Experience VERTIGO at Optus Stadium’s new rooftop attraction

Visitors to Perth’s Optus Stadium can now challenge themselves to an exhilarating new rooftop experience – VERTIGO.  In a first for Australian stadiums, the new experience allows fans to walk several metres beyond the edge of the stadium roof at a height of 42 metres. Harnessed from above and with no handrails, thrill seekers can peer face-first over the edge for an uninterrupted view of the field of play. The new VERTIGO experience joins the existing HALO rooftop tour, Behind the Scenes Optus Stadium Tour, Game Day rooftop experience and Aboriginal Cultural tours available through THE OZONE at Optus Stadium. The rooftop tours also include a new Western Viewing Deck experience, and with lift access, it allows people of all abilities to enjoy a unique view of Perth and the Swan River, and is the first fully accessible rooftop experience at an Australian stadium.

The Margret River region just got closer with new direct flights from Melbourne

Exploring one of WA’s most diverse destinations is now easier thanks to Jetstar’s new direct flights between Melbourne and the Margaret River region. Having taken off on April 6, 2022, Jetstar is now operating three direct services between Tullamarine Airport and the 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 – either for a short or long break. Visitors who book the new Melbourne to Busselton route from now until November 30, 2022 will also receive a South West Wanderer Pass – a $100 credit towards participating tours, experiences and attractions around the Margaret River and South West region. Margaret River is the only premium wine region in Australia where visitors can hop from award-winning wineries, breweries and restaurants, to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves. Flights to experience this ultimate culinary adventure are now on sale through jetstar.com.

Half price discounts for WA tours

WA visitors can experience some of the State’s incredible tourism offerings for less thanks to a new Half Off, Full Adventures discount. Interstate travellers can get 50 per cent off more than 300 different tours and attractions, including swimming with whale sharks in Ningaloo, Aboriginal cultural tours, camel rides on Broome's Cable Beach, kite surfing in Karratha, skydiving in Jurien Bay, boat cruises on Lake Argyle and winery tours in the Margaret River region. The discount is available to WA visitors until July 15, 2022, and is available by registering online through the WA Visitor Centre.

Kimberley cruising and waterfalls in 2022

Heavy rains in the other-worldly Kimberley region of WA over the last few months is good news for travellers planning a visit in 2022. It means that the region’s spectacular waterfalls are fully flowing, and the lush green landscapes strike an incredible contrast against the towering red rock formations. Now is the perfect time to start planning a Kimberley cruise adventure – with the season kicking off this month. Experience one of the world’s last true wilderness areas in absolute style, onboard smaller expedition vessels such as True North, Great Escape and Kimberley Quest, and larger boats from the likes of APT and Coral Expeditions – which meander through secluded gorges, and past towering red cliffs and pockets of rainforest, including getting up close to some of the region's epic waterfalls. True North recently captured this spectacular video on their first waterfalls adventure of the season.

Wallabies set to take on England in Perth Test Match

The England Rugby team will return to Perth for the first time in 12 years to take on the Australian Wallabies at Perth’s world-class Optus Stadium. Kicking off on Saturday, July 2, 2022 this will be the first test match of the three-game England tour, the first time England has played at Optus Stadium and only the second time they have played the Wallabies in Perth. In what is set to be a massive week for sporting fans at Optus Stadium, the Wallabies v England test match will occur only a week after the much-anticipated State of Origin clash between New South Wales and Queensland on Sunday, June 26. Tickets for this international rugby match will go on-sale on Thursday, April 28 at 12pm (WST).

Van Gogh Alive comes to Perth

One of the most visited multi-sensory experiences in the world is coming to Perth this autumn – from May 27 to July 3. Van Gogh Alive is an immersive, multi-sensory art experience that turns the life and works of the post-impressionist artist into a larger-than-life experience using large-scale projections, an ambient soundscape, dazzling lights and fragrance. The exhibition will take place at the Supreme Court Gardens in Perth’s CBD in a specially designed and constructed 25,000 square foot immersive gallery, which will display over 3,000 images beamed across walls, floors and ceilings. Tickets for this limited edition season are available to purchase now through the website.

Landmark new street mural at The Court Hotel

An incredible new street mural is brightening up the wall of Perth’s iconic all-inclusive venue - The Court Hotel. Located in the cultural hub of Northbridge, opposite the new WA Museum Boola Bardip, the colourful artwork represents the diversity of Perth’s LGBTQIA+ community. Created by world-renowned Fremantle-based artist Jackson Harvey, the thematic direction of the artwork was created after a series of workshops and consultations with the local LGBTQIA+ community. Colour features strongly in the design, as well as a two-storey sized unicorn, as the colours of each specific community flag are depicted in a stunning scene of flora and fauna. The mural design also aims to speak to the local history of the all-inclusive venue and the community, by incorporating the building’s existing Pride Flag into the mural.

