Western Australia has something for everyone when it comes to deciding on a travel itinerary. From amazing events to new attractions, you will need more than just a weekend to pack it all in.
Here are some of the newest ways to fill your weekend in Western Australia.
Australian-first giant sculpture trail in WA
A series of enormous wooden sculptures will be installed south of Perth this year in an Australian-first. Created by renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo, and standing at around five metres tall, the sculptures are intended to be protectors of the environment, and will each have their own distinct personality. Located in Mandurah and the wider Peel region, just an hours’ drive south of Perth, visitors will be encouraged to explore and discover these installations at five secret locations when it opens to the public in late 2022. An artist of international acclaim, Dambo has exhibited extensively throughout the world including in Denmark, USA, France, Germany, China, South Korea and Chile. Dambo’s practice celebrates the diversity, beauty and importance of the natural world, with the artist’s works all handmade using recycled materials. This unique public art event – Thomas Dambo’s Sculptures in Western Australia – is initiated and produced by FORM – Building a State of Creativity Inc. who has proudly delivered cultural projects such as the PUBLIC Silo Trail, and Field of Light: Avenue of Honour in Albany.
Swim with ocean giants at World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef
Swimming with humpback whales in the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park on WA’s Coral Coast has returned for 2022, with tours now underway in Coral Bay and Exmouth until October 30. Visitors to the region can not only experience the magic of swimming with one of the world’s biggest mammals, but may also have a face to fin encounter with the world’s biggest fish, with some whale shark swim operators still offering tours this month. Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s premier destinations for swimming with the gentle giants of the ocean – humpback whales, whale sharks, and manta rays, with manta ray tours operating year round.
Noongar artists reimagine the iconic Swan Lake
The West Australian Ballet will weave ancient music and dance performed by Noongar artists into one of ballet’s masterpieces, in a breathtaking new full-length production of the iconic Swan Lake. Showing from November 18 to December 11, 2022 in the iconic and newly renovated His Majesty’s Theatre, this groundbreaking new work from Australia’s oldest ballet company will bring together classical ballet alongside the work of Balladong Wadjuk Noongar man Barry McGuire and Gya Ngoop Keeninyarra (One Blood Dancers). Ancient music and dance performed by Noongar artists will add a unique cultural element to this traditional tale. Set in 1800’s Fremantle Harbour, the story of this much-loved classical ballet will intertwine with the McGuire family totem, the Black Swan, which is the symbol of Western Australia. Tickets for this show are available to purchase now through waballet.com.au.
Discover WA’s hidden treasures and tales with WAnderland
For the first time, thousands of rare and remarkable items in museums, cultural centres and private collections across WA have been brought together in a new online portal. WAnderland is packed with hidden treasures and tales – from the cultured to the kitsch and everything in between. The website opens a doorway to WA’s fascinating regional collections – inspiring visitors and locals to hit the road and experience them in real life. Head upstairs above a Chinese restaurant in Broome to find a mesmerising personal collection featuring items from five generations of the Yu family; experience the culture of WA’s Aboriginal peoples at centres like Bilya Koort Boodja in Northam; or marvel at little-known places like the Bellview Shell Collection in the Margaret River Region, which holds Australia’s largest private collection of shells and coral. The WAnderland project, led by the WA Museum, not only showcases locations and the surprising items to be found, but also shines a light on the people behind the collections, with interviews from some of the warmest and most knowledgeable people from across the State. Discover the unique collections and build a personalised online itinerary at visitwanderland.com.au.
World’s first pearl oyster gin on offer in Broome
Moontide Distillery and Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, both located in Australia’s pearling capital of Broome in WA’s North West, have partnered together to release the first gin in the world to use pearl oyster as a botanical. The Pearler’s Gin is distilled with juniper berries, Burdekin plum, lemon myrtle, mint and oyster mantle – which is a by-product from the cultured pearling process. The mantle is harvested at the same time as the pearl meat and mother of pearl shell, once the final pearl has been collected from the oyster, ensuring that all parts of the pearl oyster are used and reinforcing the reason why pearls are considered the most sustainable gems in the world. The pearl oyster from Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm gives the gin a unique minerality and umami taste, making it ideal to be enjoyed with seafood. The Pearler’s Gin is available to purchase directly or online at Moontide Distillery in Broome, and at select bottle shops across Australia.
