Mandurah has come in as the second most popular family holiday destination in Western Australia, according to new data.
Research from Wotif.com show our seaside city is a favourite vacation spot throughout the state, especially during school holidays.
Mandurah came in second only to Perth and closely followed by Margaret River and Busselton.
Figures also show searches for Mandurah on Wotif.com have recently gone up by more than 250 per cent.
Visit Mandurah general manager Anita Kane said Mandurah had "great things" to offer for West Australian families especially.
"It's close enough from Perth and other cities to make it a stress-free journey with kids, while being far enough away to make it feel like a real break away, which so many people seem to be craving right now," she said.
"The mix of things to do - from tours, cycle and walk trails, world class shopping, water adventures and so much more - means there's something for the whole family to enjoy, and the great range of accommodation options means most holiday budgets are catered for."
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The research by Wotif.com also revealed 76 per cent of parents missed the simplicity of childhood holidays, while 81 per cent looked back on their childhood holidays with fondness, despite only travelling locally as a child.
Ms Kane added that Visit Mandurah understood those sentiments well, and the Peel region provided that sense of familiarity people were seeking.
"So many of our visitors spent childhood holidays crabbing in Mandurah and eating fish and chips on the foreshore and these are the things they want to share with their own children," she said.
Wotif managing director, Daniel Finch, agreed. He said Mandurah was the perfect destination for a local WA family adventure.
"With amazing food and wine experiences, as well as a plethora of outdoor adventure activities, a trip to Mandurah is the ideal getaway for families looking to unwind these school holidays," he said.
"Road trip destinations and visits to regional hubs are proving most popular these school holidays.
"It's these areas that provide a bit of familiarity and comfort for travellers who may want to leave the house and get out but also want to be cautious.
"Never has a quick weekend away or road trip been so meaningful - to both the families looking to reconnect after being in isolation and to the many regional communities that rely on tourism."
The research by Wotif.com also revealed 53 per cent of Aussies believe they need to make the most of this year and support Australian tourism.
A further 84 per cent of families say that knowing their travel could help an affected community recover makes them want to travel locally this year.
Meanwhile 81 per cent say they will be looking to support destinations that have had to deal with the joint repercussions of the summer bushfires and COVID-19.
Further to this, 76 per cent of Aussies will now place a greater importance on Australian travel, even when international restrictions lift, and 58 per cent of people plan to travel across domestic borders as soon as they open.
The data also shows an increase in travel interest for holiday rentals and self-catered apartments where families can reconnect, and a desire to see natural attractions and go on road trips when travelling as a family.
