What's happening in Perth

The driver killed in a crash in WA’s Wheatbelt at the weekend has been identified as a Welsh woman who had moved to Australia on a working holiday visa with her boyfriend. 

Viva Leisure, the ASX-listed company behind Club Lime, Plus Fitness, and hiit republic, is opening its first two Zoo Fit gyms in Wanneroo and Mandurah in late July, with more WA sites to follow soon after. It’s the company’s first move into the low-cost market, and WA has been flagged as the market where it will all start.

Memberships start at $8.88 per week for gym access, or $14.88 per week if you want access to the wellness and recovery facilities. By comparison, Perth-founded Revo, which has grown to 30 locations across WA, is $9.69 per week for Level One and $12.69 per week for Level Two memberships.

Zoo Fit founding members who sign up during the pre-sale also get eight weeks free and lock in their price for life.

Viva Leisure has chosen WA as the place to launch, largely due to our love of health and fitness activities. CEO Harry Konstantinou told So Perth, “WA is one of the strongest growth opportunities in the country for fitness, and we saw a clear gap in the market for a genuinely value-led offering that doesn’t compromise on experience. Zoo Fit delivers exceptional value, boasting world-class equipment, wellness and recovery offerings, and 24/7 access at a price point that makes fitness more accessible to more Australians.”

The Wanneroo and Mandurah sites are the start of a national rollout planned over the next 12 to 18 months.

What makes them different from other gyms?

The detail that sets Zoo Fit apart from the rest of the low-cost gym field is its “Fit Fam” membership, which Viva Leisure says is a first for the Australian fitness industry. Starting at $24.80 per week, it covers two adults and two teenagers aged 13 to 17 under one membership, with room to add up to two more teenagers.

Most low-cost gyms are built around solo memberships, so this will make Zoo Fit an attractive option for many families, especially with cost-of-living pressures biting hard. 

Viva Leisure has grown quickly since listing on the ASX in 2019, going from 29 locations and 47,500 members to more than 510 sites and over 650,000 members across Australia, New Zealand, and India. Its portfolio includes Club Pilates, GROUNDUP, and Supp Society, plus stakes in World Gym Australia and Boutique Fitness Studios.

Konstantinou added, “We already operate premium and mid-market brands successfully, but we identified an opportunity to create a dedicated low-cost, high-value proposition that reflects changing consumer expectations. Consumers are increasingly value-conscious, but they still expect quality, flexibility and convenience. Zoo Fit has been built specifically for that shift.”

The post Zoo Fit Is Bringing $8.88-a-Week Gyms to Wanneroo and Mandurah This July appeared first on So Perth

Bethesda Health Care will take over operation of Mount Hospital in Perth’s CBD under a deal brokered by the WA government.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has brushed off Brisbane’s flop against GWS, labelling it an anomaly ahead of Saturday’s clash with the defending premiers at the Gabba.

Follow our live coverage here.

Chad Aziz wants to become the youngest person to run from Perth to Sydney.

James Street has been the spine of Perth’s nightlife for as long as most Perth locals can remember, and the City of Perth Council has just signed off on a $22.8 million plan to overhaul it. The Final Concept Plan for the James Street Revitalisation was passed at Tuesday’s council meeting, which means the street that runs through the middle of Northbridge is now locked in for significant upgrades, with construction set to commence in 2028.

The plan covers James Street from Fitzgerald Street to William Street, including the stretch connecting Russell Square, Northbridge Piazza, and the entrance to the Perth Cultural Centre. The headline changes are more trees and greenery, wider footpaths, upgraded lighting, new paving and street furniture, new public artworks, and infrastructure built in to allow temporary street closures for major events.

James Street already shuts down regularly for many major events, but doing so currently requires significant logistics. Building event infrastructure into the street itself is smart and suggests the City of Perth is planning to welcome more big events to Northbridge.

The plan was shaped by community consultation that ran through 2024 and 2025, including an online Engage Perth survey and a community drop-in session at Northbridge Piazza in July last year. Feedback from that process pushed strongly for better lighting and safety, more greenery, improved cleanliness, and greater recognition of the cultural diversity that has defined Northbridge for decades.

First major upgrades in almost 20 years

James Street hasn’t had a major upgrade in close to 20 years. In that time, the street has cycled through identities from a nightclub strip to a restaurant precinct, while much of the surrounding area has changed and been upgraded. Russell Square has been redeveloped. The Perth Cultural Centre is mid-renewal as part of a separate State Government project. Northbridge Piazza has become a regular event space. James Street is what connects it all, and it’s showing its age.

City of Perth Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said the plan reflected what the community had asked for.

“James Street is one of Perth’s most recognisable and culturally significant streets, and this plan reflects what the community told us they want to see. It incorporates more trees, better lighting and wider footpaths to support a safer and more vibrant precinct,” he said.