Wildflowers set to bloom
One of the greatest flower shows on Earth is starting in WA – with wildflowers bursting into colour in the northern regions of WA’s Golden Outback and Coral Coast regions. Thanks to consistent autumn rains across the regions, local experts are predicting another bumper wildflower season for 2022. With more than 12,000 species, 60 per cent of which are found nowhere else in the world, the flowers will colour the landscapes from coast to forest and city to outback. The six-month flowering season begins in June in the Pilbara, Goldfields and along the Coral Coast. By September, it moves south and reaches Perth, finishing with a flurry in October and November throughout the South West. WA’s Mid West region is known for its stunning carpets of pink, white and yellow everlastings and incredible wreath flowers (Lechenaultia macrantha). The season generally starts in August and continues until the end of September, though hundreds of wreath flowers are already starting to flower in the Golden Outback region, and patches of everlastings – along with a variety of other species such as bachelor buttons, grevillea, hakea and mulla mulla – are also beginning to bloom.
One of the best ways to experience and discover WA’s collection of wildflowers is on a guided wildflower tour, or by attending a wildflower themed event. The WA Visitor Centre’s Wildflower Tracker app also provides travellers with one easy-to-use wildflower information and sightings reference. Updated regularly, the app’s interactive map shows exactly where the wildflowers are blooming around the State.
Swan around in Swan Valley
Valley Social has recently opened its doors in Perth’s Swan Valley region. Taking over the former Elmar’s venue, the newly renovated brewery and restaurant features a spacious interior with multiple zones to enjoy local craft beers, ciders, spirits and wines served across three different bars. The food menu features fresh local produce, with the venue’s custom-built black beauty smoker serving up a variety of smoked barbeque meats. Valley Social is also home to the largest glass micro-brewery kettle in the Southern Hemisphere, with all beers produced on-site, as well as the house spirits. With a main bar, dining area, spirit lounge, alfresco and outdoor lawn area to kick back and relax, it’s the ideal venue to enjoy a weekend afternoon, and located only 30 minutes from the Perth CBD.
Dinosaurs of Patagonia premiere at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Dinosaurs from the remote region of Patagonia have made their world premiere at the WA Museum Boola Bardip. Dinosaurs of Patagonia is a remarkable world-first exhibition that showcases some of the most enormous dinosaurs to have ever walked the Earth. Developed by the Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio in Argentina, the exhibition spans most of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods from 70 to 230 million years ago. The exhibition showcases 16 dinosaur skeletons including Patagotitan mayorum, a colossal sauropod and one of the world’s largest land animals (around 70 tonnes and 37 metres long), Tyrannotitan chubutensis, one of the most ferocious predators of the Cretaceous period (six tonnes and 12 metres long), and Manidens condorensis, by contrast, one of the smallest herbivore dinosaurs known to date (75 centimetres tall). Visitors can explore the Dinosaurs of Patagonia exhibition through the eyes of palaeontologists and learn how they unravel the history of our planet through stories embedded in ancient rocks. The interactive exhibition also features 3D animations and videos, as well as the opportunity to get up close to some of the world’s most remarkable fossils – including a 2.4 metre Patagotitan femur. The exhibition will be on display at the WA Museum Boola Bardip from now until to October 23, 2022.
Take an Origins Market tour experience
Origins Market, a vibrant community hub showcasing WA makers, growers and creators, has recently added a range of new tours and experiences to its offering. Located in the town of Busselton in WA’s South West, the new experiences range from food and wine pairings to art tours – and provide visitors with a unique way to explore what the region has to offer. Current experiences include a Flight to Vietnam with Southern Forests Honey, an Après Afternoon with Marri Wood Park Wines and an Origins Market Day Tour. Prices start from $20 and are available to book online.
Go mud crabbing in Broome
Broome Tours has recently added a new Mud Crabbing Adventure to its tour offering, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of catching a prized Kimberley Mud Crab in WA’s North West. The tour begins with a catamaran cruise of Roebuck Bay to reach the mouth of Broome’s incredible creek systems. Experienced guides will then demonstrate the tips and tricks for catching a ‘muddy’ before small groups are taken on an adventure through the mangroves to cast and pull pots to catch their own. Guests are then treated to freshly cooked chilli mud crab on the cruise back through Roebuck Bay. Tours are based on Broome’s tidal movements, and operate five mornings a week.
