WHAT'S HOT 

WA wildflowers ready to bloom

WA will soon be awash with colour, when more than 12,000 species of wildflowers start to bloom across the State. The six-month flowering season has begun in the Pilbara in WA's North West where Sturt Desert Peas and Mulla Mulla have been spotted. The season is set to continue into the Goldfields, Wheatbelt and along the Coral Coast, where vibrant blooms contrast with pindan earth, rugged canyons and turquoise sea. By September, it will move south and reach Perth's botanical gardens, nature reserves and national parks, finishing with a flurry in October and November throughout the forests and coastal heaths of the South West. With more than 60 percent of the State's wildflower species found nowhere else on Earth, WA's wildflower season colours the landscapes from coast to forest and city to outback. Visitors can take in the spectacles of each region and season on the many wildflower scenic drives and walking trails located throughout the State. The WA Wildflower Guide contains information on where to see the best wildflowers on offer, and includes 11 self-drive trails to help visitors plan their trip. The WA Visitor Centre also offers an online Wildflower Tracker, providing travellers with one easy-to-use wildflower information and sightings reference. Updated daily, the interactive map shows exactly where the wildflowers are blooming around the State.

Samphire Rottnest opening in October

Perth's island playground Rottnest will soon welcome its latest luxury accommodation offering – with Samphire Rottnest due to open in October 2020. Named after the native samphire plants found on the island, and set within the natural habitat of the A Class Reserve – the hotel embraces the essence of Rottnest, and encourages guests to immerse themselves in the natural elements and feel the sand beyond their toes. Ideally situated on Thomson Bay – next door to the iconic Hotel Rottnest - the 80 room architecturally designed accommodation offers 64 generous (30m²) guest rooms and 16 spacious (45-57m²) rooms positioned at the front-row, all with private balconies and views over vantage points around the property, and over Thomson Bay. The development also includes lagoon-like pools – catering to adults and children – with day beds and umbrellas. Additional dining options include a separate indoor/outdoor dining hub and beach club.  Hotel Rottnest will also receive a refresh to allow it to morph seamlessly with the new development. Bookings for Samphire Rottnest can be made from July 28 for October 2020 onwards, or head to samphirerottnest.com.au and sign up to the database before Tuesday July 21 to access the exclusive pre-sale offer.

CinefestOZ to return in 2020

Set against the stunning backdrop of WA's South West region, the CinefestOZ Film Festival is set to return in 2020 - from August 25 to 30. Though the festival will look and feel a little different this year, it will continue to champion West Australian and Australian stories and film through an original program of almost 40 live events and screenings including feature films, short film curations, Cinesnaps school program activations and community screenings. This year the festival has also welcomed WA-born, AACTA award-winning actress Emma Booth as an official Patron of the festival. For the first time in its 13-year history, CinefestOZ will include a Short Film Competition with four cash prizes on offer for Best Short Film, Best Indigenous Short Film, Best WA Short Film and Best WA Female Short Filmakers. The full festival program will be announced on July 31, with early bird tickets on sale July 17.

Swim with ocean giants at Ningaloo Reef

Swimming with humpback whales in the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park on WA's Coral Coast has returned for 2020, with tours underway in Coral Bay and set to run in Exmouth from August to October 30. Visitors to the region can not only experience the magic of swimming with one of the world's biggest mammals, but may also have a face to fin encounter with the world's biggest fish, with whale shark swim tours finishing in August. The humpback whale swim season coincides with the release of a management program for humpback whale interactions along the Ningaloo Coast 2020 – making WA's Ningaloo Reef one of the premier destinations in the world for swimming with these gentle giants; along with whale sharks and manta rays (with tours operating year round).

Shinju Matsuri celebrates 50 years

Shinju Matsuri (festival of the pearl) is set to return in 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the annual event. Masterchef Australia favourites Derek Lau and Brendan Pang, along with Anna Gare, will headline this year's festival, to be held from August 29 to September 6 in Broome – the pearling capital of Australia in WA's Kimberley region. The event is a celebration of the four diverse cultures that have come together in Broome over the past century for pearls; Japanese, Malaysian, Chinese and Aboriginal. Full programming details and tickets for the event are on sale now.

Get 'Quokka Happy' at Rottnest Island this winter

Visitors to Perth's island playground are encouraged to 'Get Quokka Happy,' with a range of activities and incentives designed to increase visitation to 'Rotto' over the cooler months. Enjoy a winter stay on the island, with offers of up to 40 percent off accommodation. Two-bedroom self-contained units now start at $149 per night, and three-bedroom units from $199. A new pop-up beach bar, located outside Hotel Rottnest, offers visitors the chance to enjoy a drink and a meal around a fire on the beach. Adult visitors to the island will also receive a $20 'Rotto Dollars' voucher to spend on activities, tours, and food and beverage on the island – with 6,000 vouchers available until the end of winter. Admission fees for overnight visitors to the island will also be waived from July 20 to end of August – a saving of $25 per adult. This year's Quokka Birthday celebration will be extended to a month-long celebration throughout September, with further details to be announced soon.

