What's Hot
 
Kimberley National Park set to be the biggest
A new national park which will be the biggest in Australia is set to be created in the Kimberley. Following an agreement between the State Government, Rio Tinto and Alcoa of Australia, more than 175,000 hectares of land on the plateau can be included in the proposed Kimberley National Park. The national park is proposed to extend over more than two million hectares and encompass the existing Prince Regent, Mitchell River and Lawley River national parks. Multiple daily flight options are available from Perth to Broome (the gateway to the Kimberley) year round, with direct flights from Melbourne operating twice a week. During peak season, direct flights are also on offer from Sydney and Brisbane.
Read more - www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/kimberley-strategy

Tourism WA launches Instagram page
Tourism WA has launched WA's official Instagram account, @westernaustralia. To get involved, fans of WA are encouraged to tag their Instagram images and other social media content using a new hashtag #thisisWA, or tagging @westernaustralia. Photos and stories from fans and followers who use the hashtag will be turned into an inspiring visual story board and shared on westernaustralia.com. The Instagram account was launched with the help of prolific Australian Instagrammers, Lauren Bath and Garry Norris, who recently visited the Kimberley region and captured its magnificence by boat, plane and on foot.

Lifestyle and Culture

Community festival celebrates 2015 whale shark season
In celebration of the 2015 whale shark season, Exmouth visitors are encouraged to take part in the Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival 2015. The annual event will see bands, a float parade and plenty of family entertainment take over Exmouth between May 21 to 24. Special discounts on whale shark swims will be available on Sunday May 24, allowing visitors a great opportunity to swim with the world's largest fish. Whale sharks visit Ningaloo Reef annually from March until August, allowing visitors the opportunity to have a face-to-fin encounter with the gentle giant – which can grow up to 18 metres in length.
Read more - www.ningaloowhalesharkfestival.com

Lovers of literature to revel in Readers and Writers Festival
Those with a passion for writing can explore their love of literature at this year's Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, from May 29 to 31. The festival's schedule has been released and includes an aspiring and emerging writer's workshop on Friday May 29. Authors headlining this year's festival include best-selling author John Marsden, Miles Franklin award-winning author Michelle De Krester, and stand-up comic Sami Shah.
Read more - www.artsmargaretriver.com/events/literature

Food and Wine

WA winemaker inducted into Australian Businesswoman's Hall of Fame
Margaret River winemaker Vanya Cullen of Cullen Wines has been inducted into the Australian Businesswomen's Network Hall of Fame. Vanya has earned an international reputation for winemaking by using the greenest methods possible and has demonstrated it's possible to run a successful business while still being mindful of the environment. The Australian Businesswomen's Network has been recognising and profiling Australia's leading female entrepreneurs through the Businesswomen's Hall of Fame for the past 17 years.
Read more - www.abn.org.au/hall-of-fame/vanya-cullen

New restaurant embraces Broome's multi-culturalism
Broome's Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa have opened a new restaurant to replace the Thai Pearl. Rambutan embraces the legacy of its predecessor, delivering vibrant South East Asian cuisine with a broader range of influences and a fresh approach. The transition is integral to the Resort embracing local synergies between the Malay, Singaporean and Indonesian concept of 'Rambutan', which speaks to the history of Broome. The menu at Rambutan will capture something to suit everyone's taste buds; light, fragrant, spicy, savoury and sweet.
Read more - www.cablebeachclub.com/dine

New openings add to Perth's growing list of venues
Perth's Raffles Hotel in Applecross, is fast becoming the new kid on the block again following a six month renovation. The art deco heritage-listed hotel has gone through a dramatic renovation and is now open to customers. Perth's first crowd funded restaurant has also opened to customers, Lucky Chans in Northbridge. The laundry-themed noodle bar boasts an open air rooftop which can seat up to 60 people. 140 in Perth City is bringing New York to Perth, with the opening of East Village, serving classic American fare from hots dogs, to pizza, waffles and sundaes. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, East Village will open its doors in May.

Cape Lodge releases cooking class calendar
Enjoy a new lunch experience at Cape Lodge, which is located in WA's Margaret River region, with cooking classes now available to those wanting to refine their culinary skills. Guests will learn how to prepare a superb three course menu which can be easily recreated at home, followed by a three course lunch at Cape Lodge Restaurant. The cooking classes and long table lunch run from May to October.
Read more - www.capelodge.com.au

Tours, Attractions and Accommodation

Breaksea Island Tours embrace Albany's history
Breaksea Island Nature Reserve near Albany, which was the last link to Australia for the first Gallipoli-bound soldiers in 1914, has become more accessible with the introduction of public helicopter tours. Until recently, Breaksea Island's wildlife and rugged coastline has been limited due to difficulty accessing the area safely by boat. Helicopter tours allow visitors to get a bird's eye view of the area before landing on the island for a greater appreciation and access to the heritage-listed lighthouse and keepers' cottages.
Read more - www.skyhookhelicopters.com.au/albanyhelicopterflights

New accommodation for the adventurous traveller
A new hostel is set to open at Fremantle Prison in spring 2015, allowing visitors to sleep in actual 19th century prison cells. Fremantle Prison YHA will take over the space which was previously the women's division of the World-Heritage listed building, turning it into a unique stay for adventurous travellers. The hostel offers all the latest facilities for travellers including kitchens, large common areas, TV rooms, a laundry, recreational activities, luggage storage, Wi-Fi and computers.
Read more – www.yha.com.au

FEATURE

Discover a new level of tranquillity in WA's Southern Forests

WA's Southern Forests region is the perfect autumn getaway.

