$50 million transformation for Pan Pacific Perth  

The first of the newly refurbished rooms at Pan Pacific Perth are now available to book.  The hotel is undergoing a $50 million transformation, elevating the Perth CBD hotel to a new standard of understated luxury when it’s completed in 2024. The extensive transformation includes the refurbishment of 392 guest rooms and suites, revitalisation of 96 Pacific Club rooms and suites, redesign of the impressive ballrooms and meeting rooms on the convention level, the entire lobby and porte cochère, and the exclusive Pacific Club lounge on level seven. Having commenced earlier this year it is scheduled to be completed by mid-late 2024, with the first of the newly refurbished rooms already available for booking.

Luxury Villas open in the Margaret River Region   

A luxurious adults-only retreat in the Margaret River Region will start welcoming guests next month. Edge Luxury Villas at Springwater Estate will offer four luxury villas all built over the property’s stunning lake, offering expansive and tranquil views from each of the villa’s private decks. All are equipped with self-sufficient kitchenettes, lounge area, king beds spacious bathrooms with freestanding stone baths, and luxury fittings. One of the villas is also fully accessible, providing a seamless experience for those with mobility considerations.   

Access upgrades to Karijini National Park  

Karijini National Park, one of WA’s most rugged and adventurous National Parks, will soon be more easily accessible thanks to a $16 million infrastructure boost. A new lookout is set to be built at Knox Gorge while 41 kilometres of road will be sealed to boost and improve access to and between Weano Gorge, Dales Gorge and the Karijini Eco Retreat accommodation. Famous for its ancient gorges, crystal-clear water holes and cascading waterfalls, Karijini National Park is a popular destination, with the infrastructure upgrades helping to improve access for all travelers. The road upgrades and new lookout will be completed in 2024, with the park staying open whilst the work takes place.  

APT leading sustainability in the Kimberley   

Luxury global tour operator APT has been recognised as Advanced Eco Certified for its Kimberley Wilderness Adventures, thanks to the superior commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. In addition, in three of APT’s Kimberley Wilderness Lodges have also achieved Advanced Eco Certification, and is now the only specialist luxury accommodation tour operator in the Kimberley to receive this recognition. Awarded by Ecotourism Australia, it assures travelers that the product is backed by a strong, well-managed commitment to sustainable practices, offering exceptional nature-based tourism experiences of the highest quality. 

Perth to welcome Australia’s first Hyde Hotel    

Perth will be home to the first Hyde Hotel in Australia, with Hyde Perth set to open in 2024. Located on Pier Street in Perth’s CBD, the former Seasons of Perth will be transformed, with Hyde bringing its signature festival feeling to Perth. Hyde Perth will offer 120 bohemian chic guest rooms, including 18 spacious suites, two dedicated meetings and event spaces, innovative dining concepts with a destination restaurant and bar, and a lively specialty café that opens onto an outdoor pool area surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping. The new hotel will draw inspiration from WA’s rich palette of colours, and the hotel’s dedicated entertainment spaces will come to life with a curated programme of music and live performances in keeping with Hyde’s festival vibe.  

Perth Zoo welcomes a new café precinct   

Perth Zoo has unveiled a new café precinct, playground and function centre, coinciding with its 125th birthday in October. Nestled in the middle of the zoo, the café precinct contains three outlets to suit all visitors, including dine-in and takeaway, as well as a coffee and wine bar. All three outlets are situated next to the new expansive playground, perfect for families. Visitors can enjoy a sit-down meal at Habitat, pick up grab-and-go food and drink items from Wagtails, or purchase barista-made coffee or an alcoholic beverage from Distill and Brew. The new functions and events centre, The Maali, is now taking bookings for events and corporate functions.  

Paspaley Pearl by PONANT cruising into the Kimberley    

French-flagged expedition cruise line PONANT and luxury pearling company Paspaley will debut a new boutique expedition motor yacht Paspaely Pearl by PONANT in the Kimberley in 2024. Set to commence its inaugural Kimberley season in June 2024, the 30-guest vessel will bring a new era of luxury explorations in the Kimberley. It will be the newest and only boutique expedition motor yacht in the Kimberley with private balconies, and with the highest level of environmental and technical systems, it will offer a new standard of excellence in the region. 

Explore WA in a 4WD Camper Vehicle

Hiring a 4WD camper vehicle to explore WA’s incredible coastlines and epic outback landscapes has now become easier thanks to the recent introduction of two new rental companies. 4xploring Rentals offer premium off-road rental vehicles with rooftop tents for hire, plus a six-person camper trailer. The vehicles boast industry-leading equipment and accessories, and there is also the option to book personalised packages with food and beverage preloaded into the vehicle. Pick-up is available in Perth, with drop-off locations in Exmouth, Broome, Kununurra and Darwin.