It's time for Cabin Fever

A celebration of the cosy winter months in WA's Margaret River region, Cabin Fever festival is set to return this July with a weekend of enticing events. Between July 24 and 26, guests will enjoy all the winter warmers that the event is known for, including cheese toasties, fireside wines, hearty comfort food and more. Tickets to signature events are now on sale, including The Cheese Toastie Battle at The Common, Fondue by the Fire at Howard Park, Heart and Soul dinner at Vasse Felix, Many Lands – A World Feast at Voyager Estate and a Mulled Wine and Spice Masterclass with the Spice Mistress.

COMO The Treasury named world's best hotel

Travel + Leisure has named Perth's COMO The Treasury as the number one Best City Hotel in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific at the World's Best Awards. The awards are compiled of surveys where readers are invited to participate in ranking their favourite hotels, along with other travel destinations and products. COMO The Treasury is located in the heart of Perth, within the historic 19th century State Buildings, and comprises 48 elegant and contemporary rooms and suites, and award-winning dining experiences including Post, rooftop restaurant Wildflower, and the newly relaunched Wine Merchant.

FOOD AND WINE

Broome welcomes its first distillery

The tropical town of Broome in WA's Kimberley region has recently welcomed the opening of its first boutique craft distillery - Moontide Distillery. Using pure monsoonal rainwater mixed with native botanicals - including locally sourced Gubinge (Kakadu Plum), Guwarl (white berry bush), native myrtles, mango, tamarind and exotic spices - the spirits reflect the charm and bold character of the Kimberley region. The range of spirits include White Pearl Gin, Black Pearl Aniseed Spirit and Roebuck Bay Bitters. Visitors can sample the range of spirits at Moontide Distillery's cellar door, open Tuesday to Sunday from midday until 6pm.

A new brewery in the Swan Valley

The Swan Valley wine region, located less than 30 minutes' drive from Perth's CBD, will welcome the opening of a new brewery this spring. Founded by a father and two sons, Bailey Brewing Co will feature a large tavern and kitchen serving classic pub meals made from local, quality ingredients. The family friendly venue 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.

Origins Market opening in Busselton next spring

Opening in spring 2021, Origins Market is set to be a landmark destination for both locals and visitors to Busselton in WA's South West region. Offering a space for growers, artists and creators in the region to showcase their produce and talent, the market will allow visitors to engage with the farmers, producers, winemakers, artisans and creators – all under one roof. In addition to more than 100 stalls, Origins will also include a microbrewery, tastings, long-table dining, demonstrations, edible gardens and more.

TOURS & ATTRACTIONS

Matagarup Bridge zip-line and climb to open this summer

Construction has begun on a new zip-line and climb structure at Perth's iconic Matagarup Bridge. Set to open this summer, the zip-line will allow thrill seekers to travel 400 metres at up to 100 kilometres per hour from the bridge launch platform, across the Swan River, landing on the Burswood Park foreshore. The bridge climb will include a 314-step trek up the bridge's main arch, ascending about 70 metres to the 'sky view' platform. It's expected that the bridge climb and zip-line will open to the public in early 2021. The Matagarup Bridge was completed in 2018, and provides pedestrian access over the Swan River, from East Perth to the Optus Stadium precinct.

Adventure awaits in Collie

The historic town of Collie in WA's South West is set to become a premier destination for mountain bike enthusiasts, following the completion of the Arklow mountain bike trail. Winding its way through the Arklow forest, the trail network totals 36 kilometres; with six kilometres of the trail built to accommodate hand cycles, allowing mountain bike riders with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy even more of the area. Also underway in Collie is a Mural Trail, which will feature a number of murals throughout the town, including a centerpiece mural at the Wellington Dam. Queensland artist Guido van Helten has been confirmed as the lead artist, who is known for his realistic large-scale murals that have turned structures into icons across the world – including Portugal, Canada, the United States of America, Italy and Iran. Located just a two hour drive south of Perth, Collie has long been a popular destination for adventure lovers; with nature-based activities such as camping, white water rafting, water skiing, canoeing and bushwalking all on offer.

Waterbiking on the Swan River

Visitors can experience Perth's iconic Swan River from a fun and unique perspective, thanks to the introduction of two new waterbiking tours. Perth Waterbike Adventures and Perth Waterbike Co allow guests to pedal and glide across the Swan River. The activity is suitable for all ages and fitness levels – due to the waterbike's safe and sturdy design. Both companies operate tours daily, with a range of different experiences available. Perth Waterbike Adventures depart from Matilda Bay, and Perth Waterbike Co depart from South Perth.

Road trip through the Villages in the Valley

In the heart of WA's South West region, the Villages in the Valley road trip meanders its way across the rolling landscape of the Blackwood River Valley. Only 2.5 hours south of Perth, the route passes through the towns of Balingup, Bridgetown and Nannup, offering spectacular scenery, homely cafes and restaurants, classic country pubs, charming antique stores, mountain biking and bushwalking trails; plus fresh produce, cider, wine and boutique beer. Between the towns, the winding country roads traverse through rolling green hills and forests of ancient jarrah, marri and karri trees – all tied together by the beautiful Blackwood River.