The Beaufort opens in Mount Lawley

The Beaufort is a new multi-level, state-of-the-art hospitality venue that has opened its doors on the vibrant Beaufort Street strip in the city-fringing suburb of Mount Lawley. Taking over a former 1950s warehouse space, the $10 million venue is the second hospitality project from the award-winning team behind The Old Synagogue in Fremantle. Set over three levels, The Beaufort offers patrons multiple venues to explore. The ground floor features an outdoor beer and wine garden, which leads upstairs to the second level, the heart of the building and the main bar and dancefloor area which surrounds the central tiered jungle. Further upstairs is a large rooftop terrace space known as the Candy Bar, and hidden within the depths of the building is a concealed speakeasy called Cypher – which plays live music each night and has one of the largest spirit collections in Perth. The venue is also home to Lotus – a modern south-east Asian restaurant serving a unique sharing style menu, that is also set over three levels.

Perth’s first Hi-Fi Listening Bar opens in Northbridge

Perth has recently welcomed the opening of its first hi-fi record listening bar – Astral Weeks. Located down an alleyway in Northbridge’s Chinatown Precinct, the former herbalist’s shop has been transformed into a 60-seat vinyl-based listening bar. The hand-built Line Magnetic hi-fi system sits mounted behind the bar, with the venue’s interiors designed with to enhance the acoustics experience – with insulated ceilings, carpeted floors and acoustics panels on the walls. The drinks menu includes a selection of lo-fi wines, craft beers, spirits and sake served by bar tenders who are all either musicians or DJs, who have also curated the bar’s vast vinyl record collection.

Mandurah welcomes its first brewery and distillery

The coastal city of Mandurah, located just an hour south of Perth’s CBD, has recently welcomed the opening of its first microbrewery and distillery, with both venues taking advantage of the city’s idyllic waterside setting.

Boundary Island Brewery is located on the water’s edge at the Mandurah Quay Resort, and overlooks the stunning Peel Estuary and its namesake, Boundary Island. The craft beers are brewed onsite, with takeaways also available. The venue is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers a range of specialty pizzas prepared in a state-of-the-art pizza oven. Mandurah Cruises has also launched a new tour to connect their iconic dolphin experience straight to the brewery.

Little Stiller is located on the Mandurah Terrace, overlooking the Mandurah Estuary, and produces four specially crafted gins and two vodkas, distilled onsite using locally sourced botanicals. The boutique venue offers a Little Stiller tasting plate experience, as well as a range of classic cocktails with a fun twist. A selection of bao buns are on the menu for those feeling hungry, as well as sharing style offerings.

Margaret River’s original cellar door reopens with exclusive new wine experience

Gralyn Estate in the renowned Margaret River region has recently reopened its original underground cellar door to offer a new intimate and premium wine tasting experience. Gralyn Estate was the first winery in the region to open a cellar door in 1978, and the original cellar door had been closed to the public for many years since a new modern cellar door was built upstairs. Wine lovers now have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and be treated to the rare opportunity to taste museum wines dating back to 1980 in a small group setting. During the 90-minute experience guests will taste a selection of cornerstone varietals, namely chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, or premium fortified wines, including the Artizan Rare Muscat which was just recently received the prestigious accolade of ‘Wine of the Year’ at the 2022 London Wine Competition. The tasting’s hero wine will then be sealed and recorked for guests to take home.

Beerfarm brews up its next special edition native series

Beerfarm brewery, located in the Margaret River region, has released a special edition Native Series of brews, a Quandong and Samphire Gose. The Beerfarm brewers worked alongside Fervor, a regional pop-up dining experience that sources local produce presented in unique locations, and Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) to source the ingredients for the eighth edition of the Native Series. BAC is a small community in WA’s Great Southern region located on Goreng Country. The country that surrounds Badgebup is plentiful with Quandong trees and fresh Samphire from the saline wetlands which were used to produce the special edition sour brew. Native Series #8 Quandong & Samphire Gose is available to purchase from the brewery, as well as select bottle shops.

Corvo opens in Claremont

Taking over the former Billie H in the Claremont Quarter precinct, Corvo is a European-inspired bar and kitchen. The owner and sommelier has spent time with Marco Pierre White, and the chef has spent time in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe. The space is designed for wining and dining, with a seasonal European style menu featuring fine local produce, and a wine list of almost 300 selections, as well as cocktails, beers and bar snacks.

Subiaco welcomes a hot new venue

A popular venue in Perth’s city-fringing suburb of Subiaco has recently reopened with a new bar and restaurant offering. Dilly Dally has undergone a major refurbishment, with Bar Loiter opening at the back of the venue. The new Italian-inspired bar and restaurant offers seated dining, a long wine table, plus an alfresco space – which was created by removing parts of the roof during the renovation. Bar Loiter offers a menu of house-made Italian share plates, alongside a drinks selection of cocktails, wine and craft beer on tap.

