Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets

The chalet wasn’t as clean as it should have been. We found dirty plates and cups, presumably because the previous guest hadn’t washed the crockery. The floors were gritty, food was ground into the chair covers, and the patio furniture was dirty.

I stayed at Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets for two nights, on or around 7 and 8 May 2025. Early on the morning of 8 May, I woke with a severe headache and had to call an ambulance. I was taken into the ambulance and fell into a coma at the Peel Emergency department. A lumbar puncture and DNA analysis detected Streptococcus pneumoniae, which caused near fatal meningitis. I spent two weeks in ICU and several more weeks in hospital receiving antibiotics. The timing suggests the infection may have occurred during my stay. 13/02/2026: Dear Sirs. I’m replying to your message below. After I was hospitalized, I had extensive conversations with your staff. I was so ill after the ambulance took me away that I left my belongings in the room, and your staff stored them for nearly four weeks. I find it hard to believe you didn’t know about my illness. This bacterium has a very rapid infection and onset. I was at your property for two days, and this happened on the last morning. Without the ambulance, I would have died in the room. I now have post encephalitis syndrome.

The location was spot on, right in the heart of Mandurah with cafes, restaurants and attractions an easy stroll away. Our chalet was clean, comfortable and had everything we needed for a relaxing break. The staff welcomed us warmly as soon as we arrived, and we left feeling rested and refreshed. A peaceful stay in a handy spot, we’d happily recommend it and will be back.

My parents and I ended up cancelling our two chalet bookings and taking full refunds after a very upsetting runaround. We’d booked two dog friendly, two bedroom chalets for three nights at $570 each, during a deal, for the long weekend at the start of the September school holidays. We booked on 23rd August 2025. The website said there was only one dog friendly chalet, so I tried to check. I called three times before 3pm that Saturday, when they said they were open, but nobody answered. At 9.16am on Monday 25th August, I spoke with a polite man at reception and told him we’d bring our english staffy and my parents would bring their maltese/ shitsu. He confirmed the bookings were in the system and said both dogs were fine. Then on 4th September, just three weeks before check in, Mel, the chalets "chief happiness officer", called to ask about the dogs and their weights. She said mine couldn’t come because he weighed more that 10kgs, repeatedly suggested boarding kennels, or offered a full refund if we cancelled. I explained his separation anxiety meant we wouldn’t holiday without him. She said there were no exceptions for dogs over 10kgs, though she’d speak to management. I told her I’d already been verbally assured our english staffy could come, and that they weigh over 10kgs when fully grown. She asked, "did he put that in writing for you?" I resented being treated as if I was lying. She blamed the misunderstanding on the male staff member, saying he needed more training, and said kids were afraid of "large" dogs, which weren’t welcome on the grounds. I suggested the website should clearly mention a 10kg limit so customers aren’t left without a place to stay at short notice. She said it already said "at management’s discretion". Customers with dogs over 10kg may keep being disappointed. The next day, we received an email saying our dog had been denied access to the chalet. There was another problem with the bookings. Both were for two bedroom chalets at $570 for the same deal and dates. Mine was for two adults, one child and our dog. My parents’ booking was originally for two adults and one dog. An hour before Mel called me, they had told her they’d also bring a grandchild, making their group the same as ours. She told my parents they’d have to pay another $90 for the child. We realised later that she was asking them to pay extra even though both chalets would have the same number of guests. The whole experience felt unprofessional and was an absolute disgrace. We wish the man at reception well. He was the only person we dealt with who was polite and professional.