What's to come in 2020

Australia’s largest State will welcome a mix of exciting new projects, products and experiences in 2020. 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.

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 2020 for the annual 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 16, alongside former Noiseworks and INXS lead singer Jon Stevens. Award winning duo Busby Marou will also take to the stage, alongside up-and-coming Indigenous singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the 10 day festival – taking place from May 17 to 26 – will take over Kununurra and surrounds with a wide variety of unique experiences, including Comedy in the Park hosted by Harley Breen, Aboriginal culture and dance, food events, wellness sessions, the popular local talent quest Muster Idol, a country rodeo, and fireworks. There will also be a special event to commemorate the anniversary celebrations, and a new Ord Valley Muster Closing Night Party on May 24. The popular event coincides with the launch of direct flights between Melbourne and Kununurra operated by Alliance Airlines and bookable through Virgin Australia, which start on May 15, 2020. Tickets to all the Muster events are now on sale.

Perth’s historic Royal Hotel now open

Built in 1882, The Royal Hotel reopened its doors on November 16 following a major renovation driven by the man behind The Standard in Northbridge, John Parker. The original heart and soul of Perth, the iconic corner pub – located on Wellington and William Streets, opposite Yagan Square – is set to become a great Australian pub once again. Featuring a corner saloon on the street level, two bars, a private dining room, karaoke room, event/function space, and wraparound verandah overlooking Yagan Square on the first level, the hotel’s history and charm has been retained where possible, with its floor to ceiling beams, wooden floorboards and arched windows. Local craft beers are complemented by a selection of old-school brews including Swan Draught – a nod to a time when the building was owned by the iconic Swan Brewery. The menu is pub food reimagined, led by head chef Chase Weber from The Standard and sous chef Shane Middleton, formerly of Santini Bar & Grill at QT Perth.

Novotel Perth Murray St set to open

Accor and Fragrance Group Limited will open the brand new 431 room Novotel Perth Murray St this month, the largest Accor hotel in Perth. Scheduled for a soft opening on December 19, the hotel is ideally located right in the heart of the Perth CBD. It will feature a spectacular 12th floor fitness and spa facility, including a pool, steam room, day spa and sauna; four bars and restaurants; four meeting rooms and a conference room for up to 120 people; and spacious modern rooms.

FRINGE WORLD Festival program release

Tickets for all 700 FRINGE WORLD Festival shows are now on sale, with events being held at almost 150 venues in Perth. There are loads of new shows added to the line-up, including the international music sensation The Choir of Man and award-winning arthouse circus Casting Off. Returning favourites include Fuego Carnal, WA homegrown heroes YUCK Circus, while the chilling hit SÉANCE returns, with another new experience, FLIGHT. The 2020 festival will also feature a new FRINGE WORLD Hub, Girls School. Located in the historic 1930s Old Perth Girls School Building, the new hub will offer a big program of shows, outdoor food vendors and a secret bar. The annual festival is the third largest Fringe festival in the world, and will run over four weeks from January 18 to February 17, 2020.

Emergence Creative Festival line-up announced

Early bird tickets are now on sale for the 2020 Emergence Creative Festival, held in the Margaret River region from March 25 to 27. The festival attracts professionals and emerging creatives from the disciplines of music, film, photography, advertising, gaming, digital and visual arts to WA’s scenic South West for three days of keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, incredible pop-ups and satellite events. The first round of speakers has been announced, and includes an exciting line-up of local and international creative professionals, such as Briony Benjamin and Clare Gerber from The Social Parade, Dave Bowman from Google Zoo, Claire Davidson from Facebook Creative Shop, and Guy Munro from Australia’s first voice experience agency VERSA. The early bird offer ends December 13, and tickets can be purchased via the website.

Perth’s outdoor cinemas

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 roof top experience at the Rooftop Movies in Northbridge, pack a picnic for an evening on the grass at the Moonlight Cinema in Kings Park, Lotterywest Films at University of Western Australia's Somerville Auditorium, or choose from various locations at the outdoor Telethon Community Cinemas.

Taste Great Southern release chef line-up

Winner of the inaugural MasterChef Australia series, Julie Goodwin, will headline Taste Great Southern 2020, taking place from March 26 to April 5. 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. Julie Goodwin will appear at the Women of the Region dinner in Albany, the Denmark Night Markets, Shop Local/Eat Local Albany Farmers Market, and Lunch by the Lake at the Lake House Denmark. Derek Lau will be the celebrity presenter at the Albany Wine and Food Festival on April 4, which will include a new contemporary music festival on April 5, Southern Sets. Tickets to the events are now on sale.

