Our WA Travel Awards
The winners of the WA Tourism Awards were announced recently - the result of a process which starts with entrants sending in written submissions, upon which they are first judged.
We publish at least 300 pages of WA Travel content a year - the result of our constant personal journeys around the State; the stories of our real experiences.
So this "awards moment" has led us to think about some of the things that matter most to us, the travellers, and to handing out some praise as a result of our adventures and encounters.
So here, just for a bit of fun, are Our WA Travel Awards...
Gemma Nisbet's "Can I Have That" Award
Niall McIlroy's "It's Staring Me Right in the Face" Award
Jan Bromilow's "Great Day Out" Award
THE MOST DOG-FRIENDLY TOWN IN WA
... and the winner is Lancelin. With dog Shackleton, we walk the back streets to get a real taste of this little coast town just over 100km north of Perth.
It's a pleasure to stroll a town without footpaths and cars.
In a couple of hours, we only have to move out of the middle of the road twice.
Most of the places to stay listed with Lancelin Accommodation Services are dog-friendly and they are even allowed in the beach-facing beer garden of the Endeavour Tavern, on a lead. Dogs on holiday, just part of the family.
ONE OF THE MOST HOSPITABLE PEOPLE IN HOSPITALITY
... as you can imagine, we meet a lot of people, all over the world, and the problem with people in hospitality is that some aren't very hospitable, and some seem to be just reciting out a training script ("Enjoy . . ."). And then, still in Lancelin, you meet people like Karyn Price at Lancelin Accommodation Services, who keeps service on a human, personal level. When I ring to book a place, she asks if I have thought about other options, then says "why don't you come up, I'll give you the keys, you can look at them all and decide what suits you best".
And when I get there, she reads my face (not quite what I had in mind), comes up with something else and it's perfect. A brilliant experience.
FOR BEING ON THE WAY TO NOWHERE, BUT STILL GREAT
... and we have a split decision, between Augusta and Wyndham.
It has to be said (and plenty of people in both towns won't much like this) but they are both on the end of the line. The terminus. Last stop, and all get off.
South from Augusta, there's only really Antarctica.
Wyndham tidal flats. Picture: Sharon Smith/The West Australian
North from Wyndham and you're across the Joseph Bonaparte ("blownapart") Gulf and into other-lands.
But both towns have strong personalities, unparalleled geography and environments, locals who really belong there, and retain their charm.
THE 'DON'T BE SCARED' AWARD
East Kimberley in the Wet season. Mad? No - not mad at all. We have been on "family hols" twice and like Kununurra when it's "mainly locals".
I've been in November, in the build-up, been in the full-on Wet and, in March this year, we went up for a few days, and loved the sense of drama. Sure, it gets hot, but we get out and about early, have lunch in the shade, then back to the motel to hit the pool in the afternoon heat. It's dramatic; real.
I love that time of year in the Kimberley.
THE BEST SPOT FOR FANCY LUNCH WITHIN COOEE OF PERTH
Freeway south. Mundijong Road. Serpentine. Millbrook Winery, Jarrahdale. Great food overlooking the lake.
BEST AND SAFEST REMOTE TRAVEL
I know it might sound a bit barmy to start with, but please bear with me.
Jump in the Nissan X-Trail, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester (or similar - but the point is you don't need a super-big-tough-4WD) and head off to Uluru down the Great Central Road.
I was out that way again in July (as well as last year) and still reckon it's great remote travel - a great adventure.
A signpost on the Great Central Road. Picture: Marko Perisicæ
It's a big all-weather gravel road through ungrazed and unfenced country, with fuel every 300km or so, accommodation if you need it, great camping if you don't, and plenty of passing traffic if you get into bother - and Uluru at the end of the drive.
(Then just turn around and come home.)
THE 'GREAT LITTLE THING TO DO' AWARD
Never forget why people come from other parts of the world to Perth and the rest of WA - for our big blue sky, open spaces, and our pretty city.
And so we hand our Great Little Thing To Do award to the humble family picnic, and for the location we select the Matilda Bay foreshore, Crawley. Mum, dad and the kids, nanna and pop in their chairs, nephews and nieces to run in and out of the Swan River with.
THE 'GREAT BIG THING TO DO' AWARD
West Oz Active's adventures in the Karijini gorges take the slightly intrepid down into the heart of Karijini National Park.
