What's to come in 2021

Australia’s largest State continues to welcome a mix of exciting new projects, products and experiences from across all regions, such as the Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront, Samphire Rottnest, WA Museum Boola Bardip, Matagarup Zip & Climb, Shelter Brewing Co, Pirate Life Perth, Gage Roads Brewing’s first public venue, scenic helicopter flights over Esperance’s pink and blue coastline, eco tours and more. Read the feature article below to get a rundown of what’s new and what will be trending in Western Australia for the year ahead.

HeliSpirit launches new tour offering in Esperance

From November 14, leading WA aviation operator HeliSpirit will launch scenic helicopter flights from Esperance in WA’s Golden Outback region. The flights will showcase the region’s spectacular coastline, with its sparkling blue waters and pristine white-sand, and the iconic bubblegum pink Lake Hillier at Middle Island. As well as getting a bird’s eye view, guests will be able to land at Middle Island for a guided walk around the pink lake. Other scenic highlights include the Recherche Archipelago, Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid National Parks – flying over Woody Lake, Frenchman Peak, Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay, Blue Haven and Twilight Bay. Other tour options include helicopter transfers to Woody Island for guided or self-guided tours. HeliSpirit will operate in Esperance from November to April, complementing the northern Kimberley season of April to September/October - with HeliSpirit currently offering scenic flights and charter services from 11 helicopter bases across the Kimberley, Pilbara and into the Northern Territory.

Jessica Mauboy to headline Ord Valley Muster’s Kimberley Moon Experience

The Kimberley town of Kununurra in WA’s North West will welcome some of Australia’s biggest musical performers in May 2021 for the Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster. Indigenous singer-songwriter, and one of Australia’s most successful female artists, Jessica Mauboy, will headline the Muster’s pinnacle event – the Aviair Helispirit Kimberley Moon Experience on May 22, alongside award-winning duo Busby Marou. Supporting Mauboy and Busby Marou is up-and-coming Indigenous singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the nine-day festival (May 21 to 29), will take over Kununurra and surrounds with a wide variety of unique experiences, including Comedy in the Park, Aboriginal culture and dance, food events, yoga sessions, a country rodeo, and a festival hub with different activities each day over the duration of the event. There will also be a special Party in the Park event to commemorate the anniversary celebrations on May 28. Tickets to all Muster events are now on sale, and travel packages that include flights, accommodation and tickets are available.

First major exhibition for WA Museum Boola Bardip

The WA Museum Boola Bardip will officially open on November 21 with a ground-breaking, internationally renowned special exhibition, Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters. Featuring more than 300 paintings and objects plus song, dance, photography and multimedia, the exhibition shares the story of the Seven Sisters as they traverse the continent from Roebourne in WA’s North West, through Martu and Ngaanyatjarra lands in the west, to the APY (Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands in the north west of South Australia. Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters is the culmination of more than five years of collaboration between Aboriginal communities and the National Museum of Australia (NMA). The display includes the world’s highest resolution DomeLab, where visitors can immerse themselves in images of Seven Sisters rock art, as well as animated artworks. Also opening at the new WA Museum Boola Bardip is a stunning collections of artworks from Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route. Yiwarra Kuju shares the story of the Canning Stock Route’s impact and the importance of the Country around it, expressed through Aboriginal voices and interpreted through Aboriginal eyes. Both collections are coming to WA as part of a special partnership between WA Museum and the NMA. Opening on November 21, the new WA Museum Boola Bardip will act as a gateway to explore all of WA, using state-of-the-art technology and innovative display methods. The project includes the restoration of heritage buildings, construction of a new building, a public art project and the design, production and installation of museum content.

Shelter Brewing Co opens in Busselton

Shelter Brewing Co will open its doors to the public on November 12, serving up local brews on Busselton’s coastal foreshore precinct in WA’s South West. The sustainably-designed two-level venue caters for 650 people, and features a central open brewery, function rooms, lounge areas, viewing gallery, and kids’ playground – all with stunning views of Busselton Jetty and Geographe Bay. From 7am the Shelter Café will serve up freshly brewed coffee and house baked cinnamon scrolls and bagels, then from 10am Shelter’s own beer range will be available on tap, along with a large selection of South West wines and a food menu that focusses on simple food made beautifully. Shelter Brewing Co will also offer brewery tours that include meeting the brewers, tasting beer straight from the tanks, and a tasting paddle of beers.

