WHAT'S HOT

Perth to host 2019 Bledisloe Cup

One of the biggest sporting events in the world, the Bledisloe Cup, will be played at Perth's Optus Stadium on August 10, 2019. It will see the Australian Wallabies take on the New Zealand All Blacks in Rugby's ultimate rivalry. This Bledisloe Cup fixture is the first time Perth has hosted this epic trans-Tasman battle and will be the only time these two teams will play on Australian soil before embarking on their 2019 Rugby World Cup mission. Tickets go on sale for this expected sell-out event on October 26, 2018.

Perth Festival unveils first four shows for 2019

The longest running international arts festival in Australia, the 66th Perth Festival, will return to the city this summer from February 8 to March 3, 2019.

Returning in 2019 is nocturnal walk-through experience Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak, which will be held in Perth's iconic Kings Park over the four-night opening weekend. The free event takes visitors on a 1.5 kilometre journey through the park, with 3D projections, animation, sound and lighting effects replicating the diversity of the Noongar six seasons of WA's South West.

The festival will also feature two other Australian exclusives – Vietnamese bamboo circus show Lang Toi, and the stunning physical theatre piece The Great Tamer by Greek director Dimitris Papaioannou. Perth audiences will also be the first to see acclaimed director Barrie Kosky's The Magic Flute, from Komische Opera Berlin, which will be presented with the West Australian Opera and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Hugh Jackman back on Broome time

Hollywood superstar Hugh Jackman has returned to WA's Kimberley region, taking some time out in the town of Broome earlier this month. Jackman visited the students at La Grange Remote Community School in the town of Bidyadanga, almost 200 kilometres south of Broome, and was shown through the Gubinge plantations after expressing an interest in the native Gubinge plums. Hugh also posted a selfie to his 19.5 million social media followers showcasing the iconic Broome camels making their daily commute to Cable Beach and an album of images. Hugh Jackman last visited the region about the same time last year, where he posted photos on Instagram of him fishing, diving and taking in the sights around Broome.

P!NK's new music video filmed in Perth

Internationally renowned US pop star P!NK last month released the music video to her latest single Secrets – which was filmed in Perth. The video clip features P!NK and her dancers backstage at Perth Arena, and dancing in front of some of Perth's iconic street art – including a piece by renowned Perth artist Stormie Mills. The video was also filmed at FRINGE WORLD HQ in Northbridge – with P!NK's manager contacting FRINGE WORLD after seeing the building during their time in Perth for P!NK's concert.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

Telstra Perth Fashion Festival returns in September

Now in its 20th year, the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival - one of Australia's premier fashion events - is set to light up the Burswood Peninsula from September 5 to 15, as Optus Stadium is presented in a stylish new twist. For the first time, Perth's newest home of sport and entertainment will host a brand-new Fashion Paramount - featuring a stunning display of some of the most prominent local, national and international designers such as Aje, Ae'lkemi, and Empire Rose. The festival - which has cultivated an international reputation for fostering some of Australia's most sought after creative talent and showcasing WA designers on a global stage - will also feature a number of community, industry and runway events held throughout the city.

CinefestOZ program release

The program for this year's CinefestOZ film festival, held in WA's South West region from August 22 to 26, has now been released – and boasts almost 80 per cent more films and content than last year. The program features 117 films and more than 150 screening and event options in Busselton, Margaret River and Bunbury. With 11 world and 18 Australian film premiers scheduled, the event attracts filmmakers, actors and film lovers from around Australia. Award-winning actor Sigrid Thornton will attend the festival as Jury Chair for the $100,000 film prize, and will be joined by festival patron David Wenham, Logie winner Tasma Walton, stage star Lucy Durack and actors Kelton Pell, John Howard and Emma Booth. This year's film prize finalists are Jirga, Ladies in Black, The Merger and 1%.