Australia's first underwater Aboriginal sites discovered in the Pilbara

An archaeology discovery project in the Pilbara region of WA's North West has uncovered Australia's first underwater Aboriginal sites, along with 8,500 year-old artefacts. More than 269 artefacts have been mapped across multiple sites on the Dampier Archipelago seafloor, on Murujuga sea country. The stone artefacts were found following an extensive three-year subsea investigation of the ocean floor, revealing links with the islands dating back at least 7,000 to 8,500 years across two key underwater sites. The Dampier Archipelago is a chain of 42 coastal islands, islets, rocks and nature reserves, located off the town of Dampier on the Pilbara coast.

Eco Beach Resort now open

Set in the pristine and untouched Kimberley region, multi-award winning Eco Beach Resort has re-opened its doors for the 2020 season. Located 130 kilometres south of Broome, the property comprises 25 luxurious eco villas interlinked by elevated wooden boardwalks, and 30 safari-style eco tents. With stunning views over the Indian Ocean, the resort offers a range of unique activities and experiences, including whale watching, turtle monitoring tours, yoga, kayaking and fishing charters. This year will see the return of Long Table Dinners, with the first of four events to be held on July 29, ticketed at $185 per person.

Get reacquainted with Fremantle

West Australian's are being encouraged to Relive Perth by visiting local tourism businesses and exploring their own backyard. Michael from Fremantle Tours – which recently opened The Dellers café, serving up coffees, vegan and vegetarian treats in a cosy heritage courtyard – invites visitors to come and explore Fremantle, and reacquaint themselves with what the eclectic city has to offer. Known for its heritage, culture and diversity, the historic port city is currently experiencing a renaissance thanks to a once-in-a-generation redevelopment of Fremantle's Kings Square. Due to be completed in 2020, it will see the civic heart of Perth's port city transformed into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. There has also been a resurgence in the city's already impressive hospitality scene, with historic buildings being transformed into new venues, such as the Old Synagogue, Beerporium, Darling Darling and Freo.Social. New accommodation offerings are on the horizon, including the boutique Warders Hotel and the new DoubleTree by Hilton.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

WA Opera to celebrate Aboriginal culture

The West Australian Opera has announced the commission of Koorlbardi wer Wardong – a new work that will celebrate Aboriginal language, music and culture. Lead by Nyoongar musicians Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, the new work will be performed in Nyoongar language, and will be based on the traditional story of how the koorlbardi (magpie) and the warding (crow) became the birds we see today. Set to hit the stage late next year, it will be one of the first opera works performed in First Nations Language and based on Aboriginal stories.

Black Swan Theatre launches digital platform with Unsung Heroes

WA's Black Swan Theatre Company is launching its new digital platform Black Swan Home Theatre with the production of Unsung Heroes: A Digital Festival of Western Australian Stories. To be distributed across the company's suite of digital channels, Unsung Heroes is a collection of solo performances that celebrate everyday West Australians who have done extraordinary things, with each monologue filmed on stage. The five pre-recorded performances will be livestreamed for free over two weeks from July 21 to 30, and will be made available on demand. The Black Swan Home Theatre platform will also include video messages from the company's actors, behind-the-scenes interviews with artists and creatives, and backstage workshop tours.

EVENTS

FIFA Women's World Cup coming to Perth

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup will descend on Perth for a series of matches after Australia and New Zealand were awarded joint hosting rights for the blockbuster global event. This will be the first time that Australia has hosted a senior FIFA tournament. While the final match schedule is still to be determined, the Australian-New Zealand bid proposed the use of 13 stadiums across 12 cities – with Perth's Rectangular Stadium set to host a number of matches.

Margaret River artists open their studio doors

Margaret River Region Open Studios will see more than 101 artists from the Margaret River region open their studio doors to art lovers from September 12 to 27. The event will run in the same format as previous years, with artists opening their private studios to the public to gain an insight into how they create their art, and share the stories and inspiration. The event will feature painters, sculptors, illustrators, jewelers, printmakers, glassblowers, ceramicists, potters, photographers, furniture makers, woodworkers, textile artists, metalworkers, mixed media artists and up cyclers. Renowned artists participating in this year's event include Leon Pericles, Rachel Coad, Lauren Wilhelm, Mary-Lynne Stratton, Patricia Negus, Ian Mutch and Christian Fletcher.

Perth Craft Beer Festival returns

WA's largest beer event – the Perth Craft Beer Festival – is returning this year from September 4 to 6 at the Claremont Showgrounds. The event will activate one of the biggest beer halls in Perth, with plenty of undercover areas and fire pits to keep warm. An impressive range of breweries and cideries from WA and across the country will be featured, alongside carnival games, rides, silent disco, and live music.