So Perth

Red Rooster started life in Kelmscott in 1972 and has since become a brand most people in Perth are familiar with. Their current marketing ploy is to start a roast chicken war with the supermarkets, and the only winner there is us. Since July 1st, the chain has cut the price of its Whole Roast Chicken to $10.00 and is keeping that price for a while. That undercuts the two major Perth supermarkets by at least $2.00 a bird. But which one is best?

“Western Australia is where the Red Rooster story started more than 50 years ago and roast chicken has been at the heart of our business ever since,” Red Rooster Chief Marketing Officer Allan Collins said.

“We’re incredibly proud of our WA heritage and of the generations of West Australians who helped make Red Rooster the brand it is today. Bringing one of our biggest value offers back to the state where it all began feels incredibly fitting.”

“Australians are looking for value more than ever, but they don’t want to compromise on quality. Our Whole Roast Chicken has always been about bringing people together around the dinner table and we’re proud to be making that a little more affordable.”

Red Rooster’s $10.00 chook is only available at that price on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. It’s roasted fresh daily, has good stuffing, and the chicken is nice and juicy. At $10.00, it’s a great option for an early-week dinner.

Coles and Woolworths both charge around $12.00 for a hot roast chicken. If you’re lucky, late afternoon/evening, you can often pick up one with a clearance sticker on it for anywhere between $4.00 and $10.00.

Taste is good. In our opinion, the Woolies roast chickens are better than the Coles ones, but there’s not a lot in it.

Consumer group Canstar Blue put the supermarket birds to a formal taste test this year, surveying 1,935 Australians in research finalised in February. IGA won overall, ending a five-year run by Costco and taking five stars for taste in the process.

Between the two main supermarkets, Canstar also had Woolworths coming out ahead of Coles. 

Red Rooster wasn’t included in this survey as Canstar only rates supermarkets.

Get your Red Rooster chook here.

So which chook is best?

We’re going to let you decide. Vote below.

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Boyz II Men are returning to Perth this November, and they’re bringing some friends with them. Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman will play RAC Arena, joined by rap royalty Salt-N-Pepa and new jack swing pioneers Bell Biv DeVoe — the latter performing in Australia for the very first time.

It’s a stacked bill of 1990s R&B and hip-hop, and Perth is the first stop on the Australian and New Zealand tour. 

Three acts who shaped a decade

Boyz II Men have sold more than 64 million albums, picked up four Grammy Awards, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. End of the Road spent 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking a record previously held by Elvis Presley, and I’ll Make Love To You topped the charts in both Australia and New Zealand. One Sweet Day with Mariah Carey, On Bended Knee, and Motownphilly round out a setlist that most millennials will know word for word.

Salt-N-Pepa are the first female hip-hop act inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and DJ Spinderella sold more than 15 million records and turned Push It, Shoop, Whatta Man, and Let’s Talk About Sex into all-time great hits that are featured on just about every 90s playlist on Spotify. In 1995, they became the first female rap act to win a Grammy, and in 2021, they collected the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

And Bell Biv DeVoe helped invent new jack swing — R&B harmonies stitched to hip-hop beats — and their quadruple-platinum debut Poison spun off hits including Poison, Do Me! and B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?. This will be their first time performing in Australia.

Show dates

Perth gets the Australian tour started with a night at RAC Arena. Here’s the full schedule:

PerthThursday, November 26thRAC ArenaGeelongSaturday, November 28thA Day On The GreenMount Duneed EstateAucklandTuesday, December 1stSpark ArenaSydneyFriday, December 4thTikTok Entertainment CentreHunter ValleySaturday, December 5thA Day On The GreenBimbadgenMount CottonSunday, December 6thA Day On The GreenSirromet Wines How to get tickets

Pre-sale tickets:

• NAB Goodies Visa presale — Monday, July 13th, at 11:00 am for 48 hours or until the allocation runs out.
• Frontier Touring member presale — Wednesday, July 15th, at 12:00 pm
• MG Live member presale — Wednesday, July 15th, at 12:00 pm

Tickets then go on sale to the public on Friday, July 17th, at 11:00 am through Ticketek.

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If you’ve been hunting for your next read, the State Government has just handed you a curated list of the best writing coming out of Western Australia right now. The 2026 WA Premier’s Book Awards shortlist has just landed, recognising more than 30 local published authors and writers across six categories.

“Western Australia has an incredible creative community, and my government is proud to celebrate the importance of storytelling through these awards,” Premier Roger Cook said.

“The books shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards showcase what it means to belong to and connect to a place like WA – and I know they stand up on the national stage too.”

“”Whether you’re a lifelong reader or you’ve been looking for a reason to get back into the habit of reading, I encourage all Western Australians to look up these titles and discover new voices in WA literature.” 

This year’s field runs from fantastical worlds and grim underbellies to stories rooted in place and identity; it includes past winners, national award recipients, and brand-new voices still finding their stride. There’s a total prize pool of $120,000 to be shared amongst the winners when they are announced later this year.