Kimberley Writers Festival

Held in one of Australia's most stunning locations, the Kimberley Writers Festival will return to the town of Kununurra from September 7 to 9. This one-of-a-kind readers and writers festival provides an opportunity to meet authors and special guests in a friendly and informal environment. Now in its 13th year, the 2018 program will include free workshops, readings, a literary breakfast, music, comedy and the annual Sunday Ord River Cruise champagne brunch and storytelling. Special guests include national bestselling romance author Fiona Palmer; DC and Marvel Comics writer Shane McCarthy; documentary maker, bush tukka advocate and published writer Samantha Martin, and award-winning Indonesia writer Ahmad Fuandi – whose bestselling novel The Land of Five Towers was recently adapted into a feature film.

ISPS HANDA World Super 6 returning to Perth

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 golf tournament will be returning to Perth in 2019, from February 14 to 17 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Now in its third year, the event is set to capitalise on a successful 2018 tournament that featured English golfers Lee Westwood, Danny Willet and Andrew 'Beef' Johnston. The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth was the first of a number of format innovations the European Tour has introduced, emphasising the importance of entertainment to bring the game of golf to a new audience, and has proved to be highly successful. Tickets will go on sale from October 1, 2018.

FOOD AND WINE

WA winemaker named Halliday's winemaker of the year

Winemaker Julian Langworthy, of Deep Woods Estate in Yallingup located in WA's Margaret River region, has been named winemaker of the year in the Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2019. The winners were announced at the beginning of the month, and were selected by leading wine critic James Halliday and his expert panel. This is the first time a Margaret River winemaker has received the accolade. The region was well represented at the awards, with Cullen Wines also taking out a varietal award for their 2015 Cullen Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon.

New brewery at Perth's Elizabeth Quay

Isle of Voyage at Perth's Elizabeth Quay has recently undergone a makeover, and reopened as The Island. The venue is now home to The Island Brew House and Dining – which offers six unique craft beers brewed on site; the Island Brew Garden, with views of the quay and city; the Island Kiosk; Florence's Pizzeria offering fresh, all natural pizza; as well as an outdoor music stage with regular performances, a private playground and a ping pong and games area.

Andy Freeman's Big Bopper burger bar

Perth bar owner Andy Freeman, whose popular venues include Varnish, The Flour Factory, Cabalitos and the recently opened Hadiqa in Hibernian Place, has just launched another Perth CBD offering. Big Bopper, located directly above Cabalitos in the old 1907 building, is a burger bar serving American-style burgers, craft brews, dark spirits and boozy milkshakes. The venue also features a private dining room with plasma TV screens, and specialty hot sauce available for purchase made by Executive Chef Danny Sanchez.

Meat & Wine Co to open in Perth

Meat & Wine Co will be opening their first Perth restaurant offering next month, located in one of Perth's iconic heritage buildings – the former Palace Hotel on St George's Terrace in the heart of the city. The established restaurant name, popular in both Sydney and Melbourne, will feature a select range of premium meats, and a wine list showcasing iconic WA wineries such as Cape Mentelle, Vasse Felix, Amelia Park and Cullen Wines. The restaurant's modern African inspired fit out has been designed to complement the old world luxury of the 1897 heritage hotel.

Wines of While celebrate organic and natural wines

Recently opening at the top of William Street in Northbridge, Wines of While is a cozy wine bar and bottle shop serving natural and organically farmed wines. The wine by the glass selection changes daily, and any of the 200 wines in-stock can be bought and consumed at the bar, or are available for takeaway. The food menu has a Mediterranean influence, with small plate offerings designed to be served with wine.

TOURS, ATTRACTIONS AND ACCOMMODATION

QT Perth now open

The 18-storey QT Perth has now officially opened its doors. The hotel showcases the best of QT's signature service and design - with 184 luxurious guests rooms featuring industrial style bathrooms, crushed velvet bed heads, jarrah floorboards, and quality touches such as complimentary coffee pods, complimentary in-house movies and a minibar stocked with WA produce. The hotel's interiors have been inspired by the unique colours and landscapes of Western Australia.   

