The latest exciting new product updates from across WA.
Highlights include the launch of tiny cabin luxury accommodation in Perth’s Kings Park; new direct flights to Perth from Melbourne and Adelaide with Rex Airlines, and the recommencement of a direct flight from China; Melbourne street artist RONE is bringing his exhibition to Perth; plus exciting new restaurant openings in Perth’s CBD, new tours, discovery centres and Aboriginal cultural experiences
Tiny cabins in one of the world’s largest inner-city parks
Heyscape Tiny Cabins is bringing its premium off-grid and eco-friendly accommodation offering to Perth’s iconic Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Kaarta Koomba). In an Australian-first, three Heyscape tiny cabins are available for overnight stays for a limited time from June 7 to July 28, set amongst the picturesque and tranquil surroundings of Perth’s (Boorloo) most iconic attraction. Two of the cabins feature elevated, uninterrupted views of the Swan River (Derbal Yerrigan), with the other offering views of the city skyline. All three self-contained cabins are equipped with e-bikes for guests to explore. The limited offering coincides with Lightscape returning to Perth to light up Kings Park with magical displays during the evenings.
Crikey! WA nets Robert Irwin for leading tourism conference
Beloved Australian environmentalist and television personality Robert Irwin has been confirmed for the world's biggest tourism summit in Perth (Boorloo) this October. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit is taking place from October 8 to 10 at Crown Perth under the theme ‘Ancient Land: New Perspectives,’ showcasing Western Australia's cultural heritage and incredible natural offerings. It's the first time the event has been held in Australia. The son of Australian legend Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin is the first major speaker to be announced for the three-day exclusive event by WTTC, the global authority on tourism, whose members include 200 world industry leaders from organisations like Emirates, Etihad Airways, Expedia and Visa.
Rex goes West with new Melbourne and Adelaide to Perth flights
Melbournians and Adelaideans looking to head to Perth (Boorloo) for an adventure in the Dream State will now benefit from more choice and competitive fares. From June 28 Rex Airlines will fly five days a week between Melbourne and Perth on a Boeing 737 service, offering fares as low as $299 each way economy and $999 for business class on one of the nation’s busiest routes. Adelaide to Perth flights will also take off three days a week (Monday, Friday and Sunday) on an Adelaide Embraer E-190 jet service, with one-way fares starting from $249 for economy.
China Southern flying non-stop to Perth from November
China Southern Airlines will recommence its non-stop service between Guangzhou and Perth from 28 November 2024, paving the way for Chinese visitors to fly direct to holiday in the Dream State. The airline will operate the service three times per week on a B787-8 aircraft, with the return of the service bringing an additional 41,000 inbound seats to Western Australia each year. The resumption of this service marks the 20th international destination connected to Perth with new or resumed non-stop flights since borders reopened, further strengthening WA's status as Australia's Western Gateway.
Slam dunk! Perth welcomes Australia’s largest basketball festival
It's a slam dunk for Perth, with the city being confirmed as the host of the inaugural HoopsFest event, Australia's largest basketball festival. Over four days from September19 to 22, Perth will exclusively host all matches of the opening round of the 2024-25 Australian National Basketball League (NBL) season, the preseason competition for the Women's NBL, plus the Under 18s Club Championships involving the best 48 teams from around Australia. Matches will be held across the city. Basketball fans can check out supporting events such as Sneakerland - Australia's largest sneaker culture festival, plus the official HoopsFest Fan Festival at Forrest Place including music, entertainment, street basketball and more.
Rone is coming to Perth
Acclaimed Australian street artist Rone is bringing his immersive art experience to Perth in a global exclusive. Running from 1 July to 30 September 2024, the exhibition will take over 12 rooms, across both floors in the historic Centenary Galleries Building at The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA). Rone will bring the full installation of TIME • RONE, and will create brand-new spaces specifically for the WA exhibition, with two new mural works exclusive to Perth. The immersive installation will feature the TIME Bar, an artistic prohibition themed bar, the RONEART Dinner, a limited capacity full sensory dining experience, and the RONE Store, an online and in gallery merchandise store. As Rone's only exhibition for 2024, over 100,000 patrons are expected to attend.
