s Thicket and Avalon Point
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Family Fun

Canal Views and Mandurah both cater for family adventures. 

Mandurah boasts school holiday programs, has many outdoor parks and playgrounds, indoor activities and entertainment.

Here’s a quick list of things you might wish to consider while visiting Mandurah with the family:

  1. Kayaking on the canals
  2. Crabbing or fishing
  3. Mandurah waterbikes
  4. Pirate ship
  5. Mandurah cruises (fishing, boating, dolphins tours)
  6. Tourist fun train company
  7. Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire
  8. Mandurah Instagram Trail
  9. Kings Carnival
  10. Inflatable World
  11. Flip out Mandurah Trampoline World
  12. Mandurah Indoor Rock Climbing
  13. Amaze Miniature Park
  14. Trees Adventure (including ziplining)
  15. Farm tours
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Canal Christmas Lights Tour

Mandurah is sometimes compared to a little modern Venice because of its spectacular waterways and canal living. But did you know that Mandurah turns into a little Las Vegas every year from December until mid-January.

The Mandurah residents who live on the canals like to dress up their houses for Christmas with more than 200 houses along the canals lit up all in the spirit of Christmas.

The best way to watch this spectacle is from a boat.  If you have your own boat, create your own tour experience for you and your family. A hot tip from us – your boat will fit right in if you dress it up with fairy lights and bring your Christmas cheer.

If you don’t have a boat, you can book one of the many local Christmas Light Cruise tour operators.  Don’t miss this spectacular event.

If you are looking to stay at Canal Views, you should book well in advance as Mandurah accommodation books out very quickly.

 Image courtesy Mandurah Cruises.

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