While we’re unable to travel at the moment, it doesn’t mean we can’t fantasise and plan future domestic holiday adventures. Dare to dream and “do it in WA”, where adventure will be waiting for you when it’s safe to visit.
Australia’s largest state (a third of the whole country), WA is home to countless holiday experiences, including some found nowhere else in the world.
Thanks to technology, and the entrepreneurship of the tourism and hospitality industry in WA, there are now many nature, wildlife, food and drink, and cultural experiences that can be sampled from the comfort of your living room.
A few of the State’s best virtual highlights can be found below and, when the time is right to travel again, Western Australia will be ready to welcome visitors with incredible adventures, amazing deals, epic road trips, friendly tour operators, and some of the most welcoming locals on the planet.
Get watching
Watch the whales – WA is well-known for its ‘humpback highway’ and having one of the longest whale watching seasons in the world. Local tour operator Whale Watch WA is bringing the giant and gentle creatures into homes with the launch of virtual tours on its Whale Watch TV channel. Whale lovers can hop onboard a free virtual tour to the Perth Canyon to see a family of blue whales, or spot some friendly humpbacks in Augusta in WA’s Margaret River region, with more videos to come.
Aboriginal culture – Postcards from our Backyard is a series of stories about the lifestyle of Aboriginal tour operators from around WA. Developed by the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), viewers can learn to make fire with Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming in the Margaret River region, go on an adventure with Darren Capewell from Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Adventures in Shark Bay, and catch bushtucker with Johani Mamid from Mabu Buru Broome Aboriginal Tours in the Kimberley.
Catch a live Broome sunset or Staircase to the Moon – local tour operator and social guide So Broome is making it easier for those dreaming about the exotic Kimberley town – where the rugged red outback meets the blue waters and white sand beaches – to experience it via a series of events broadcast on Facebook. Sit back with a cold drink and imagine the tropical surrounds, as you witness a famous sunset over Broome’s Cable Beach, or see the natural phenomenon Staircase to the Moon – which occurs when a full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay. Dates and details on the So Broome Facebook page.
Belly laughs – Perth’s Comedy Lounge is usually the source of endless laughs, which is needed now more than ever. To help out its comedians and the lounge bar staff who have lost income, every Saturday there’ll be a new episode of comedy available to watch online for $1 – that’s a really cheap laugh!!
Listen up
Western Australia is home to many of Australia’s finest music exports, as well as great story tellers who can share our stories with the world. From live music sessions to podcasts about wine, here’s how you can hear a piece of WA:
- Musician John Butler is broadcasting live performances on his Instagram each day, around 6pm WST.
- WA bands and performers such as Eskimo Joe, Jebediah, Birds of Tokyo, Felicity Groom, Timothy Nelson, San Cisco, and Tame Impala are sharing their latest tunes or memories online to keep their followers happy, but for all the latest WA new music releases follow WAM or check Perth’s legendary community radio station RTRFM, who are running a ‘Live at Home’ series for local muso’s to share their ‘at home’ performances.
- Margaret River’s ‘Wine Unearthed’ podcast series – explores the people, natural environment and the wineries of WA’s famed Margaret River region. Get inside the mind of a big wave surfer, hear from the family who convinced Sting to sing at their winery, and meet an Aboriginal cultural custodian.
- The classics – the West Australian Opera, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra are continuing to entertain their audiences with online performances including Ghost Light Opera and virtual opera singing classes, and the orchestra’s Let the Music Play On series.
Get your taste buds tingling
Margaret River wine – the word around the vineyards is that the 2020 Margaret River vintage was a real treat for viticulturists, however, was one of the smaller harvests in recent years. The lower yields resulted in exceptional fruit, and when it’s ready, the 2020 vintage will be a special vintage to look out for. For now though, there’s a bunch of wineries offering great wine deals available to purchase online.
The Hummus Club – one of Perth’s favourite Middle Eastern restaurants – is now sharing one of its most popular recipes and menu items online following the launch of the crowdfunding initiative – In Perth We Trust. Take a virtual Hummus Masterclass with the master of chickpeas Ziad Zammar and Executive Chef Emily Heron and, with the help of their Hummus Kit, make the smoothest hummus utilising fresh Ord River Chickpeas, sourced from the Kimberley region of WA. There’s also the popular spice mixes and tea blend kit for purchase, or the In Hummus We Trust print (a photo of the restaurant’s insta-worthy neon sign) or tshirts. All proceeds go to paying suppliers and staff, and keeping the business alive until the time is right to re-open.
Click here for more information.