Fremantle heritage site transforms into The Old Synagogue

Located at the southern entrance to Fremantle’s iconic Cappuccino Strip, and next door to the Fremantle Markets, The Old Synagogue has been transformed into a world-class dining, bar and entertainment precinct. Home to four individual venues, it features multi-storey modern Asian restaurant, Tonic & Ginger; Mr Chapple’s, a scenic rooftop bar focusing on WA craft beer; a basement cocktail bar L’Chaim; and The Arbor, a multi-level beer and wine garden with an alfresco and rooftop deck. Paying homage to its history as a Jewish house of worship, the 117 year old heritage building was the first synagogue built in WA.

Perth's new sips and bites

Rokeby Road in the inner-city suburb of Subiaco has welcomed Dilly Dally, a neighbourhood restaurant offering accessible Italian food. Seating up to 200 patrons on the ground level, the menu features pizza, flatbreads and small plates, alongside a strong wine-list with organic and lo-fi wines, and has been established by Patrick Ryan and Jeremy Prus, part of the team behind Perth city’s Lalla Rookh.

Dumbo Gelato - a fun, Australian-style Gelateria - has recently opened at Perth’s Scarborough Beach. Made with organic milk from Margaret River Dairy, the gelato features classic Australian flavours such as cheese and vegemite, milo milkshake and lamington. Sorbets and vegan options are also available.

The Iinner-city hub of Mount Lawley will welcome the opening of The Deli on Clifton & Central this month. Owners Tim and Veronique Willing have revamped the site’s original deli with a French aesthetic, whilst retaining its Australiana exterior. Coffee will be made with the in-house blend, with a rotating selection by Australian and international coffee roasters. The menu will feature granola, house-baked croissants, cakes and sourdough bread, with future plans to extend to an evening service with a Paris-inspired wine bar.

The Victoria Park Hotel, located on the doorstep of Perth's CBD in nearby Victoria Park, has been recently refurbished and now features a fresh, bright and open style, blending modern and heritage architecture. Head chef Andra Nunes has drawn on his Brazilian roots to create a menu centred on grazing, grilling and cuisine infusions, and a new cocktail menu features classics and concoctions using the signature botanical gin The Vic.

Dune Distilling Co. launches with two WA inspired gins

Dune Distilling Co., located at Caves Road Collective in the Margaret River region, has officially launched with two distinctive gin releases – a Signature Gin, and a limited release Volume: Yallingup pink gin with a uniquely Australian flavour. The Signature Gin features local navel oranges and zesty lemon rind, paired with coriander seeds and juniper. Davidson plums give the limited-edition Volume: Yallingup gin its distinctive pink hue, paired with local native ingredients salt bush and lemon myrtle. The gin’s labels feature the works of up-and-coming WA artists Sara Winfield and Sally Foord.

Accolades for Swan Valley’s RiverBank Estate

Family owned and operated RiverBank Estate Winery recently took home three trophies at the 2019 Singapore Airlines Swan Valley Wine Show awards. Located in the Swan Valley, just a 25 minute drive from Perth CBD, the awards included the Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine for the Eric Anthony Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2017, Trophy for Best Non-Greater Perth Zone Wine for the Eric Anthony Chardonnay 2018, the Media Award Trophy for Most Successful Producer, and the Award for Best Rose of Show for the Rebellious Rose 2019. The venue was also recently named Small Producer of the Year by leading wine writer Ray Jordan in The West Australian’s 2019 Wine Guide, and Best Small Cellar Door in the Swan Valley 2019 by Peter Forrestal in Gourmet Traveller.

New summer experiences for Rottnest Island visitors

Located a 30-minute ferry ride off Perth’s coastline, Perth’s own island playground Rottnest welcomes a range of new activities and tours for the 2019/2020 summer season, including:

• A daily seaplane commute to the island with Swan River Seaplanes
• A new skydive and transfer package with Skydive Geronimo
• Two new sunset cruises, including one on a 12.5m catamaran, with Charter 1
• A 'Hooked on Rotto' fishing cruise with Rottnest Cruises
• A new refreshments caravan at the West End – Lexi’s on Rotto
• A new one-stop shop and concierge service at the Salt Store
• An aquatic playground at North Thompson's - Aquaplay

For further details on Rottnest Island’s latest tourism updates, please see the feature story below.