Adventure Rentals has recently increased its fleet and depot locations into WA, with depots now available in both Perth and Broome. Offering premium 4WD camper vehicles for hire, travelers can fly into Broome and explore the outback wonders of the Kimberley region, and tackle the rugged beauty of the Gibb River Road from Broome to Darwin, one of Australia’s most unique 4WD adventures. 

Turtle Nesting Season at Ningaloo   

From November to March each year, green, hawksbill and loggerhead mature female turtles make the long arduous journey up the beaches off the Ningaloo Coast - one of the world's major breeding areas for sea turtles - to lay their eggs. Visitors can take in the action of the journey on a guided Turtle Eco-Education tour with Jurabi Turtle Centre, or join Exmouth Adventure Co for a summer sunset turtle watching and stargazing tour in the Jurabi Coastal Park.   

Ancient giant wombat-like marsupial unearthed in WA     

A Western Australian Museum paleontology team has been recovering several rare and nearly complete Diprotodon skeletons at Cape Preston, located 100 kilometres south-west of Karratha in WA’s Pilbara region. Diprotodons are extinct marsupials, related to koalas and wombats. They are the largest marsupials that ever lived, reaching weights of 2,800kg. The fossil site is unique in that several individuals are located close to each other and, suggesting the site may have been on a major migration route. Once the fossils have been transported to Perth, the skeletons will form part of the WA Museum collection, and experts will work on the skeletons to build a greater understanding of Diprotodon biology and behaviour.   

Wonil Hotel opens its signature restaurant  

West Kitchen & Bar has officially opened at Wonil Hotel Perth, the first Handwritten Collection hotel to open in Australia. Offering a laid-back culinary experience whilst taking in the stunning views of Perth and the Swan River, the restaurant aims to celebrate the finest produce in WA by exclusively sourcing only West Australian produce and wines. The carefully-curated menu captures the abundance of fresh produce and flavours in WA, with dishes such as with Rottnest Harimasa (Kingfish) and Leeuwin Coast Akoya Oysters on the menu, as well as the diverse winemaking expertise in the State. Featuring an open-air terrace with sweeping views over the Swan, the venue also specialises in events, catering for both cocktail functions or long-table dinners.   

Dunn Bay Continental opens in Dunsborough  

A local continental grocer, wine store, café, deli and flower shop has opened its doors in the heart of Dunsborough, serving up gourmet produce from the Margaret River Region and beyond. Dunn Bay Continental is located within the new Southcamp precinct, which opened its doors earlier this year with village-style accommodation offering 18 cosy cabins and two comfy apartments, alongside a Brewhouse bar and kitchen. Hospitality legend Michael Forde is behind the operation, with iconic venues such as Mary Street Bakery and El Publico to his name, his latest venture aims to bring some of the best quality Australian and international products under one roof. Visitors can expect house-baked bread and pastries, sandwiches, free-range roast chicken, small-batch coffee, cheeses, cold-cut meats, salads and ready-made meals. Also in the same venue is a florist, plus a natural wine store with a loft bar is on the way.  

6HEAD steakhouse opens at Elizabeth Quay 

Perth’s sparkling Elizabeth Quay will welcome the opening of another venue on the waterfront this month, with 6HEAD Perth set to open its doors on November 24. This will be the second venue for the premium steakhouse, after opening in Sydney in 2019. The restaurant will serve up its signature sharing steaks, alongside a menu of quality seafood and elevated classic dishes, with indoor and outdoor dining plus private dining experiences. 

Betty’s Burgers by the Scarborough Beachfront

Betty’s Burgers has opened its doors on the iconic Scarborough Beachfront, located just a 20-minute drive from Perth city. Serving up its beloved burgers, fries and shakes, the new beachside venue is the ideal location for the popular burger shack. This the second WA outlet for Betty’s Burgers, which originally opened in Noosa in 2014 before spreading around Australia, with plans to open more across the city.  

Inara Dining in Busselton  

Busselton’s hospitality scene continues to boom, with the opening of Inara Dining last week adding to the mix. Located at the newly redeveloped Busselton Central Shopping Centre, the contemporary restaurant and bar specialises in Levantine cuisine and promises to take diners on a culinary adventure that celebrates the flavours and traditions of the Levant. The drinks menu showcases local wines from WA’s South West region, complemented with a selection of spirits and craft beers.  

Damaged Goods in the Swan Valley

WA’s oldest wine region has welcomed another microdistillery and tasting room. Located in the Swan Valley, Damaged Goods Distilling Co gets its name from its sustainable concept of using ‘waste’ and unwanted produce to distill liquor. The owners are a former waste-conscious chef and experienced bartender, on a mission to prove spirits made with ‘damaged’ ingredients can still be top quality, and are revolutionising the distilling industry with innovative techniques to create spirits from leftover pulps, peels and unwanted produce. Guests can discover how the zero waste spirits are produced in the distillery’s tasting room – made with recycled products – and sample the spirits on offer, including a citrus gin, smashed apple aperitivo and banana vodka.