WHAT'S HOT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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/