“The revitalisation will create a more connected and event-ready street while strengthening Northbridge’s role as the State’s cultural and entertainment destination. The upgrade is expected to bring more people into James Street, encourage people to stay longer to support local business and help drive future investment in Northbridge.”

The City of Perth has quantified the long-term benefits, and the numbers are reasonably bullish. An independent assessment estimated the project will generate around $53.5 million in economic, social, and environmental benefits over 20 years — a return of roughly $3.20 for every $1.00 invested.

The project now moves into detailed design. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 and is expected to run through 2030, in line with the City’s Long-Term Financial Plan.

The post James Street Is Getting A $22.8 Million Overhaul With Construction Starting In 2028 appeared first on So Perth

Councillors voted against a policy that would allow extra travel and accommodation perks, originally recommended by a committee that included the lord mayor and his deputy.

Two cases of the bacterial disease have been linked to West Kimberley Regional Prison, although a Justice Department spokesperson says they did not contract it while incarcerated.

If you want to experience the Thai pop-up at Crown Perth that’s been widely acclaimed, you have less than two weeks to make a booking.

Fireback wraps up its residency at Crown Perth on Saturday, June 6th, and trust us, it’s worth a visit. The pop-up is sitting inside the old Bistro Guillaume space in the Crown Metropol lobby, so it’s extremely convenient and easy to find. 

The chef behind it

David Thompson’s CV is the reason foodies have been driving from all directions for this one. His restaurant, Nahm, originally opening in London, was the first Thai restaurant to receive a Michelin Star. Nahm Bangkok is widely considered one of the best restaurants in Asia, was featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for seven straight years from 2012 to 2018, and was ranked No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2014. He picked up the Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award Asia in 2016, and is widely treated as one of the foremost Western interpreters of regional Thai cooking working today.

So if you like exceptional Thai cuisine, this is your chance to taste it without leaving Perth.

What to order

Order everything. No, seriously. 

The Josper grill — a type of charcoal grill — does much of the heavy lifting, producing char-grilled flavours that we all love, but can never quite replicate at home. 

The flame-kissed West Australian king prawns are exceptional, and the Tom Yum soup is quite possibly the best we’ve ever had, so start with those. The Moo Grob (pork belly) was also a standout entree. The Larb Nuea Wagyu was one we didn’t order but wished we had when we saw it go out to other tables.

For the large plates, the dry green curry of beef and the steamed barramundi in a banana leaf, and brushed with a fragrant red curry paste, were our choices and didn’t disappoint.

The post David Thompson’s Thai Pop-Up, Fireback, Leaves Crown Next Weekend appeared first on So Perth

Delegates to major mining forum in Perth say the industry – and the state – remain on track to reach net zero by 2050, despite recent reports putting the target in doubt.

By late May, we’ve usually had a little bit of rain in the south west, and places like the Blackwood River and Beedelup Falls are starting to flow strongly, making them quite the spectacle. On cold mornings, a low fog settles over the valley and slowly lifts throughout the morning. Those are just a few of the reasons why the south west makes for a great winter destination.

The towns below sit within a few hours of Perth, mostly along the South Western Highway through the Southern Forests and Valleys. They’re places you’ve likely heard of before, but probably have never visited. Add them to your list and visit them this winter.

Bridgetown, the winter capital Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Bridgetown has gone so far as to brand itself Western Australia’s winter capital, and through June, July, and August, it backs the claim with Fridgetown Fest — a winter program of markets, live music, and one-off events spread across the season. The town sits just shy of a three-hour drive south of Perth, roughly 250 kilometres along the South Western Highway.

If you love walking and hiking, this is the place for you. The Blackwood River Walk is a six-kilometre return trail that starts close to the main street and follows the river above a run of quiet pools and short rapids. In late winter, the valley mist tends to hang in the trees well into the morning, and the trail walks you past mossy fallen logs and bright green pasture that can only be seen that way during the wet season. 

Nannup and the misty Blackwood Valley Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Nannup sits deeper in the Blackwood River Valley, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth, and it’s a great place to visit in winter. Walking, cycling, and canoeing trails run straight out of the town centre, with the River Walk Trail tracking the Blackwood through jarrah and karri. 

About ten kilometres west of town, Barrabup Pool is better known as a summer swimming spot, but in winter it’s worth the short drive for the dead quiet and the birdlife alone. It’s very serene. Back in town, there’s a small microbrewery and a scatter of cafes and galleries, enough to fill an afternoon if the weather is a little wet.

Pemberton under the karri canopy Credit: Ampersand Estates

The karri forest around Pemberton is best experienced during winter. After a little bit of rain, the Cascades, a series of small drops on Lefroy Brook, turn from a gentle trickle into a strong rush of water. Pemberton is the longest drive on this list, just under four hours and around 330 kilometres south of Perth, which makes it best for an extended long weekend rather than a day trip or overnighter.

