Mandurah Houseboats Reviews

Peaceful on the murray. We booked clancy for three days, great deck space front and back, well set out with everything you need. This is our third hire, sarah jane and miss bianca were also good boats we have RIO later in the year. Mandurah houseboat hire are very professional, boats are very clean, highly recommend.

Wonderful and chill trip Family trip to relive wonderful memories down the river on the Pelican (our last trip was in 2018). Excellent experience and enjoyable holiday with Attentive, courteous and friendly staff, with great attention to safety and customer service. Will come back again!

ok but . . . poorly / lackadaisically maintained houseboat ok but . . . poorly / lackadaisically maintained houseboat. disappointed that houseboat: - hulls were thick with weed. = drag = much higher fuel consumption. They already OVER-PRICED fuel at nearly TWO DOLLARS FIFTY ($1.90 on the street, even the marinas only charge $2.25) - boat hadn't been checked properly: 1) emergency torch battery flat. When you need it, you need it! (& it's pathetic to later say "there was a spare battery aboard") 2) wifi /TV dead. We lost 2+ cruising hrs hanging around while they tried without success to make it work 3) main salon light bulb dead 4) more than half the kitchen cupboard doors & window catches hanging off loose. I went round with a screwdriver rather than have things fall off en route. But them I'm an Ocean Sailing skipper & instructor of 30+ yrs & so I know accidents are only minimised by zero tolerance of potential issues on a boat. 5) & if these are things I can SEE, then . . . ? Pity as the website info, onboard nav systems & info booklets were excellent, thorough & well-laid out. A lot of good work in the past. And it wasn't like the business was over-worked - low season, almost none of the boats were out.

A must adventure We were a group of 7 on the “ Rio” Didn’t really know what to expect. Our induction was excellent and comprehensive. We did port bouvard and crossed over to ravenswood and then to red cliff. Red cliff was narrow and challenging which added to the experience. We moored where we could get shore power for the AC. Our trip was for 2 nights and 3 days. We used half our fuel and water. To conserve fuel we kept our rpm to 3400 with the fuel consumption to 7-8 litres. Battery power looked after the fridge, electricity etc;. You have to be aware that every time you used the tap/ shower/ flush- you get a loud noise which would be annoying at night. Didnt catch many bream but got a lot if crabs at the end of the line which we had to throw back as it was off season. The boat company can organise ice/ bait etc on request for a fee. We really enjoyed our trip even though it was a bit pricy. We brought a lot of food which on hindsight we didn’t need to as you can get most things where you moor for the night. Navigation only during daylight hours . We put a 2000$ bond. No entry on the roof at any time. You will need to contact the office prior going under the Ravenswood bridge due to height clearance. You will need to bring your own drinking water. You will love the experience. Just something to be aware of- when navigating the channels, watch out for the roots from trees that encroach and also the steering anomalies due to underkeel clearances, wind and open waters

A must if you are visiting the Perth/Peel region We (2 couples) had a terrific weekend onboard ‘Clancy’. The houseboat is well appointed with a very functional kitchen and roomy dining/lounge area. Two bedrooms with comfortable beds. Two toilets, one with a shower round it off. The houseboat was easy to drive and the induction provided was sport on. We travelled from Mandurah across Peel Inlet and up the Murray River. We had two peaceful nights moored on the Murray River. Traveling along the river and in the inlet you see plenty of wildlife including birds and dolphins. We are so glad we got to spend the weekend (AM Friday to PM Sunday) on the water with friends in Clancy.

