Even as the pandemic put a stop to international travel, Western Australia continued to develop its tourism offering, introducing a host of fresh accommodation options in or near its booming capital, Perth.
From luxurious waterfront properties to rural retreats, here are five of the best places to stay in WA.
Quest South Perth Foreshore
Sitting on the opposite side of the Swan River from Perth’s CBD, south Perth is brimming with waterfront parks offering prime city views.
Despite being only 1.5km from that nest of skyscrapers — and the dining, shopping and nightlife options within it — this salubrious suburb is wonderfully peaceful, thanks to an abundance of green space.
Quest South Perth Foreshore — one of several new WA properties opened by the Quest apartment hotel brand in the past three years — offers expansive views across these parks to the city skyline beyond.
During our stay, its location on top of a small shopping centre proved useful, providing access to a host of restaurants, as well as a supermarket to stock the fridge in our plush two-bedroom apartment.
The property is also a short 500-metre stroll from Perth Zoo, or a 200 metre walk to the Mend St jetty, where regular ferries connect with the CBD.
Quest offers 28-square-metre studio apartments from Dh640 per night, as well as 50-square-metre one-bedroom apartments and 80-square-metre two-bedroom units.
Heyscape cabins
I wake up, open the curtain and am greeted by 100 sheep scattered across a wide, undulating field in the serene environment of the Avon Valley, 80km north-east of Perth.
I leave my comfortable queen-size bed, make a coffee in the well-equipped kitchen that flanks it, and then sit outside on the deck that’s attached to my cabin on this picturesque farm.
The only two buildings in sight are my accommodation and a second cabin a few hundred metres away.
Both of these structures are owned by Heyscape, which specialises in off-the-grid cabins situated amid the natural splendour of WA.
Its 13 cabins in five different WA locations each use solar power and composting toilets, but they’re a far cry from budget accommodation, with premium beds, comfortable dining tables inside and outside as well as exceptional views from a floor-to-ceiling window by the bed.
Heyscape’s countryside cabins in the Avon Valley, Serpentine, Narrogin, Chittering and Busselton are variously perched amid wineries, forests or farmland. Each allows guests to immerse themselves in nature, but are also a short drive from a nearby town.
Quest Joondalup
It has kilometres of pristine beaches, endless parklands, an impressive aquarium, a giant lake encircled by walking trails, a large dining and nightlife precinct, and Western Australia’s largest shopping centre.
Joondalup is overlooked by tourists, but there are plenty of reasons to visit this green and spacious city 25km north of Perth.
Quest Joondalup is located only 400 metres from the city’s colossal Lakeside Joondalup shopping centre to its west, and the parks, playgrounds and cycle ways of Lake Joondalup to its east.
Each morning of our stay, my toddler son frolics in these green spaces before my wife and I savour the endless shopping and dining options in the area.
Then we retire to the comfort of our modern, 73-square-metre, two-bedroom apartment. It has a large lounge room, generously sized kitchen, small balcony, two bathrooms, and a washing machine and dryer, with prices from Dh1,150 per night.
Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront
It almost feels like the Perth hills and Swan River are within arm’s reach, so sprawling is the vista from my king premier room at the new DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront.
Sandwiched between the CBD and that beautiful river, this hotel arguably has the best views in the city.
It is also situated alongside Elizabeth Quay, which, since opening in 2016, has become Perth’s most prestigious precinct, home to multimillion-dollar apartments, the new Ritz-Carlton Perth and now the DoubleTree.
Guests can look down on this plush riverside neighbourhood from the DoubleTree’s 18th floor rooftop bar and restaurant, 18 Knots.
A sumptuous buffet breakfast, meanwhile, is served at the hotel’s other dining venue, Reel Kitchen, which specialises in premium local beef and fresh seafood.
You can work off those calories at DoubleTree’s rooftop pool and modern gym — or laze in your room. These range from 28 square-metre king or twin guest rooms (Dh640 per night) to the 49 square-metre king premier (Dh1,150).
Quest Perth Ascot
Many tourists who fly into Perth head straight for WA’s natural attractions. They hire a car at Perth airport and cruise towards the beaches in its south-west region, or the national parks to the north.
But because it’s a such a long flight to WA’s isolated capital, it pays to stay the night in Perth before starting a road trip. Only 10 minutes’ drive from the airport, Quest Perth Ascot can either act as a pit stop, or as a base from which to explore the city.
In 30 minutes or less, guests can drive to Perth’s hilltop national parks, Scarborough beach, the historic port town of Fremantle or the native wildlife reserve at Whiteman Park. And at days’ end, they can have a soak in the hotel swimming pool.
Accommodation ranges from studios to two-bedroom apartments, with prices from Dh550 per night. Each comes with a kitchenette, while the apartments also have a washing machine and dryer.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
More from Mohammed Alardhi
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SPECS
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Christopher Robin
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Haley Atwell, Jim Cummings, Peter Capaldi
Three stars
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The%20Sandman
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How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
