Friday 7 August 2020

Inspire your next Western Australia adventure


To inspire your next WA adventure, a collection of our passionate operators have answered the question ‘what do you love about what you do here in WA?
GPS Adventure Tours – Perth and beyond
GPS Adventure Tours specialise in small group tours for people who want to experience a bit of adventure, spectacular scenery, see local wildlife and enjoy a bit of stargazing.
“Mother Nature is always giving you something different to look at. Different plants flower at different times of the year, native animal sightings change throughout the year and the sunsets and night sky always have some surprises. We also love meeting people from different parts of the world, it’s always fascinating to hear their story and talk to them about places they’ve been, what’s still on their bucket list.” Gavin Parker, owner
Red Sand Campers – All of WA
Red Sand Campers provides premium four-wheel drive (4WD) campers. All vehicles are individually customised with quality rooftop tents and fully-equipped camp kitchens, allowing guests the flexibility to get off-road and discover the amazing landscapes WA has to offer.
“Seeing the smiles on client’s faces and the accompanying laughter when they return from their trip is an unbeatable feeling. They have seen places they have never seen before, experienced amazing adventures and have loved their self-drive adventure.” Adam Sands, owner
Perth Waterbike Co - Perth
One of Perth’s newest water adventures, experience the Swan River on a performance waterbike, and view the iconic river and Perth city from a whole new perspective.
“It’s an absolute joy to see people try something new and experience the thrill of being out on the water. ‘Cycling on water’ is a really unique experience and the reactions we observe on a daily basis are sensational. The smiles, squeals and guaranteed laughter are absolutely sensational and totally infectious! Sharing that passion with people and creating an opportunity for them to experience it for themselves is what we’re all about.” Penny McPherson, owner
Segway Tours WA – Perth
Segway Tours WA offer guided 60 or 90 minute Segway tours of Perth CBD and the Swan River foreshore, Fremantle, Rottnest Island and Kings Park and Botanic Garden.
“Meeting new and exciting people from all over the place. From locals that say that they did not realise how Perth had developed, to the internationals that have travelled far and wide who think that Perth and Western Australia is the place to come…a hidden gem.” Belinda Hill, owner
Margaret River Discovery Co – Margaret River region, WA’s South West
The ultimate Margaret River food, wine and adventure experience for people who don't do tours. Limited to only six guests, the Discovery Tour is a wine tour with a twist, linking the region's best wines to the stunning outdoors.
“It’s not work, its pure fun! It’s like getting a couple of mates together for the day and go out and doing all my favourite things. Canoeing, hiking, 4WDing and wine tasting. I love it. I genuinely pinch myself every day that I get to do this for a job… I also love the seasons, I love watching the nuances of the bush and the ocean, how it all interconnects. I particularly like winter in the South West. I love hiking the Cape Track and beachcombing in winter and crazy wild storms. But then I love spring for wildflowers and whales, and then summer with epic beach conditions. But autumn is the best. No wind. No crowds. Balmy days. Changing colours. It’s a region for all seasons.” Sean Blocksidge, owner
The Beach House at Bayside – Albany, WA’s South West
The Beach House at Bayside offers boutique B&B hotel accommodation in the beautiful and historic town of Albany in WA’s South West.
“We love that we offer such a personal experience – we get to know our guests and assist them to personalise their Albany experience to ensure they leave loving the place and wanting to return! We love welcoming guests from near and far to The Beach House at Bayside to experience the very best of our beautiful town - Albany never fails to surprise and delight our guests and it gives us such pride and joy to share the stories of their daily adventures to gorgeous spots like Little Beach, Bluff Knoll, The Gap and their hikes, bike rides and drives around the region. We love showing off the best wines and produce of the Great Southern and surprising our guests with the quality of the boutique producers around us and sharing the stories of other dedicated family businesses who are part of our lovely community.” Sally Pullin, owner
Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages – Balingup, WA’s South West
Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages offers six fully self-contained bush cottages nestled amongst jarrah and marri trees near the quaint Great Southern town of Balingup.
“We love seeing people arrive from the city all ‘wound up’ and leave ‘relaxed and refreshed’. When you’re surrounded by magical vistas and immersed in our hilltop forest, it’s very easy to unwind and reconnect. We also love seeing the joy on the children’s faces at our morning farm animal feeding sessions. There’s so much fun to be had in feeding a horse a carrot, bottle feeding a lamb, meeting a llama or collecting fresh eggs from the chickens.” Deb and Brian Vanallen, owners
Naturaliste Charters - WA's South West
Naturaliste Charters offer Whale Watching Tours and Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expeditions, with five different departure locations along the stunning South West coast of WA.
“We are incredibly lucky, we get to wake up each morning and feel genuinely good and excited. It is easy to feel that way when we get to work on the water on our amazing vessels, showcase the beautiful locations that we work from, see the stunning marine life in their natural habitats, enrich customers lives with knowledge and joy, it truly is the best job in the world. We have encountered special interactions with orca that had only ever been documented in the world twice before, we have assisted research teams with important work on understanding the mammals and their homes, it’s an amazing feeling. The best part of it all though is seeing the smiles from our customers, for many it is a life time dream to see orca in the wild, or the largest animal in the world the blue whale, to be a part of that dream turning into reality, well there really is no words to describe.” Paul & Alison Cross, owners
Kimberley Air Tours – Kununurra and Broome, WA’s North West
Kimberley Air Tours offer spectacular air tours by seaplane and fixed wing aircraft to the many iconic destinations in the Kimberley, such as the World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range, Lake Argyle, Mitchell Falls, the Kimberley Coast and the Horizontal Waterfalls.
“We really can’t describe how excited we get about delivering personal, high quality touring experiences. As the Kimberley is so remote we love taking our seaplanes into areas seen by very few people. It is incredibly rewarding seeing how amazed and bewildered our customers are after experiencing the Kimberley from above.” Leigh Rawlings, owner
Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Adventures – Shark Bay, WA’s Coral Coast
Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures offer Aboriginal cultural experiences, kayak and wildlife adventures, four wheel drive tours, overnight and extended tours in the magnificent Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
“I love my job because I get to be out in nature and to be able to educate our guests to better understand and respect our local Aboriginal culture and our amazing eco systems. My job sustains me both spiritually, emotionally, mentally and culturally and I want to share this with our guests.” Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell, owner
Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo – WA’s Coral Coast
Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo specialises in swimming with mighty whale shark tours, humpback whale watching and humpback whale swims, scuba diving, snorkelling, and enjoying what the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef has to offer.
“Being able to share our wonderful underwater experiences with guests and watching their reactions when they encounter a whale shark or humpback whale for the first time.” Debbie Ferguson, owner
Esperance Chalet Village – Esperance, WA’s Golden Outback
Esperance Chalet Village offers a collection of laid back cabins, rustic chalets and shacks all individually styled, located in an idyllic hideaway on the edge of Esperance town.
“Learning from our guests and hearing their stories and travel experiences …injecting their perspective on the village and bringing it to life. I also love that my office is set on beautiful acreage by a creek and commute to work a short bike ride.” Fiona Shillington, owner
Wooleen Station – WA’s Golden Outback
Wooleen Station is a working cattle station in the outback of WA dedicated to landscape regeneration and conservation. Guests can choose to stay at the homestead, the rammed earth guesthouses or camp in the outback.
“The outback has a very strong spiritual effect on many people. A romantic notion which lingers within all Australians from the early settlers when Australia was born off the sheep’s back. And never more so as we learn to acknowledge and celebrate our vast and connected cultural heritage. Connection to Country is what it’s all about! We love nothing more than facilitating and nurturing that connection within people.” Frances Pollock, owner

