So Perth

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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When winter hits, many in Perth feel the need to sink into the couch rather than get outside. And let’s be honest, it’s not like we’re in London. Perth’s winter, while we do have the occasional day of heavy rainfall, scatters its weeks with blue skies, and that is the perfect time to get out and spend a day at Whiteman Park.

Few places in Perth offer the range of activities and adventure that Whiteman Park has: hiking trails, playgrounds, wildlife spotting, pedal karts, heritage rides, and several museums that make learning fun.

So if you’re looking for a reason to get out into the fresh air, or simply to get the kids out of the house before they go stir crazy, add Whiteman Park to your Google Maps. Entry is free, parking is free, and the gates are open every day from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Hiking Whiteman Park Credit: Whiteman Park

As the winter rain continues to fall, Whiteman Park gets its green back, making it the perfect time to experience one of its three bush trails. Werillyiup and Wunanga are each signposted, come with interpretive notes, and open a different side of the park’s bushland. Pick up a trail map from the Visitor Information Centre and then hit the trails.

Start with Werillyiup if you’ve got kids in tow. The 2.5-kilometre loop circles Horse Swamp, and winter is when its name starts to make sense. The word Werillyiup means swampy place in Noongar, and for most of the year, the swamp sits dry. The trail starts near the dog park at Mussel Pool East, off car park 23, and follows blue-tipped markers. Flat the whole way and easy underfoot, it’s the gentlest of the three and often a great chance for some kangaroo spotting. You may also see nesting black swans, too.

Wunanga is the longest trail at 4.3 kilometres and begins near the Village Junction Railway Station, by car park 2, and winds through jarrah, marri, and banksia woodland. This is the trail for wildflower chasers as the weather warms towards spring.

Children’s Forest — Hike for the family  Credit: Whiteman Park

If a full trail is more than the kids have in them, the Children’s Forest is the gentler option. It opens the same hours as the park, and it’s built around discovery rather than distance.

Pick up an activity sheet from the Visitor Information Centre and let them lead as they discover sculptures and fairy houses hidden along the trail. Make sure to try and spot them all.

Bike trails and pedal karts

Whiteman Park has roughly 17 kilometres of sealed, shared-use paths threading through the park, and winter is the best season to ride them.

The pathways give you full access to the whole park, stay mostly flat throughout, and are safe enough for kids still finding their confidence on two wheels. You’ll need to bring your own bikes, as the park itself does not currently hire them out.

If you would rather pedal something with four wheels, Pedal Play hires out go-karts. The single junior karts suit ages four and up, the two-seaters work for older kids and adults, and there is a four-seater for the whole family in one go.

Vintage Trains and Heritage Trams

Two volunteer-run heritage services are a must when visiting Whiteman Park.

The Bennett Brook Railway is the one the kids will remember: jump on board a heritage train working out of the restored Whiteman Village Junction Station, looping through the park. It only runs on select days, so check the railway’s website or call the park before you set out, and make sure to watch for all the silly signs along your ride.

The heritage electric trams cover key Whiteman Park locations, with five stops linking the Village, Mussel Pool, Pia’s Place, and Village Junction Station. Buy your ticket from the conductor on board, and children under four ride free. It’s the perfect way to see the park without the foot or pedal power.

Museums for when the weather wins

Some days, when the rain settles in and becomes too much, the best move is to find shelter, and Whiteman Park offers several options.

The Motor Museum of WA is our main pick. Spread across two halls and 4,000 square metres, it holds more than 200 vehicles, from the late 1800s through to today, and the prize is Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10, on long-term loan from the driver himself. It’s the only winning Formula One car on permanent public display in Australia. Car enthusiasts will also appreciate the Bathurst collection of Australian motorsport legends, a Japanese Domestic Market line-up of rare JDM performance cars, an early-70s Holden Torana, a 1966 Mini Cooper S, and the hand-built vehicles of the late WA craftsman Cliff Byfield. Free volunteer-led tours run at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, and there’s a café next door if the kids need refuelling.