The full 2026 shortlist Fiction Book of the Year   

• Chance and Necessity: A Novel of Narrogin and Williams by Rosanne Dingli 
• When She Was Gone by Sara Foster 
• King of Dirt by Holden Sheppard 
• I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton 
• O’Keefe by David Whish-Wilson 

Non-Fiction Book of the Year       

• My FIGHT with PD: A Neurologist with Parkinson’s Disease by David Blacker 
• No Time for Makeup: The Life of a Flying Doctor and Paediatrician by Dr Elizabeth Green 
• How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger: A Bloke’s Guide to Living a Better Life by Geoff Hutchinson 
• The Shameful Isles: The True Story of North-West Australia’s Fatal Experiment with Medical Apartheid by David Price 
• Tjukurrpa Kurranyu. Tjukurrpa in the Front: The Yarnangu foundation for joint management in the Pila Nature Reserve by Jan Turner & Lizzie Marrkilyi Giles Ellis 

Emerging Writer of the Year         

• CryBaby by Mabel Gibson 
• Nock Loose by Patrick Marlborough 
• The Montegiallo School of Swearing by Andrew HC McDonald 
• Inner Demons by Stephen B. Platt 
• Geraldine by Andrea Thompson 

Children’s Book of the Year 

• Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than 
• Everglade 1: Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black 
• Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley 
• One Day by Shirley Marr & Michael Speechley  
• The Surface Trials by H.M. Waugh 

Young Adult Book of the Year 

• Made of Steam and Star Dust by Bianca Breen 
• A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future by Cristy Burne, Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler  
• A Murder is Going Down by Kate Emery 
• Trapped! by Julia Lawrinson  
• The Dreams of Summer Dartson by Peter Purchase  

Poetry Book of the Year    

• Gold Digger by Lisa Collyer 
• The Twilight Observatory by Jennifer Kornberger 
• The Hum Hearers by Shey Marque 
• Past & Parallel Lives by Kaya Ortiz 

Meet the authors in person

If you want to put faces to the names, the State Library of Western Australia is hosting Stories from the West, a one-day literary festival, on Saturday, August 8th. The day runs panel conversations, book giveaways, and the chance to meet the shortlisted authors.

The post The Full Shortlist for the 2026 WA Premier’s Book Awards Is Out, and It’s Your Next Reading List appeared first on So Perth

It’s a couple of weeks away and if you like photography, whether you’re an amateur or professional, shoot with a DSLR or iPhone, and want to improve your skills, have a hands-on play with some of the newest gear, or just want to chat with some people who have the same hobby as you, this is where you’ll want to be. It’s the PhotoLive Expo and it’s now been running for 12 years.

It’s Western Australia’s biggest photography and videography event, hosted by our favourite camera shop, Camera Electronic. They’re a family-owned Perth business that’s been in the game since 1968 through multiple generations of their family. They’re passionate about photography and that shows. Which is why they started this expo, which has now grown bigger that even they could imagine.

Credit: PhotoLive Expo

This year’s program is no different — it’s the biggest the expo has run in its history. There’ll be eight speaker sessions, nine hands-on workshops, nine brand photo walks throughout the day, and an expo floor full of the latest gear. 

Beyond the expo floor, where you can get your hands on the latest cameras, lenses, and lighting from the world’s leading brands, here’s what’s on, so you can plan the day around what you want to see the most.

Wedding Photography with Norman Yap — 9:00 am Credit: PhotoLive Expo

Luxury wedding photographer Norman Yap (one of the best in the game) opens the speaker room with a session on performing under pressure. He shares how to stay calm in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and capture weddings with emotional depth and editorial storytelling.

Documentary Storytelling with Sarah Pannell — 10:00 am

Melbourne documentary photographer Sarah Pannell walks through how observation, storytelling, and human connection come together to make images that capture culture, place, and everyday life.

Astrophotography with Roger Groom — 11:00 pm

Perth astrophotographer Roger Groom covers shooting the southern night sky, from the Milky Way and nightscapes to planets and deep-sky objects. He gets into practical techniques, gear, and how modern smart telescopes stack up against traditional DSLR and mirrorless setups. Pitched at all levels, so worth a seat even if your last night-sky attempt was a blurry smudge.

Landscape Photography with Tony Hewitt — 12:00 am Credit: PhotoLive Expo

One of the most awarded photographers in the country, Tony Hewitt takes the late-morning slot on creativity, light, composition, and making landscape images that connect emotionally rather than just document a view. 

This session will benefit anyone who likes photos (everyone), and it will sell out very quickly. You’ll view every photo you take after this session in a whole new light.

Visual storytelling with Hiroki Rule — 1:00 pm

Hiroki Rule opens the afternoon with a look at the craft of visual storytelling — how to make photographs that carry emotion, meaning, and connection rather than just a clean exposure. If you’ve ever seen a photo that just moves you, and you’ve wondered why you just can’t stop staring at it, this is the session for you.

Travel Photography with Rachel Claire — 2:00 pm Credit: PhotoLive Expo

In my opinion, this is one of the hardest types of photography. How do you capture the emotion you feel while travelling in a photo so that every time you look back at the image, it brings back those memories and joy?

Well, Rachel Claire shares her approach to travel photography through storytelling and authentic connection, and how to capture the people, places, and moments that make a destination feel special rather than generic.

Birding with Col Roberts — 3:00 pm

Col Roberts gets practical on bird photography: how to find birds, anticipate their behaviour, work with light and backgrounds, choose gear, and come home with sharper, more compelling wildlife images.

Family Photos with Anna DeBenedictis — 4:00 pm

Closing the speaker room, Anna DeBenedictis covers authentic family photography — capturing connection, personality, and the real moments rather than stiff, posed set-ups.

