In this month's edition of This is WA, read about Fremantle being included as one of the world's Top 10 Cities in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016 edition, a humpback whale swim trial set to begin at Ningaloo Reef in June next year, the launch of Perth International Arts Festival's 2016 program and a British Museum exhibition bound for Western Australia. There's also all the latest news on WA tours, accommodation, food, wine and events.

WHAT'S HOT

Lonely Planet declares Freo the way to go in 2016
Western Australia's port city of Fremantle has been named a “must see” destination for 2016 by one of the world's most respected international travel publishers. Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016 edition includes the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year. Ranked seventh on the book's list of Top 10 Cities 2016, Fremantle was described by Lonely Planet as “a raffish harbour town with sea-salty soul to burn.” The eclectic and multicultural city of Fremantle, famous for its music and arts scene, cafes and bars, boutique breweries and historic streetscapes, is currently undergoing a once-in-a-generation revitalisation with more than $1.3 billion worth of development is the pipeline. WA also featured on Lonely Planet's list of Best Value Destinations, with the State's dream-like destinations being more accessible to international travellers due to the falling Australian dollar.
www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel 

Swimming with humpbacks set for Ningaloo
The chance to swim with humpback whales in Western Australia will be trialled at Ningaloo Marine Park next year to add to the list of ecotourism experiences on offer in the region. The new wilderness experience will expand the World Heritage-listed area's tourist season by providing the trial for existing licensed whale shark tour companies. The Department of Parks and Wildlife will closely monitor and evaluate the trail program with real-time information from electronic monitoring systems already installed on vessels for whale shark operations. The trial is set to begin in June 2016 when migrating whales arrive at Ningaloo Marine Park.

World-class airport terminal to open in November
Perth Airport's state-of-the-art T1 Domestic Terminal will open to travellers on November 22, as part of the airport's billion-dollar upgrade. Promising to transform passengers' travel experience, the terminal will feature 28 domestic check-in kiosks and bag-drop technology, as well as 12 aerobridge departure gates, including three capable of taking the airline's wide-body Airbus A330s. The new addition, situated at the western end of the international terminal, will be home to Virgin Australia and enable passengers to transfer seamlessly between regional, interstate and international services. Passengers will be offered an extensive range of dining and retail options along with a new Virgin Australia lounge.
www.perthairport.com.au 

Perth International Arts Festival launches 2016 program
The longest running annual multi-arts celebration in the Southern Hemisphere, the Perth International Arts Festival, is set to deliver a cultural adventure for arts lovers of all ages and tastes after launching its 2016 program. The festival will open with a grand-scale concert, titled Home, featuring acclaimed local musicians and writers, including, The Panics, The Pigram Brothers, The Waifs and John Bulter. Other highlights of the festival include Belvoir Theatre director Simon Stone's take on Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck, and “kamikaze cabaret” diva Meow Meow's version of The Little Mermaid. Elizabeth Quay will be the new home of the Perth International Arts Festival's popular Chevron Festival Gardens, where guests can gather, eat, drink and share stories whilst enjoying a diverse quality program of free events throughout the duration of the festival, which runs from February 11 to March 6, 2016. The gardens will be the first major event at Lot 4, a temporary outdoor venue for festivals, concerts and sporting events, on the corner of The Esplanade and William Street in Perth.
www.perthfestival.com.au/ 
getthebiggerpicture.wa.gov.au/elizabeth-quay/  

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

Health and wellbeing retreat in the South West
A new five-day health and wellbeing retreat is available in Western Australia's South West from February 21 to 25, 2016. Revive Weight Loss Retreat aims to bring balance and nourishment to female participants through a range of activities including coastal hikes, yoga, surfing lessons, pilates, meditation, seminars and cooking lessons. Run by locals to the region, Katie Carmichael and Sarah Breheny, the cost of the retreat covers all food and activities, and accommodation at the luxurious Smiths Beach Resort in Yallingup.
www.reviveweightlossretreat.com.au 