The Tractor Museum of WA is one that tends to surprise people. It holds close to 40 tractors alongside stationary engines, vintage trucks, country-life artefacts, and old photographs, and the volunteers who run it will happily talk your ear off about a restoration if you let them. The exterior features a large mural by PJ Hannagan, the Mural Nomad, that mixes the park’s native fauna with farming life.

Playgrounds Credit: Whiteman park

For most parents, finding a great playground is worth any amount of time to get there. So if your kids have energy to burn, Whiteman Park is your saviour, with three playgrounds on offer.

Pia’s Place is the standout: an all-abilities playground designed so children of all mobility levels can use it, with barbecue shelters right alongside for the adults. The fully fenced Village West playground is shaded, making it the easy choice on a bright winter day, and the Village East playground sits on grass near the water playground. The mini water playground itself is a summer attraction, so it is not the draw in July, but it’s worth keeping in mind once summer returns.

Bring the dog

Whiteman Park is not only for stretching the kids’ legs. The cooler weather is exactly when your dog wants to run, and the park’s 2.5-hectare fenced Dog Park at Mussel Pool East is what your pup will have dreams about.

It is completely enclosed, with an obstacle course designed in colours dogs can see, plenty of shade, trees to sniff, and water stations throughout. There is a separate enclosure for small dogs under ten kilograms, so the little ones are not overshadowed by the larger dogs.

The Whiteman Park dog park is free, although donations toward maintenance and RSPCA WA are welcome.

What’s on this winter Credit: Whiteman Park

There are three events worth planning a visit around at Whiteman Park in July and August.

The monthly Tractor Parade is the easiest is perfect for families with small kids. Vintage tractors chug from the Tractor Museum around Village Circle to Revolutions and back, and it’s free. Catch it on Sunday, July 12th and again on Sunday, August 9th, both running from 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm.

On Sunday, July 26th, the park hosts its National Tree Day community planting at Horse Swamp, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. Volunteers help establish a bushland buffer between Dulwich Street and the conservation wetland, building habitat for quenda, possums, frogs, and birds. It’s free, although registration is recommended, and the park provides all the tools and water.

Then on Sunday, August 23rd, MiLi’s Made-It Markets takes over Mussel Pool East from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Expect handmade Western Australian wares, food trucks, and a dog-friendly day out, provided they stay on a lead. It’s free entry, with the best parking in car parks 20 to 24.

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The Royal George has worn a lot of hats since the early 1900s. Horse stables, a hotel, a pub, and most recently a local restaurant. The heritage-listed building on the corner of Duke Street has been an East Fremantle fixture for more than a century. This weekend, it becomes something new, a contrast therapy venue built around a 50,000-litre ice pool.

Alchemy Saunas, the Perth-born wellness brand, has spent more than two years on the multi-million-dollar redevelopment, which it describes as its most ambitious project to date. Beneath the heritage structure sits the ice pool alongside a hot magnesium pool, with sauna facilities, a steam room, retail, premium amenities, and communal spaces filling out the two-storey site.

Back to where it started

For co-founder and managing director James Browne, the location is important. Alchemy began in East Fremantle, born from conversations after early morning ocean swims.

“East Fremantle is where the Alchemy story began,” said Browne. “After our morning ocean swims, we used to talk about how incredible it would be to have a sauna by the beach where people could connect and start their day together. What started as a simple idea between friends has become our flagship venue in the community where it all began.”

Browne’s background in high-end construction shaped the build, and the brief was on point: “We wanted to honour the building’s history while giving it a new purpose for the next generation,” he said. “The vision was simple: Roman bathhouse meets Alchemy Saunas.”

From a DIY sauna to nine venues

The company has grown quickly since its origins as a sauna that Browne built from leftover materials. Alchemy now runs nine founder-owned locations with five more in development, and facilitates tens of thousands of bookings each month.