The hands-on workshops Credit: PhotoLive Expo

The workshops are the first thing to sell out every year, and it’s easy to see why: each is a 90-minute, hands-on session limited to just 24 people. There’s everything from learning how to photograph food well  — foodies, you’ll get a lot out of that one — to the in-depth expression of fine-art nude photography and the art of shooting video in low-light situations.

Join a photo walk with a brand expert

The photo walks take small groups out to shoot alongside a brand pro. Each one runs for about 45 minutes, and are a fun way of learning to take better photos, and learning directly from a professional photographer in the moment.

Dates, details, and how to get tickets

Tickets are available from PhotoLive Expo here.

When: Sunday, July 26th, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Novotel on Adelaide Terrace

Early bird ticket pricing:

• $18.00 for early bird ($25.00 full price)
• $58.00 for all speaker sessions and expo entry ($79.00 full price)
• $88.00 for Workshop and expo entry ($119.00 full price)

10% of every ticket sold goes to Telethon.

Purchase tickets

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Pair’d, the foodie festival held in Margaret River, has released its 2026 program, featuring more than 40 wine-led events spread across beaches, forests, caves, and vineyards over four days, from November 19th to 22nd. Tickets are on sale now, and some events have already sold out. And sadly, we didn’t manage to secure tickets to a couple of the events we wanted in time, like Nature’s Table.

Anyway, now in only its third year, Pair’d has just become the only Australian festival to be recognised at the international Eventex Awards. It shows you the quality of events that Tourism WA has been attracting to this festival, and this year is probably the strongest lineup yet.

Fire, smoke, and a return home for Dave Pynt Credit: Pair’d / CJ Maddock

The festival’s biggest drawcard sold out within minutes last year, and it’s back. Western Australian-born chef Dave Pynt, of Singapore’s Burnt Ends, returns for Burnt Ends & Friends at Wills Domain — another event we missed out on — this time joined by American pitmaster and Netflix figure Rodney Scott, Hong Kong’s Matt Abergel of Yardbird, Larissa Goncalves of Si Paradiso, and Ben Cross of Mason Bali for a smoke-fuelled masterclass in global barbecue.

Wills Domain also hosts An Evening with the Pitmasters on opening night, an intimate live-fire feast pairing Rodney Scott with Morgan McGlone of The Goodies Group.

A sunset set from Kruder & Dorfmeister Credit: Pair’d

Austrian electronic duo Kruder & Dorfmeister, pioneers of the “Vienna Sound” and passionate members of the wine industry themselves, return to Australia for the first time in more than a decade, playing two exclusive sunset sets at Pair’d Beach Club on Meelup Beach.

The Beach Club itself brings together two ex-Noma alumni: Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, chef-owner of Michelin-starred Published on Main and number 17 in North America’s 50 Best, and Ben Ing, Noma’s former head chef, now behind Alberta’s in Busselton. Guests arrive to oysters, sparkling, and coastal spritzes, then choose between a three-course Beach Club Restaurant menu matched with Margaret River wines curated by sommelier Cyndal Petty, or the more relaxed Beach Bar. WA seafood chef Scott Bridger of Pearla and Co. will be running a live raw bar throughout the event.

Two Michelin-starred London collaborations Credit: Pair’d

For anyone chasing the stars, two events pair Margaret River estates with acclaimed London kitchens. Vasse Felix x Bonheur unites Vasse Felix chef Cam Jones and winemaker Virginia Willcock with Gordon Ramsay protégé Matt Abé, of Bonheur, who earned two Michelin stars within months of opening.

Wayfinder x St John sees Wayfinder’s Brendan Pratt team up with the London restaurant credited with pioneering nose-to-tail dining, on a menu built around the regenerative cycles of the land — merging St John’s whole-animal philosophy with Wayfinder’s soil-first viticulture.

The forest, the cave, and the night sky Credit: Pair’d / CJ Maddock

Several events lean heavily on the region’s natural settings, such as Nature’s Table, which returns under the canopy of Tanah Marah Forest. Paul Iskov of Fervor and Mindy Wood present a four-course lunch woven around the blooming Peppermint Tree, paired with wines curated by Erin Larkin, and melodies from Noongar artist Bumpy.

Ngilgi Reverie transforms the ancient chambers of Ngilgi Cave into a stage for didgeridoo and a soulful acoustic set from Bumpy, followed by a Cullen Wines-led, bushfood-inspired tasting. Xanadu Wines Under the Stars trades the cave for the open sky, with an evening of food, wine, astronomy, and cultural storytelling.

For the wine obsessives Credit: Pair’d / CJ Maddock

The Grand Tasting returns to Howard Park Wines as the one day of the year Margaret River’s most iconic producers gather on a single lawn, with a menu from Matt Moran and Aaron Carr, Museum Masterclasses with Erin Larkin and Nick Ryan, and a headline set from Isabella Manfredi of The Preatures.

The hardest-to-get ticket, though, is The History Makers, hosted by Nick Ryan, with food from Dave Pynt and Leeuwin Estate’s Dan Gedge. Just 24 seats, with Leeuwin opening its gallery for museum releases that have never been tasted by the public. 

Ryan said: “I’ve drunk a lot of great Margaret River wines in my time, but never have I seen a collection quite like what’s on offer at this dinner.”

Rounding out the program are returning favourites, including New Wave Gathering, which takes over Chow’s Table for a night of Chinese food and live music from indie-electronic act Boo Seeka.