As Brydie O'Connor, one of the highly qualified guides who lead excursions, says: "At Weano Gorge there is a 40m waterfall abseil. We abseil on rock that is 2.5 billion years old. We float through Red Gorge to Junction Pool."
The descent to Junction Pool. Picture: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian
West Oz Active runs the adventure tours from April to the end of October - we went with our Young Travel Writers in July and it was brilliant.
They supply everything, including helmets, ropes, harnesses, watershoes, wetsuits and lunch. Just bring along a little adventurous spirit.
THE 'EVERY TIME I COME HERE I THINK - THIS IS GREAT, WHY DON'T I COME HERE MORE OFTEN' AWARD
And this prestigious award goes to the Pilbara. It's not all mines. Its chocolate rock and blonde spinifex landscape is remarkable.
So the award goes generally to the Pilbara, more exactly to Karijini National Park (brilliant elevators down through geological time) and specifically to Karijini Eco Retreat - a great place to stay. We went up with our two Young Travel Writer winners this year, and had a ball.
OUR 'WELL, THAT WAS MIND-BLOWING' AWARD
In March, we joined Kununurra- based aviation company Kingfisher Tours to fly around the Kimberley on a version of the Wandjina Explorer air tour. Usually they fly anti-clockwise, taking off from Kununurra and seeing its lake and the Ord irrigation growing area from a new perspective before following the Lower Ord over the old station of Carlton Hill, crossing the Cambridge Gulf, following the coast of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf past Berkeley River and on to the serpentine, mangrove-edged King George River and King George Falls, then on to Kalumburu, past Truscott, the World War II airfield, over the Pentecost River crossing, Home Valley Station, and El Questro Wilderness Park, along the castellated top of the Cockburn Range, the famous, red backdrop in Australia, the movie. Yep, it doesn't matter if you've seen it before, it's mind-blowing.
The Cockburn Range, viewed from on high on Kingfisher Tours’ Wandjina Explorer flight day. Picture: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian
OUR 'WELL, THAT WAS SMALL BUT STILL MIND-BLOWING' AWARD
We looked down at two fantastic botanical sights this year.
Firstly, out east past Laverton, a massive spread of Sturt's desert peas, blood-red and black-eyed against the ochre earth. Secondly, a veritable garden of wreath Leschenaultia north of Dalwallinu.
And here there is an adjunct award to Dalwallinu Discovery Centre, at the Community Resources Centre, for their friendly welcome and good advice for all who have driven out to see wildflowers.
THE 'I DON'T LIKE CHANGE UNTIL I REALLY THINK ABOUT IT' AWARD
Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup. I've been there a lot over many years, and then I turn up and the Department of Parks and Wildlife has been busy changing things around (don't you hate them shifting everything on the supermarket shelves).
I find the new Baden Powell campsite, with numbered spots which you have to book online at least two days before turning up.
First reaction: How infuriating is that?
Murray River at Old Baden Powell, Lane Pool Reserve, near Dwellingup. Picture: Stephene Scourfield/The West Australian
Second reaction: You can still just turn up and camp at the old Baden Powell campground, and in other places, with this new system (now you know it's in place), at least you can turn up any time and know you have a nice spot bagsied just for you.
THE BEST LITTLE BEACH IN WA
A serious toss-up between Lights Beach near Denmark and Redgate near Margaret River. Lights Beach came up heads, by a nose. But they are both great little beaches.
CONSISTENCY AWARD
Every now and then some company throws a squillion dollars at something to build a new "venue" - all fancy-schmantzy and it scoops the "best and brightest awards" everywhere.
All well and good for them. But I am particularly impressed by family businesses sticking with it and showing consistency. And this award goes to Stone Cottages in Margaret River.
They have been at it for many years, despite the developments around there, and offer consistency and value - and we like that.
BIG CONSISTENCY AWARD
We have to follow that with our Big Consistency Award, which goes to Gary Muir and his WOW (Wild on Walpole) Wilderness Cruise.
A world-class morning boat trip from Walpole across the Nornalup and Walpole Inlets.
Nornalup Inlet. Picture: Jim Moore
It is a true insight into the area, entertaining and educational with a touch of genius, and full of Gary's massive enthusiasm. (At this point, colleague Jan Bromilow chips in that they took visitors from overseas on it, and they all raved about it. "Gary's brilliant.") We don't know how you keep that level of energy up, Gary, but good on ya.