Three night cruise. Three nights on Chloe Houseboat during the week on school holidays. The booking process was smooth and easy to make a change when required. Parking was available for our car and access to the Houseboat was easy. The staff were very pleasant and informative about the workings of the Houseboat. We felt confident to head off on our adventure. Cruised straight over to the Murray River, past the Pelicans and stopped for lunch at Sandy Cove Tavern, the meals were fantastic and reasonable priced. We then continued the journey to Redcliffe on the Murray where we were very lucky to have the Jetty to ourselves for the night. Bliss :) Lazy, misty morning listening to the birds and cows and a paddle on the supplied kayak ($150). A breakfast of bacon and eggs on the BBQ. The kitchen is very well supplied with everything you may need except for a coffee machine, be prepared if you're an avid coffee drinker! A slow cruise back down the river to a stop at Coopers Mill, met the solo dog and the very friendly magpies. Cruised back down the river to spend the night at the Jetty moorings, great for easy access to the Jetties bar and meals. The only downfall of this area was the Forrest Highway traffic :( Off fairly early to cross the estuary over to Dawesville, the Marina was extremely busy and we were unable to berth so moved over to the moorings available in the bay which was a much better option. Kayak came in handy to get to shore and enjoy Seafood Basket from Leprechaun Cafe and some more ice supplies. The weather was sensational, the afternoon was spent kayaking, fishing, lazing around and then enjoying a wonderful full moon rising. The following days return to Dolphin Quay was hassle free, we were able to leave the boat at the Marine dock while having a stroll through the markets and a quick lunch before taking everything off the boat and heading home with a pelican wishing us safe travels.

If you dream it, do it. We had an amazing Winter break on the newest member of the fleet “Rio” (sleeps 8) with 3 adults & 2 kids. Our experience from initial booking to pick up and handover was really seamless, the team were always happy to help with any of our questions. We arrived at 11am & after loading up with all our supplies & completing a 50 minute operational briefing/ familiarisation run we were on our way (just make sure to pay attention, especially regarding navigation markers, and passing other boats) The boat was easy to handle, expertly cleaned, cosy and well equipped with everything we required for our 4 day trip leaving from Mandurah Quay and because it’s wired 240v it even has a microwave & a Nespresso machine onboard so only bring food, drinks and clothes and if you leave from Mandurah the team can even load up your esky with ice & bait. The addition of the onboard SMART TV was great because it gave us the opportunity to put some tv on for the kids over breakfast & after dinner as well as footy on for the dads on the weekend (you just log in to your exisiting streaming accounts on the tv it has all the usual apps pre installed) After leaving Mandurah Quay we cruised through the canals & headed over to to Port Bouvard and safely moored here after a short stroll on foot we made it to the Cut Bar & Bistro for happy hour and then it was back onboard for a BBQ dinner & a couple of games of cards. The next day we set off early to the swing moorings at Dawesville where we all (skipper included) sat down for breakfast together then we cut across the Peel inlet and into the Murray for lunch at the Sandy Cove Tavern, we then hopped back on board & cruised a further 30 minutes down to Jetty’s where we enjoyed happy hour drinks & dinner we moored here overnight with no issues. The 3rd day was an early start to cruise a little further along the Murray under the Ravenswood bridge (after getting the ok from Alan) and all the way down to Redcliffe unfortunately as there is only room for 1 mooring here and there was already a boat there we turned around & head back to Ravenswood but this was a beautiful sunny & scenic day of crushing no regrets at all. For our last night we moored at Ravenswood & after a short stroll over the bridge enjoyed happy hour drinks & hearty meals with live music at the Ravenswood Hotel. After a bit of a sleep in we spent the morning slowly cruising back to Mandurah Quay it was a perfect sunny winters day we passed many many many recreational boats it seems a Sunday session was on the minds of every local. We took advantage of the winter stay 4 pay 3 deal, which is cheaper, and less boating traffic on the waterways we had been wanting to try this for a while but weren’t sure if we would enjoy it & what the skill level required would be (as no skippers ticket is required ). Well we can’t wait to do it again in SUMMER for a couple of days longer.

Winter Getaway on Miss Clancy We had an amazing Winter weekend break on Clancy (sleeps 6) with our two children. The boat was clean, cosy and had everything we needed for our 3 day trip. The SMART TV on the boat was also excellent as it gave us the opportunity to watch movies at night. I'd like to personally do a 'shout out' to Steve from Mandurah Houseboats who spent a bit of time with my Husband, as he struggled a little with docking/mooring the boat at the Mandurah Dolphin Quay. Steve gave him extra time on the boat and lots of tips to put his mind at ease. Overall the staff are excellent.