Accessible Travel in WA
WA is home to long stretches of white sandy beaches and sparkling blue waters, with many accessible to all levels of ability. To make planning those beach days easier, a new interactive mapping tool has been launched as part of the Western Australia online accessibility hub. The map easily identifies which beaches across WA are wheelchair accessible and offer free beach wheelchair hire, including details on where to find the beach wheelchairs and how to hire them. It’s one part of the broader accessibility hub which includes recommended tours and experiences, accessible accommodation options, information on getting around with accessibility needs, and accessibility friendly road trip itineraries. The online accessibility hub is part of a suite of accessibility improvements made to the WA website over the past ten months, including controls for users to adjust contrast, font sizes, keyboard-based navigation, screen readers and more.
NEW TOURS, ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATION OFFERINGS
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Karijini Eco Retreat new guided tours
Karijini Eco Retreat in the picturesque Karijini National Park in WA’s Pilbara region has three new guided tours to give travellers an enriching adventure and valuable insight into the dreamy landscapes. The Colours of Karijini is a sunset or sunrise walk, taking guests to the top of Joffre Gorge (Jijngunha) for spectacular views and refreshments. The Joffree Explorer (Jijngunha) journeys to the bottom of the gorge to experience its waterfall and discover the geological history. For a hike with a difference, take the Night Sky Tour in an area far from any light pollution, where a guide will talk about the stories of the stars, and visitors can get a closer look at the constellations through a telescope.
Baileys Parkside Motel gets a retro revival
Baileys Parkside Motel in East Perth has recently been revived, with a modern restoration showcasing the motel’s retro 60s style appeal. The recent takeover of Baileys Parkside Motel by Vetroblu Group of Hotels has seen the hotel go through an expansive refurbishment, with pops of neon colour, retro-inspired furnishings and modern amenities. The motel offers a range of room types and configurations, with all rooms equipped with coffee machines, kitchenettes with fridge, toaster and microwave and ensuite bathrooms with WA amenities by The Sandalwood Shop.
New Marine Discovery Centre at Busselton Jetty
The iconic Busselton Jetty in WA’s Margaret River Region will welcome a new family friendly Marine Discovery Centre next month. The 30-minute indoor, interactive experience gives visitors the chance to come face to face with a lifelike shark, drive a virtual submarine, make their own fish habitat, hear the mesmerising calls of whales in the open ocean and more. The centre is in the Railway House Ballaarat Room, helping visitors who don’t have the time to take the 1.8 kilometre train journey to the end of the jetty but want to discover what lies underneath the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.
Shine a light on Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse’s history
The historic Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse in the Margaret River Region has welcomed the opening of the new Lightkeepers’ Museum, a new interpretive centre housed in one of the lightkeepers’ original cottages. The museum showcases the history of the lighthouse and region, including the Wadandi people’s 60,000-year custodianship and the influence of weather and whaling which set the scene for enthralling stories of shipwrecks and lightning storms. The opening of the Lightkeepers’ Museum is the final part of the Capes Foundation’s five-year redevelopment project at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.
Catch and keep your own WA rock lobster
In the coastal town of Jurien Bay in WA’s Coral Coast, Jurien Bay Oceanic is offering travellers the opportunity to catch and keep their own West Australian rock lobsters. Available for a limited time during the months of June and July, the Rock Lobster Catch and Keep Boat Tour guests will be shown how to catch the famed lobsters, as well as correctly measure, grade and cook them, following sustainable and ethical fishing guidelines. Depending on the day and size of the catch, guests can also take up to eight lobsters home for dinner.
The ultimate Coral Coast adventure
Kimberley Outback Tours has launched a new 13-day Perth to Exmouth tour, with bookings for early 2025 open now. Drive along WA’s Coral Coast in a luxury 4WD coach to see the enchanting Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon, wild dolphins at Monkey Mia, stargazing on the Kalbarri Skywalk and the wonders of the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu) – home to the gentle whale shark. Catering to a maximum of 18 guests, the tour includes a variety of accommodation, all meals and activities.
