Murujuga Cultural Landscape Receives UNESCO World Heritage Listing
Western Australia is now home to the Australia's newest UNESCO World Heritage site, with the Murujuga Cultural Landscape inscribed on the World Heritage List on 11 July 2025. Located on the Dampier Archipelago and Burrup Peninsula in WA's Pilbara, Murujuga is one of the most significant cultural landscapes on Earth. Its richly layered red rock escarpments are home to an estimated two million petroglyphs, dating back more than 50,000 years. These ancient stone carvings document the connection between First Nations Peoples and Country through time: stories of land, sea, ceremony, family, and spirit etched into stone. Murujuga is Australia's 21st UNESCO World Heritage site and the second to be recognised for its Aboriginal cultural values. At the heart of Murujuga is the Ngarda-Ngarli, the five language groups that are custodians, who continue to care for this land and sea country. This UNESCO listing recognises not just the extraordinary rock art, but the ongoing living traditions of the Ngarda-Ngarli, their spiritual connection to place, and cultural knowledge passed through generations.

Pair'd Margaret River Region 2025 festival program announced
Pair'd Margaret River Region x Range Rover has unveiled its 2025 program — a dreamlike feast for all senses, celebrating wine, food, music, culture and place. After its inaugural success in 2024, Pair'd Margaret River Region will return from 20 – 23 November, offering guests 30 one-of-a-kind experiences. From underground opera in ancient caves, to feasts beneath the stars, the festival invites guests to journey through flavour, place and creativity, with the natural beauty and grounded energy of the Margaret River Region as the ultimate host. This year, the event will be headlined by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann in a fire-focussed feast taking place at Wills Domain. Other highlights will include the return of the hugely popular Pair'd Beach Club, which unites DJs and delicious seafood in a unique beachside setting; Nature's Table, which will once again delight guests over a long lunch, and several exclusive tasting events. In addition, the Pair'd Wine Dinner series will bring together Michelin-starred chefs and sommeliers for exceptional dining experiences in Margaret River.

UFC Fight Night Perth dates announced
The first ever UFC Fight Night to take place in Perth/Boorloo has been confirmed for Sunday, 28 September at RAC Arena. The Australian-exclusive showdown will be the only UFC Fight Night scheduled to take place in Australia this year, and the first in Australia since 2018. Fans will find out the full fight card soon, with the event anticipated to entice thousands of out-of-state fans to Western Australia, plus showcase the Dream State to a mega global broadcast audience. Already WA has proven itself as an enviable UFC event host, after the epic success of 2024's UFC 305 and UFC 284 in 2023. Perth has also been confirmed to host a UFC premium pay-per-view event in 2026.

Sail Grand Prix reveals fan experiences
Exclusive fan experiences and viewing options have been unveiled ahead of tickets for the inaugural Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix, presented by KPMG, going on pre-sale next month. Fans can choose from a range of ticket options to access experiences like the Waterfront Grandstand, to see the action via elevated seating and big screens; all-inclusive gourmet food and beverages viewing experiences; and the Beach Club, offering premium viewing from Bathers Beach. Meanwhile, tickets to the Bring Your Own Boat zone will offer front-row water viewing within the Exclusion Zone. The world-famous SailGP will race into Fremantle/Walyalup from 17-18 January 2026 as part of a three-year hosting deal from 2026-2028. SailGP is one of the world's most prestigious global sailing events and is anticipated to attract high-yield sailing fans to WA. For the first time, the iconic competition will take place in Fremantle, bringing 50-foot catamarans, raced by teams from 12 nations at speeds of over 100km/h, close to the shoreline.

Qantas bound for the Margaret River Region
Qantas is making it easier than ever for interstate visitors to visit WA's spectacular Margaret River Region, by launching a new direct service between Perth and Busselton. Through three flights per week, the service is anticipated to bring more than 15,000 extra seats to WA's South West region each year. It will be timed to seamlessly connect with flights arriving in Perth from Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, and marks another exciting service boost for the Busselton-Margaret River airport, after the success of the direct Sydney and Melbourne flights into the region.