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Merse Wellness is opening a second Perth location, a 900-square-metre wellness space in Claremont, set to open this summer. It follows the brand’s Osborne Park debut in October 2025, which brought what its founders call Perth’s largest hot magnesium pool and a Mediterranean-inspired take on the bathhouse circuit to the city.

The Claremont site carries the same blend of recovery, relaxation, and rejuvenation across to the western suburbs, this time in a larger footprint built around premium bathhouse rituals, advanced recovery therapies, Reformer Pilates, and a dedicated Merse Cafe.

Bianca Marshall and Julia Tilli, the duo behind the brand’s Western Australian expansion, said the response in Osborne Park made the case for a second site.

“Since opening in Osborne Park, we have seen how strongly the community has embraced recovery and self-care as part of their routine,” they said. “Claremont gives us the opportunity to create an elevated wellness sanctuary in one of Perth’s most vibrant lifestyle precincts, a space where people can move, pause, reset and prioritise their wellbeing in a way that feels both premium and accessible.”

What to expect at the new location

The bathhouse runs on the same hot-and-cold rhythm as Osborne Park, designed around contrast therapy and deep restoration. You can expect magnesium spas, cold plunge pools, hot rock saunas, infrared saunas, a steam room, and refreshment zones, alongside dedicated spaces for relaxation and recovery.

The new addition for Claremont is a snow room, a first for the brand locally, extending the contrast circuit further into the cold end of the spectrum.

Past the bathhouse, Claremont mirrors the advanced recovery offering at Osborne Park, with compression therapy, LED light therapy, sound healing, and a dedicated Rejuvenate Lounge, giving you a full mind and body reset in one location.

Reformer Pilates is new to the Merse mix, added to build out a more holistic offering across strength, mobility, and mindful movement. Merse Cafe rounds it out, providing a place to eat and stay on after treatment rather than heading straight for the door.

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You may have noticed that Crown Perth has been doing a few pop-up dining experiences the last few months, utilising the Crown Metropol space that was formerly home to Bistro Guillaume. First there was David Thompson’s Fireback, bringing one of the world’s best Asian cuisine chefs for a short residency; then came Greek by George Calombaris, which is serving up Greek cuisine for the next couple of weeks.

However, the best may have been saved for the next one in line. One of the south west’s top restaurants, Yarri Bar + Restaurant, is bringing its modern Australian dining experience from July 28th to September 5th. The residency runs lunch and dinner, Tuesday to Saturday, and bookings are essential if you want to get in and try it.

Yarri Bar + Restaurant has built its name in the south west on seasonality and provenance, working closely with the region’s growers and producers and building menus around premium, ethically sourced Western Australian ingredients. The Crown residency will continue the restaurant’s much-loved three- and six-course formats, designed to show off the best of the season through a modern Australian lens. Expect crowd favourites including kingfish, rich lamb, and the vegetable-led plates the restaurant is known for.

Driving the kitchen is Chef Aaron Carr, named Western Australian Chef of the Year in 2015, who has worked with some of the world’s leading chefs, including Massimo Bottura at Osteria Francescana in Modena and Matt Orlando at Amass in Copenhagen. Carr said the residency is a chance to share Yarri’s philosophy in the heart of Perth.

“Our approach to modern Australian cuisine draws on ideas and techniques from around the world, while remaining grounded in the character and produce of Western Australia,” Carr said. “The opportunity to bring our award-winning venue to Crown allows us to share a beloved regional destination with a new audience.”

Yarri has been listed in Gourmet Traveller Magazine’s Top 100 Australian Restaurants, The Australian’s Hot 50, and The Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 restaurants. 

Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira commented, “For many of our guests, Yarri has long been a destination worth travelling for, so to now have that same quality and sense of place available here in Perth is a fantastic outcome,” Pereira said. “It gives our guests access to an exceptional regional offering, without the need to travel south, and further strengthens Crown as a dining destination.”

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You can now climb the Gloucester Tree again. 

After more than two and a half years shut to the public, the giant karri just outside Pemberton has reopened with a new lookout platform sitting 37 metres up its trunk. That’s roughly the height of a 12-storey building, reached by climbing a nerve-testing spiral of metal pegs that has made the tree a popular adrenaline experience for generations of visitors.

The lookout is the result of a $3 million investment by the WA state government in the two Pemberton climbing trees, the second being the Bicentennial tree. The newly designed climb wraps around the trunk while minimising impacts on the living tree, so that people can reach the canopy and views while easing the strain on a living tree that has carried climbers for the better part of a century.

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby commented, “Nature-based tourism is one of Western Australia’s greatest strengths, and investments like this encourage more people to visit the South West, stay longer, and support local accommodation providers, cafes, wineries, and tour operators.”

Anyone who scaled the Gloucester Tree before its closure will notice that the climb is no longer at the same height. The old lookout sat at 53 metres, near the crown of the 61-metre tree, and the climb broke at a midway platform. The rebuilt version stops at 37 metres with no halfway rest, making it a single steady haul up rather than the two-stage ascent that defined the experience for decades. 

Closed since 2023

The tree has been shut since November 2023, closed alongside the nearby Bicentennial Tree, and the wait has not been without friction. Former Nationals MP for the South West Region Louise Kingston had called it unacceptable that the trees were closed heading into the summer tourist season, and Pemberton business owners raised concerns that visitors would bypass the town or cut their stays short with its best-known drawcard out of action. 

Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn acknowledged that patience while pointing to what the work secures. “The Gloucester Tree is one of Western Australia’s most iconic visitor experiences, and this investment ensures people can continue climbing into the karri canopy for generations to come,” he said. “I want to thank the local community, tourism operators, and businesses for their patience while these important works were completed. It’s fantastic to welcome visitors back to this unique attraction.”

“We’re continuing to invest in experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more of the South West, and support local businesses, while protecting the natural places that make this region so special.”

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The season’s first humpback whales have arrived at Ningaloo, with sightings recorded off both Coral Bay and Exmouth in the past week. Coral Bay Eco Tours ran its first humpback swim of the year, and Ningaloo Discovery logged its first sighting off Exmouth, confirming that the migration has reached Western Australia’s Coral Coast.

An estimated 45,000 humpback whales travel along the WA coastline every year, making it one of the largest whale migrations on the planet. Between July and November, they move north from the Antarctic to breed and calve, passing close enough to shore for visitors to watch them breach, slap their tails, and nurse their young.

Tours started running from Coral Bay on Wednesday, with Exmouth operators due to begin in August. Ningaloo is the only place in Western Australia where visitors can get in the water with the whales on a guided swim tour, in the crystal-clear shallows of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef.

Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

“Every humpback whale swim is unique, and in my opinion, can be one of the most mutualistic interactions you can have in the water,” said Ellie Farquhar, photographer for Coral Bay Eco Tours. “They are such intelligent mammals, so every successful swim indicates their willingness to interact with us. This makes humpback whale swims feel like such a privilege.”

Two giants in the same trip Credit: Shutterstock

Humpback season is opening just as whale shark season winds down, and the two overlap for a narrow window. Whale shark tours run out of Coral Bay until around the end of June and continue from Exmouth into August, which means a single visit in the coming weeks could deliver an encounter with both the world’s largest fish and one of its largest mammals.

“Few wildlife experiences compare to the moment you encounter a humpback whale in the wild,” said Kelly Leonard, Marketing and Tourism Development Manager at Australia’s Coral Coast. “It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left the water. The overlap of humpback whale season with whale shark season makes this one of the most incredible times to experience Ningaloo and its iconic Big 5.”

The Big Five here means whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, turtles, and dugongs. Ningaloo is one of the few places on Earth where all five share a single stretch of coast. And if you’d prefer to stay out of the water, whale-watching cruises run throughout the season from Exmouth, Coral Bay, Kalbarri, and Geraldton.

What else the season brings Charles Knife Canyon | Credit: Shutterstock

The Humpback whales are only one of many reasons to make the trip up the Coral Coast. 

Cape Range National Park runs along the western edge of the cape, a landscape of limestone gorges and canyons that pairs naturally with a whale trip in the cooler months, when the walking is more comfortable, and there are fewer people. Charles Knife Canyon is one of the most picturesque spots in the region, cutting a dramatic line into the range, and the ridge road delivers long views back across the cape to the ocean.

The winter dark skies are worth the drive, too. With almost no light pollution that far north, Exmouth and Coral Bay give you some of the clearest stargazing in the country, an easy way to fill the evenings between days on the water.

The Coral Coast begins at Cervantes, just under two hours’ drive north of Perth, and runs 1,100 kilometres up to Exmouth. It can be driven in one stretch along the Coral Coast Highway or reached by air, with flights from Perth into Learmonth landing around 25 minutes from Exmouth.

Book ahead

Demand through winter and spring runs high, and the swim tours, in particular, fill up fast. With the season now open and the whale shark overlap adding to the pull, securing tours and accommodation early is the safer bet.

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The WA State Government is offering 50% off selected Kimberley tours and experiences through a new travel voucher program, which goes live on Monday, aimed at pulling visitors back to the region after a rough start to the dry season.

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said, “The Kimberley is one of Western Australia’s most treasured tourism destinations, with so much on offer to experience and explore, which is why the Cook Labor Government is launching this fantastic voucher initiative to encourage visitors to the region.”

The discounts cover experiences such as scenic helicopter flights, river cruises, and immersive Aboriginal cultural activities, offered by more than 100 operators running in excess of 150 tours and experiences.

“The voucher program makes travel to the Kimberley easier and more affordable for Western Australians and travellers, while generating forward bookings for tourism operators – ultimately supporting local jobs and businesses, and boosting the local economy,” Whitby added.

Vouchers are available for purchase from Tourism WA starting Monday, July 6th. Once bought, they can be used for travel from July 13th through to October 31st 2026, which covers most of the peak dry-season window.

The Kimberley is one of the state’s most popular self-drive holiday destinations, and it has been hit hard by the rapid climb in fuel costs at the start of the 2026 dry season. In a region where a trip can mean thousands of kilometres behind the wheel, rising fuel prices can have a significant impact.

“The rising cost of fuel has unfortunately impacted the tourism sector in the wonderful Kimberley region, and this is why the Cook Labor Government is providing crucial support to help drive visitors back to the region and help local businesses,” said Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson.

“We know how important tourism is in the Kimberley and we’re determined to help local businesses get back on track, so if you’re looking at planning your next holiday, don’t look further than this stunning region and these discounted tours and experiences.”

The campaign follows the sell-out success of the Ningaloo Adventure Voucher Program and is expected to generate more than $1 million in bookings.

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Something big has just popped up on the Swan. The ‘Perth Wheel’, also officially known as SkyVista, a 36-metre observation wheel roughly the height of a 10-storey building, has landed on Riverside Drive foreshore near Elizabeth Quay and starts spinning on July 2nd, right as the winter school holidays begin.