Tjukurba Art Gallery in Wiluna

The Golden Outback town of Wiluna, which is the start of the Canning Stock Route and gateway to epic outback adventures such as the Gunbarrel Highway – has recently welcomed the opening of Tjukurba Art Gallery. Translated to mean ‘dreaming’ in the local Martu language, the Aboriginal art gallery provides artists with a space to embrace creativity. Co-located with the Canning-Gunbarrel Discovery Centre, it offers a rich authentic experience where visitors have the opportunity to meet and chat with the Martu artists, who paint on location in the gallery, and still live a semi-traditional lifestyle. All works displayed are for sale, and each painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Raddison Red to make its Australia debut in Perth

Raddison Red hotels is set to make its Australian debut in Perth. Opening in 2022, the hotel will offer 129 rooms, a restaurant, function rooms, swimming pool and rooftop bar. With a focus on local art and culture, the hotel will also provide opportunities for guests to interact with their fellow travellers, with inspiring hangouts and communal work spaces. Located in West Perth, opposite the Harold Boas Gardens, the hotel will be in close vicinity to sport and entertainment venue RAC Arena and one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

Rock lobster tours off Perth’s coastline

Blue Juice Charters has launched Rock Lobster Catch and Dine Tours in Perth. Departing from Hillarys Boat Harbour, guests can catch and cook their own WA rock lobster, and experience pulling in cray pots on a commercial fishing charter. They can also choose to take home their catch to enjoy, or have it cooked straight from the ocean with a Seafood & Champagne BBQ at Hillarys Marina. There is also the option to charter a private boat to Rottnest Island to dine on freshly caught rock lobster, topped off with premium WA beer, wine and sparkling. Rock Lobster Tours start from $190 per person, and are available now until the end of February.

Orca expeditions to commence in early 2020

The small coastal town of Bremer Bay in WA’s South West is home to one of the largest known congregations of orcas in the Southern Hemisphere. Every summer more than 150 orcas and other marine predators such as sperm whales, pilot whales and sunfish visit the Bremer Canyon to feed on an abundance of prey. Visitors can witness first-hand the excitement of spotting these incredible creatures in the wild on a whale watching tour with Naturaliste Charters – which run from January to April, and Whale Watch Western Australia – which run from January to March. The all-day expeditions depart daily, and include meals, beverages, and on-board commentary by a Marine Biologist.

What's new and trending in Western Australia 2020?

Western Australia will welcome a mix of exciting new projects, products and experiences in 2020. Below is a rundown of what’s new and what will be trending in WA for the year ahead.

New airline routes

Exploring the wonders of Western Australia has never been easier, following the addition of new interstate and international flight routes 

• Melbourne to Margaret River - from March 25, 2020 Jetstar will operate three direct services a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, between Melbourne and Busselton-Margaret River Airport, making it possible for visitors from Australia’s east coast to travel non-stop to one of Australia’s premium wine regions.
• Melbourne to Kununurra - flights will run three days a week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - between May and August 2020, with tickets now on sale through Virgin Australia.
• Shanghai to Perth - a trial of direct flights between Shanghai and Perth will commence in 2020. China Eastern Airlines’ non-stop service will operate three flights per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from January 15 until February 17 – during peak Chinese New Year festivities.
• Toyko to Perth - the inaugural All Nippon Airways (ANA) daily direct flight between Tokyo and Perth commenced in September 2019.

Perth’s continuing hotel boom

Perth now offers some of the best hotel and short-stay accommodation in Australia following a significant number of new and refurbished properties that have opened in the CBD and surrounding urban and coastal areas.

Since 2012, 42 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in and around Perth, adding 4,627 new rooms to the local market. The newly opened Ritz Carlton draws on the richness, beauty and culture of Western Australia in its design and cuisine and joins a series of high end properties, such as The Westin, COMO The Treasury, Crown Towers, QT, and the Adnate Art Series Hotel, that are reinvigorating the city's accommodation experience. By 2022, it is expected that a further seven new hotels will come online, adding 1,683 new rooms. Among the names to come are DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront and Dorsett Hotel – both due to open in 2020.

