The Peel region is renowned for its diverse landscapes and magnificent waterways, and offers many tourism experiences that complement the region’s superb natural assets. Whether you’re visiting for the day, staying longer, or live in the region, there are some fantastic ways to get amongst the best of what the region has to offer.
Tourism is a growing industry in the Peel presenting opportunities through infrastructure investment, product diversification and the creation of adventures that attract visitors and entice them to stay longer. Local tourism operators make a significant contribution to the development of the region through the creation of jobs and attraction of visitors from outside the region. It’s also important that our local tourism operators are supported by our local community with their patronage and word of mouth promotion.
Here are some of the new tourism experiences that present fantastic aspects of the best of the region;
Wild Seafood Experience – Western Australian rock lobster in the freshest possible way. Mandurah Cruises’ three-hour Wild Seafood Experience aboard a refurbished crayfish boat sees guests helping to haul in crayfish pots, then enjoying the rewards of their labour with a delicious BBQ lunch with local wines – all served on board in the calm estuary waters.
Westside Tours – Orchard, Aussie Farm & Mandurah Day Tour – Experience both the Peel region and authentic Australian farming including Raeburn Orchard, with a chance to purchase fresh produce including honey, fruit, jams and more from their shop, and then Ferndale Springs for freshly cooked damper and BBQ kangaroo meat tasting. On this Australian farm experience, visitors learn about farming life, learn how to feed cows on a tractor trailer ride, draft sheep, spend some time at the small petting zoo and enjoy a good Aussie BBQ lunch. The tour then continues on to Mandurah for the option of a Dolphin & Scenic Canal Cruise.
Grapest 5k Run – The Peel Region will play host to a unique and fun event called Grapest 5k Run at Drakesbrook Fine Wines in Waroona on 17 November. The Grapest 5k Run is described as ‘Australia’s best fun run with wine’ and will see participants complete a 5-kilometre running course across a variety of terrain including grapevine rows and hills, while taking in the magnificent scenery of Drakesbrook. As a reward at the end, there’s a meandering wine tasting walk section, called the waddle, with different varieties of wine to try at each station. When the sun goes down the fun continues with live music.
www.grapest5krun.com.au or www.drakesbrook.com.au
Dreamtime Cruises – Hosted by renowned Aboriginal elder, George Walley from Mandjoogoordap Dreaming, this unique Aboriginal history and culture tour takes you on a dreamtime river cruise through Mandurah waters, sharing a fascinating insight into the region’s rich heritage. George’s background in education and storytelling means he is well-versed in sharing his wonderful cultural knowledge and firsthand experiences. The tour even includes a bush-food influenced morning tea with traditional damper, lemon myrtle cake and traditional bush dips.
Go West Gold Mine Experience – Imagine following the production of gold all the way from the mine, right through to the mint. Starting on the rim of the giant South Pit at Newmont’s Boddington Gold Mine, where the ore is extracted, and ending at the Perth Mint, where molten gold is poured into gleaming bars, that’s exactly what you’ll do on this unique and fascinating tour. A fantastic day out for young and old incorporating Australia’s largest operating gold mine and history-steeped Perth Mint.
www.gowesttours.com.au/go-west-gold-mine-experience
This article was first published in the Peel Magazine, Spring/Summer 2018 – vol 4.2 – to read and download the full magazine, click here.