And for everyone who drove past a half-built Ferris wheel out in Malaga earlier this year and wondered where it went: this looks to be your answer. It’s a nine-minute ride to a 360-degree view of the river, Elizabeth Quay and the full city skyline, and at $14.00 for an adult, making it the cheapest big-ticket outing of the holidays.

But you’ll have to be quick to book your turn; it packs up on Sunday, August 23rd.

How much does it cost to ride Credit: City of Perth

SkyVista sits at the corner of Riverside Drive and Governors Avenue, right on the Swan River foreshore. The wheel carries 24 fully enclosed gondolas, climate-controlled against the July chill, each seating up to six people, all wheelchair accessible with assistance animals welcome.

Adults are $14.00, children aged 3 to 13 are $12.00, and toddlers under 3 ride free. The family pass, two adults and two children, is $50.00, and private gondolas are available for groups of up to six.

Buy at the booth on the day or pre-book at rideskyvista.com.au.

When to ride for the best view

The ride is the same nine minutes whenever you go, but the view is not. Two windows are worth planning around. The first is sunset on a clear evening, when the light drops behind the skyline, and Perth earns its golden glow.

The second is after dark, when the wheel itself becomes the show: 125,952 LEDs wrap the structure and cycle through millions of colours, so while the wheel provides the best view of the city skyline, the best seat in the house might just be the one looking back at SkyVista.

Credit: City of Perth

Through the July school holidays, the 4th to the 19th, it runs every day from 10:00 am until late. From Monday, July 20th it turns into more of an evening act: Tuesday to Friday from 4:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and Sunday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Aim for a clear weeknight around dusk, and you get the golden hour and the light show without the weekend crowd.

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The Australian Boomers haven’t played in Perth since 2019. At that time, Bryce Cotton was still a Perth Wildcat, COVID wasn’t yet a thing, and Perth was the sunniest city in the world. On Friday night, that changes, as the Boomers walk back onto the court at RAC Arena for the first of two FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and this round of qualifiers is being played exclusively in Perth.

The Cook Government secured the double-header through Tourism WA, as part of its strategy to bring major events to Perth. It’s the first time Western Australia has hosted FIBA World Cup Qualifier fixtures, with the matches usually being played on the east coast instead. 

Former Perth Wildcat and six-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton is set to make his Australian debut in the green and gold. He’s joined by current and former Wildcats Ben Henshall, Elijah Pepper, and Keanu Pinder, with Perth-raised players Alex Condon and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk also included in the 12-man squad.

“The Boomers’ return to Perth for the first time since 2019 is a fantastic moment for Western Australia, and I encourage everyone to get their hands on tickets to watch this team in action,” Tourism Minister Reece Whitby told So Perth.

“Having a squad with such strong Western Australian ties, alongside fan favourites like Bryce Cotton, makes this series even more special for local fans.”

For anyone who has watched Cotton carve up the NBL at The Jungle, seeing him do it in a Boomers jersey is going to be very entertaining. 

Who’s playing, and how do you get tickets?

• Boomers vs Guam — Friday, July 3rd
• Boomers vs Philippines — Monday, July 6th

Both games are at RAC Arena with tip-off at 6:30 pm

The two fixtures close out Round One of the Asian Qualifiers, the stage that determines which teams advance to the next Round on the road to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek.

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From today, about 2.3 million Western Australians with a driver’s licence can claim $100.00 towards the cost of fuel. The Cook Government’s one-off Fuel Support Payment covers the daily grind of work commutes, school drop-offs, and driving lessons, and it’s now sitting in the ServiceWA app waiting to be claimed.

Learner, provisional, and extraordinary licence holders can also all submit a claim, bringing the eligibility pool to roughly 2.3 million people across the state. The payment forms part of the Cook Government’s $1 billion cost-of-living package in the 2026-27 State Budget.

“This payment is about immediate cost-of-living relief and helping with the pressures faced by families, workers, students, and retirees across the State,” said Minister Assisting the Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

Acting Treasurer John Carey added, “The $100.00 Fuel Support Payment will put money back in the pockets of Western Australians with a driver’s licence.”

How to claim it

The quickest route is through the ServiceWA app, where the payment sits alongside the government’s other cost-of-living measures. If you’d rather not go digital, a manual claim option is available, though it can take up to eight weeks to process.

Paper claim forms will be available online, at Community Resource Centres, Regional Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure Service Centres, ServiceWA kiosks, participating local Members of Parliament offices, and public libraries across Western Australia. Completed forms can be submitted by mail with the required supporting documents. 

The app has already had a heavy workout in the lead-up. Since the payment was announced on May 7th, ServiceWA has been accessed more than four million times, including 360,000 times on announcement day alone, with the daily average now sitting at 80,000.

Don’t want it? Donate it to charity

You don’t have to keep the $100.00. There’s a built-in option to donate the payment to one of 15 participating charities, grouped into three categories: food and emergency relief, children’s charities, and community support. Donations are shared equally among the charities within whichever category you pick.

“We also know many Western Australians are passionate about supporting their communities, which is why claimants have the option to donate their payment to support our most vulnerable as part of our priority to build safe and inclusive communities,” added Stojkovski.

“Cost-of-living relief remains a key priority for the Cook Labor Government, and the Fuel Support Payment is one of a range of measures helping Western Australians manage household expenses.”

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It’s the partnership that Perth didn’t know it needed until now.