The new Western Australian Museum

The redevelopment of Perth’s Western Australian Museum - located in the heart of Perth’s cultural centre - is due for completion in 2020. The $400 million landmark building will showcase this State’s extraordinary people, places, culture and stories in one world-class facility. The Museum will include 6,000 square metres of new gallery spaces, including a 1,000 square metre space to stage largescale, special exhibitions. Visitors will also experience learning studios to engage in the behind-the-scenes work of the Museum, programs, activities and events for people of all ages and a range of food, beverage and retail spaces for all tastes.

Fremantle’s transformation

The redevelopment of Fremantle’s Kings Square will see the civic heart of Perth’s port city transformed into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. Complementing Fremantle's eclectic small bar and dining scene, this latest project comprises FOMO - a unique meld of art, architecture, culture, retail and dining experiences, five-star green star commercial spaces, and a revamped city square with a range of public facilities. The buildings and public spaces are intended to fit the unique character and history of Kings Square, enhancing the heritage values of the nearby Fremantle Town Hall and church. It’s due for completion in 2020.

Rottnest Island revamped

With its 63 secluded white sandy beaches and 20 bays, it’s easy to see why the people of Perth proudly declare Rottnest Island their very own island paradise – what’s more, it’s located an easy 30-minute ferry ride or short chopper or seaplane flight from Perth’s coastline.

A redevelopment of Hotel Rottnest, which overlooks Thomson Bay, will see it double in size to 17,800 square metres, adding 80 rooms to its current offering of 18. The hotel will be re-branded as Hotel Rottnest Resort and will include four pools – two main pools and two plunge pools for executive penthouse suites – a restaurant, large function space, and beach club; with stage two of the development to include a day spa, yoga studio and rooftop bar. Completion of the major refurbishment is expected in 2021.

This will be a welcome addition to the island, which saw the opening of Discovery Rottnest Island in 2019 – a contemporary and environmentally-conscious accommodation comprising 83 low impact tents, nestled a few steps away from one of the island’s popular swimming spots, Pinky Beach.

Sports tourism

Perth is fast becoming a sport-lover’s dream destination, which largely follows from the 2018 opening of the 60,000 seat Optus Stadium. Next year, the state-of-the-art stadium will host the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup, with the men’s matches held between October 24 to 30, and will again be the home of AFL in Perth. The women’s T20 World Cup matches will be held at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground for a weekend festival of cricket from February 22 to 24. 

Tennis greats, Rafael Nadal (Spain), Kei Nishikori (Japan) and John Isner (USA), will descend on Perth from January 3 to 8, 2020 for the ATP Cup – one of the largest men’s tennis events in the world. Hosted in Perth city at RAC Arena, the event will see teams from Spain, Japan, USA, Georgia, Russia, Italy, Uruguay and Norway battle it out on court. The exciting new format will see Perth’s RAC Arena host eight countries over 12 day and night sessions from January 3 to 8, 2020, with tickets now on sale.

An exciting festival-style tournament of rugby league has been secured for Perth in February 2020. The two-day National Rugby League (NRL) Nines (‘the Nines’) tournament will be held at HBF Park on Friday February 14 and Saturday February 15, 2020. It will be the first time the Nines will be played in Australia, with all 16 of the men's and four of the women's NRL clubs coming to Perth for the tournament, the clubs will have their top stars on show.