British Museum exhibition bound for WA
The Western Australian Museum has achieved another international coup for Perth by securing the British Museum exhibition, A History of the World in 100 Objects. This will be the third major international exhibition presented as part of the WA Museum's special relationship with the British Museum. A History of the World in 100 Objects tells its story exclusively through artefacts that people have made – including the bronze Head of Augustus – once part of a statue of the Emperor which dates from 27-25 BC from the Sudan, and is exclusive to the Australian tour. The exhibition will run from February 13, 2016, with tickets on sale from November 2015.
www.museum.wa.gov.au  
www.britishmuseum.org/explore/a_history_of_the_world.aspx 

FOOD AND WINE

COMO The Treasury announce Executive Chef
Jed Gerrard has been announced as Executive Chef at COMO The Treasury. After an extensive career in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, including Bilson's in Sydney, d'Hotel de Ville in Switzerland and SaQuaNa in France – Jed has returned to his home state. At COMO The Treasury's rooftop restaurant Wildflower, Jed has devised a menu of contemporary European dishes revolving around the Australian Indigenous system of the six seasons. Doors will officially open to Wildflower on December 1, 2015. COMO The Treasury is Perth's newest luxury hotel, housed in 140-year-old heritage buildings, which is part of the Cathedral Square development, located on the corner of St Georges Terrace and Barrack Street.
www.comohotels.com/thetreasury/

Cathedral Square Perth's new foodie hotspot
WA's newest hotspot for drinking and dining, Cathedral Square, has opened several new venues including Petition Beer Corner, Petition Kitchen and cocktail lounge, Halford. In the next couple of months it will also house two more dining experiences, including Long Chim and Saint Larry. 
www.cathedralsquare.com.au/  
petitionperth.com/beer/  
petitionperth.com/kitchen/  
www.halfordbar.com.au/ 

Little Shop of Plenty opens in Maylands
A new café and food store has opened in Maylands, located only five kilometres from Perth city. Owned and managed by health advocates Kim Bourne and Mark Abbott, the Little Shop of Plenty's main goal is to achieve better health simply by eating better food. The menu is gluten free, dairy free and free from cane sugar, and brings together exciting ingredients with extraordinary health-giving properties.
www.littleshopofplenty.com/ 

TOURS, ATTRACTIONS AND ACCOMMODATION

Kalbarri skywalks capture new gorge views
Breathtaking skywalks in Kalbarri National Park, along WA's Coral Coast, will become a major tourism drawcard for the region, providing stunning vistas of the Murchison River Gorge. As part of a $20 million tourism initiative, two new 100 metre high skywalks will be installed at the Inyaka Wookai Watju site, otherwise known as the West Loop. The skywalks will extend 12 and 20 metres beyond the gorge rim, and will feature interpretation signs, shade shelters and caravan parking. They will also be accessible for people of all ages and abilities, including users of wheelchairs. Construction will begin next year and the skywalks are expected to be completed by 2017. Kalbarri National Park can be reached by road from Perth, in around six hours.

Australia's first pop-up waterpark now underway
Construction is underway on Perth's newest summer attraction, Xscape at the City – Australia's first pop-up waterpark. Set to be located just out of the Perth CBD in Belmont near the Crown Perth entertainment precinct, the main attraction of the waterpark will be a 23-metre high, dual-lane inflatable racer slide called the drop – the world's tallest inflatable waterslide. More than 50 people are working on site to ensure the park is ready to open late November in what is a mammoth logistical task. The park will utilise a custom-engineered, world-class water filtration system that will recycle and reuse water to minimise wastage.
www.xscapeatthecity.com.au 

Willie Creek Pearl Farm expands pearling investment
Willie Creek Pearl Farm has increased its interests in the Broome pearling industry through the acquisition of a pearling licence. The business previously had access to and certain rights in relation to a pearl shell quota from Clipper Pearls, part of the Autore Group – one of the largest South Sea pearl companies in the world. Willie Creek Pearl Farm has now acquired one of only 17 pearling licences in Western Australia together with a substantial pearl shell quota and pearl farm leases. Based in Broome, Willie Creek Pearls has been educating and enlightening visitors to the region on the history and modern day workings of the Australian South Sea cultured pearl industry for more than 20 years.
www.williecreekpearls.com.au 

