It may seem like a long way to go from the East Coast to the West Coast for a weekender, but when an itinerary lands on your desk, jam packed with local food and wine and the opening of a unique hotel- it’s worth the trek.
A flight from Brisbane to Perth is around 5 hours, just enough time to devour a series or nail a few podcasts. Landing in Western Australia has a distinct feel to it, from the stunning sunsets over the ocean to the arid dry heat-you know you’re on the West Coast.
The friendly Perth locals are laid back and complement the ‘big country town’ vibe. From the array of eateries, historical buildings and international hotel openings, it’s a city with a burgeoning plan.
We head 10 minutes out of the city to Crawley, where the latest international hotel has swung open its doors, Wonil (meaning peppermint tree) Hotel, is Accors first Handwritten Hotel in Australia. The Handwritten Collection is all about storytelling, and finessing the space. The contemporary hotel is indicative of the brand, with an open plan design, clean architectural lines and an array of curated indigenous artworks.
Wonil Hotel is built adjacent to the University of Western Australia, and is a short stroll to the majestic Kings Park. The newly appointed West Kitchen, is located within the hotels main foyer and takes in the towering gum trees and peppermint tree, with the dreamiest views across the Swan River to the city beyond.
West Kitchen celebrates the ‘Best of the West’ from locally farmed produce to an array of distillers and the finest wines the region has to offer. We take a day trip to Swan Valley, to long lunch at the popular ‘Woodcutters Restaurant’ at Nikola Estate. Known for their dry aged beef and creative use of local produce, we opt for the degustation menu- delightfully paired with wines from the surrounding vineyards.
Time to walk off some of that delicious food and wine, we head to the iconic ‘ Karrgatup’ Kings Park which takes pride of place above the city- with the most sublime views. An indigenous bush tucker talk is the perfect way to immerse in the history of the park, guided by the Noongar People-we learn about the native flora and fauna, and listen to dreamtime stories in the Noongar language.
Back down the hill we walk along the Swan River and hear how Wonil Hotel is committed to sustainability and education. Collaborating with the Forrest Research Foundation, to ensure the hotels net revenue goes back into education-awarding scholarships to some of the brightest sparks from across the globe.
There’s a lot to see and do in and around the city of Perth, and that’s without taking in the popular towns of Freemantle and Margaret River- we’ll save them for a later date. We wave goodbye to the friendly team at Wonil Hotel and head to Miss Mi located in the Novotel, central to the city.
Having tried the sister restuarant in Melbourne, we were thrilled to hear Perth was also home to the flavours of Miss Mi. Renowned Chef Alex De Leon is at the helm of this vibrant eatery, curating a menu of modern Asia, that fuses timeless spices with local produce- scattered with tropical plants, warm furnishings and a dreamy water feature- its a place to relax and indulge in top notch food.
A short stroll up the road to the ‘State Buildings’ precinct, we feel the heat rise as the city prepares for a long hot summer. The magnificent ‘State Buildings’ were built in the 1890’s and have been tastefully transformed into a hub of eateries, retail, wellness and luxury accommodation.
Perth is a naturally beautiful city that bursts with charm, it’s small enough to be intimate, but big enough to be global-it’s a city on the move, that’s enjoying its time in the Western sun.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/au/birdflower.en.html?aid=7927129&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2
For more travel inspiration and information, don’t forget to check out www.travellingsenorita.com, the best travel blog and podcast dedicated to Perth, Australia.