Cathay Pacific announces new double daily flights
Cathay Pacific has announced an uplift in services from Hong Kong to Perth/Boorloo from October 2025, with the airline to soon run double daily flights, a significant increase from its current 11 flights per week. With Hong Kong being a popular transit hub for international visitors, the additional services are an exciting opportunity to provide more one-stop connections to WA from several key markets, including Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Greater China. It's the second time in twelve months Cathay Pacific has increased flight frequency into Perth, which reflects the growing number of visitors choosing to visit the Dream State.

Thousands of Broome flights on sale
Thousands of airfares to Broome and a range of tourism experiences have been discounted to entice sunshine and adventure-seeking visitors to WA's Kimberley region. More than 4,000 discount airfares are available for travel on Virgin Australia's Perth to Broome route and Nexus Airlines' regional Western Australia flights into the iconic Kimberley destination. These low-price fares add to the 16,400 discounted airfares already made available on the Perth to Broome route as part of the 2025 Affordable Airfares Program.

The State Buildings celebrates 10 years
This October, the State Buildings celebrate 10 years with an exclusive program of food, wine, music and art events. Headline events include Cédric Grolet's week-long afternoon tea residency at Cape Arid Rooms; a Torno Subito pop-up at POST; a fine dining collaboration between Wildflower and Singapore's acclaimed Pangium; and an intimate performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra string quartet. In addition, Margaret River's first vineyard, Vasse Felix, will host a wine pairing dinner. Other highlights include live music in Postal Hall, a Sodashi skincare session with founder Megan Larsen, and the Long Chim Night Markets.

Deep Woods wine takes international accolade
Deep Woods Estate, part of the renowned Fogarty Wine Group, has taken out a prestigious award at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 in London. The Margaret River winery won a Platinum Medal for its 2023 Reserve Chardonnay – one of only eight Chardonnays in the world to receive the award. Its platinum status puts it among the world's wine elite – only 137 of 17,000 entries into the 2025 Awards received Platinum Medals – which equates to less than one per cent of all entries. The Decanter World Wine Awards is renowned as the world's most influential and largest competition of its kind. Alongside its Chardonnay, Deep Woods also received a Gold medal for its 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

NEW TOURS, ATTRACTIONS & ACCOMMODATION OFFERINGS

Coral Expeditions announces 2026 Margaret River itinerary
Longstanding expedition cruise operator Coral Expeditions has unveiled a series of short itineraries for 2026, including a six-night exploration of the Margaret River Region. The Western Australia tour includes visits to Busselton, Margaret River, Cape Naturaliste and Augusta, with the Coastal Adventures series designed to appeal to active guests seeking the freedom to explore. Guests will embark on immersive wildlife and nature experiences, opt in to food and wine trail tours, enjoy dark sky nocturnal experiences and self-guided walking and shopping experiences. Each cruise will start in style with a Sailaway Soiree event, and throughout each voyage, guests will enjoy delicious contemporary cuisine inspired by regional produce and wines. The WA itineraries will commence in October 2026.

Changing of the Garde – Freo counts down to major opening
One of Western Australia's most anticipated accommodation openings of 2025, Garde, located in the heart of Fremantle, is now taking bookings. Set to welcome its first guests this September, Garde will introduce 83 new rooms and suites, a spa and wellness offering, and Anglesea, a lively ground floor restaurant set to serve a delicious Japanese and Korean fusion menu. Once open, and combined with the existing Warders Cottages inventory, the Garde hotel will comprise 106 stunning rooms, which carry a rich heritage and distinctly Fremantle aesthetic. In anticipation, the current Warders Hotel is rebranding to Garde, signalling the enduring connection between both properties and marking the new chapter.