New jetty signals Hartog anniversary countdown
A new $2.2 million recreational jetty has opened in Denham, marking one year until the 400th anniversary of Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog's landing in Western Australia. On October 25, 1616, Hartog first encountered the WA coastline, and left a pewter plate nailed to a post on the island, located off the coast of Denham in the Coral Coast, to herald the occasion. The jetty is a modern, multipurpose structure which will be the focus of community events and celebrations taking place in Denham next year. The centrepiece of local celebrations will be a five-day festival Dirk Hartog – Voyage of Discovery: Shark Bay 1616, which will reflect the State's maritime history.
www.sharkbay1616.com.au 

Seashells expands to Fremantle
Opening early 2016, Seashells Fremantle will offer 24 luxury self-contained apartments with a rooftop cocktail bar and tapas restaurant with views over Fremantle's brightly coloured heritage streets. Located in East Fremantle, the hotel is part of the new Richmond Quarter development which will also include shops and an outdoor cinema.
www.seashells.com.au 

Travel arranger rebrands to reflect expanding product offering
Broome and the Kimberley Holidays have rebranded to reflect the expanding nature of its collection of products beyond just the Kimberley. It is now known as Broome, Kimberley and Beyond. The travel arranger offers the consumer expert advice for self-drive, adventure, luxury and value package holidays.
www.broomekimberley.com.au 

Local Hotel to offer accommodation in Fremantle
The recently opened Local Hotel in South Fremantle is set to launch its accommodation offering next month, which includes individually styled, boutique budget short term rooms. Local Hotel is set within one of Western Australia's oldest trading hotel premises, the old Seaview Hotel, which was built in 1897. New owners Phil Thompson and Ross McPherson, opened the Local Hotel in September, following a four-week transformation of the old Seaview Hotel.
www.thelocalhotel.com.au 

FEATURE

WA is SUP-erb for world's fastest growing sport
Western Australia's world-class surf breaks, unspoilt locations and strong summer winds have made it a must-visit destination for avid stand up paddlers (SUP) from across Australia and overseas.

Stand Up Paddling WA (SUPWA) President Mr Greg Kerr said WA's pristine coastline and consistent summer winds offered ideal conditions for the world's fastest growing sport.

"WA holds an excellent reputation in the SUP community as offering perfect conditions for paddling," Mr Kerr said.

"SUPWA along with Surfing WA hold a number of events throughout the season at locations along the coast from Geraldton to Denmark, as well as at rivers and other waterways in the city and in regional areas.

"A large proportion of athletes competing in our major events travel from interstate and overseas, which is in no small part due to the lure of WA's pristine waterways and favourable climate."

On December 5 2016, 150 competitors will compete in The Stand Up Surf Shop King of the Cut, which has a total prize pool of $16,500 - the largest prize purse for a SUP event in Australia.

The event is considered one of the fastest runs in the world and competitors, including Zane Schweitzer (Hawaii), Travis Grant (Hawaii), Karla Gilbert (QLD) and Olympic gold medallist, Belinda Stowell-Brett (WA), will paddle 24 kilometres downwind from The Dawesville Cut at Port Bouvard to Secret Harbour (located one hour by car south of Perth), racing for world tour points or State representation.

Closer to the State's capital of Perth, a number of SUP-ing 'hotspots' can be found along the calm waters of the Swan River, and the city's 19 pristine beaches. Local favourites include Matilda Bay, East Fremantle, Leighton Beach, Hillarys Beach and Rottnest Island.
www.supwa.com.au 

EVENTS

November

SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Mandurah - Australian Pro Championships
November 8, 2015
Mandurah, Experience Perth
Debuting in October 2012, SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Mandurah arrives as the Australian Professional Championship, giving enhanced prize money and qualifying opportunities to some of the best professional triathletes in Australia and from around the world. With a swim course incorporating the sheltered harbour of Mandurah, competitors look set for fast times from start to finish on the two lap bike course, and a run course showcasing the best Mandurah has to offer.
www.ironman.com  