General manager James Jordan puts the growth down to a shift in how Australians treat their downtime, and to what keeps people coming back once the novelty of the cold wears off.

“People come and try Alchemy for the health benefits of the sauna and ice, but they stay for the social community,” said Jordan. “We see someone get into a good routine, and before long, they’ve connected with people, some have gone into business together, others have found people to lean on. There’s something special about sitting in a sauna together, no phones, no distractions. You just end up talking, and it grows from there.”

“It’s part hospitality, part wellness. You feel great after, but you also had a great time,” Jordan said.

Memberships are already sold out

Demand has outpaced supply before the doors have even opened, with memberships for the East Fremantle venue already sold out. For everyone else, Alchemy will continue to offer casual drop-in sessions on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Alchemy Saunas East Fremantle opens at 34 Duke Street, East Fremantle on Saturday, June 27th.

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A kilo and a half of white truffle was unearthed at Australian Truffle Traders’ Manjimup farm on Tuesday morning, and the family who grew it believe it is the first white truffle ever harvested in Western Australia.

The truffles are bianchetto, scientifically known as Tuber borchii, and they grew from stone pine trees that the Booth family planted only a few years ago. Until now, the bianchetto had been cultivated overseas and in a handful of spots on Australia’s eastern seaboard, never in the west.

“We weren’t expecting this when we went out truffle hunting yesterday morning,” said Gavin Booth, who owns the business with his wife, Mel. “We are thrilled to find a white truffle from trees we planted only a few years ago.”

A gamble that took root

The Booths planted 500 stone pine trees — the Italian conifer Pinus pinea — across two sites in 2022, with no guarantee the bianchetto would ever form in Western Australian conditions. Manjimup and the wider Southern Forests are the Southern Hemisphere’s heartland for the black Périgord truffle, producing roughly 80 per cent of all black truffles grown south of the equator. White was uncharted ground.

Booth is careful about what this find is, and what it isn’t. “I want to be clear that this is the bianchetto, the white truffle you can grow. It is not the Alba white that has never been able to be farmed,” he said. The famed Italian Alba truffle, Tuber magnatum, commands extraordinary prices precisely because every attempt to farm it anywhere in the world has failed. The bianchetto is its more affordable, cultivable cousin, fetching a price similar to that of black truffle — up to $3,000 a kilo at retail.

A different delicacy in the kitchen

Where Manjimup’s black truffle is prized for a heady, earthy, umami aroma, the bianchetto goes somewhere else entirely. “It is all garlic and onion, pungent and savoury with the bianchetto,” Booth said. “It is the kind of aroma that fills a kitchen the moment you walk in the door with one in your pocket.”

The interest was near-instant. Within hours of the Booths posting their find to social media, Booth said he was hearing from chefs as far afield as Sydney and San Francisco. As one of the two largest growers and aggregators of black truffles in the Southern Hemisphere, the business already has the kitchens and distribution networks to move a new product fast. And a cultivable white truffle gives those chefs, retailers, and home cooks something the region has never been able to put in front of them before.

For now, the next step is to take the dogs back into the orchard and see what else is down there. “Truffles are fickle to grow. You cannot rush them and you cannot force them, so to have some white ones finally appear feels like the land is letting us in on a secret,” Booth said. He raised the possibility of a “white truffle hunt” experience guests could book by the end of the season, though his immediate focus is offering the find to the farm’s best customers first.

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The black truffle is one of the best things about winter in WA. They go well with pasta, steak, burgers, and just about everything else. The downside is they’re quite inconvenient to farm. 

They grow underground, on the roots of oak and hazelnut trees, and the only way to find one is to follow a dog that can smell it — the ones we’ve encountered have all been very friendly labradors. In the Southern Forests around Manjimup, the truffle harvest runs from early June through September, and during those months, the region produces more than 80 per cent of Australia’s black truffles.

Truffle season is short, so best to plan a trip now rather than later. A truffle hunt, followed by a long lunch built around the day’s haul, makes for the perfect excuse for a weekend down south. 