Cooee opens on the Swan River

Sitting on the banks of the Swan River, in the historic Old Swan Brewery site near Kings Park, Cooee is set to be a new landmark WA restaurant. Opened to the public in early November, the 125-seat eatery is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Led by Michelin-star veteran chef Alan Wise, the menu celebrates WA’s rich abundance of local produce, such as Albany rock oysters, Leeuwin Coast Akoya, Fremantle octopus, kingfish sashimi and Rose Mallee wagyu beef – and will focus on a ‘gate to plate’ philosophy. Offering stunning views over the Swan River, the restaurant boasts indoor and outdoor dining, and a kiosk window for passing coffee trade on the busy riverside cycle and footpath that passes the venue.

Fremantle welcomes a new boutique hotel

The port city of Fremantle welcomed the opening of a historic boutique hotel this month. Located next door to the iconic Fremantle Markets, the city’s heritage-listed Warder’s Cottages have undergone a stunning restoration and reopened as the Warders Hotel. Occupying the old limestone cottages, the historic rooms have been brought back to the original timbers and stonework, and are finished off with luxury features and furniture. Guests have direct access to small corner bar Gimlet, for breakfast, snacks and evening drinks – or they can adventure into Emily Taylor, an Asian-inspired kitchen and bar located in the courtyard. The eclectic city of Fremantle is just a 30-minute drive or train ride from Perth CBD.

Yagan Square Nyumbi returns

Visitors to Perth’s Yagan Square – one of the city’s most popular community, meeting and celebration spaces – will again be able to enjoy free performances by Nyoongar dance groups every Friday night during the Yagan Square Nyumbi. Meaning 'celebration dance' in Nyoongar language, Nyumbi will offer a unique opportunity to experience WA’s Nyoongar culture as Aboriginal dancers perform traditional song and dance, and share stories of the State’s rich culture and history. Kicking off from November 13, the free events will take place every Friday evening from 5.30pm to 6.15pm at Yagan Square Amphitheatre.

Perth’s outdoor cinemas return

Perth's balmy summer evenings offer the perfect setting to watch a movie under the stars. With a range of unique venues dotted across the Perth region, choose from a city rooftop experience at the Rooftop Movies in Northbridge, pack a picnic for an evening on the grass at the Moonlight Cinema in Kings Park, take a seat under the pine trees at the University of Western Australia’s Somerville Auditorium for Perth Festival’s film season, or choose from various locations at the outdoor Telethon Community Cinemas. For a unique outdoor cinema experience, Galaxy Drive-In Theatre in the outer suburb of Kingsley offers Perth’s only drive-in theatre, and at the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, some of the best prison movies of all time will be screened in the prison grounds from January 12 to February 7 as part of Prison Cinema.

Summer Markets kick-off across Perth

Perth has welcomed the return of some of the city’s favourite outdoor markets. The popular Scarborough Beach Sunset Markets, set against the backdrop of one of Perth’s idyllic city beaches, are on every Thursday night at 5pm, and Perth city’s weekly foodie market, the Twilight Hawkers Markets, will start satisfying tastebuds from Friday, November 13. Located at Trigg Beach, the Summer X Salt Markets take place every second Saturday until March 27, 2021, and was recently awarded WA’s Best Small Event at the 2020 Australian Event Awards. The ever-popular Inglewood Night Markets have also returned, with almost 40 food vendors dishing up treats every Monday night.

West Australian Ballet release 2021 program

The West Australian Ballet is set to showcase beautiful classics, powerful contemporary works and hero home-grown talent as part of its 2021 program. Australia’s oldest ballet company will commence its 69th year with As One: Ballet at the Quarry, a triple bill of contemporary dance works as part of the Perth Festival 2021 program. Other highlights for the 2021 season include Scannella and Delasalle’s acclaimed version of classical cornerstone, Giselle – performed at His Majesty’s Theatre from May 13 to 22, with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra; and making its long-awaited Australian debut, The Sleeping Beauty will feature as the festive season family ballet event from November 18 to December 12, 2021.

David McDiarmid and local queer stories opens at AGWA

Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of WA’s Pride Parade, the Art Gallery of WA’s (AGWA) new exhibition will feature the works of queer artist and activist David McDiarmid. Created at the height of the AIDS epidemic, McDiarmid's ironic, playful and scathing poster works from the State Art Collection are presented in conversation with local stories of the late 1980s and early '90s, bringing to the fore the lived experience, tragedy and enormous strength of the local queer community. Featuring alongside McDiarmid’s works are two iconic altars from Australia’s longest running gay club, Connections Nightclub, which commemorates those lost to AIDS/HIV, along with archival material from the Gay and Lesbian Archive WA that documents the stories and struggles of the LGBTIQA+ community during the 1980s and '90s. Located at Perth Cultural Centre, the free exhibition ‘I want a future that lives up to my past’: David McDiarmid and local queer stories will run from November 14, 2020 to April 26, 2021.