Make the most of Margaret River
Margaret River in WA’s South West region has been certified as an ECO Destination, the first for WA and only one of four in Australia. Through this globally recognised certification program, visitors are assured the region has a range of high-quality nature-based tourism products and a strong commitment to improving sustainable practices into the future. Driven by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, and supported by the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, 26 businesses across the region are now ECO Certified. Margaret River Discovery Company, Blackwood River Houseboats, Fair Harvest Permaculture and Tanah Marah are the latest to receive the certification, alongside the likes of the Margaret River Retreat, Margaret River Surf School, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, and Jewel, Mammoth and Lake Caves. In addition to this, around 68 wineries across the Margaret River region are certified members of Sustainable Wine Growing Australia, with 12 per cent of vineyards certified organic or biodynamic. Margaret River is the only wine region in Australia where you can hop from award-winning wineries and restaurants to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves – all of this is located an easy three-hour drive south from Perth.
Glamp at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, located on the Dampier Peninsular 200 kilometres north of Broome, has launched a number of new glamping tents for the 2022 season. Adding to the property’s existing accommodation offering, the 15 brand new glamping eco tents bring a new level of luxury with private ensuites, air-conditioning and king sized beds. The air-conditioned tents allow Cygnet Bay to extend its season and operate year-round. Built to be eco-friendly with minimal impact on the surrounding environment, the entire production of the new tents used local businesses, including Indigenous trade and furniture items made in Broome by Aguyna, a not-for-profit organisation. Surrounded by hundreds of locally grown plants, the new glamping tents are located an easy walking distance to the pool and restaurant. Wheelchair accessible tents also available.
Albany’s new luxury accommodation
The historic city of Albany in WA’s South West region recently welcomed the opening of a new luxury accommodation offering. Latitude 35°5 is an architecturally designed luxury holiday home located in Goode Beach, just over 20 kilometres from Albany city centre, surrounded by nature in the Torndirrup National Park and sitting on top of a granite outcrop offering stunning panoramic views over the coastline. Accommodating up to eight people, the property features an expansive master suite and three guest rooms all with ensuites, large entertaining areas with dining room, cosy fireplace and a 160-bottle wine cellar, with timber, local granite and imported marbles used throughout. The wraparound balcony also offers both sunrise and sunset views over the Southern Ocean.
Visit Wadjemup Lighthouse
The landmark Wadjemup Hill Lighthouse Precinct at Perth’s Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) has recently reopened to the public following a number of infrastructure upgrades. Revitalisation of the precinct includes landscaping improvements, upgrades to the toilet facilities, electrical upgrade works and heritage conservation. Constructed in 1896, Wadjemup Lighthouse stands at the highest point of Rottnest Island, offering visitors a fantastic view of Perth city on the distant mainland. At approximately 38 metres, it is the fourth tallest lighthouse in Australia and replaced the original 20 metre structure built in 1849. The Wadjemup Hill Lighthouse Precinct includes the State Heritage-listed Lighthouse Keepers Cottage and WWII defence heritage built-forms, such as the Signal Tower and Battery Observation Post – which are now all linked by self-guided interpretive signage. Located at the centre of the island, visitors can get to the lighthouse by bike, bus tour, shuttle bus, or by foot via the Wadjemup Bidi walk trail. Tours of the precinct operate daily between 10am and 2:30pm at 30-minute intervals.
See numbat babies at Perth Zoo
Population numbers for the endangered and critically endangered numbat, western swamp tortoise and dibbler are set to rise thanks to a recent ‘baby boom’ at Perth Zoo. This season, 67 critically endangered western swamp tortoises have hatched in the Zoo’s specialised breeding facility, while 13 small numbat joeys have been recorded in pouches and burrows. Four breeding dibblers are also boasting a rare, full pouch with each individual carrying eight joeys. Perth Zoo remains the only zoological institution in the world to breed numbats, and since 1993 more than 283 have been bred and released into the wild. Thanks to this breeding program, which works to safeguard some of WA’s most vulnerable native species, more than 5,236 Perth Zoo-bred animals from 11 different species have been released back into the wild to help bolster populations.
