Preview: Western Australia's New Product Updates for 2019

25 Mar 2019

Western Australia's New Product Updates for 2019

New hotels and cultural hubs, island getaways, foodie tours, wildlife encounters and Aboriginal cultural experiences are just some of the exciting new product highlights for Western Australia in 2019.

Accommodation

Perth's accommodation boom continues with the opening of QT Perth, The Westin, The Melbourne Hotel and DoubleTree by Hilton Northbridge (represented at ATE) – the first new-build DoubleTree by Hilton in Australia. Nearby, the city's island playground welcomed the opening of 'glamping' resort Discovery – Rottnest Island (represented at ATE).

In WA's Coral Coast region, the coastal city of Geraldton welcomed the opening of The Gerald (represented at ATE) - a modern seven-story hotel with 40 fully serviced apartments. A little further north in the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay region the ocean front RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (represented at ATE) has undergone a major expansion and redevelopment.

Cultural hubs

Connecting Perth and Northbridge, Yagan Square is the first significant site in an Australian city to be named in honour of an Aboriginal person. As well as being a place of meeting, celebration and connection, the public precinct is home to a market hall of eateries. Another new cultural hub for Perth is Hibernian Place, located in the city's revitalised historic east end. The precinct combines a curated mix of hospitality operators, including The Westin's flagship restaurant, Guy Grossi's Garum.

Perth's new world-class 60,000 seat Optus Stadium (represented at ATE) hosts a variety of local and international sporting and entertainment events. Visitors can also take a behind-the-scenes walking tour of the precinct, which offers stunning views of the Perth city skyline and Swan River. Captain Cook Cruises (represented at ATE) also now operate ferry transfers to the stadium during the Australian Rules Football (AFL) season.

Foodie experiences

Catch, cook and dine on fresh Western Rock lobster, as part of the Wild Seafood Experience recently launched by Rottnest Cruises (represented at ATE) and operating off the shores of Perth's island playground Rottnest Island.

Explore the Swan Valley - only 25-minutes' drive from Perth city - on the new hop-on, hop-off bus service. Operated by ADAMS Charters (represented at ATE), the Swan Valley Explorer runs seven days a week, allowing guests to hop on and off at award-winning wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries, eateries, gourmet food providores and nature-based attractions.

In the port city of Fremantle, Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2018 gold medallist for Excellence in Food Tourism Two Feet and a Heartbeat (represented at ATE) has added two new tours - a foodie walking tour that takes in Freo's flourishing bar and restaurant scene, and a convict history tour. Two Feet also offers small bar, dining and fromage tours in Perth city.

Dine under the sea at the iconic Busselton Jetty, bronze medal winner at the 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards (represented at ATE, with Australia's South West). In an Australian first, enjoy a degustation dinner of fresh WA produce eight metres below the ocean's surface and 1.8 kilometres from shore.

In the coral coast town of Dongara, award-winning distillery Illegal Tender Rum Co (represented at ATE) will introduce a new dining experience to complement its rum tours and tastings. Common Place will showcase local seafood and produce, with a strong focus on native spices and herbs.

Nature and wildlife

Bunbury in WA's South West is now home to a multi-million dollar revitalised attraction, the Dolphin Discovery Centre (represented at ATE). Learn about dolphins at the state-of-the-art interpretive centre before taking a dolphin cruise or swim. Naturaliste Charters (attending ATE) will add new whale watching tours in the south west city of Albany to its suite of wildlife tours around the state.

Dirk Hartog Island (represented at ATE) – home of Australia's first recorded European landing in 1616 - has introduced a new 'Walking with Whales' four-day guided walk along the island's pristine landscapes.

Kalbarri Scenic Flights (represented at ATE) now offer flights over highlights of the Coral Coast region, including Hutt Lagoon (pink lake) at Port Gregory, Abrolhos Islands, Monkey Mia and Wooleen Station, with departures available from Perth and Kalbarri.

At World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, tour operators such as Coral Bay Ecotours, Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo, and Live Ningaloo (all represented at ATE) are offering new tour experiences, including VIP and eco tours, and will continue to offer humpback whale swims for the 2019 season – complementing other seasonal tours, such whale sharks and manta rays. Adding to these marine encounters, Turquoise Safaris (represented at ATE) has launched sea lion tours from Jurien Bay on-board a new vessel.

In WA's Golden Outback, visitors can visit kangaroos lazing on Australia's whitest sand beach, Lucky Bay, on a new Explore Esperance day tour with Busy Blue Bus (represented at ATE). For those wanting to stay overnight, the campground and recreation area at Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, has reopened following a $4.2 million refurbishment.

In the North West of WA, explore the gorges of Karijini National Park in the Pilbara. Aviair (represented at ATE, Kimberley Experiences) has partnered with West Oz Active to offer a Class 6 Canyoning Adventure and a Class 5 Guided Canyon Hikes, both staying overnight at Karijini Eco Retreat and with scenic flights from Karratha and accommodation.

Qantas Australia Tourism Awards 2018 gold medallist Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures (represented at ATE) has expanded its tour offering following a partnership with Jilinya Adventures. Departing from Broome and Cape Leveque in the Kimberley – guests will discover the history of the Wandjina culture from a local guide.

Go Beyond Broome (represented at ATE) is a new tour company offering bucket-list fly and cruise experiences, departing from Broome and covering destinations such as the Buccaneer Archipelago and Horizontal Falls, Cockatoo Island and Silica Beach. HeliSpirit (represented at ATE) has added to its tour offering with new private Luxury Air Safaris. For families, Kimberley Wild Expeditions (represented at ATE) has launched a new five-day outback four wheel drive 'Kimberley Family Safari' tour.

Aboriginal tourism

WA is experiencing a rise in new Aboriginal tour operators, who are proudly sharing their stories, culture and traditional lands with visitors through a variety of authentic experiences. In the Kimberley, travellers can hear stories of Broome's culture past and present on a cruise with Narlijia Tours (represented at ATE). On the Coral Coast, Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures (represented at ATE) offer new guided stand-up paddle board tours of the Shark Bay area. In WA's South West, Poornarti Tours (represented at ATE) offer visitors the chance to reconnect with Boodja (Mother Earth) on a new Soul Camps cultural experience.

Cruising

In small vessel cruising news, Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2018 gold medallist Kimberley Quest (represented at ATE) has released a four-day Taste of the Kimberley itinerary - a teaser of its renowned Kimberley cruising experience. True North Adventure Cruises (represented at ATE) has released two new tour itineraries for its 2019 season - the 'Adventure South West' tour travels along WA's South West coastline, while the Coast and Coral 13 night cruise combines the Kimberley coast and Rowley Shoals.

For further information on any of these new product offerings, please contact Tourism WA's Destination and Events PR team.

END

Contacts:

Michelle Kosonen, PR & Famils Manager

Tourism Western Australia

Michelle.Kosonen@westernaustralia.com

08 9262 1708

Jayde Little, Public Relations Manager

Tourism Western Australia

Jayde.little@westernaustralia.com

08 9262 1769

Emily Andrews, Public Relations Executive