Miss bianca We hired miss bianca for 4 days, smaller boat but well equipped , docked in front of jetty bar and grill at night had no safety issues. Dolphins, birds were plenty so was the crabs fish not so much but did catch a Tailor trawling in the blue water. Second time for us first we hired sarah jane, will be hiring again next year, staff were excellent especially Brett at the Ravenswood dock. We had our 8 year old grandson on for a night and he loved it.

Houseboat adventure with Mandurah Houseboats Our experience from initial booking to pick up and handover was exceptional. The boat Clancy didn’t disappoint clean, easy to handle and well equipped. Our 4 days was great caught a few crabs and did some exploring the Mandurah estuary. This was our second time on a houseboat and can recommend and what better company than Mandurah Houseboats

Great fun experience Been wanting to hire a houseboat for a long time. We booked the Lifestyle for 3 days, leaving from Ravenswood. We arrived, and after loading with supplies , there was a 30 min brief , and also took the boat for a quick familiarization run. Make sure to pay attention, especially regarding navigation markers, and passing other boats. The boat was very well decked out , clean and comfortable. After leaving Ravenswood at about 1000am , we stopped for lunch at The Sandy Cove Tavern , then we stopped for the night at Coopers Mill. The next day a cruise to the swing moorings at Dawesville. The 3rd day was a slow cruise back up The Murray to Ravenswood. We cruised the whole 3 days at no more than 3 knots , a good holiday pace , our fuel bill for the trip was $70. We went on weekdays , which is cheaper, and less boating traffic on the waterways. Keep an eye on the website blog for any specials they may be running. You can also do 2days/ 1 night as a special offer when available. A great trip , great fun, and relaxing.

Great experience - but be aware of Safety & Security February 2023 I was surprised to see that on Mandudah Houseboat's website it states, "A Skipper's Ticket is not required and you don't need to have any boating experience in order to enjoy one of our holidays." So I didn't get one, which - in hindsight - I wish that I had. Mandurah Houseboats do conduct a safety briefing, which includes a quick trip, in calm conditions, around the harbour. The instructor guides the skipper through the mooring process, including when to pull/push which lever that control the two engines. Then you're on your own. And managing two engines on a floating platform does take some practice to get used to. When we came upriver the conditions were different; the wind was stronger and there was quite a current. At my first mooring attempt I drifted away from the course that I had laid in my head and clipped the back of another houseboat. There is no doubt that I was at fault becaused I was inexperienced, and I have paid for it, by loosing a $2000 bond. I have tried to get that amount lowered, as I felt that Mandurah Houseboats failed in their Duty of Care, given the information on their website, but to no avail. The really scary part is, that 5 minutes earlier, a family had been sitting on the deck where I hit the other houseboat and kids were swimming in the water behind the boat. This could have been a major disaster. Thankfully no-one got hurt, and no-one got injured. It surprises me that a recreational skippers ticket is required in so many cases for operating much smaller boats, and then anyone - without any boating experience - can skipper a large houseboats on busy waterways, with up to 10 people on board own vessel, and onboard other vessels as well. In my instance, I would have been ill equipped to handle anything out of the ordinary e.g. Man Overboard, which could have been likely given that there was only a loose chain (see photo) - not a proper rail barrier - at the stern of the boat, and Mandurah Houseboats had no key for the sliding door leading out to that area. Not having a key and/or a proper barrier, would have been a major safety breach in any backyard pool - but apparently not on a houseboat. Not having a key for the sliding door, meant that we had to keep watch over our toddler 24/7 as she is a sleepwalker. I should never have been left in charge of such a large boat with two engines, and neither should several other skippers that rent houseboats - one houseboat came close to our houseboat while moored and almost hit us. Thankfully we only lost a crab net out of that close encounter, which - by the way - we were charged for as well. Talking to more experienced boaties on the way, they told me that they all get out of the way when they see a houseboat, 'cause the skippers have no idea what they are doing. In summary; Go enjoy the Mandurah Waterways. It's a beautiful place. Houseboating is an ideal way to do it. Just do it safely and I strongly recommend that, in the interest of Marine Safety; "Get a Recreational Skipper's Ticket. The current situation is 6an accident waiting to happen.

