The Giants of Mandurah

Mandurah, WA

Saturday 26th November - Saturday 3rd December

We had a great week in and around Mandurah, especially catching up with Nathan, Bec, Steph, Ashleigh and Nikki (who we'd met and stayed with on our last trip), seeing the incredible Giants of Mandurah and marvelling at the impressive Christmas light displays- both on the foreshore and on the houses along the canals.

We caught up with Nathan, Bec and girls twice - first on Sunday where they took us out on their boat to see one of the Giants and some dolphins before an afternoon bbq at their place, and secondly on Friday night when we were treated to a cruise through the canals of Mandurah to see the spectacular Xmas light displays many houses put on. We loved our time with them, and the kids had an absolute blast.

The Giants of Mandurah are unique outdoor sculptures created by world renowned artist, Thomas Dambo. He has created 'Giants' made with recycled wood throughout the world, but these are the first ones in Australia. They are all in different places around the area, each in a different environment. We were extremely impressed with all of the Giants, though our favourite was the first one which is leaning up against a fallen down tree and is also holding a branch from that tree.

Our final highlights from our time in Mandurah were the Christmas lights. On Wednesday evening we went into the foreshore for a bbq dinner and to watch the sun set. Some of the light installations for the Mandurah Christmas Lights Trail were already up and running even though the official opening hadn't happened yet. We wandered along looking at some and we noticed lots of people around the castle display (even though it wasn't lit up yet). Elsa and Ana (from Frozen) were also milling around and once I saw a big tv camera I knew something must be happening. After a quick chat with the 2 princesses, we found out that the Mayor of Mandurah was about to officially open the Lights Trail by turning the lights of the castle on- so of course we stayed to watch. They asked all the kids to join so Emilia and Jackson ended up a part of the official opening!!! We came back on Thursday night to do the full lights trail, and we were all really impressed. The lights were as good as those in Perth (some were actually better).

Mandurah is known as the Christmas Lights capital of WA, the foreshore lights trails is only the start! Many of the homes along the canals (200+ houses) put up Christmas lights, with some putting up incredibly big displays (I'd hate to see their power bills). Nathan, Bec and the girls took us out Friday evening to see the lights. After a quick stop at the Xmas Pageant (big community festival) where the kids managed to find the 'decorate your own gingerbread cookie stall' we spent a wonderful hour or so cruising up and down the canals looking in awe at all the different lights displays- some people put in so much effort, Xmas lights are serious business in Mandurah! We had such a wonderful night and are so grateful to Nathan and Bec for giving us such a great experience.

We loved Mandurah last time we were over in WA and we both still felt the same - it is definitely a place we could live.

Out on the boat looking for dolphins.

The kids had lots of cuddles with their dog, Bella.

The first Giant we saw- he is best seen from the water. 

The kids had fun chilling on the front of the boat with Nikki (they had a great view of the dolphin mother and calf from there).

GIANT No.1

GIANT No.2

GIANT No.3

GIANT No.4 (this is the one we actually saw first from the boat)

GIANT No.5

On the foreshore of Mandurah.

An easy bbq dinner before we checked out some of the Xmas lights.

The kids helped the Mayor of Mandurah (and Elsa and Ana) move the switch to turn on the lights for the castle and officially open the Mandurah Xmas Lights trail

The official photographer was taking this shot so we thought the kids might end up making it into the local paper!

Inside the lit up castle - it was pretty impressive.

You were able to get photos in or on most of the light installations..so of course we had to get a picture with each one!

As it was so dark the camera wouldn't focus properly and we were all getting very sore knees!

Enjoying the sun set from the boat on our way into the Mandurah canal Xmas lights.

Getting their sugar fix for the night- decorating gingerbread cookies with LOTS of toppings.

Below are photos of just a few of the dazzling Xmas light displays we saw on our 'cruise'.

On our final night in Mandurah we moved to a caravan park closer to Nathan and Bec's place. It was right on the estuary and Jackson went looking for crabs the next morning- he found heaps but also got bitten twice while wading out!