BODHI Wellness Spa Retreat opens in Cottesloe

WA’s premiere wellness spa group, BODHI Wellness Spa Retreat, has this month opened the doors to its newest luxury offering in the coastal suburb of Cottesloe. This is the sixth wellness destination for BODHI – with other locations in Wembley, Highgate, Qantas T3 Perth International Transit Lounge and the Westin Hotel in Perth; and award winning Injidup Spa Retreat in the Margaret River region. The latest offering has a modern WA theme, with seven beautifully appointed treatment rooms, two hydrotherapy spa baths, an infrared sauna, a tranquil relax lounge as well as a luxurious mani-pedi lounge. Offering the best of Australian clean beauty, the carefully curated spa menu offers Sodashi and Mukti Organics facial and body treatments, as well as Li’Tya healing rituals inspired by Australian Indigenous healing.

New Distillery Trail launches in the Swan Valley

Explore the wide range of spirits on offer in the Swan Valley, located a short 25-minute drive from the Perth CBD, on the recently launched Swan Valley Distillery Trail. As WA’s oldest wine region, distilling has been a tradition in the Swan Valley for close to a century. The trail is the only one of its kind in Australia where visitors can experience five distinct and very different award-winning distilleries in less than a day. Sample gin and vodka featuring native Australian botanicals at Old Young’s, organic brandy at Harris Organic, the bold Diablo gin range at Swan Valley Gin, the Pink Gin and Seven Deadly Sins range at Sin Gin, and Kimberley rum at Great Northern Distillery.

Great Southern winery opens new restaurant and cellar door

Monty's Leap winery in WA’s Great Southern region is set to reopen this December with a new cellar door and restaurant. Located just 20 minutes from the coastal city of Albany, and offering stunning views of the rolling hills and Kalgan River, the property’s vineyards produce sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, cabernet franc, merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. The new restaurant menu will hero fresh local and seasonal produce with a Southern French influence.

Perth’s latest hospitality offerings

Bailey Brewing Co has opened in the Swan Valley this month. Set on a 10-acre property, the new brewery features a large tavern and kitchen serving classic pub meals made from local quality ingredients. The family friendly venue – founded by a father and two sons – also features an 850 square metre playground, private function spaces, large sports screen and a coffee roaster – and will brew simple, classic beers such as Pale Ale, Lager, IPA, NEIPA, plus a cider.

In the cultural hub of Northbridge, a new restaurant opened this month, Neon Palms. The tropical themed cocktail bar offers a selection of classic and signature beverages, and Brazilian chef Marcelo Kretzer brings a Latin American influence to the menu, with dishes such as braided pork cubanos and empanadas. The venue includes a mix of bar tables, private booths and lounge seats, as well as a lush outdoor courtyard.

The Perth coastal suburb of Scarborough welcomed a new neighbourhood bar and eatery last month. Skol is located in an old heritage-style house in the space behind Drift Kitchen, and features an intimate bar and outside open dining area. The drinks list features natural wines and local beers, while cocktails will hero native ingredients, with a slight Scandinavian influence; and the tapas-style menu is Korean and Japanese inspired, with a French-Italian twist.

Located at Perth Cultural Centre, PICA Bar has recently reopened following renovations. Upgrades to the heritage building – originally Perth Boys School which opened in 1847 – include restoring some of the former features, upgrading the kitchen, and transforming the garden space with new al fresco decking, bench seating and tables. Capacity has increased from 200 to 500, the drinks list has expanded, and the food menu features classic pub food alongside plant-based dishes and seasonal salads.

The Swan Valley has also welcomed Stella Gelato, serving up fresh and exciting gelato flavours made daily onsite using only local ingredients. The sister business to Swan Valley Honey, favourite flavours include crunchy honeycomb and nougat. Vegan-friendly gelato options are also on offer, along with handmade honeycake, gelato cakes and barista coffee.