Great way to keep everyone amused If you are down Madurah way I can highly recommend taking a few days relaxing on the Mandurah Houseboats. We had a fantastic time as a family with some freinds joining us for some day trips. the scenery was beutiful and travelling up the Murry was very relaxing and peacful. Heaps of things to keep the kids busy and time for the adualts to relax. We booked Sarah Jane. Perfect for the family and a couple of the kids friends. First day we had 4 adults and seven kids. I thought it was going to be hell but it wasnt. Plenty of room for everyone and 5 Kayaks. The eminiies on the baot were great and the staff at Mandurah Houseboats were fantastic. My fist time driving a boat and I found it very easy, when I wasnt sure the staff at the base were there ready to help and give us some advice.

WELL DESERVED WA TOURISM AWARD Well done MANDURAH HOUSEBOATS awarded by WA TOURISM AWARDS bronze in the Unique Accommodation category. Such a wonderful experience being on the water in the beautiful Peel Harvey estuary and so close to Perth.

Never experienced being on a houseboat before and loved it! It was a wonderful 3 day, well deserved R&R getaway. It was great to navigate through the Murray River. The Houseboat was very clean and well equipped with everything you can possibly imagine, so only bring food, drinks and clothes (and possibly ice). Friendly staff who really know what they are talking about and very detailed with their tuition beforehand. Can't wait to do it again but for longer.

So many surprises :) We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 days on board the Hakuna Matata; it was a relaxing way to enjoy the Murray River. Every twist & turn along the way was a surprise, from the little alcoves and hotels to the dolphins that came to say hello. We will be back.

Great family holiday Excellent 5 days on Quicksilver. Plenty of instruction and information. The houseboat was well stocked with everything we could possibly need except consumables. Our grandchildren loved the spa and swimming in the river. The loan of a couple of kayaks at Ravenswood was the icing on the cake. Dolphins obliged by a swimming along next to the boat to escort us back home. Very clean and the staff were efficient and obliging. Our family are keen to do it all again in the future.

Sarah Jane Thank you Sarah Jane for a wonderful holiday, watching dolphins in the bow waves and swimming past your bedroom window was v special. The boat was v comfortable with a queen sized bed and well equipped kitchen made for a lovely break. Looking forward to going again.

Lifestyle boathouse is indeed a lifestyle along Murray River Our family of four (2 adults and 2 kids) had the Lifestyle boathouse for three days. We started our boathouse adventure at their Ravenswood station. The initial boat orientation and practical handling course conducted by Brett went like a breeze. He obviously knew what he was doing. For a person who haven't handled anything like this boat (or any boat for that matter) before, I can say I gained confidence quickly enough. We're really surprised with the space we had in the boat. Well equipped and fully furnished. The TV didn't get any good reception but who needs TV when you have nature at its best. No luck with crabbing (might be the colder temperature?) but the river dolphins, pelicans and abundant wildlife surely provided entertainment for us. Ravenswood bridge might present an obstacle heading downstream of the river from Ravenswood as sccess is highly dependent on tides. Upstream of Ravenswood is more than enough for us anyway. "Boathousing" is definitely a different world on its own and won't hesitate doing it again given the chance..

Cruising on the Murray Awesome weekend on the river/inlet. The staff were so relaxed, helpful and knowledgeable. We had a 30th bday celebration and none of us had any boating experience. Easy to drive as long as you don't go too fast, which being honest isn't really possible. Caught fish, drank beer, great home (boat) cooked food and relaxed cruising. Do it. Gary