Earn your Vino in WA’s wine regions

Earn Your Vino is a new all-inclusive and immersive wine tour experience designed to allow guests the opportunity to follow the seasonal winemaking calendar of WA’s wine regions. These high-end, small-group luxury experiences provide exclusive behind the scenes access to winemakers and producers, as wells as accommodation and experiences, and are privately catered by one of the region’s most awarded chefs. Earn Your Vino has announced a series of bespoke all-inclusive multi-night itinerary packages for 2022. In May, Stir n’ Swirl: an end of vintage celebration in Margaret River will encourage guests to explore the famed region through coastal hikes, seaside wine tastings and a cheesemaking masterclass. In July, guests can venture to Pemberton in the Southern Forests region for truffle hunting, hiking through the Karri forests and conversations with winemakers as part of the week-long Beneath the Surface - Truffles, pinot n’ produce: Pemberton’s earthly delights. Experiences are also being planned for September and October, with further details to be announced.

WA wins big at national tourism awards

A number of WA’s top tourism businesses have received national recognition, with WA taking home 12 medals – including three gold – across 25 categories at the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. The three major winners were whale shark swim tour operator Live Ningaloo for Ecotourism, the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison for Cultural Tourism, and Tree Chalets in Busselton for Self Contained Accommodation. Tree Chalets is a relatively new eco-friendly accommodation offering in WA’s South West, with two beautifully appointed luxury chalets nestled in a forest setting.

The WA awards winners in the 25 categories at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards were:

Gold

• Live Ningaloo - Ecotourism
• Fremantle Prison - Cultural Tourism
• Tree Chalets - Self Contained Accommodation

Silver

• WAITOC Postcards from our Backyard - Tourism Marketing and Campaigns
• The Hike Collective - Tour and Transport Operators
• CinefestOz - Festivals and Events
• Pullman Bunker Bay Resort - 5 Star Accommodation

Bronze

• Go Cultural - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism
• Skydive Geronimo Rottnest - Adventure Tourism
• Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park - Caravan and Holiday Parks
• Two Feet and a Heartbeat - Excellence in Food Tourism
• Surfpoint Resort - 3-3.5 Star Accommodation

New Mungada Ridge National Park in Mid-West

A new 1,000-hectare national park has been declared at Mungada Ridge in the Mid-West region of WA’s Golden Outback. Located 200 kilometres south-east of Geraldton, Mungada Ridge – which is located on Yamatji Country – is home to banded iron formations (BIF) that contain some of the oldest rock formations in the world. The national park status will help protect its ancient landscape, rare plant and animal life and threatened species, as well as the BIF ranges, which are of significant biodiversity value due to its unique geology, soils and relative isolation. The Mungada Ridge National Park will be jointly vested with the Bundi Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation (BYAC) and the Conservation and Parks Commission, who will work collaboratively with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on future management.

Corsaire unveils stunning new helicopter artworks

Perth-based aviation company Corsaire Aviation – who offer scenic flights, tours and packages across WA – has released a stunning new upgrade to its fleet of helicopters. Partnering with local Kimberley artist and Bunuba/Gija woman Taminga Connell, three of the helicopters now display traditional art created by Taminga. The art tells a unifying story of The Journey, which “represents the journey taken for many people of differing back grounds, races and cultures coming together and the steps it takes to reach the ultimate goal of unity and harmony.” The spectacular artworks can be seen on display across WA skies, including aboard Great Escape for the Kimberley expedition cruising season, and helps to encourage locals and visitors to learn about the traditional owners of this land.

Navigate safely with Smartreka maps in WA’s National Parks

WA’s national parks offer some of the most diverse and dramatic natural landscapes on Earth, home to tall timber forests, pristine beaches, spectacular waterfalls, ancient landscapes and an astounding biodiversity of plants and animals. Thanks to the release of Smartreka maps – delivered by WA Parks Foundation in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and BHP - visitors can now navigate WA’s most popular parks more easily. The maps use built-in GPS capabilities on smartphones or tablets to plot real-time, and if downloaded while network access is available, the maps can be used without a network connection and without roaming charges. Smartreka maps are available for Fitzgerald River, Stirling Range, Cape le Grande, Francois Peron, Cape Range, Karijini, Kalbarri, Purnululu, Millstream Cichester and Walyunga national parks. Maps for Leeuwin-Naturaliste, Yanchep, Walpole-Nornalup and D’Entrecasteaux national parks will be launched later this year.

Go West Tours now touring Karijini

Explore the ancient wonders of Karijini National Park in WA’s Pilbara region with Go West Tours. A family owned and managed company that has been operating in the Pilbara for 31 years, Go West Tours has recently acquired Lestok Tours, expanding its offering to include full and half day tours of Karijini National Park. Departing from either Tom Price or Karijini Eco Retreat, these established tours – which will now benefit from upgraded vehicles - take guests through the park’s ancient gorges, crystal clear rock pools and swimming holes, cascading waterfalls and tropical fern environments – with each location offering easy walking tracks or viewing platform access. Go West Tours also offer Iron Ore Mine Tours in the Pilbara, as well as airport transfers and charters.