BEST REAL FOOD ON A TRIP AWARD
Forget the service-station Chiko roll and the small bucket of fries. We want real food on our trips.
We divide this award into three equal portions (don't squabble, you kids)... Kevin Pusey produces beautiful, handmade, real-food dinners from the kitchen of the Grand Hotel, Kookynie, (200km north of Kalgoorlie). Wild Mango cafe in Kununurra does great breakfast.
Bindoon Bakehaus and Cafe is great for morning tea and lunch (and sells super honey).
The bakery in Denmark makes award-winning pies, as does Bakers Hill Pie Shop (a morning must-stop on Great Eastern Highway as I head to the Goldfields.)
And then, in Laverton (yes, Laverton), good barista coffee at the Great Beyond Visitors Centre.
BEST TOILETS
I've said it before, but I have to say it again. I've looked into the best toilets (mmm, yes, literally), and this award goes to the Department of Parks and Wildlife for its work in Cape Range National Park, along Ningaloo Reef on the North West Cape. Clean, bright, spacious, flushing. Good work DPAW. (And please don't anyone send me any more reader pictures of the disgusting toilets at Coral Bay.)
Toilets at the Kurrajong campground in Cape Range National Park. Picture: Stephen Scourfield/The West Australian
THE 'SOME PEOPLE CAN'T HELP BUT HELP THEMSELVES' AWARD
The folk in tourism in Pemberton and Northcliffe have a good trick... working together.
And it works well, helping out travellers helps the community.
Graeme and Toni Dearle have been helping travellers get the best out of Pemberton for years; from a tiny office next to the town's hardware store, they graduated to the old sport clubhouse but with much about Pemberton to show off, the Dearles knew that just wouldn't do.
With the help of local builder Steve Zemke, the clubhouse slowly but surely became the Pemberton Discovery Centre.
And we see other local support in Pemberton.
The Pemberton Discovery Centre is a valuable resource for the town's community. Picture: Niall McIlroy/The West Australian
For Sophie Zalokar, who with husband Chris, built and set up their farm-based cooking school Foragers, being part of a small country community was part of the attraction.
Sophie has said: "We have met wonderful locals and made valuable relationships with producers and other like-minded people who now play an integral role at Foragers."
We see accommodation providers joining as Pemberton Accommodation Association - "a professional group of business operators" working together.
In fact, there must be something in the water down there - as the folk in neighbouring Northcliffe are of a like mind.
Here's an example, from Ken Gwynne and Trevor Hulcup, who both have tourism businesses (Ken's is Canterbury Cottage B&B and Trevor's Watermark Kilns) but are both on the Northcliffe Visitor Information Centre Board, where the community works together.
Ken says: "With funds raised through the running and management of the Karri Cup (a massive mountain-bike event) we support visitors to the region.
"We recently commissioned a YouTube video about Northcliffe, and the exciting variety of experiences available here." (Search YouTube for Northcliffe, and it will pop up top of the list.)
BEST SMART IDEA FOR AN EVENT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PLACES THEY WOULDN'T EXPERIENCE AND ENHANCE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Yes, I know it's a long sentence... but, perhaps fittingly, the awards goes to Kulin's A Novel Event.
This was held in March, when 200 ladies turned up at Kulin's Freebairn Recreation Centre for "a unique and glamorous evening of laughs and literature". It was an idea dreamt up by Nicole Thompson, Deirdre Carroll, Janine Noble and Gen Whisson, and driven by their enthusiasm.
Three books by West Australian writers were selected (Fiona Palmer's The Outback Heart, Stephen Daisley's Traitor and my As the River Runs) and read by all.
MOST ORIGINAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE EXTRAORDINARY WA
Excuse the bias here, as it was something I was involved in - but this award goes to Ochre Contemporary Dance Company. Goodness knows how many hours went in to their project to take extractions of fiction about the WA landscape (Kim Scott's and mine) and turn it into dance. Three choreographers, a studio-full of dancers, countless administrative and organisational hours. And what you have there, moving before you, in human form, is the moving landscape of WA.
Forget those old "tourism roadshows" - if this set of performances in Articulating Landscapes isn't something to take out to show the world what we are and where we are, well, I don't know what is.
Ochre's commitment to WA, its young dancers, experienced and new choreographers and particularly to young indigenous people, is exemplary.