Residence on Langley Park heralds new era
The newly refreshed Residence on Langley Park hotel is now offering an enhanced guest experience in the heart of the Perth CBD. Select rooms in the property now include fully equipped kitchenettes, plush linen, workspaces and a washer/dryer, perfect for extended stays. In addition, guests can now enjoy expedited check-ins, daily buffet breakfasts, fresh lunch options, and a welcoming lobby bar. Residence on Langley Park offers a flexible mix of accommodation styles to suit a variety of travellers, from king and queen rooms, to studios, and one and two-bedroom apartments. The expansive hotel is located close to the inner city, Swan River/Derbal Yerrigan, and the vibrant Northbridge and Optus Stadium precincts.

The Wedgetail lands in Eagle Bay
A spectacular, sprawling property in WA's Margaret River Region has joined the Private Properties portfolio. Wedgetail is ideally located in the prestigious enclave of Eagle Bay, a secluded beachside community just a short drive from Dunsborough. The impressive holiday home has expansive ocean views, a sparkling swimming pool, tennis court, wood fireplace and even a cute cubby house. Effortlessly accommodating eight guests, it comprises four spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms and expansive comfortable living area. The home is the epitome of beachside elegance, with chic coastal furnishings, plush linen and holiday features like sun lounges, a trampoline and even a juicer. The Wedgetail is now available for stays all year round, and is equally as perfect for a cosy winter break as it is an endless summer escape.

NEW FOOD & BEVERAGE OPENINGS

Beyond Distilling launches gin making
Busselton small-batch producer Beyond Distilling has launched a two-hour gin masterclass sure to appeal to budding distillers. The experience includes a guided tour of Beyond Distilling, a tasting paddle featuring four of Beyond's small-batch gins, the opportunity to create a custom gin in a mini copper still, and a take-home, named 500ml bottle of the final bespoke creation. Beyond prides itself on its local, from-scratch approach, working with local farmers and infusing native botanicals in its lively product range, all overseen by Head Distiller Greg Garnish. Everything is crafted onsite so the result is a truly home-grown piece of WA's South West.

Flavours of Italy tour added to Forage Safaris' menu
Forage Safaris' newly launched Flavours of Italy tour takes food-loving visitors on a small group, hands-on food and wine experience in Margaret River. After a light breakfast at Dunsborough's Merchant and Marker, guests create authentic Tuscan dishes alongside celebrated chef Sioban Sargent of Wildwood Valley Cooking School, before sitting down to a long-table lunch together. Each of the five courses hero local produce, alongside paired local Italian wine varietals, with expert insights by Leah Clearwater from the Margaret River Wine Academy. The experience includes hotel pick up and drop off, breakfast and lunch plus tastings and pairings, and a take-home recipe book.

Secret Picnic Adventures arrives in Busselton
After the success of its adventures in neighbouring towns, Secret Picnic Adventures has arrived in Busselton. Part foodie trail, part problem-solving adventure, the picnics commence at Busselton Visitor Centre before leading guests to delicious nearby locations. Foodies can follow the digital clues to collect local delights which have been carefully curated to showcase the best of the region's food outlets, while taking in the town's attractions and scenery. The tours are available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with a Dunsborough tour set to launch in spring 2025. 

Yahava KoffeeWorks to develop an 'immersive wonderland'
The Swan Valley is set for a major caffeine boost with the announcement of a new Yahava KoffeeWorks location, due to open 2028. To be set across 17-acres close to its current location, the new roastery is a visionary project to be Western Australia's largest walk-in coffee roastery open to the public. It's set to offer a sensory and immersive experience, including a cinematic walk-through of a coffee plantation, complete with crunchy soil sound-effects underfoot. Visitors will be able to roam around the vast working roastery, watch live demonstrations, sample free tastings, take coffee classes, and purchase coffees and meals from the full kitchen. Offering views of the Swan River/Derbarl Yerrigan, the venue will also include alfresco dining and a nature playground. The Swan Valley is WA's oldest wine region and is a 25-minute drive from Perth's CBD.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE UPDATES

Margaret River Open Studios launches event guide
Returning for the 12th year, the 2025 Margaret River Region Open Studios is set to attract art and culture loving visitors to WA's South West from 13-28 September. In 2025, more than 150 artists, including 29 who are joining the festival for the first time, along with renowned artists such as Leon Pericles, Rebecca Cool, Christian Fletcher, John Miller, Lesley Meaney, Lauren Wilhelm, Fi Wilkie and Caroline Juniper, are opening the doors to their creative haunts. Proudly claiming the title as Australia's largest open studio event, the immersive, self-guided style festival invites visitors to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creative process for the variety of artists, crafters and makers in the region across 18 mediums including drawing, ceramics, painting, glass, woodworking, jewellery and photography.

