New attractions, hotels, wining and dining offerings, and cultural and entertainment precincts are continuing to change the face of Western Australia's capital city, Perth. Nestled between the Indian Ocean, Swan River and Kings Park and Botanic Garden – one of the largest inner city parks in the world – Perth has come of age and is now home to a vibrant urban environment and nature based experiences.

New hotels
Perth now offers some of the best value accommodation in Australia following the opening of 25 new and refurbished properties since 2012, including COMO The Treasury, Crown Towers, The Alex, InterContinental Perth City Centre, Aloft and Tribe. By 2020, a further 14 new or redeveloped hotels will add a further 2,600 new rooms.The historic redeveloped The Melbourne Hotel just started welcoming guests, while The Westin set to open in late April. Soon to follow is the Doubletree by Hilton Northbridge, QT and in 2019, the Ritz-Carlton. 

Fly non-stop from London to Perth
History was made when Qantas's daily direct London to Perth flights started in March 2018 on the 787 Dreamliner. The first passenger service directly linking Australia and Europe, visitors can kick-start their Australian experience with a stay in Perth and – with the Qantas Explorer – access cheaper fares to add on a trip to other WA destinations including Broome and Exmouth (Ningaloo).

New city precincts
Connecting the Swan River and city - the vibrant waterfront precinct of Elizabeth Quay opened in 2016. Look out for pop up events and festivals as well as bars and restaurants, Go Cultural's Indigenous walking tours, Segway Tours WA, Willie Creek Pearls, and new river cruises departing from the Quay and neighbouring Barrack Square.  The Ritz Carlton hotel will open in 2019.

Connecting the CBD and Northbridge – as part of the Perth City Link project, two new public precincts have been unveiled. Kings Square is a short walk from Perth Arena, Northbridge and the Perth Cultural Centre where visitors can dine or relax in the gardens; while Yagan Square, which opened in March 2018 celebrates Aboriginal culture, and is a hub of activity during the day and night, with a digital tower and digital canopies for light, art, and video projections; native gardens, public art, and a market hall showcasing WA eateries.

Contemporary influence - formerly disused heritage buildings and laneways are now home to bustling bars and street art. Through independent non-profit group FORM, more than 80 walls across Perth and surrounding suburbs have become a canvas for local, interstate and international artists. Walking tours such as Two Feet and a Heartbeat and Explore Tours Perth help visitors to explore the growing street art scene, city streets, uncover hidden gems and hear firsthand about Perth's history.

Reviving Perth's heritage – opening at the end of 2015, the State Buildings have become a one of Perth's most popular wining and dining precincts. Situated in the centre of Perth city, the former government buildings have been reinvented and as well as being home to luxury boutique hotel COMO The Treasury. Opening late April 2018 is Hibernian Place – which will be home to the 368-room, five-star Westin Perth as well as Guy Grossi's Garum restaurant (his first foray out of Melbourne), wellness spa Bodhi J, a coffee roaster, rooftop bar and new eateries.

A new era for entertainment and sporting events

Perth's new state-of-the-art 60,000 seat Optus Stadium opened in January 2018.  With two of the largest stadium screens in the Southern Hemisphere fans won't miss any on-ground action and, after dark, will be entertained by the largest sports-lighting installation in the world.  There's also daily 'behind the scenes' tours, parklands, public art, eateries and bars including The Camfield – Perth's biggest pub. With room for up to 4,000 patrons, it features a microbrewery, six bars, and unsurpassed views of the Perth CBD and the river. Events to come at Optus Stadium include:

• Australian Rules Football – February to August/September
• Chelsea Football Club – July 23 – an Australian exclusive - A League powerhouse Chelsea Football Club will take on local heroes Perth Glory
• Live music performances - Taylor Swift (October 19)
• Bledisloe Cup - August 2019 – the only time the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks team will play on Australian soil in 2019 in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup
• National Rugby League (NRL) State of Origin – 2019 – one Australia's biggest annual sporting events – the NRL State of Origin between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons
• International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20 matches – 2020 – the stadium will host six matches in 2020, the first time the World T20 will be played in Australia.

Coastal revival

Fremantle - included in Lonely Planet's 2016 Best in Travel guide there's more than $1 billion of redevelopment in the planning pipeline around the port city of Fremantle. Look out for new venues such as Seashells and the Sweetwater rooftop bar in the Richmond Quarter, COAST at Port Beach, Segway and self-guided walking tours, a range of cruises and a thriving craft beer scene.

Scarborough Beach is on its way to becoming one of Australia's best beachfronts. A $100 million foreshore redevelopment saw its first milestone in early 2018 with the opening of an eight-lane, 50 metre beach pool and new dining options. The new public precinct also includes Sunset Hill (which offers scenic views over the ocean), retail, climbing wall, half-court basketball area, children's playground, and the feature attraction, the Snake Pit skate park bowl. 

Popular City Beach is home to lush lawns, white sand and an expanding range of waterfront dining options including the chilled-out deck at newly opened Odyssea Beach Café and Hamptons.

Rottnest Island is undergoing upgrades to the golf course and walk trails and will welcome a new marina. Luxury refurbishments are complete at the Hotel Rottnest while an upmarket 'glamping' experience, Pinky's Rottnest Island, is expected to open in 2018-19. Segway Tours WA runs tours on the island, with two tour options available enabling visitors to explore the islands most hidden treasures, while ADAMS offer bus tours in air-conditioned comfort. Accessing the island is easy with Rottnest Fast Ferries, Rottnest Express and Sealink running return daily ferries from Perth, Fremantle and the northern coastal precinct of Hillarys, while from November to April, Swan River Seaplanes run day tours to the island offering visitors the chance to see the island from the air before a full day of exploring.