Pirate Life has joined the Red Army, becoming the Perth Wildcats’ official beer partner for the next three years and making Pirate Life Perth the new home court for fans all year round. 

“Pirate Life Perth is an incredible venue close to RAC Arena, and we see it becoming a real meeting point for the Red Army throughout the season. This is about creating a proper game-day home for our fans and giving them more ways to connect with the club and each other,” commented Perth Wildcats owner and CEO Mark Arena.

“Andy Freeman and the team have brought a lot of energy and creativity to the table, and they’re all in on helping us build something special. They understand what game day means to the Red Army, and that shared ambition is what makes this partnership so exciting.”

Pirate Life was founded by Perth brewers Jack Cameron and Jared ‘Red’ Proudfoot back in 2014, built a national following after expanding east, then returned to Perth in 2021 with the opening of Pirate Life Perth, the multi-level brewery, bar, and restaurant in the middle of the Perth CBD. 

The deal brings a host of offerings and perks for Wildcats members, including a burger collaboration in which the Perth Wildcats logo is branded on the bun. The Wildcats burger and a pint of Pirate Life beer will cost $25.00, which might make it the best-value burger deal in Perth.

Then there’s the “We Win, You Win” offer, which hands eligible members a complimentary drink whenever the Wildcats win. Vouchers will be available at the venue before and during game days, whether members are heading in after a home game or watching an away game on the big screen.

“We’re looking forward to giving the Red Army a few special reasons to visit us throughout the season, including the exclusive Wildcats Burger, complete with the Wildcats logo branded on top,” said Pirate Life Perth CEO Andy Freeman.

“It’s a fun touch, and it shows the level of detail we want to bring and show we’re all about creating something fans can enjoy all season, whether they’re heading to RAC Arena, coming in after a game, or watching the Wildcats on the road.”

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We are predominantly a two-horse town; you’re either West Coast Eagles or you are Fremantle Dockers, and for the majority of the time that both teams have been in the AFL, West Coast has had all the bragging rights.

The obvious number West Coast supporters have held over Fremantle for the better part of three decades is not just one premiership, but four.

But for those following Fremantle’s season closely and their win on the weekend, Fremantle have now well and truly eclipsed every West Coast Eagles team there ever was, winning their 14th game in a row. West Coast’s best through all their premiership seasons is only 12, across the middle of 1991, back when the Dockers did not yet exist.

For a club whose supporters have spent 30 years being told they are the second team in their own state, it is now a streak record in the rivalry that belongs to Fremantle, and one they will continue to build on, and perhaps one West Coast will never beat.

Compared to all-time streaks

Can the Fremantle Dockers beat the all-time winning streak season record?

Their run now sits on the AFL’s all-time list for consecutive wins inside a single season. Essendon’s 20 in 2000 is the benchmark, followed by St Kilda and Melbourne on 19. Fremantle’s 14 is equal to the best single-season runs Carlton, Brisbane, and Geelong managed in their premiership eras. Bombers great Matthew Lloyd, who started that 2000 season 20-0, has said the Dockers have the list to chase the record down.

Their only loss this year came in round one, against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

Their remaining schedule for the AFL season will include eight more games, four of which will be at Optus Stadium. Get through a danger game against GWS in Canberra and a win against Sydney in round 18, and there is a very good chance Fremantle will go the rest of the season without a loss, leaving them with a 22-game win streak.

Remaining 2026 AFL schedule for Fremantle Dockers

• Round 17 — GWS Giants, Canberra (away)
• Round 18 — v Sydney Swans, Optus Stadium
• Round 19 — Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval (away)
• Round 20 — v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium
• Round 21 — v Western Bulldogs, Optus Stadium
• Round 22 — Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG (away)
• Round 23 — v Adelaide Crows, Optus Stadium
• Round 24 — Carlton v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium (away)

Not just one player

The midfield does not lean on a single name. Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, Shai Bolton, and Luke Jackson can each take control of a game, which means a quiet day from one rarely costs them. The forward line has become one of the most dangerous in the league, with Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, and Jye Amiss all in heavy scoring form across recent weeks.

Throw in Murphy Reid, who’s in All-Australian form and seems to be getting better each week. Jackson is the clearest sign of how far the group has climbed. Building a Brownlow Medal case while kicking goals and setting them up is the kind of weapon premiership sides tend to have. Justin Longmuir has the side two games clear on top with a 14-1 record, the only loss a round-one defeat to Geelong.

FLAGmantle or DYNmantle

While Fremantle are fast becoming flag favourites, they first need to win the premiership before we can start throwing around any dynasty wordplay. A streak is a regular-season achievement; it proves Fremantle are the best team right now, on form. It does not yet prove they are the best team in September, a question the Dockers have never answered.

If you asked any West Coast fan what their biggest streak was, they probably wouldn’t know. But I can guarantee you they can tell you all about the teams and flags in 1992, 1994, 2006, and 2018.

But perhaps this is the year Fremantle fans get to start building those core memories.

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A post-visit report on Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor released this week puts the final attendance at 323,223 and the economic activity generated at almost $200 million. Over an eight-month run at WA Museum Boola Bardip, Terracotta Warriors became the most successful exhibition the museum has ever staged, on both visitor numbers and economic impact.

“The exceptional performance of the Terracotta Warriors exhibition demonstrates the impact of investment in arts and culture, and how this investment can connect communities and enrich lives,” said Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk.

