Travel and Lifestyle News from Western Australia December 2015

Margaret River Gourmet Escape

In this month's edition of This is WA, read about the Royals on tour in Western Australia, social media superstar Natasha Oakley's visit to Perth and Rottnest, the Ord Valley Muster being named the best regional event in Australia and a mountain bike master plan for the State's South West. There's also all the latest news on WA tours, accommodation, food, wine and events.

Royals on tour in Western Australia

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Albany and Perth last month, as part of their Royal Tour of Australia. The couple toured Albany's Mt Adelaide, which is home to the new National Anzac Centre and boasts sweeping views of King George Sound, met with locals at the Albany Agricultural Show, and sampled local produce at Oranje Tractor Wines. Prince Charles' 67th birthday was then celebrated at the Cottesloe Civic Centre overlooking the iconic Cottesloe Beach, where guests enjoyed a BBQ featuring produce from around WA including Broome Mackeral, Mount Barker chicken and beef from the Stirling Ranges. Dessert was a special WA inspired birthday cake - made by Dany McEwen of Marguerite Cakes. While on tour, the Duchess was pictured using a Sunbella – a locally designed white cotton parasol featuring the highest possible UPF rating. The WA custom one-of-a-kind parasol (now available online at Sunbella) was designed specifically for the Duchess and gifted by the State.
www.sunbella.com.au/

Perth first Australian city to welcome Malindo Air

Perth was the first Australian city on Malindo Air's network when the airline's inaugural flight from Kuala Lumper landed at Perth Airport last month. Established in 2013, the airline is owned by the National Aerospace and Defence Industries of Malaysia and Indonesia's Lion Air. The airline offers a daily service, and extra flights between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from December onwards.
www.malindoair.com

Margaret River Gourmet Escape lives up to its world-class reputation

Margaret River Gourmet Escape has once again lived up to its reputation as one of the country's must-attend culinary events of the year. This year saw UK headline guest chef, Marco Pierre White, joined by 65 of some of the world's biggest food influencers to celebrate the beauty of the South West and all that it offers with its incredible produce, wine and stunning surrounds. The three-day festival saw more than 18,000 guests celebrate the diversity of food and wine in Western Australia, and in particular the South West. Special events were set in extraordinary locations including vineyards, in a cave, at the end of a jetty, in the forest, at the beach and at sea. Dates for Margaret River Gourmet Escape 2016 will be released in the coming weeks.
www.gourmetescape.com.au

Deal signed for long-awaited Rottnest Lodge upgrade

The State Government and Karma Group have concluded final lease negotiations that pave the way for redevelopment within the Lodge precinct on Rottnest Island, with the agreement effective from June 1, 2018. The resort-style development will include 80 contemporary self-contained units, short stay accommodation, cafe, restaurant and beverage venues, kids' club, swimming pool, day spa and conference and meeting rooms. Rottnest Island can be accessed in 30 minutes by ferry from the port city of Fremantle. The car-free island is home to 63 beaches and 20 bays, and an abundance of world class marine activities.
www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2015/11/Signed,-sealed,-soon-delivered-on-Rottnest.aspx