TDP Experience Perth - Tourism Western Australia

Attractions and activities
Many of the attractions and activities available in the region revolve around the
coast and inland waterways. The region has an excellent variety of beautiful
beaches which provide opportunities for fishing, surfing, boating and interactions
with marine life such as dolphins, penguins and sea lions. The Peel Inlet and
associated waterways (such as the Murray and Serpentine rivers) also provide
opportunities for fishing, boating and crabbing and adventure activities such as
kayaking and canoeing.
There are two national parks in the region. The Serpentine National Park is a
popular daytrip destination only 60km from Perth, while the Yalgorup National
Park (south of Mandurah) is home to thrombolites, the world’s oldest living
life forms.
The area is also home to a range of man made attractions including world class
golf courses (The Cut and Kennedy Bay), a series of dive wrecks in the West Coast
Dive Park, industrial tourism opportunities around Pinjarra, the Hotham Valley
Railway linking Pinjarra to Etmilyn via Dwellingup, and numerous heritage tourism
experiences. The Forest Heritage Centre in Dwellingup is a significant attraction
which has continual plans for expansion, including an indigenous tourism
experience currently under development.
Perhaps the biggest issue for attractions and activities in the region revolves
around access to water catchment areas, particularly in Department of
Environment and Conservation managed lands. Many of the recreational and
camping opportunities in the region centre on the excellent access to the region’s
rivers, lakes, dams and other waterways. However, with increasing numbers of
visitors accessing these sites, there are concerns about the long term sustainability
of the environment in these areas.
With an increasing population in the region resulting in increasing demand for
attractions and activities that revolve around waterways, it is essential that tourism
agencies continue to work with key decision makers such as the Department of
Environment and Conservation and the Department of Water to ensure tourism
related needs are taken into consideration in the long term planning for water
catchment areas in the region. In furthering education about the importance
of protecting the Peel Inlet and its waterways, there is also opportunity to work
further with local stakeholders to develop an attraction which fulfils environmental
education and tourism outcomes by capitalising on the unique and internationally
significant RAMSAR wetlands.
Outside of the waterway systems in the region, there is also seen to be the
opportunity to further develop experiences and interpretation around:
• the ever growing industrial presence in inland parts of the region, particularly
around the Alcoa refinery outside Pinjarra;
• the indigenous heritage and history in the region, particularly around Pinjarra;
• other sites of natural and historical significance, such as the Forest Heritage
Centre (Dwellingup) and Fairbridge Village (Pinjarra);
• the Forrest Highway through the implementation of the planned Binjareb
Trail.
The preservation and development of additional child-friendly attractions and the
facilitation of tour development in and around Mandurah to service the leisure and
conferencing markets are also seen as product development priorities.
AMENTIES
Broadly speaking, it is felt that visitor amenities are well served in the region,
particularly around the cities of Mandurah and Rockingham. However, a lack
of mooring and jetty facilities in the Peel Inlet and associated waterways
is seen to limit the opportunities for recreational and house boats which results
in unnecessary damage along the banks of the Inlet. In addition, the need to
continue to provide amenities for camping and recreational visitors in Lane
Poole Reserve and Serpentine National Park is seen as important.
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Experience Perth
Tourism Western Australia | Tourism Development Priorities