Saturday 25 July 2020

What's on in the NT August September 2020




- Darwin Cup Day, Darwin, 3 August – One of the largest sporting and social events in the Northern Territory, revellers converge on Fannie Bay for a day of racing, fashion and entertainment. More information.

- Darwin Festival, Darwin, 6-16 August– Darwin Festival transforms the streets of Australia’s only tropical capital city with in a series of live and online concerts, theatre performances, visual art exhibitions, immersive experiences and more. This year, headline acts include comedian Amy Heatherton and hip-hop artist J-MILLA, among other local and national talent. More information.

- Darwin Supercars, 8-9 August– The BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown returns to Hidden Valley Raceway for a weekend of exhilarating racing. More information.

- The Ghan operating, 30 August – The iconic Ghan will once again forge through the heart of Australia, taking guests between Adelaide and Darwin from August 30. See attached media release. More information.

- Red Centre NATS, Alice Springs, 4-6 September–Over Father’s Day weekend, Red Centre NATS will showcase everything on four wheels with the very best in street machines, elite show cars, hot rods, classics & exotics. More information.

- Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, Alice Springs, 11-20 September–The only authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind, Parrtjima returns with ten nights of live talks, events, music and light installations from a number Aboriginal artists set against the majestic MacDonnell Ranges. More information.

- Desert Mob, Alice Springs, 11-25 September– An event of national significance, Desert Mob represents the most comprehensive survey of contemporary Aboriginal art by artists from Desart-member art centres from the desert regions and communities of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. More information.

Tuesday 4 February 2020

Take a #RECOVERYWEEKEND in NSW






Recharge your batteries and support communities affected by drought and bushfires by taking a #RecoveryWeekend in regional NSW. Book a getaway in NSW that gives back to the communities that need support the most. You need it and they need it too! It’s a WIN WIN.

Book your #RecoveryWeekend and enjoy one of the experiences below for a getaway that gives back. Share your trip on social media using the hashtags #NewSouthWales #RecoveryWeekend

15 Experiences around NSW:

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail will open in early April, the first on public land following a disused rail corridor. The cycling and pedestrian trail will be 22km in length and informative signage will be installed to tell a range of stories about the history, environment and agriculture of the region.