Regional tourism updates

• Farmer’s Home Hotel - located in the heart of the picturesque Avon Valley region, Northam is a tranquil town located a 1.5 hour drive north east of Perth. In 2020, the region will welcome the Farmer’s Home Hotel – a boutique property heralded by Nigel Oakley, who developed the impressive Premier Mill hotel in Katanning. Similarly to the Premier Mill philosophy, Farmer’s Home Hotel will be based on story-telling and will bring back some of Northam’s original excitement and character to the community.
• Sealing Cape Leveque Road - access to the Cape Leveque coastline in WA’s Kimberley region will be made easier, thanks to the sealing of Cape Leveque Road between Broome Highway and Beagle Bay. Due for completion in 2021, the sealed road will provide all weather access to the Dampier Peninsula and surrounding communities, improving safety and reducing commercial transport costs. The peninsula has one of the highest concentrations of Aboriginal-owned tourism businesses in Australia, including the award-winning wilderness property, Kooljaman at Cape Leveque.
• Houtman Abrolhos National Park - received a major funding boost since being established as a national park in July 2019. A budget of $10 million has been granted to the marine wonderland over two years (2019 to 2021) to support sustainable tourism development, including significant infrastructure improvements. The pristine coral haven is located 60 kilometres west of Geraldton, and easily accessible by boat and plane.
• Kalbarri Skywalk - the much anticipated $24 million Kalbarri Skywalk project is expected to be completed in 2020. Located at the Inyaka Wookai Watju site (the West Loop) in Kalbarri National Park, the two 100 metre-high skywalks will offer stunning vistas over the Murchison River Gorge. The development will also include interpretive signage, toilets, shade shelter and a kiosk. 
• Hilton Garden Inn Albany - the Great Southern city of Albany in WA’s South West will welcome a new build hotel, due to open to the public by October 2020. The five-star Hilton Garden Inn Albany is the first Hilton Garden Inn signing in Australia. The 108-room hotel will be an affordable and comfortable accommodation option, with the option of eight superior rooms and four corner suites, a restaurant, bar, fitness centre and three meeting rooms.
• Broome’s revitalisation - the $14.9 million first stage of upgrades to Broome’s town’s heritage, retail and dining precinct, known as Chinatown, is complete. The upgrade includes new seating, vibrant and cooling landscaping, broadened walkways and public art reflecting and celebrating Broome’s Aboriginal, Asian and pearling heritage. Visitors can discover the heritage of this area by following a walking trail through Chinatown, incorporating historic buildings and the world’s oldest operating picture gardens at Sun Pictures. The $15.5 million second stage of the Chinatown Revitalisation Project is due to start construction in late 2020. Nearby, Town Beach has received $11.3 million in upgrades, including new terraces to view the Staircase to the Moon natural phenomenon; new playgrounds; a purpose-built markets space; and new bathroom facilities. Stage two of the Town Beach Project will commence in 2020.

Sustainable tourism  

• Lo-Fi wine movement – WA's wine regions are producing a growing number of naturally produced, minimal intervention or organic varieties. While the natural wine revolution has been underway in WA for some time, there is an increasing number of producers heralding the ‘natural production’ ethos, including (but not limited to) Cullen Wines, Sam Viniciullo, L.A.S. Vino, Si Vintners and Dormilona in the Margaret River region; Express Wine Makers, La Violetta and Brave New Wine in the Great Southern; and Swan Valley Wines and Old Mate Wine in the Swan Valley. There is also an increasing selection of new venues offering Lo-Fi varieties, including Wines of While in Highgate, King Somm in Bayswater and Madalena’s in Fremantle
• Eco-friendly tourism - wake up and fall asleep to the sights and sounds of the Indian Ocean at glamping properties Sal Salis at Ningaloo Reef and Discovery Rottnest Island. The sites’ eco tents are made using sustainable material and designed to respect the surrounding pristine landscapes. There are a number of minimal impact glamping sites located across WA’s regions, including Boogaloo Surf and Yoga Campsite and Olio Bello in Margaret River, Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, El Questro’s Emma Gorge Resort and Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge in Purnululu National Park. Another low-impact option is Red Bluff at Quobba Station in the State’s mid-north coast, where two of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors, Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon, enjoyed a family holiday in March 2019, with Hemsworth hailing the trip one of his ‘best ever’.
• Take in the serenity – WA is home to some of the world’s most scenic walk and bike trails. Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth's CBD - one of the world’s largest inner city parks - offers plenty of space to refresh amongst more than 3,000 species of WA flora. Further south is the popular Cape to Cape Track, which runs for 135 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin in the Margaret River region. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walking trails, stretching from the Perth Hills to the historic town of Albany, taking in towering forests, mist-shrouded valleys and coastal heath lands.
• Nature’s calendar – at World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef in the State’s mid-north west, you can swim with the world’s largest fish, the gentle whale shark from March to July, as well as humpback whales during their annual migration between August and October. WA is home to one of the world’s biggest wildflower collections which blooms for six months. The season begins in June in the north, then sweeps down the State, finishing on the south coast in November. WA also has one of the longest whale-watching seasons in the world, with tours operating from May to December, from the Kimberley in the north to Esperance in the south. Humpback, southern right and the rare blue whales can be seen, as well as the southern hemisphere’s largest pod of orcas (killer whales) off Bremer Bay. WA boasts the largest population of humpback whales in the world – an estimated 30,000.