Hidden in the bushland, wetlands and coastline around Mandurah are a series of enormous wooden giants, created by world-renowned Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo. These towering sculptures aren’t just artworks – they’re part of an interactive outdoor game that turns your day out into a real family adventure.
Rather than simply driving up to each sculpture, the Giants of Mandurah experience is designed as a self-guided discovery trail. Your starting point is the Mandurah Visitor Centre, where you can pick up (or have stamped if you’ve already printed it) the free 52-page Travellers’ Companion, or you can download it from the official Giants of Mandurah website before you go. The booklet is much more than a map – it’s packed with clues, stories, artwork, walking distances, difficulty ratings and space for kids to record symbols and notes, making it feel like a real-life treasure hunt.
There are six Giants to find in total, all made almost entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials like scrap wood, old pallets, twigs and forest floor debris. Each sculpture has its own personality and story, and each is placed to highlight a different part of Mandurah’s stunning natural environment – think estuary edges, bushland trails, coastal lookouts and peaceful wetlands.
The walks to each Giant vary from easy, pram-friendly paths to more adventurous trails, and all routes start from car parks and are graded between 1 and 3 on the Australian Walking Track Grading System. This makes it easy to choose which ones will suit the age and ability of your family on the day.
The game element is a huge part of the fun. Using the Travellers’ Companion, you can unlock the approximate locations of five of the six Giants and set off to track them down. When you find a Giant, you’ll also discover a special symbol unique to that sculpture.
Kids love hunting for and copying these symbols into the booklet – it gives each stop a clear “mission accomplished” moment. Once you’ve collected all five symbols, you can use them to crack the code and reveal the location of the super-secret sixth Giant via the “secret code breaker” page on the Giants of Mandurah website. The final reveal is a rewarding way to cap off your giant-spotting adventures, and families are encouraged to keep the location hush-hush so future visitors can enjoy solving it too.
As you travel between sites, you’ll notice interpretive signs that share the stories of the land and waterways from the Bindjareb People of the Noongar Nation, Traditional Custodians of Mandjoogoordap (Mandurah). These add a thoughtful cultural layer to your visit, helping kids (and adults) better understand the significance of the wetlands, wildlife and landscapes they’re exploring. Mandurah’s estuary is twice the size of Sydney Harbour, and the wider Peel-Yalgorup system is a Ramsar-listed Wetland of International Importance – so the Giants trail is also a gentle reminder of how precious these environments are.
Because the Giants of Mandurah are deliberately placed in natural settings, a little planning makes the day smoother. You’ll need a car to reach the different locations, as the giants are not accessible by public transport. Some trails are stroller-friendly, while others may be better for older kids who are comfortable on uneven tracks. Good walking shoes, hats, sunscreen, bottled water, snacks, and insect repellent are essentials, and it’s wise to be alert for snakes, spiders and other local wildlife, especially in warmer months.
The Travellers’ Companion and website both outline approximate walk times and difficulty, which helps you decide how many Giants to tackle in a single day – you might choose one or two as a relaxed outing, or plan a full weekend in Mandurah to meet them all.
The Giants of Mandurah are a brilliant way to get kids off screens and into nature with a clear sense of purpose. Between the code-cracking, the giant wooden sculptures, the storytelling and the beautiful surroundings, this experience feels like a mix of bushwalk, art trail, puzzle and road trip all rolled into one. Don’t forget to share your adventures using the hashtag #giantsofmandurah and check the official channels for any updates before you go.
Giants of Mandurah
Address: Various outdoor locations around Mandurah and surrounds (start at Mandurah Visitor Centre for maps and clues)
Opening Hours: Outdoor trail, accessible year-round in daylight hours (check the official site for any access updates or seasonal recommendations)
Official Website: https://www.giantsofmandurah.com.au
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Kellie Elliott is an adventurous mum of four who’s turning Perth into her playground! When she’s not busy wrangling her little ones, you can find her on Instagram at Perth Mum Adventures, where she shares all her exciting adventures. From exploring new playgrounds to discovering off-the-beaten-path treasures, Kellie’s knack for turning everyday outings into thrilling adventures will leave you inspired and ready to explore the best that Perth has to offer!
Let me get this straight, you gotta study a 52 page guide to try to figure out the locations of these puppets?