The Karri Forest Explorer is the way to see the country around it — a drive of close to 90 kilometres that loops through the tallest forest in the state, taking in the Cascades and the base of the Gloucester Tree along the way. The Gloucester Tree’s climbing pegs are currently closed while the platform is rebuilt, so treat it as a place to stand and look up rather than climb. 

Dwellingup, the closest forest escape Credit: Hotham Valley Railway

Dwellingup is the place to keep in mind when you don’t have a full weekend, but still want to go somewhere. It’s about an hour and a half from Perth, set in jarrah forest near the Murray River, and both the Bibbulmun Track and the Munda Biddi cycling trail pass straight through town — useful if you want a cold-weather walk or ride without committing to a multi-day trek.

Winter is also the only time the steam train runs. The Hotham Valley Railway’s Steam Ranger operates on Sundays from May through to October, kept to the cooler months because of summer fire restrictions, and it carries passengers through the jarrah on a slow, smoke-and-whistle trip into the forest. 

Donnelly River Village, a mill town frozen in time Credit: Australia’s South West

Donnelly River Village began life in the late 1940s as housing for workers at the Bunnings Bros timber mill, and it has barely changed shape since. The old workers’ cottages still stand around the original mill site, and the former general store now operates as a cafe and gathering point for guests and for hikers coming off the Bibbulmun and Munda Biddi trails.

What people come for is the wildlife. Kangaroos have long since worked out that visitors carry food and will happily sit around the village; the emus are pushier and less charming, and will have a go at your hand if they think there’s something in it. On a cold, still afternoon, with woodsmoke in the air and a roo asleep on the grass outside your cottage, the village often feels like a place frozen in time.

Balingup and its surrounding rolling green hills Credit: Shutterstock

Balingup is a small town in rolling farmland about a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Perth, and the green only deepens through winter. Two kilometres south of town is the Golden Valley Tree Park, a 60-hectare heritage-listed arboretum and the largest in the state, with a tree collection that began more than a century ago and six self-guided walking tracks. Entry is free.

The park is at its showiest in autumn, when the deciduous trees in the World Collection turn, but by late May, there is still colour on the ground and the Australian native collection holds its own year-round. It’s a slow, quiet place to walk off a long lunch, or just to contemplate your thoughts.

The post 6 WA Towns That Are Best Visited in Winter appeared first on So Perth

Kununurra was named Western Australia’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 at the Perth Airport WA Tourism Conference Dinner in Carnarvon last night, edging out Geraldton (silver) and Kalgoorlie-Boulder (bronze) in the state’s flagship tourism category. The win comes with a $20,000 airtime package on 7 Regional WA to spruik the East Kimberley town to the rest of the country.

The 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards have been running for 37 years, and they remain one of the more closely watched events on the WA tourism calendar. Visitor Centres and Local Governments enter on behalf of their destinations, submitting a short video, itinerary, and editorial article, which then go before an industry judging panel. The public also gets a say, and more than 6,000 people voted across the three categories this year.

In the Small Tourism Town category, Jurien Bay took gold. Carnarvon, the host town for the night, claimed silver, and York rounded out the medals with bronze.

Kalbarri’s win in the Tiny Tourism Town category was its third in a row, earning the Mid West town a place in the Top Tourism Town Hall of Fame. Pemberton took silver and Walpole bronze in the same category.

Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the three gold medallists had all impressed both the judging panel and the voting public. “Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Top Tourism Town Awards. Kununurra, Jurien Bay, and Kalbarri have all displayed an exceptional commitment to delivering high-quality visitor experiences,” he said.

“All medallists have impressed both an industry panel of judges and the public through consumer voting. The winners will now go on to represent Western Australia on a national level in the Australian Top Tourism Town Awards in September.”

The post Kununurra Named Western Australia’s Top Tourism Town For 2026 appeared first on So Perth

Western Australia’s political and business leaders gathered at the State Cellars Wine Room in Perth on Tuesday night ahead of the launch of the Australian Financial Review Mining Summit. 

WA’s 15 per cent reservation policy is often held up as an example for the eastern states to emulate, but the reality is it is not living up to expectations.

The Gascoyne Food Festival returns in August with a 16-day programme of dining experiences stretched across one of the most remote parts of Western Australia.

The 2025 Festival sold out, and the 2026 edition is expected to be just as popular. It’s the first major event in the region since Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Festival Director Louise Cashmore commented, “This year’s Festival is about more than simply returning. It’s about showcasing the Gascoyne through experiences that are genuinely immersive, deeply connected to place and unlike anything else in Australia.”

“From long table dining in a working mango plantation in full bloom, to fireside storytelling beneath vast outback skies and remote station feasts under the stars, this is a Festival that invites people to experience the Gascoyne in a deeply authentic and meaningful way.”