Immerse in Aboriginal culture at El Questro
Injiid Marlabu Calls Us is the latest tour offering at El Questro in WA’s Kimberley region. Operating daily, it offers guests a heartfelt Welcome to Country Cultural Immersion experience that introduces the cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship of the Ngarinyin Aboriginal people with the vast expanse of the land and waters of the Kimberley. Be a part of ancient family rituals and listen to stories that have been passed down from generation to generation whilst seeing El Questro through the eyes of its Traditional Owners. This new experience is part of the continued custodianship agreement announced by G’Day Group and Discovery Parks last year, ensuring employment pathways and economic outcomes for Traditional Owners.
Experience Aboriginal cultural in Kalgoorlie
Proud Ngadju Wangkatha man and internationally acclaimed Aboriginal artist and advisor Jason Dimer has recently launched Kalgoorlie Aboriginal Cultural Experiences (KACE Tours) in WA’s Golden Outback region. The walking tours take guests through the Goldfields city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to discover the art, history and cultural connections to the lands, including one of the largest First Nations outdoor art installations.
New tagalong Aboriginal tour on the Dampier Peninsula
Join Jabirr Jabirr, Ngumbarl man Jayden Howard to discover the colours of the spectacular coastal country of the Dampier Peninsula, a two-hour drive north of Broome (Rubibi) in WA’s Kimberley. Bunda Bunda Tours is a new cultural tagalong tour that takes guests along dirt tracks to discover mangrove ecosystems, freshwater springs and white sandy beaches of Carnot Bay. Spend the full-day tour fishing in secret lagoons and foraging for shellfish whilst learning about traditional hunter gatherer techniques. Guests can cook up their catches of the day and enjoy the afternoon eating and lounging in a sheltered campsite.
NEW FOOD & BEVERAGE OPENINGS
A fusion of flames and flavour at Fallow
Fallow Liquor and Eatery has opened its doors, taking over a multi-storey heritage building in Perth’s cultural hub of Northbridge. Following two years of renovations, the long-vacant heritage building has been transformed into a 248-seat modern bar and kitchen. Fallow offers an open kitchen experience with a wood-fired oven and hearth, along with a unique meat vault that showcases dry-aged cuts. The menu showcases Fallow’s fire power, with dry-aged steaks, Shark Bay crab tortellini, Carnarvon pink snapper, wood-grilled Maitaki mushrooms and expertly roasted meats and vegetables amongst the highlights. With the menu and interior decorations leading to a rustic dining experience accompanied by specialty drinks, Fallow offers patrons an experiential haven of gastronomic delights.
Papi Katsu opens in Perth’s CBD
Modern Japanese eatery Papi Katsu has opened its doors on St Georges Terrace in the heart of Perth’s CBD. The subterranean izakaya draws inspiration from contemporary Japanese cuisine, with a focus on seasonal produce and locally sourced seafood. A premium caviar service and a daily selection of sashimi feature on the menu, alongside larger dishes such as wagyu sirloin and glacier 51 toothfish. With a cyberpunk-inspired interior of neon lights and modern wooden furnishings, the venue is designed for fun with a menu that encourages sharing and an extensive drinks list featuring sake, signature cocktails, wines and beers.
Bailey Brewing Co has arrived in Dunsborough
WA brewery Bailey Brewing Co has opened a second venue in the iconic Margaret River Region. Following the success of its Swan Valley brewery, which opened in Perth’s wine region in 2020, the owners have expanded the offering by taking over the former Clancy’s Fish Pub venue in Dunsborough. Brining its easy-drinking beers and family friendly vibes with it, the brewery features a menu of simple beers, local wines and hearty food to fuel the entire family.