Plan a fishing weekend with friends in the beautiful Riverina region of NSW. Start at Mamanga campground in Yanga National Park by the Murrumbidgee River and spend the day fishing, kayaking and swimming. Head into Murray Valley National Park and set up for a day of fishing near Edward River Bridge Picnic area, and enjoy a scenic walk and spectacular birdwatching. Stay the night at Benarca campground, which offers views of the Murray River and majestic river red gums from your tent.

Snorkel with seals at stunning Montague Island off the coast of Narooma. The second largest island off NSW, it is a significant site for local Aboriginal people and its lighthouse was built in the late 19th century. The island is home to seals, little penguins and seabirds, and Montague Island Discovery Tours take you to crystal clear shallow bays to swim amongst the playful fur seals.





The South Coast food festival Eat Merimbula has expanded for the 2020 edition and will be held over two days on March 6-8. It will open with a degustation-style dinner with three of the region’s best chefs on the pans. On Saturday, enjoy a long table lunch at Wheeler’s Seafood Restaurant and sample local brews at the inaugural Craft Beer Festival. On Sunday find the main event at Fishpen – a bustling market with the best of the region’s produce.

The Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie has been busy searching for injured koalas to take in for rehabilitation, and distributing Wildlife Watering Stations to drought- and fire-affected areas in NSW. Visit the cute creatures on the North Coast up close and support the organisation.

Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours take place on the homelands of the Gumbaynggirr tribal nation, which is also known as the Coffs Coast, and are run by Aboriginal people with strong ties to the land. The stand-up paddle tours take place in culturally significant marine parks and are a fantastic way to explore the area.

Learn about the incredible work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Dubbo at their interactive exhibition. Watch how doctors treat a patient in a cabin of an aeromedical aircraft via augmented reality, immerse yourself in live operations unfolding on giant control screens, and hear stories of real rescues from former patients.





The Brewarrina fish traps are estimated to be over 40,000 year old; an elaborate network of pools and weirs built along the banks of the Barwon River near Bourke in Outback NSW. Join a guided tour to hear a Dreamtime story told by Aboriginal elders and hear the history of the fish traps and the tribes that live on the river.

Broken Hill was Australia's first nationally listed Heritage city, and its status is celebrated at the Heritage Festival every year in April. This year's theme is Secrets and Scandals, and includes dinner in a laneway, an open-air cinema and a cemetery tour.

If you’re keen to explore the Blue Mountains but want to avoid the preparation involved in a hike, a tour by Freeland Hiking Co is the ideal solution. The Blue Mountains Explorer tour includes transport to and from Sydney, a hike to the Leura cascades, a ride on the world’s steepest railway and a gourmet picnic lunch of fresh produce and artisan products from the region.

Earp Distillery opened in Newcastle in December, making gin, vodka and absinthe in beautiful reusable ceramic bottles. Visit the bar for an expertly made cocktail and tapas, or book a course at the Spirit School. It includes a tasting flight, distillery tour and a lesson in distilling so you can produce your very own bottle of gin.

If you like to embark on a nature adventure with a glass of sparkling wine in hand, book the Canoes, Champagne & Canapes tour in the Southern Highlands. Run by WILDfest, you’ll paddle through a sunken forest on a freshwater lake while sipping sparkling wine and eating delicious local canapés. Also in April, WILDfest is offering Mushroom Foraging Workshops in the Penrose State Forest, to teach you how to identify and pick pine and slippery jack mushrooms.

The Shoalhaven region is known for excellent scuba diving and snorkelling, with clear water to see a wide range of fish, weedy sea dragons, smooth black rays and giant cuttlefish. Dive Jervis Bay offers a range of snorkelling and diving trips as well as diving courses. If you want to explore on your own, head to the beaches surrounding Currarong and Abrahams Bosom Reserve. Further south, Jones Bay near Mollymook is another excellent location and one of the only pebble beaches in the region.

Sydney has a jam-packed calendar of events all year. Momo Fest is happening in April for the first time; a celebration of the Nepalese/Tibetan dumplings in Wyatt Park, Lidcombe. There will also be live music, multicultural performances and workshops.

With excellent views of Sydney Harbour at sunset and the animals heading to bed nearby, the Twilight at Taronga concert series is one of the best summer activities. All proceeds contribute to the zoo’s ongoing conservation work. See Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers or a comedy gala.

There are so many ways to enjoy New South Wales — now is the time to visit Sydney, the state’s regions and enjoy their unforgettable experiences. For travel inspiration and planning advice, explore VisitNSW.com.

Bushfires continue to impact parts of New South Wales. Visitors to New South Wales and local travellers should seek the most up-to-date information prior to departure, and remain vigilant about changing conditions on the ground.

Always follow instructions from the Rural Fire Service (rfs.nsw.gov.au) and other Government agencies and Emergency Services, including National Parks (nationalparks.nsw.gov.au), NSW Police (facebook.com/nswpoliceforce) and the Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/) prior to travelling and adjust travel plans accordingly.

Visitors may encounter delays travelling in some areas of the State due to damaged or partially closed roads. The latest information about road closures is available at livetraffic.com.