In this part of the world, clean air and a magical landscape of karri, marri and tingle forests meet vine-clad hillsides, fertile orchards, dramatic cliffs and white sandy beaches.

The Southern Forests is one of the South West's most popular regions for tourism during the cooler months due to its diverse experiences – from beautiful walking trails and unique gourmet offerings, to relaxation retreats and exciting wildlife encounters.

One of WA's best kept foodie secrets is the black truffle industry in the town of Manjimup, which produce more of the world's most edible commodity that the rest of Australia combined.

Each year, Manjimup hosts the Truffle Kerfuffle Southern Forest Food Festival. The event highlights the range of cultures which brought about the ability to produce the foods grown in the Southern Forests, the range of foods themselves, as well as a focus on the black truffle. This year's event will run from June 26 to 28.

For the adventure seekers, you can't go past the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk in Walpole, which gives a bird's eye view of some of the tallest timber giants on earth – the majestic tingle trees. Further inland in the town of Pemberton is the Gloucester Tree, a 72 metre high karri tree equipped with metal steps which visitors can climb.

Those interested in visiting the area over the cooler months are encouraged to look at special deals currently being offered, ahead of planning an autumn or winter escape.

The Southern Forests is located 307 kilometres south of Perth in WA's South West. The region begins just outside of Manjimup and encompasses Pemberton, Northcliffe and finishes as far south as Walpole.

www.australiassouthwest.com/espcape

Events

MAY

V8 Supercars Perth SuperSprint
May 1-3
Perth, Experience Perth
Get your pulse racing with a 2015 V8 Supercars Championship ticket to the Perth SuperSprint. A Dunlop Series race, additional support categories, Friday training sessions and qualifying races complete the package. Don't miss out on seeing your favourite men of motorsport take to the track again for some fast-paced, fuel-injected action.
W: v8supercars.com.au

Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster
May 15 – 24
East Kimberley, Australia's North West
Now in its 15th year, this iconic WA event will feature an outstanding line-up of concerts and activities for the entertainment of Kimberley residents and the many visitors from around the nation and across the globe that the region attracts.  Highlighting its extraordinary cultural diversity, stunning primeval landscape, friendly folk and warm country hospitality, the Ord Valley Muster is an all-embracing community celebration of the prodigious talent to be found in the East Kimberley region.
W: ordvalleymuster.com.au

Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival
May 22-24
Exmouth, Australia's Coral Coast
The Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival is an annual event held in and around the town of Exmouth. The festival celebrates the annual migration of the whale shark, its conservation and the tourism industry it supports. It also provides an opportunity for Exmouth to showcase its talents and raise awareness of its various organisations and sporting clubs.
W: ningaloowhalesharkfestival.com

JUNE

Leonora Golden Gift
June
Leonora, Australia's Golden Outback
A truly unique event held in the WA outback. The Leonora Golden Gift is a weekend filled with family friendly activities all centred on the running of Australia's richest mile running race, the Golden Gift. Other activities over the weekend include; Horse Racing at the Leonora Race Club, free community concert featuring Chelsea Basham, live children's entertainment and a community breakfast.
W: leonoragoldengift.com

Albany Urban Downhill
June 20 – 21
Albany, Australia's South West
Albany Urban Downhill features mountain bikers racing from the Princess Royal Harbour through the streets of Albany ending at the ANZAC Peace Park. The endurance event on Saturday afternoon has participants competing in a 'King of the Mountain' style race, riding from the base of Mount Clarence to the summit in a test of fitness and skill.
W: facebook.com/albanyurbandownhill

Truffle Kerfuffle - Southern Forest Food Festival
June 26 - 28
Manjimup, Australia's South West
The Truffle Kerfuffle Southern Forest Food Festival is an annual event highlighting regional food and wine. It's a celebration of the range of cultures which brought about the ability to produce the foods grown in the Southern Forests, the range of foods themselves, as well as a focus on the black truffle. WA produces more black truffle than the rest of Australia combined.
W: trufflekerfuffle.com.au

JULY

Goldfields Kidsfest
July 4-5
Kalgoorlie, Australia's Golden Outback
The Goldfields KidsFest features 13 different zones where children can participate in interactive and educational workshops and activities. The 13 zones include science, construction, mining, adventure, outdoors, creative, under 5's, busy bodies sports, music, kids kitchen and main show arena.
W: www.goldfieldskidsfest.com/

Wyndham Stars on the Bastion
July 4
Wyndham, Australia's North West
Wyndham Stars on the Bastion is a night of fine dining and entertainment by some of Australia's top country music singers, set on top of the spectacular Bastion Range – one of Australia's best lookouts. Start this amazing experience off by taking in the magnificent sunset on top of the 'Bastion' at the Five Rivers lookout. Enjoy an evening listening to Australia's own talented music artists, both well-known and rising stars.
W: www.wyndhamstarsonthebastion.org.au

Mowanjum Festival
July 9
Derby, Australia's North West
A public concert featuring more than 200 Aboriginal performers from across the Kimberley region. The festival is a celebration of Indigenous cultural life for the people of the Kimberley, in particular the Worora, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people involving dance, music, song, story and art. Prior to the performance, free afternoon workshops are held by Aboriginal artists which include Boab Nut carving, Ochre painting and Didgeridoo playing.
W: www.mowanjumarts.com