New culinary events at Kimberley Coastal Camp
Located in the heart of the untouched Kimberley wilderness Kimberley Coastal Camp, has announced a new food and wine tour for 2025. The Taste of the Kimberley offers two different four-night culinary experiences with award-winning WA winemakers. The first experience will run from June 10 to 14, 2025 with Amelia Park wines; and the next will be from June 14 to 18 with Moss Wood wines. Each experience will include a champagne gala dinner under the stars, celebrating local produce whilst listening to live music provided by Australian Country singer, James van Cooper.
WA places Top 10 at 2024 World Agri-Tourism Awards
A chestnut farm located in Nannup in WA’s South West has represented Australia in the 2024 World Agri-Tourism Awards, taking out one of the top 10 agritourism spots in the world. Chestnut Brae is home to 1000 trees full of sweet chestnuts and is a family-owned and operated business. Visitors can stay overnight at the cottage farm stay and go on a nature tour. The farm also produces a range of chestnut based products such as chestnut-fed pork, crème de marron, chestnut ale and chestnut liqueur.
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE UPDATES
Relax and rejuvenate at El Questro
The iconic El Questro in WA’s Kimberley region is offering guests the chance to relax and rejuvenate with a new Freycinet Massage experience available for the 2024 season. Three Freycinet massage specialists, who have come all the way from Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula for the season, will offer a range of luxurious treatments including deep tissue, remedial, aromatherapy or pregnancy massages and nourishing hair treatments. Guests at El Questro can choose to have their treatment either in-room or in the peace of the riverside massage tent.
New wellness retreat at Novotel Perth
Novotel Perth Murray Street has partnered with Keishi Spa to bring more wellness offerings to the Perth (Boorloo) CBD. Relocating from The Vines Resort in the Swan Valley to the CBD location, Keishi Spa is located on level 12 of the hotel, offering four spacious treatment rooms- including couple’s rooms – as well as a deluxe manicure and pedicure lounge, available to both hotel guests and the public. Packages on offer include a year-round Wellness Getaway, which includes overnight accommodation, aromatherapy massage and buffet breakfast. Decorated in soft pink, warm timber and glamorous gold, Keishi Spa offers a calm and relaxing escape in the heart of the CBD.
Alchemy Saunas expands is scenic sauna offering
Perth-based company Alchemy Saunas is expanding its popular sauna offering to another two scenic and iconic beach side locations, Scarborough and City Beach. With existing locations across Fremantle, West Leederville and further south in Busselton – and more sites ear marked for expansion in 2024 – the popularity of the saunas adds to the growing trend of wellness experiences in WA. Alchemy Saunas has given the ancient tradition of sauna bathing a modern twist, with its saunas focusing on luxurious comfort and high-quality modern amenities whilst still being accessible and affordable, with a single sauna visit costing $20 or unlimited sessions for $30 a week.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Truffle Kerfuffle
June 28 to 30 | Manjimup | WA’s South West
The Truffle Kerfuffle festival will return to the heart of Australian truffle country in Manjimup to celebrate the region’s ‘black gold’. The weekend of festivities includes long table feasts, decadent dishes laden with freshly harvested black truffles, intimate fireside cooking masterclasses with acclaimed chefs, truffle dog demonstrations and truffle hunts in orchards. Along with wine sessions, spirit tastings, free cooking demonstrations and a marketplace filled with locally grown produce.
https://trufflekerfuffle.com.au/
Mowanjum Festival
July 5 | Derby | WA’s North West
Embrace the culture of the Ngarinyin, Woddordda and Wunambal peoples during the 25th Anniversary of the Mowanjum Festival. Festival-goers can participate in an afternoon of amazing workshops and an open art gallery, followed by an evening of Junba under the stars, a traditional song and dance that helps pass on Aboriginal knowledge and culture to future generations.
https://mowanjumarts.com/festival
Cabin Fever
July 12 to 21 | Margaret River Region | WA’s South West
Cabin Fever will take over the Margaret River region this winter, showcasing the region’s wineries, breweries, seasonal produce and restaurants across the cosy cooler months. The 10-day festival will offer visitors to the region plenty of fire, food and fine tunes, with more than 40 experiences at a range of different venues from Busselton through to Margaret River. Guests can expect collaboration dinners with local and Perth-based chefs, long table lunches, fireside feasts, wine tasting nights, cheese toastie battles, mariachi mingles plus loads more.
