A world-first collection of Terracotta Warriors is coming to WA

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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The major exhibition marks a first for Australia and the world.

One of the world’s most significant art collections is coming to Australia this June – and it’s not Renoir or Picasso. In a global first, collaborating with China’s Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre and the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, the WA Museum Boola Bardip presents Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor.

The monumental exhibition will feature over 225 authentic artefacts from the original archaeological site in China, including an assembly of the Terracotta Warriors themselves. It’s a historic occasion that marks a major milestone in the arts, not only for the Perth institution and the state of Western Australia, but for the world, too.

What makes this exhibition a global first?

Art enthusiasts and history buffs may be shaking their heads right now, so let’s clear up the details. While it’s true that a handful of objects from the Terracotta Warriors have made it Down Under before, it has never featured in a project of this scale.

China's Terracotta Warriors
The exhibition marks a first for Australia and the world. (Image: Getty Images/DNDavis)

As part of its Terracotta Warriors: Guardians Of Immortality exhibition in 2019, Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria displayed eight warriors and two horses from the collection, as well as two replica chariots. However, the majority of artefacts within the WA Museum Boola Bardip’s upcoming exhibition have not been to Australia. In fact, just under half of them have never even left China.

WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, Western Australia
The WA Museum Boola Bardip will host the world-first exhibition. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

But the real clincher? These ancient artefacts and intricate clay figures will be joined by a never-before-seen range of recently excavated objects. The items have remained hidden from the world until now, and Australians will be the first people to witness them on public display. No other exhibition has gathered the Terracotta Warriors and their related relics in such depth and scale  – and that’s what makes it so special.

What else can I expect from the exhibition?

For some, seeing the warriors up close will be enough. Unearthed by chance in 1974, the life-sized soldiers (accompanied by horses, chariots, infantrymen and a variety of weapons) date back over 2200 years and are often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The collection, which numbers in the thousands, symbolises an important part of Chinese history, providing a rare and invaluable glimpse into the world of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It also offers a direct insight into major societal systems such as the military and its structure, as well as more ordinary things like artistic techniques and daily life at the time.

China's Terracotta Warriors
The warriors are considered the unofficial Eighth Wonder of the World. (Image: Getty Images/Nikada)

But for those keen to delve deeper, there’s more to this exhibition than meets the eye. An immersive program has been designed to captivate and excite, featuring everything from large-scale projections and interactive experiences to behind-the-scenes tours and informative panel talks. Don’t miss Jade Nights each Friday, an after-dark event with live music, cultural performances and more.

Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor will run from 28 June 2025 to 22 February 2026 at the WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth, Western Australia. Tickets are on sale now for $30 per person, with concession, senior and family rates available. Kids under four enter for free.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Exploring an icon: inside the massive upgrade to Broome’s famous Cable Beach

(Credit: Tourism WA)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).

    As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.

    And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.

    Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1
    Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.

    The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.

    Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.

    Morning colours

    car on cable beach at sunrise
    Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.

    When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.

    Afternoon adventures

    camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset
    Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)

    When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.

    Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.

    Evening degustation

    server at Cable Beach Club
    Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.

    While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.

    For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.

    Beyond the beach

    Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.

    Unmatched experiences

    Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach
    Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.

    Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.

    And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.

    Dining discoveries

    Matso’s Broome Brewery
    Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.

    For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.

    Natural beauties

    Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome
    Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.

    Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.

    Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.

    For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.