Perth born Nic Wood is the hotel's executive chef, and oversees the four kitchens and five food offerings at the hotel. These include two bars, a ground-floor café and the 24 hour in-room dining menu. Santini Bar and Grill is the hotel's signature Italian inspired bar and grill restaurant – offering a menu featuring antipasto, fresh pasta, seafood and dry-aged steaks. The hotel has two late night bars, including the city's highest rooftop bar offering spectacular views of the city and Swan River.

The hotel's ideal location, right on the doorstep of Murray Street Mall in the city, means it takes less than a minute to walk to Perth's shopping hub.

Cable Beach Club 30 year anniversary

Broome's award-winning Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this month. Opening in August 1988, the resort was the dream of English politician and construction magnate, Lord Alistair McAlpine – who fell in love with Broome and its beaches, and famously signed the contract for the land on the back of a beer coaster in the Roebuck Bay Hotel. The only resort on the world-famous Cable Beach, it has received extensive upgrades since Hawaiian purchased the resort in 1999, and now has 165 one-bedroom studio rooms, seven private villas, three club apartments, 47 bungalows and three luxury suites. It also features four restaurants, Chahoya Spa by L'Occitane, conference facilities, two pools and water playground, gymnasium, mini-golf, tennis courts and Buddha sanctuary. Located in WA's Kimberley region, Broome is the perfect spot to begin a Kimberley holiday.

A luxury hotel in a historic flour mill

A historic old mill flour in Katanning – located in the heart of WA's Great Southern region – has been given a new lease of life and recently restored as a 22-room luxury hotel – the Premier Mill Hotel. Much of the mill's infrastructure has been retained as part of the restoration, with each room displaying a different element of the building's history and bespoke furniture helping to maintain the building's industrial feel. A Dome café operates around the base of the building, and below street level in the Mill's old machine-room is The Cordial Bar – a wine bar offering a share-plate menu and a range of wines and craft beers from the Great Southern region.

New trail to showcase Peel craft beer and wine

Located just one hours drive south from Perth, the Peel region offers a number of boutique breweries and wineries set amongst unique landscapes. To showcase these top-quality brews and wines, a new Peel Craft Beer and Wine Trail has been released, offering visitors and locals an easy to read map to guide them through the region. The trail features seven of the region's best beer and wine offerings, including Three Rivers Brewery, Peel Estate Wines, White Lakes Brewing, King Road Brewing Co, Millbrook Winery, Drakesbrook Fine Wines and the Skipworth Wine Company. A copy of the trail map can be downloaded here.

New pearl oyster hatchery in Broome

Willie Creek Pearls, the award winning Broome pearl farm in the Kimberley region, has added to their tour offering, with guests now given the opportunity to discover how the entire pearl spawning process is undertaken. In a joint venture with Autore Pearling, Willie Creek Pearls has invested more than $500,000 in the construction of a new pearl oyster hatchery to further educate guests visiting the farm. Visitors will now get to see first-hand how the state-of-the-art facility plays a crucial role in the fascinating life of a pearl oyster and subsequent development of pearls. The hatchery is the only one of its kind operating in Broome, and one of a few in WA.

New mine to mint gold tours

Get a behind-the-scenes experience of the State's gold mining sector with Go West Tour's new Mine to Mint tour. The tour, a joint venture between Go West Tours, The Perth Mint and mining company Newmont Australia, will offer daily guided tours taking in both Australia's oldest operating mint and the country's biggest active gold mine in Boddington, 130 kilometres south-east of Perth. Guests will view the giant South Pit before travelling through the processing plant. The trip also includes lunch and gold panning before heading to the Perth Mint to view nuggets made in the melting house.

Autopia Tours launch WA coastal offering

Small group touring company Autopia Tours has recently started operating tours along the Coral Coast region of WA. All tours begin from Perth, with average group sizes of 20 to 24 people. Tour options include a four day Coastal Loop to Monkey Mia, five day Coral Coaster to Exmouth (one way), a seven day Exmouth Explore – Perth Return and a ten day Broome Overland Safari Tour. There is also the option for a one day Pinnacles Sunset Dinner, Wildlife and Stargazing tour.