Pelican's Cafe

Pelican's Cafe sits right on the banks of the Murray River at 1 Pelican Road, South Yunderup, and it is about as easy as riverfront dining gets with a dog: the undercover outdoor lawn looks straight over the water, dogs are welcome on it, and water bowls are provided on the deck. It is licensed, family-friendly and wheelchair accessible, with a public jetty out front for anyone arriving by boat.

The dog setup

Dogs settle with you in the undercover lawn area overlooking the river, where bowls are already out. The main thing to manage is wildlife: ducks paddle past close to the deck, dolphins sometimes work the river, and an excitable dog will want a say, so bring a lead you trust and keep it on even at the table. Under Shire of Murray rules dogs are on lead in all public places outside designated exercise areas, and must not chase or harass native wildlife along the riverbanks.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs a classic cafe-and-river-menu: big breakfasts and eggs benedict in the morning, then fish and chips with a properly crispy batter, gourmet burgers and coffee through the day, with handmade rotating gelato for dessert. It pours local beer, including Boundary Island Brewery, and wine. Hours run 8am to 3pm Monday and Wednesday to Sunday, closed Tuesdays, with occasional extended Friday evenings, so check the cafe's Facebook page before a dinner run.

Getting there and parking

There is free on-site parking plus free street parking on Pelican Road, and the venue is wheelchair accessible from the car park. South Yunderup is about 15 minutes south of Mandurah along the estuary roads, and the drive out is part of the appeal.

Close by with the dogs

A park sits across the road for a pre-or-post-meal walk, and the Murray River foreshore paths are good for a leashed stroll after you have eaten. For designated off-lead time, the North Yindy dog exercise area across the river in North Yunderup is the closest Shire of Murray exercise area. If you are making a day of the Peel Inlet, Sandy Cove Tavern is the other dog-friendly venue in the suburb, and Dome Cafe Pinjarra is a solid stop on the way through. Closer to Mandurah, Nelley's Drive-Thru Ravenswood covers the coffee run.

More options are on the WA dog friendly cafes guide and the South Yunderup destination page.

Max: the ducks work the deck line all morning. If your dog has opinions about ducks, choose the table furthest from the lawn's edge.