A canal-and-dolphin cruise is the standard introduction to Mandurah. Several operators run one- and two-hour trips from the marina jetties, taking small motor cruisers through the canal network and out into the open estuary. The boats are flat-decked and easy to board, and skippers narrate the local history along the way.
Dolphins are seen on most cruises — they are residents rather than visitors — and the boat crews know the regulars by name and fin marking. The same boats often run sunset and twilight options in summer, and a few offer self-drive electric picnic boats for visitors who want to explore the canals on their own.