Taste Great Southern returns in 2021

Taste Great Southern - a celebration of the amazing food, wine, people and attractions of the region – is set to return from March 18 to 28, 2021. More than 25 chefs and presenters including 2019 Masterchef Australia finalist Derek Lau, celebrity cook and Denmark local Anna Gare, nationally renowned native ingredient forager Paul Iskov of Fervor, and Amy Hamilton from Albany’s award-winning restaurant Liberte, will cook at more than 30 events around WA’s Great Southern region. The 11-day festival stretches over two weekends, with a line-up featuring long lunches, degustations, premium pairings, cocktail events and seafood celebrations. Signature events include the Albany Wine and Food Festival on March 27, and the inaugural Southern Sets music festival on March 20. Tickets to the events are now on sale.

Swan Valley wines on show

The winners of the 2020 Swan Valley Wine Show, one of the premier regional wine shows in Australia, were announced last month at a twilight showcase. The prestigious wine show is one of the longest running in Australia, with the Swan Valley wine region celebrating 185 years of winemaking in 2020. From the 235 wines submitted from the Swan Valley and Greater Perth Zone (GPZ), winners included Windy Creek Estate collecting the Media Award Trophy for Most Successful Producer, and John Kosovich Chenin Blanc 2015 scoring the Best Swan Valley Table Wine of Show (GPZ only). The Best Non GPZ Wine was won by Mandoon Estate’s Reserve Chardonnay 2018, Sittella Grand Vintage Marie Christien Lugten 2015 took home Best Sparkling Wine, and Windy Creek Estate Verdelho 2018 won Best Verdelho. Best Single Red Varietal other than Shiraz (GPZ only) went to Faber Vineyard Grenache 2020; Best Shiraz or Shiraz Dominant Blend (GPZ only) to Lamont’s Shiraz 2019; and Pinelli Estate Breanna Rosé 2020 took home Best Rosé. The full list of award-winners can be found here.

Busselton to welcome new Hilton

The South West town of Busselton is set to welcome the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Busselton in 2022. The 112-room hotel will be built on the Busselton foreshore precinct, offering stunning ocean views across Geographe Bay and the iconic Busselton Jetty; and will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a bar serving shareable small plates and handcrafted cocktails, fitness centre and meeting rooms.

New Aboriginal cultural tours at Optus Stadium

Warrang-Bridil is a new Aboriginal cultural tour that aims to ‘close the gap’ on the knowledge and understanding of Nyoongar people’s heritage. Guests will walk with a Nyoongar guide along the shores of the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River), Matagarup Bridge and the world-class Optus Stadium precinct as the guides share their culture and stories. On the 60-minute tour guests will discover the Nyoongar cultural influence in the development of the Optus Stadium precinct and Matagarup Bridge, as well as participate in a traditional Nyoongar ceremony and view cultural tools and artefacts.

Globus and Cosmos launch new tours in WA

Part of the Globus family of brands, Globus and Cosmos recently launched a new collection of Australian and New Zealand tours, designed specifically for local travellers, including two new WA itineraries. The seven-day Western Australia Discovery Tour explores Perth’s thriving arts scene, Fremantle’s history and heritage, Rottnest Island’s cute quokkas, and the epicurean delights of the Margaret River region. The 10-day Contrasts of the Kimberley includes an outback stay at El Questro Station, a cruise of Geike Gorge, and beer tastings at Matsos Brewery in Broome. To celebrate the launch, travellers can receive up to 10 per cent off tours when booked by January 31, 2021 for travel in 2021.

Albany’s Historic Whaling Station launches new tour

Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, which offers a fascinating insight into the Great Southern city’s unique past, is launching a new tour this month. The Twilight Tours - which  take place from 6pm to 8pm on the first Friday of the month - allow guests to discover Albany’s whaling history, and the interesting stories of the characters that worked at the station, through a personal after-hours guided experience. Concluding the tour, guests will enjoy dinner at the onsite Whalers Galley Café Restaurant.

Fremantle Port Walks

Fremantle Ports has recently launched a series of one-hour Port Walks, available free to the public. Guests will be able to stroll around the historic Victoria Quay and listen as port experts provide guided commentary on different aspects of Fremantle Inner Harbour. Discover history, landside logistics, trade, port engineering, shipping and the environment. Selected dates are available to book, with tours operating until March 2021. The city of Fremantle is one world’s best preserved examples of a 19th century port streetscape.

WA’s first trails centre opens in Dwellingup

The town of Dwellingup in Perth’s Peel region is now home to WA’s first purpose-built trails centre, with the new Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre opening to the public in September 2020. Equipped with a bike wash area, hot showers and toilets, trails retail and equipment hire, it is a must-visit for those looking to experience the town’s range of mountain bike, walk, paddle, railway, four-wheel-drive and horse trails. The Dwellingup Adventure Trails project is set to deliver around 60-kilometres of dedicated single-track mountain bike trails in and around the town, connected by the realignment of the Munda Biddi Trail. As part of the project, a 35 kilometre network of new mountain bike trails officially opened in Lane Poole Reserve last month, with a pop-up trail centre - including a kiosk, bike and canoe hire - due to open soon.   

