Boating in Mandurah and Murray River

 I'm looking to take the kids to Mandurah for the weekend, exploring the area by boat. My general plan is to launch in Mandurah and have a cruise around there, and then head up the Murray to find somewhere to camp for the night. Along the way I will try for some whiting in the Peel Inlet and bream in the Murray... I have a few questions for the Mandruah locals, or those that have done something similar.

1. Where is the best/safest place to launch in Mandurah (where I can leave a car overnight and it will still have al the wheels and windows when I return)? 

2. Any must see places along the way?

3. How far up the Murray river can you go by boat? It looks like you get get to Pinjarra quite easily

4. Any good kids playgrounds close to the inlet or along the river?

5. Good/cheap place to get a feed along the way? Ravenswood Hotel?

6. Any suggestions on a place to pitch a tent by the river? Or do I need to stay at a caravan park, like the Pinjarra Holiday Park which seems to be on the river?

7. Open to suggestions about the bream fishing as well, I have never been fishing for bream before. I assume I can just cast a few lures in near the snags and hope for the best...

Any other points you think might be important....


Mike17's picture

Posts: 323

Date Joined: 30/06/13

My 2 Bobs Worth

Wed, 2017-03-08 08:11

 I'd launch at the Ocean Marina next to the water police base as safe as anywhere.

Not really must see places but its very nice once you get up past the Forrest Hwy bridge.

Sandy Cove is so much better for a feed  than the Ravo it's not funny and a lot safer for the kids. Nice little beach there and swings.

I don't know about camping by the river as as far as i know most of it is private property your best bet may be the Ravo caravan park or Pinjarra holiday park.

Mate you and the kids will love it and it's going to be perfect weather for it.

 

Mike

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kirky79's picture

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Date Joined: 13/01/12

Like Mike said

Wed, 2017-03-08 09:59

I'd be launching at the Ocean marina. The caravan park at Ravo is right on the river, so that would be a good choice, close to the pub too. You shouldn't have any problems getting upto Pinjarra and there is a really nice park for the kids just over the bridge on the south side. Also bring plenty of mozzie spray as they are getting a bit friendly lately. Should be a great weekend for it, enjoy 

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Date Joined: 08/06/15

+1 for mozziesCant

Wed, 2017-03-08 12:41

 At the mouth of the Murray there is the old flour mill with a play ground. Not a bad little spot to have a beer and rest in the shade. Can't go wrong with the Ravo caravan park. Pub right next door! What more can you need ha! Flick some lures in the snags for bream. If they are a bit fussy an unweighted prawn does the trick. Enjoy the trip. 

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Date Joined: 17/06/10

Don't forget the aeroguard

Wed, 2017-03-08 15:55

Seriously no matter where you go make sure you are covered up and use a good spray to the bare areas of your body, with the rain we have had it's a perfect breading time for mozzies and you don't need a dose of Ross River Virus.

If you have young kids and like a bit of quite I would give the Rav a bit of a miss, nothing wrong except that people go there to live it up it's a pub remember. Sounds like a great time you are headed for, put up a post on how it went.

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Date Joined: 30/12/09

 Mozzie spray essential.

Wed, 2017-03-08 20:10

 Mozzie spray essential. Nothing really cheap along the river. Sandy cove is better than the ravo imo. me and a couple mates have camped at the flour mill but setup late in the arvo and left reasonably early in the morning as you aren't allowed to. 

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Bones 79's picture

Posts: 121

Date Joined: 12/02/14

 The sandy cove tavern is a

Thu, 2017-03-09 19:37

 The sandy cove tavern is a better place for kids as there is a play ground for them to play in while you relax and have a beer. As for camping there are a few little jettys just after you go under the Forrest hwy bridge they are on private land but just paddocks so not sure how you would go camping. If you are going to stay in a caravan park call ahead to see if you can get a spot to park your boat. Hope you enjoy the trip the kids will love it.

adam

 

 

Posts: 116

Date Joined: 31/07/10

 Thanks for all the

Sat, 2017-03-11 08:41

 Thanks for all the suggestions. Marina looks like a good spot to launch, and gives me an excuse to cruise through a couple of canals for a look. Sandy Cove definitely sounds like the place for lunch/dinner, but struggling a bit with camping. Ravo caravan park closed down, and can't get up to pinjarra holiday park because of the weir in pinjarra. Looks like we might have to camp in a random paddock or park...

aerogard and bushmans will definitely be packed. Hate mosquitoes 

Trip has been delayed till next weekend too 

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Date Joined: 31/07/10

 It's only taken 6 months,

Tue, 2017-10-03 20:38

 It's only taken 6 months, but I finally got around to doing  this trip (sort of). We headed down to mandurah on Sunday morning and launched from the Oceam Marina. We cruised through the canals and checked out all the big houses and boats. There are some pretty impressive setups down there. 

Its not far from the canals to get across to the mouth of the Murray River, which is all well marked. We stopped at Cooper Mill for morning tea, but the mosquitoes were out of control. We planned to check out Coopers Mill, but we left after only 15 minutes due to the mosquitoes. 

We continued up river to the Ravo for lunch, which was pretty good. Meals there are huge, but being a sunny Sunday afternoon there was quite a wait to be served and then for food to come out. 

After lunch we cruised down river, stopping at Pelicans cafe for an icecream, before making our way back to Ocean Marina. I didn't have time to camp for a night, and I am yet to find somewhere suitable to camp. Having now complete a one day trip to check it out, I think I would just pull up and camp on the side of the river. I would be worried about the mozzies though, they were crazy. 

Thanks for all the advice, now I need to find time for another trip...