The Perth Cultural Centre is undergoing a major transformation and is primed to reopen in 2026 with a fresh new look (the exact opening date has yet to be announced). Anchored by a central plaza, the precinct is being reimagined not just as a place to visit but hang out – shaded, walkable, and alive with public art, bars, cafés, and after-dark projections. Joining it is a state-of-the-art campus for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, featuring world-class rehearsal and performance spaces. While you’re there, catch the final days of WA Museum Boola Bardip’s “Terracotta Warriors” exhibition, running until February 26.
For a stylish stay, check in to Garde, a hotel within the historic mid-19th-century Fremantle Police Headquarters. Opened in September 2025, the hotel offers 83 rooms and suites, and houses Anglesea, a modern Australian restaurant already creating serious buzz. Over in East Victoria Park, Baillie Hill – a charming new cluster of restaurants, artist studios, and a farmers market – opens in December 2025.
On the coast, Bert’s, a retro-chic revival of a 1950s beach kiosk, opened on City Beach in October 2025, just in time for summer. Nearby, Perth’s first ocean pool is set to make a splash in 2026, and if rumors are to be believed, the city could be home to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wave pool by 2027.
How to plan it: Take the slow route back east on the iconic Indian Pacific train’s newly enhanced itinerary, with the journey to Sydney now an extra leisurely four nights instead of three. Perth is a five-hour flight from Sydney or a four-hour flight from Melbourne, with connections to various US cities. Western Australia’s capital city is a year-round destination, but the best times to visit include the shoulder seasons of spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) for pleasantly mild weather and wildflower blooms. Sarah Reid
Port Stephens, Australia
Go for: family holidays with endless beaches and elevated new stays
