Perth to Mandurah drive: Distance, time & best stops
The Perth to Mandurah drive covers a 71km distance in a driving time of around 52 minutes. The best road trip stop along the way is Rockingham – gateway to the Shoalwater Islands.
The drive from Perth to Mandurah takes you from the Western Australian capital to a place sometime regarded as a suburb that wishes to carve out its own identity.
Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.
Things to do in Mandurah include a pirate cruise, a sunset cruise, a dolphin-watching tour and BBQ boat hire.
Perth to Mandurah distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Perth to Mandurah is 71km. Traffic permitting, this makes for a driving time of around 52 minutes.
Obviously, there’s no real need to stop anywhere along the way here. But if check in at your Mandurah hotel isn’t until the afternoon, there are a few good ways to kill time along the Perth to Mandurah driving route.
5 great day trips from Perth – make your visit special
- Rottnest Island ferry transfer – with bike hire and snorkelling gear. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Pinnacles desert – with koalas 🐨 and sandboarding.
- Wave Rock day tour – with wildflowers & Aboriginal culture.
- Margaret River wineries experience 🍷 – with tastings, caves & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
- Full day Swan Valley wine tour 🍷– with lunch.
The best places to stay in Perth
You can check out deals on a wide range of Perth accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- The swankiest address in town: COMO The Treasury.
- The cool, fun one in the centre of the action: The Alex.
- For quality apartments next to Kings Park: Quest Kings Park.
- For quality apartments by the beach: Seashells Scarborough.
- On a backpacker budget: Spinners Hostel.
Perth to Mandurah drive: Perth attractions
The drive from Perth to Mandurah is largely along the Kwinana Freeway. On the way out of the city, you go past Perth Zoo, the Aviation Heritage Museum and Thompsons Lake Nature Reserve.
The main detour worth taking, however, is to Rockingham. Here, you can spend some quality time on Rockingham Beach, but the islands of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park are more exciting.
Of these, Penguin Island is the most charming as it hosts a little penguin colony.
5 fantastic experiences to book in Rockingham
- Go swimming with wild dolphins in Shoalwater Bay.
- See dolphins, penguins and sea lions – on a Shoalwater Bay islands cruise.
- Get closer to the wildlife – on a kayaking tour.
- Try flying with a jetpack – or flyboarding.
- Take a guided sunset hike to Point Peron – with a glass of sparkling wine as a reward.
Where to stay in Rockingham, WA
The best Rockingham accommodation options are:
- For a quality apartment hotel: Quest Rockingham.
- To be close to the wildlife cruise departure point: Island Villas Accommodation.
- For beachside location: Spinnakers by Rockingham Apartments.
- For a pool: Nautilus by Rockingham Apartments.
Perth to Mandurah drive: The Shoalwater Islands
A one hour glass bottom boat cruise takes you out to see the penguins as well as the Australian sea lions on Seal Island. At time of writing, these Penguin Island tours cost $85 and are best booked online.
With more time to spare, you may want to consider the longer, 3.5 hour snorkelling, wildlife and seafood cruise. This includes a seafood platter, usually spots dolphins on the way and glides past nesting pelicans, cormorants and ospreys. These longer Shoalwater Islands cruises cost $120.
Mandurah accommodation
Otherwise, keep going through Baldivis and past Port Kennedy into Mandurah.
For Mandurah accommodation, try the luxurious Sebel Mandurah, the spacious Dolphin Quay Apartments, or the good value Foreshore Motel.
4 experiences to book in Mandurah
- A wildlife-centric dolphin-watching tour.
- A shameless fun in the sun pirate boat cruise.
- Hiring a BBQ boat to explore the waterways.
- An atmospheric sunset cruise.
More Western Australia travel
Are there any shops in Coral Bay?
Swim safely at Fishery Beach in Bremer Bay.
How long is the drive from Denmark to Albany.
Where to stop on the drive from Broome to Fitzroy Crossing.
Go swimming at Bundegi Beach near Exmouth.