Here are six small towns to plan your trip around.

Manjimup Truffle Hill (top), Australian Truffle Traders (l), and Manjimup truffles (r) | Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Manjimup is the centre point of WA’s truffle industry, and the place to start. Truffle Hill (formerly The Truffle & Wine Co) planted WA’s first commercial truffière in 1997 and remains the largest producing truffière in the southern hemisphere, with a restaurant, a cellar door, and guided hunts through the orchard during the season. You’ve probably seen their truffle oil in supermarkets and their truffles on restaurant menus.

Truffle Kerfuffle, the region’s most popular festival, returns in 2026 as a dining series rather than the old three-day event, with dinners in Manjimup on the 26th and 27th of June. If the dates suit, build your weekend around the event. The hunts and lunches run for months on either side, so your weekend away doesn’t depend on the festival.

Pemberton Windows Estate | Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Pemberton, about half an hour south of Manjimup, is the other half of the Southern Forests truffle region. A stay here also means you’re in one of the south west’s best wine regions, especially for pinot noir and chardonnay. Several of the truffières pair a morning truffle hunt with a sit-down lunch; think prime cuts with fresh shaved truffle, truffled cheese, winter vegetables, and a glass of local vino.

Aerial Adventure, Pemberton | Credit: Tourism Western Australia

The town also has a high-ropes course in the forest, and the long Karri Forest Explorer drive, so a truffle lunch can sit at the centre of a fuller day rather than being the main event. 

Our pick is to stay at Ampersand Estate while you’re in Pemberton — home to WA’s People’s Choice pinot noir.

Nannup Nannup | Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Nannup is in the Blackwood River Valley, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth. It’s close enough to reach Manjimup’s orchards for a morning hunt and quiet and secluded enough to make it a perfect weekend away for two.

The town’s small microbrewery, cafes, and galleries should be on your to-do list while you’re there, and the River Walk Trail along the Blackwood is the perfect way to start the day (when it’s not raining). 

Bridgetown Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Bridgetown takes the truffle in a different direction. This is a town that already fully embraces winter — it calls itself WA’s winter capital and runs a season-long winter festival called Fridgetown. By a different direction, we mean the local drinks producers have folded the truffle into what they brew.

The Cidery and Blackwood Valley Brewing Co. have both turned out truffle-season releases, a truffle cider and a truffle ale among them, which is about as Bridgetown an approach to the season as you could ask for. Pair that with the Sunday markets and the heritage main street, and Bridgetown becomes the relaxed, glass-in-hand stop on a truffle itinerary.

Balingup

Balingup is usually a town you pass through on the way south, without giving it a second thought. It sits in rolling green farmland about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth, and despite its small size, it’s the perfect spot for a quiet weekend away.

The region’s truffle hunts cluster further south around Manjimup, so treat Balingup as home base while you explore the region on a series of day trips. You can also browse the local shops and walk through the Golden Valley Tree Park, which looks magnificent during the wet season.

Northcliffe Credit: Frances Andrijich

Northcliffe is the smallest and most remote town here, sitting in tall karri country south of Pemberton, on the outer edge of the Southern Forests truffle region. 

The reason to make the detour to Northcliffe is the Understory Art and Nature Trail, a 1.2-kilometre walk through Northcliffe Forest Park threaded with more than 70 sculptures by Western Australian, national, and international artists. Pair a cold-weather walk through the karri with a truffle lunch back up the road, and Northcliffe makes for a truffle weekend very different from your usual weekend in the south west.

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The empty wine and spirit bottles piling up in Perth’s recycling bins are about to become worth something. From the first of July, glass wine and spirit bottles will be eligible for a ten-cent refund through Containers for Change, a big evolution since the scheme launched in 2020. The change brings almost every beverage container between 150 millilitres and three litres into the scheme. 

“From 1 July 2026, Western Australians can claim a refund on almost every eligible beverage container sold in the State, making Containers for Change bigger and better than ever,” Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said. 