Margaret River Gourmet Escape
November 20-22, 2015
Margaret River, Australia's South West
The 'Godfather of modern cooking' Marco Pierre White will be the international headline chef at Margaret River Gourmet Escape (MRGE) 2015. Marco will take part in the three-day culinary extravaganza, with a full program of events hosted by more than 40 of the world's leading food and wine personalities showcasing the best of WA and the Margaret River region from November 20 to 22. Exciting new experiences on this year's program include a dinner on the Busselton Jerry with Rick Stein; The Godfather Dinner at Vasse Felix with Marco Pierre White; Stokehouse Restaurant setting sail on the Kimberley Quest II luxury cruiser; events specifically for beer lovers; a seafood discovery tour in Augusta; and a didgeridoo cave experience with bush barbecue dinner hosted by local Wadandi man, Josh Whiteland.
www.gourmetescape.com.au   

Kambarang – South West Aboriginal Gourmet Experience
November 20, 2015
Margaret River, Australia's South West
Kambarang is a long table lunch showcasing the produce of the South West, including wine and the native bush food available. The event is ticketed and will be promoted as a fringe event as part of the Margaret River Gourmet Escape. The event celebrates Aboriginal culture, with known chef Mark Olive alongside local tour operator Josh Whiteland, being the main attractions. Prior to the long table lunch, masterclasses with students, chefs and mentors within the hospitality sector will be conducted.
www.gourmetescape.com.au/whats-on/fringe-events 

December

Redbull Lighthouse to Leighton
December 5, 2015
Rottnest and Leighton, Experience Perth
The Redbull Lighthouse to Leighton is the kite surfing event of the year. Starting at Phillip Point Rottnest, off the coast of Perth, the longest race of its kind in Australia has competitors racing across the Indian Ocean and the Gage Roads channel and finishing at Leighton Beach, North Fremantle. The event is a unique opportunity for amateur and professional kiters alike to compete against one another for the race title, trophy and prize money.
www.redbull.com/au/en/events 

Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival
December 12, 2015
Manjimup, Australia's South West
The Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival is a celebration of the cultural diversity of Manjimup, highlighting and promoting the horticultural products that are grown (particularly cherries) and the value they add to the region. The festival attracts visitors from around the State and is held during the optimum cherry season in December.
www.cherryfestival.com.au 

Perth Speed Fest
December 13, 2015
Perth, Experience Perth
Don't miss out on your chance to see some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport showcase their world-class skill at Perth Speed Fest. This action packed, adrenalin-fuelled day will see big names including Daniel Ricciardo (F1), Alan Jones (F1), Will Davison (V8s) and Jack Miller (MotoGP) commit the ultimate test of speed at Perth Motorplex. Perth Speed Fest is a huge showcase of classic, modern and modified cars and motorbikes, and includes non-stop action on The Dirt twin track, the customised Tarmac, Extreme Tarmac, Motocross plus the rolling Motor Show.
http://perthspeedfest.com/ 

January

Hopman Cup
January 3 to 9, 2015
Perth, Experience Perth
The Hopman Cup attracts some of the world's best tennis players and sees countries competing against one another for the cup crown. A star-studded field will contest the Hopman Cup from January 3 to 9, 2016 at Perth Arena. This includes women's number one ranked player, Serena Williams, entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils, the Ukraine's top ranking male tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov, world number three Andy Murray from Great Britain, retiring Australian player Lleyton Hewitt and Perth's own Casey Dellacqua.
http://hopmancup.com/ 

Victoria Bitter ODI Series, Australia v India
January 12, 2015
Perth, Experience Perth
The Victoria Bitter ODI International Series will see the world's best cricketers return to the WACA in Perth to tackle the World Champions. World Cup semi-finalists India, will tour Australia for five one-day international and three T20 matches in January 2016. The Victoria Bitter ODI Series takes in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, with all matches to be day-night affairs.
http://www.cricket.com.au/ 

Lancelin Ocean Classic
January 14 to 17, 2015
Lancelin, Experience Perth
The Lancelin Ocean Classic was started with a group of enthusiast windsurfers and business people in Lancelin in 1986 and to date is still the longest running windsurfing event in Australia. It is set to attract world-class competitors and spectators to the picturesque crayfishing town of Lancelin. The event features three disciplines and has competitors from more than 18 countries competing in spectacular wind and water conditions over four days.
www.lancelinoceanclassic.com.au/