“The exhibition has further enhanced the WA Museum’s reputation as a leading international partner capable of delivering world-class experiences for audiences.”

The show put more than 225 Chinese artefacts on display, paired with multimedia and immersive technology, and recorded a 94 per cent satisfaction rating.

The figures that tell the State Government what the exhibition returned in economic value suggest that for every dollar invested, it returned $10.00 in value. 

It was big for tourism, too, with roughly 30 per cent of visitors coming from outside the Perth metro area. That’s more than 90,000 people travelling from regional WA, interstate, and overseas, and that group alone contributed close to $72 million to the State’s economy. 

“The Terracotta Warriors exhibition shows how our creative industries make major contributions to Western Australia’s economy – creating jobs and supporting local businesses,” Premier Roger Cook said.

“Some 30 per cent of the visitors came from outside Perth, contributing nearly $72 million to our local economy.”

“With a return on investment of $10.00 for every dollar spent, this demonstrates the value of investing in cultural tourism in Western Australia.”

That tourism spend also drove hotel stays and spend at bars and restaurants, with more than 73,000 visitor nights attributed to exhibition visitors and nearly $4 million in spending with local suppliers.

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Life in the Great Barrier Reef opens at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle today, putting visitors inside a 360-degree virtual reality dive across the world’s largest coral reef system. The 8K footage was captured on custom underwater camera systems built by Perth company White Spark Pictures, and the documentary reaches places most people will never see in person.

The VR experience takes viewers beneath the surface of the Great Barrier Reef and through the wet tropics of Queensland’s rainforest. It’s the only place on Earth where two UNESCO World Heritage sites sit side by side. The production surfaces reef environments and animal behaviour that have seldom been filmed, and highlights both the wonder and fragility of the reef, inspiring visitors to support its protection for generations to come.

“Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see up close these remote rarely seen reef environments,” Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said. “This project demonstrates how Western Australian innovation is helping to tell significant environmental stories using advanced technology developed right here in our State.”

Life in the Great Barrier Reef is the second film in a partnership between the Western Australian Museum, the National Museum of Australia, and Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, which together established a fund to support a series of new VR productions. 

The first, The Great Kimberley Wilderness, launched across WA Museum sites in 2024, narrated by Luke Hemsworth and was built on its Surround Sync platform that lets hundreds of headsets run in sync inside a single cinema. It went on to sell out multiple seasons and returned to the Maritime Museum for an encore earlier this year.

The studio behind Life in the Great Barrier Reef, White Spark Pictures, was founded in Perth in 2017 by director Briege Whitehead, and the reef film follows earlier VR documentaries The Antarctica Experience and Beyond the Milky Way, each built around taking audiences places they are unlikely to ever stand themselves.

When and where

Life in the Great Barrier Reef runs at the WA Maritime Museum at Victoria Quay in Fremantle from Saturday, June 27th, until Sunday, November 8th, 2026.

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Men’s Sheds across Western Australia have now raised more than $1 million through Containers for Change, the State’s ten-cent container deposit scheme. That money hasn’t been earned from grants or appeals, but from the steady work of collecting bottles and cans at field days, car boot sales, and refund points scattered across the regions.

The figure was announced by the WA State Government this week just as the scheme prepares for its biggest expansion since launch. From July 1st, wine and spirit bottles join the Containers for Change list of eligible containers, which is expected to bring a further 200 million containers a year into the system. 

“The success of Containers for Change goes far beyond environmental and recycling benefits to providing valuable support for charities, social enterprises, and non-profit organisations across Western Australia,” said Environment and Community Services Minister Matthew Swinbourn.

“The scheme is a favourite fundraiser for community groups such as Men’s Sheds, who can set up their own container collection points as well as getting refunds donated by supporters using the account ID code.”

Collection as community work

Men’s Sheds run refund points in regional towns including Norseman, Wyalkatchem, Hopetoun, Northampton, Morawa, Kellerberrin, and Bremer Bay. They gather containers from local businesses and turn up to collect at events as varied as the Dowerin Machinery Field Days, skydiving days in Jurien Bay, and car boot sales, alongside ongoing donations from supporters who assign their refunds to a shed using its account ID code.

That participation is climbing. Men’s Sheds of WA CEO James Wild said 78 sheds had been actively engaged in Containers for Change over the past six months alone, and pointed to why the activity suits the membership. 

“For many of our shedders, container collection offers a meaningful way to contribute to their community regardless of their physical ability,” he said. “It also helps create a shared sense of purpose, while strengthening social ties for many men suffering from loneliness and isolation.”

A fundraiser that doubles as the point

Men’s Sheds are workshops and gathering places where members build, create, and connect — some drawn to the woodwork and metalwork, others to the company. The collecting itself folds neatly into that, which is part of why the scheme has stuck. 

“Men’s Sheds and Containers for Change are a perfect match, with collections providing a reliable income as well as hands-on activities that keep members socially connected,” Swinbourn added.

Tim Cusack, CEO of scheme operator WA Return Recycle Renew, said the $1 million would help sheds expand their programs and broaden their reach in local communities.

“We are thrilled to see the impact Containers for Change has had on Men’s Sheds across WA,” Cusack commented.

“The sheds provide a unique and important experience that adds value to lives and $1 million in donations will help the network expand their programs and amplify their work in local communities.”

Since 2020, Containers for Change has generated more than $20.5 million for charities, schools, and community groups, and kept more than 5.3 billion containers out of landfill.

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