Mandurah Lobster Fishing Cruise: Catch & 8-Course Seafood Lunch

Pull lobster pots from the ocean, then eat what you caught.

The Mandurah Wild Seafood Experience is a 3.5-hour activity aboard the Reel Affair II where you haul lobster pots in the Indian Ocean, learn about the catch from the crew, then cruise the Port Mandurah Canals while a barbecue lunch of eight seafood courses, centred on your fresh lobster, is prepared and served with local wines and beers. The defining trait is that you do the catching yourself before the meal begins.

The experience

You board the luxury vessel and head out into the Indian Ocean to help pull lobster pots alongside the crew. This is not a demonstration: you handle the crayfish, learn what makes them thrive in these waters, and see firsthand why Mandurah has been a seafood hub for a century. The work is real and the crew teaches as you go.

Once the pots are hauled, the boat turns back toward the estuary and the calmer waters of the Port Mandurah Canals. On the return, you watch for the 120 dolphins that live here and pass the million-dollar homes that line the waterway. Meanwhile, the crew cooks. An 8-course lunch unfolds with your fresh lobster as the centrepiece, built around other local Western Australian seafood and ingredients. Margaret River wines, boutique beers and soft drinks flow throughout. Coffee and tea close the meal. Lemon and ginger tea and bottled water are available from the start.

The vessel requires independent movement: you board via a narrow, slightly angled ramp, handle small steps and a ladder-style staircase to reach the upper deck, and stay upright on open ocean without assistance. Children under five are not recommended for this experience. The operator runs a separate Crabbing Tour in the shallower Peel Inlet for younger guests. Food intolerances can be accommodated with at least 24 hours' notice. Same-day requests are unlikely to work because the galley space is tight and logistics are planned in advance.

What’s included

• Lemon and ginger tea on boarding.
• hands-on lobster pot hauling in the Indian Ocean with crew instruction.
• bottled water throughout.
• an 8-course seafood lunch centred on your fresh catch, prepared barbecue-style.
• Margaret River wines, boutique beers and soft drinks fully inclusive.
• coffee and tea.
• a cruise through the Port Mandurah Canals with dolphin watching and views of the waterfront homes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except ThursdayDepartures at 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Infant (under 1): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, French, Cantonese, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mandurah Cruises

Is this one for you?This is a shared-group experience, so you will be aboard with other guests who are also catching and learning together. It suits anyone who wants to be hands-on with the seafood they eat (the catching is the point, not an add-on), and who can move independently around a moving vessel in open ocean.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Chinese, Japanese and Cantonese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years); Infant (under 1): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I bring my own alcohol on the Mandurah lobster cruise?

BYO alcohol is not permitted, but the inclusive drinks menu includes Margaret River wines, boutique beers and soft drinks throughout the day, so there is no need to arrange your own.

What happens if I have a food intolerance or allergy?

Food intolerances can be accommodated as far as reasonably practical, but you must notify the operator at least 24 hours in advance: earlier notice is better, since the boat's galley space is limited and meal plans are set ahead of time.

How many dolphins live in the Port Mandurah Canals?

Around 120 dolphins inhabit the canals and waterways of Mandurah, and you will watch for them during the return cruise after the lobster pots are hauled.

What is the minimum age for this experience?

Children under five are not recommended for this cruise because it operates on open ocean and requires independent movement around the vessel. The operator runs a separate Crabbing Tour in the shallower Peel Inlet for younger guests.

Do I need to be fit or experienced to help catch the lobster?

The experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The crew teaches you how to handle the pots and the crayfish as part of the activity, so no prior experience is needed.