WHAT'S HOT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA JULY 2016

Domestic goddess joins Gourmet Escape line-up

Seductive queen of the kitchen, Nigella Lawson, will join this year's Margaret River Gourmet Escape, leading an impressive line-up of chefs, wine and food personalities for the event's fifth year anniversary. As one of the international headline guests, Nigella will vist Margaret River for first time at the three-day culinary extravaganza, from November 19 to 20, 2016. The playful cooking goddess will be joined by more than 40 of the world's leading food and wine personalities, including seven chefs from the 'World's Best 50 Restaurants', four of whom will visit WA for the first time, including Joan Roca (#2 El Celler de Can Roca, Spain), Mauro Colagreco (#6 Mirazur, France), Andoni Luis Aduriz (#7 Mugaritz, Spain) and Isaac McHale (#26 The Cove Club, UK). A selection of signature events that will wow food lovers include the famous Audi Gourmet Beach BBQs, the unmissable Gourmet Village, Feast in the Forest, Margaret River's Secret Garden, as well as showcase dinners, intimate master classes, and demonstrations. Located a three hour drive south of Perth, Margaret River is the only wine region in Australia that has some of the world's best beaches, coastal 'cape to cape' walking tracks, world-renowned surf breaks, tall tree forests and spectacular wining and dining experiences all located on its doorstep. Tickets to the Margaret River Gourmet Escape will be available via Ticketek from July 22.

Arcadia to land at Elizabeth Quay in Australian-first

Following its widely-acclaimed performance at Glastonbury, United Kingdom creative pioneers, Arcadia Spectacular, will bring their award-winning, 50-tonne, fire breathing spider to Perth's Elizabeth Quay for an Australian exclusive in November 2016. Arcadia's Australian debut will engulf audiences with a 'Landing Show' alongside a unique local, national and international music program. Leftfield will headline the opening party, while local artists Alison Wonderland and Carmada will entrain crowds on nights two and three, with a fusion of electronic and dance music. Combining ground-breaking performance, creative engineering, sustainability, music, innovative technology and spellbinding sensory magic, Perth is set to ignite in an explosion of unity and celebration. The Arcadia spider will be at the heart of three ticketed shows, which will include a performance of Yallor Keeninyarra (Dance of the Wadjuk Nyungar people), lead by Noongar representative Barry McGuire. The dance calls on the Spider Spirit to weave a web of strength and togetherness for the men who gathered for the traditional ceremonies at Gumap – the area near Elizabeth Quay. It will be the first time the dance has been performed in its traditional form to the public of WA since 1901. The Arcadia Spectacular shows will be performed on November 25, 26 and 27 with community open days on November 23 and 24.

Finding Dory shines a light on whale sharks

WA's Ningaloo region has welcomed increased interest in whale sharks following an appearance by the world's largest fish in the Disney-Pixar blockbuster Finding Dory. In the Finding Nemo sequel, blue tang fish Dory is joined by new characters including Destiny, a friendly, nearsighted whale shark. As one of the few places in the world where visitors can swim with wild whale sharks, the Ningaloo Marine Park is receiving increased media attention about where tourists can see real-life Finding Dory animals in their natural habitats. Read more here.