“Containers for Change is delivering strong economic, social, and environmental benefits for Western Australia, encouraging recycling, reducing landfill, retaining valuable resources, and supporting jobs and community organisations across the State.”

By the government’s estimate, the expansion adds roughly 200 million extra containers to the system each year — a sizeable jump for a programme that has already collected more than 5.4 billion containers across the State. 

What you can return, and when

From Tuesday, July 1st, if it holds a drink and sits between 150 millilitres and three litres, from Coke bottles to Pinot bottles, it’s probably refundable. 

The body that runs the scheme says the network is ready to cope with the expected influx from expanding the types of bottles accepted. “The refund point network has worked tremendously hard to prepare for this milestone and we are proud to say the network is operationally ready to welcome the new containers from day one,” WARRRL chief executive Tim Cusack said.

You may not see the Containers for Change 10c mark on all bottles yet. New suppliers have a three-year window to update their packaging, so some newly eligible bottles won’t carry the familiar 10c mark straight away. However, just because there’s no mark on the label, it doesn’t mean you can’t exchange the bottle. 

A number of wineries across WA have been vocal about the change, warning that the cost of the 10c refund will increase bottle prices and flow on to consumers, increasing the retail price of a bottle of wine by between $1.00 and $2.50. 

The numbers behind the scheme

Containers for Change has shifted Western Australia’s beverage container recovery rate from 34 per cent to more than 65 per cent since 2020, and glass recovery now sits at 80 per cent. The scheme has also funnelled more than $21 million to charities, schools, and community groups through donated refunds, and supports 850 jobs across the State, including roles at small businesses and social enterprises, as well as work for people who face barriers to employment. 

Swinbourn added. “Containers for Change delivers value across the community, from teaching children financial responsibility to supporting jobs for people facing barriers to employment.”

“It’s important to acknowledge Containers for Change is funded by industry, and we are working with new suppliers to support a smooth transition.”

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The Australind train service will resume on Monday, June 29th, and the four new trains operating it have just been named: Marley, Kwilena, Koombana, and Linda. The Public Transport Authority asked the community to suggest names, and more than 3,500 entries came in, with multiple people landing on each of the four winners.

“The Australind has been part of the South West for nearly 80 years, so we wanted to give the community the opportunity to help shape its new chapter,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“These names pay tribute to the history, culture and spirit of the South West and are something the community can be proud of.”

Marley comes with a bit of a backstory. The name honours an alpine dingo who arrived in Bunbury from the Pilbara and later lived at the Bunbury Port, where the Bunbury Sea Rescue group cared for him. He became a local icon. 

Kwilena is the Noongar word for dolphin — a totem of significance to Noongar people and a long-running symbol of Bunbury, home to the Dolphin Discovery Centre. Koombana takes its name from Koombana Bay, the focal point of the city. Linda is the affectionate name the train enthusiast community has used for the Australind for years.

Each train will carry its name on a plaque installed on it, while the service continues to run under the Australind banner. Everyone who submitted a name goes into the draw to win a seat on the first service back.

WA made and ready to roll

The WA-made three-car trains are a big step up from the old fleet. Each one has LED lighting, in-seat USB-C charging, an onboard buffet, improved accessibility, and dedicated storage for 14 bicycles. 

The first train starts service from Monday, June 29th, reconnecting Perth, Peel, and Bunbury, with the remaining three phased in over the following months. Some coach services will run until the second train comes online.

The Australind has been part of the South West for nearly 80 years, which is partly why the Cook Government opened up the naming to the public. 

South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said, “It is a project that I have championed for many years, and I am pleased the Cook Labor Government has delivered this important service for the region.”

“Passengers will once again be able to travel by train between Bunbury and Perth, benefiting from a significantly improved experience with greater comfort, modern amenities and enhanced accessibility on the carriages.”

“These new trains have been named to reflect the rich history and identity of the South West, and I thank everyone who contributed suggestions as part of the community naming process.”

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