https://cabinfeverfest.com.au/
RE//PERTH
July 4 to 27 | Perth
RE//Perth is a new winter arts and cultural festival set to activate multiple spaces across Northbridge from July 4 to 27 in a celebration of creativity and urban exploration. Produced by ARTRAGE, the team behind Perth’s popular FRINGE WORLD Festival, each of the different event components will focus on a different theme. The program includes food and drink (RE//Birth); performance (RE//Flect), sustainable fashion (RE//Purpose), and family friendly (RE//Play). Each series will have a range of free and ticketed events varying from high-end degustation culinary experiences, dance and acrobatics shows, recycled fashion workshops, live ice carving and more.
https://reperth.com/
Rugby Championship – Wallabies vs Springboks
August 17 | Optus Stadium | Perth
Australia’s Wallabies will face off against the back-to-back world champions, South Africa’s Springboks on August 17 at Perth’s Optus Stadium. It’s the first time Rugby World Champions South Africa has played a test match in Perth since 2017. The Springboks will compete against the Wallabies in two rugby Tests in Australia, with the first match set to occur in Brisbane a week prior. Directly following this international sporting match will be the UFC 305, it what is set to be a blockbuster weekend of sport in Perth.
https://optusstadium.com.au/whats-on/wallabies-v-south-africa
UFC 305
August 18 | RAC Arena | Perth
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return to Perth (Boorloo) this August in another Australian exclusive, following the record -breaking event in 2023. The UFC 305 will be the UFC’s only Pay-Per-View (PPV) event in Australian in 2024, and broadcast live to more than 975 million TV households in more than 170 countries. The event is expected to draw thousands of fans to Perth, with several fan-favourite events set to take place over three days including the ceremonial weigh-in for the athletes at RAC Arena, and an open athlete workout at Elizabeth Quay.
https://www.racarena.com.au/whats-on/ufc-305/
CinefestOz Film Festival
August 31 to September 8 | Margaret River Region | WA’s South West
Australia’s largest destination film festival is set to return to the stunning backdrop of WA’s South West. A celebration of Australian film, the annual CinefestOZ Film Festival will showcase an extraordinary line-up of new and exciting films and events in the region’s cinemas, wineries, boutique breweries, small bars and galleries. A selection of uniquely Australian films will be in the running to win Australia’s coveted $100,000 annual film price. Cinema stars, top screen industry professionals and thousands of film lovers will enjoy a range of different film and event options on offer during the five-day festival.
https://cinefestoz.com/
Shinju Matsuri
August 17 to September 1 | Broome | WA’s North West
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Shinju Matsuri (festival of the pearl), being held in Broome (Rubibi) – the pearling capital of Australia. This year’s program includes an exciting line-up of events and activities such as the iconic Sunset Long Table Dinner at Cable Beach, the Jetty Gala on Town Beach Jetty, the Floating Lantern Matsuri, the Chinatown Feast, the Shinju Opening Ball and the Shinju Matsuri Festival Hub at Town Beach. The annual event is a celebration of the diverse cultures that have come together in Broome over the past century for pearls, including Japanese, Malaysian, Chinese and Aboriginal.
https://shinjumatsuri.com.au/
Margaret River Region Open Studios
September 7 to 22 | Margaret River Region | WA’s South West
Australia’s largest open studio event will return in 2024 with a huge 144 artists from across the region opening the doors to their studios for visitors to get a first-hand experience of their creative realm. Art lovers will discover painters, potters, printmakers, milliners, mosaicists, timber craftspeople, textile creators, illustrators and installation artists in some of the most unique settings. From old timber mill cottages, hobby and dairy farms to hay sheds, shearing sheds, beach shacks and breweries – it's bound to inspire creativity for all who visit.
https://mrropenstudios.com.au/