Running across the entire Festival, the Taste of the Gascoyne Food Trails will see eateries across Shark Bay, Carnarvon, and Exmouth putting signature dishes on their menus under a unifying regional concept: “Put a Prawn On It,” celebrating MSC-certified Exmouth Wild and Shark Bay Wild prawns.

Sea Harvest Australia has covered participation costs for local eateries as part of the region’s cyclone recovery effort, which has helped pull more venues into the programme than would otherwise have been possible.

Here are some of the key festival events.

The Plantation Feast Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

The Plantation Feast on Saturday, August 22nd sits inside a working Carnarvon mango plantation in full bloom. Jessica Roe — Petition Kitchen head chef and WA Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year — has built a multi-course seasonal menu paired with Di Latte wines and local beverages.

Fireside Yarns: Land, Sea & Story Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

Paul “Yoda” Iskov of Fervor heads to Gwoonwardu Mia for Fireside Yarns: Land, Sea and Story — an evening built around food, culture, and storytelling on country.

Whalebone Hoe-Down Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

Exmouth hosts the Whalebone Hoe-Down, where you can expect live music, a fire-cooked feast, flowing drinks, and line dancing late into the evening. It’s the loosest event on the programme, so it’s a must-attend.

Bullara Station Feast Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

Bullara Station returns to the line-up with one of the Festival’s most-loved experiences — fire-cooked food, music, and station hospitality under what the Gascoyne does best: a sky absolutely loaded with stars.

Australia’s Last Sunset Credit: Australia’s Coral Coast

The finale takes guests to Dirk Hartog Island for the final sunset over the Indian Ocean, followed by food and storytelling on the beach. It’s pitched as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and from what we’re told, it really will be.

How to get tickets

Tickets are now on sale here, and with several experiences capped at intimate numbers, the signature dinners aren’t likely to hang around for long. Visitors are being encouraged to extend their trip and use the Festival as a way into the region’s reefs, coastlines, and stations.

“In 2026, more than ever, the Gascoyne Food Festival provides an opportunity to celebrate the strengths of the region and the incredible people behind it,” Cashmore said.

The post Gascoyne Food Festival Returns With 16 Days Of Food, Travel, & Storytelling appeared first on So Perth

Follow our live coverage here.

The shooters were members of the Canning Gun Club when they had their guns seized and licences suspended following police raids in October last year.

A petition signed by 650 residents calls on the council to rescind their support to clear native bushland for the proposed Leeming cricket pitch,

The group behind Hillarys Beach Club, Sorrento Beach Club, and Bar Olé Iluka has just opened its new south-of-the-river venue. The Heart Applecross sits beneath the Riviere Residence on Canning Beach Road, with unobstructed views across the Swan to the Perth CBD and capacity for 300 to 350 guests, including a 60-seat alfresco section.

The centrepiece is a horseshoe-shaped bar — a nod to Ryan and Nikki Esqulant’s former UK venue, The Princess Alice — with 22 beers on tap from Carlton & United Breweries, plus Guinness and Kilkenny.

The venue’s name and character come from The Golden Heart, a Spitalfields pub the Esqulant family has run for nearly five decades. That history has been built through the venue, from the art on the walls to just about everything else.

The interior was designed by Nikki Esqulant herself in collaboration with Hillman Architects. Marble finishes, leather furnishings, booth seating, and locally sourced furniture feature throughout. There’s also a private dining room that can accommodate 24 seated or 50 cocktail-style, catering to just about any function or celebration.

What’s on the menu

Head Chef Navi Kumar, who has spent the past two and a half years at Hillarys Beach Club, leads the kitchen under Executive Chef Steven Finch. The menu features pub classics alongside house-made pasta and pizza, along with an expanded UBON menu — the Nobu-inspired offering that’s already well established at Hillarys Beach Club.

A flambé ribeye, finished tableside, is the signature dish that people will love for the theatrics as much as the dish itself. There’s also King Ora salmon ceviche with nashi pear, a beef cheek cottage pie, and sticky date madeleines to finish.

Part of a growing precinct

The Heart sits alongside Bar Olé Applecross, which opened in March, forming what ELG Australia describes as an entertainment precinct on Canning Beach Road. The two venues together have brought 180 jobs to the surrounding community.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring the ELG Australia style of hospitality south of the river and to become part of the Applecross community,” said Ryan Esqulant, owner of ELG Australia. “What we’ve created here with The Heart and Bar Olé Applecross is something really special — an entertainment precinct where people can come together, enjoy incredible food and drinks, and take in some of the best views in Perth. The uninterrupted outlook over the Swan River is simply stunning, and we can’t wait to share it with our guests.”

ELG Australia’s next project, The Alice in Ocean Reef, is scheduled to open in 2028.

The Heart Applecross is located at 59 Canning Beach Road, Applecross.

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