CinefestOZ Film Festival reveals blockbuster 2025 program
In 2025, CinefestOZ Film Festival is celebrating its eighteenth year with dynamic Australian stories on the big screen and new events across the Margaret River Region. From 30 August to 7 September, the event will showcase more than 90 features, shorts and TV series, including the four $100,000 Film Prize Finalists - We Bury The Dead, Birthright, Songs Inside and One More Shot. New events for 2025 include a Karaoke Party; cosy Mulled Wine movie night; Horror in the Viewing Room (short horror films at a funeral parlour); and, on the final festival day, the Big Dip in Geographe Bay, off the iconic Busselton Jetty.

CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS

Plateful Perth makes a tasty return
Plateful Perth returns to the city in August for a month-long celebration of food and drink featuring more than 100 offers and events. New for 2025, Gourmet Getaways combine premium hotel stays with exclusive dining, for stylish and delicious overnight escapes. The Premium Plates series offers exclusive one-night only experiences with bespoke menus and immersive sensory dinners showcasing a range of chefs and venues. Cocktail masterclasses, whiskey flights and bar crawls abound in the Sip Sessions, perfect for midweek socialising. For those seeking a relaxed experience, Feast is a celebration of dining together over long-table banquets, while Bargain Bites offers express lunches and weekday specials.

Event listings

Taste of the Kimberley
15 – 17 August | Kununurra
Taste of the Kimberley celebrate the region's stunning natural landscapes, Aboriginal heritage, and thriving agricultural traditions. The 2025 program will see local and Western Australian chefs, farmers, and the cultural community unite to showcase the region's produce and agriculture in a unique and experiential format including lunches, workshops, and tours.

Shinju Matsuri
23 August – 7 September | Broome
Shinju Matsuri, Japanese for 'festival of the pearl', has been a celebration of Broome's unique multicultural and pearling history since 1970. Held annually over 16 days in August and September, this iconic festival unfolds across a series of vibrant events showcasing the fusion of flavours, sounds, and colours that define this outback gem. Join fellow foodies for the Sunset Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach or enjoy cultural performances at the Carnival of Nations.

Lance East Exotics Tarmac West Rally
18 - 21 September | Various, Perth region
The Lance East Exotics Tarmac West Rally will be held in Perth and surrounds from 18 to 21 September. Rally drivers will race the clock along about 250 kilometres of closed roads that will include long flowing stages and tight technical stages that require deft driving. The event is open to rally cars and has a category for standard road cars for those who like spirited driving. Stages will be held in Whiteman Park, Ellenbrook, Parkerville, Kalamunda, Toodyay, Maryville Downs, Bullsbrook, Malaga and the Perth CBD.

Bledisloe Cup
4 October | Perth
Rugby Union's ultimate showdown is back in Perth. The Wallabies face archrivals, the mighty New Zealand All Blacks, in an epic battle for the iconic Bledisloe Cup. With the Wallabies determined to reclaim the Cup after years of anticipation, the stakes have never been higher. 

WWE Crown Jewel: Perth
10 – 13 October | Perth
Crown Jewel: Perth will feature some of the biggest WWE Superstars, including Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena, who will make his final WWE appearance in Australia as part of his 2025 farewell tour, Australian native Rhea Ripley, and more.

The West Test - The Ashes - First Test Australia v England
21 – 25 November | Perth
The most iconic series in world cricket is coming to Perth in November. The NRMA Insurance men's Ashes series kicks off at Perth Stadium on Friday, 21 November. The Ashes remains one of the most historic and hotly contested events in world sport – and you will not want to miss this.