Mandurah Cruises Christmas Lights Tours

Experience the magic of Mandurah’s iconic Christmas lights display on-board a Mandurah Cruise. The Christmas Lights Cruise takes guests through Mandurah’s canals to see incredible displays of Christmas lights adorned on the luxury canal properties. Located a one-hour drive south of Perth, the 60-minute tour departs every night from December 1, 2020 to January 3, 2021.

True North cruising south this summer

Luxury small cruise company True North will head south this summer, and for the first time will offer cruises departing from Fremantle. The adventure yacht will head to Perth next month after an extended season in WA’s Kimberley region. Available to book now, True North will offer five, seven and eight night itineraries – the South West Escape, Rottnest Escape and New Year in the West - which will feature swimming with wild dolphins, parties on Perth’s Rottnest Island, beach adventures, gala luncheons at Margaret River’s Cape Lodge, a chance to catch a glimpse of the Bremer Canyon orcas, plus the ultimate New Year’s celebration.

GoGo Active’s new summer tours

GoGo Active Tours, which offer guided bike and kayaking tours around Perth, has released some new tours for the summer months. The Cliffs and Caves Kayak tour takes guests paddling along the riverbanks and cliff faces of East Fremantle and Bicton Bay, whilst discovering the areas Aboriginal and European history. Other fun tours for the warmer season include an evening city kayak tour, and a bike and brew tour visiting some of Perth’s microbreweries.

Live Ningaloo new eco adventure tour

Live Ningaloo, a specialist small tour company that offer in-water interactions with whale sharks and humpback whales at World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, has added a new tour product for the summer season. The Turtle Eco Adventure Tour is a half-day excursion to discover a variety of ocean life from the comfort of a vessel, before snorkelling over the wonders of Ningaloo Reef, in a sheltered lagoon. Tours are limited to a maximum of 10 guests, and are available throughout November and December 2020.

West Aussie Adventures new WA safari

West Aussie Adventures has recently launched WA’s first all-inclusive Fly-in Fly-out North West Big 5 Marine Eco Safari. This 11-day luxury small group tour takes guests to experience the best of WA’s Coral Coast and North West – with flights and private airline charters included. The itinerary features encounters with Monkey Mia’s friendly dolphins in Shark Bay, exploring the wonders of World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth, hiking through the stunning gorges and waterholes at Karijini National Park, and the ultimate glamping experience at Eco Beach Resort in Broome. The inaugural tour departs Perth on May 17, 2021, and is $7,999 per person, all-inclusive.

New Great Southern tour offerings

Great Southern Outback Tours and Accommodation - an eco-tourism business offering tours of WA’s Great Southern region - has recently launched a number of new tour products designed to encourage locals to ‘wander out yonder’ and experience the best of the region. The three-day Wheatbelt to Great Southern Wilderness Escape Tour departs from Perth and includes stops at Wave Rock, Katanning, Albany and Ravensthorpe. Guests will discover the PUBLIC Silo Art Trail in the towns of Newdegate, Pingrup, Ravensthorpe, Katanning and Albany; and have the opportunity to explore Fitzgerald River National Park and Albany's Historical Whaling Station and National Anzac Centre in Albany. The nine-day Southern Edge Wilderness Escape Tour departs from Albany to explore a variety of outback locations in the Ongerup and Ravensthorpe regions. Guests will experience local Aboriginal culture, visit the Fitzgerald River National Park, Stirling Range National Park (including Bluff Knoll), and sample wines in the Porongurup wine region. Regular departures are available throughout the year, and tag-along guests are welcome.

What’s new and trending in Western Australia 2020/2021

Australia’s largest State continues to welcome a mix of exciting new projects, products and experiences moving into the New Year. Click here for a comprehensive rundown of what’s new and what will be trending in Western Australia (WA) for the year ahead, related to the categories below.

• Perth hotel developments
• Celebrating Perth's culture and heritage
• New tours in Perth
• Perth's new food and drink offerings
• Outback adventures
• Bird's eye views
• Regional access and infrastructure
• South West boom
• Hiking and biking in WA
• Ecotourism
• Island hopping in WA
• Cultural awakening
• Luxe tourism escapes
• Aviation news