The newest hotel openings and refurbs in WA

Samphire Rottnest

If you’re feeling starved of sky, sea and sunshine, Rottnest Island’s first beachfront boutique accommodation is the place to escape to. Like the native samphire it’s named after, Samphire Rottnest is found close to the water’s edge on Thomson Bay on the island’s east coast. It’s all about understated elegance at the flip-flop-friendly hotel, which has 80 bright and breezy rooms all designed to celebrate the island’s rugged, relaxed environment. Throw in great cocktails, fantastic food, and a beach club with kick-back configurations of seating and you’ll find even more reasons to rate Rotto.

Bedroom, Samphire Lontara, Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Rottnest Island’s first beachfront boutique accommodation is the place to escape to. (Image: Jilian McHugh)

Vibe Hotel Subiaco

Subiaco, or Subi as it is affectionately known, is one of Perth’s most popular precincts for shopping and dining, and the Vibe Hotel Subiaco is a great base from which to explore it. The hip 12-storey hotel has 168 spacious rooms, including 14 suites, as well as a rooftop pool, gym and hatted restaurant in Storehouse Subiaco. There’s also St Marks Road Co. cafe, which keeps guests fuelled for forays into nearby Kings Park and the leafy laneways all around.

Dine at the hatted restaurant, Storehouse Subiaco.

Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront

While the 18-storey, 229-room DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront is right in the thick of it, near Perth’s exciting Elizabeth Quay precinct, it also offers softly lit bedrooms with Swan River views that provide a calm oasis away from the action. The hotel has a smart contemporary feel that appeals to both slick business travellers and out-of-towners, with splashes of colour and modern artworks. There’s also a 24-hour fitness centre, a smart-casual restaurant, Reel Kitchen, an infinity pool, and rooftop bar that has 360-degree views of the Swan River. Oh, and the famous DoubleTree cookies are worth the reservation alone.

Room interior, Double Tree Waterfront Hotel, WA

Relax in softly lit bedrooms with Swan River views. (Image: Double Tree Waterfront Hotel)

Wheatbelt Luxury Escapes

Visitors to the Wheatbelt can enjoy an exclusive stay at one of three Wheatbelt Luxury Escapes: Talbot Lodge, located on a sandalwood plantation; The Barn, a renovated Quakers Lodge kit home; and Federation-style Mansfield Cottage. The homesteads are located just under 100 clicks from Perth in the Avon Valley, where the pastoral landscape is mottled in bands of gold and green. While Talbot Lodge is 20 kilometres out of York, WA’s oldest inland town, and sleeps six, Mansfield Cottage and The Barn are on York’s outskirts and both sleep four.

Retire to one of three luxury residences. (Image: Angie Roe Photography)

Parmelia Hilton

Parmelia Hilton has been completely reimagined after a 10-month refurbishment in conjunction with Cox Architecture. The $45 million update includes the addition of 32 new rooms, including Premier Suites, to elevate the offering, an executive lounge, as well as direct access to buzzy Brookfield Place. The hotel’s transformation includes a pleasing coastal-chic contemporary lobby.

The hotel’s transformation includes a pleasing coastal-chic contemporary lobby. (Image: Robert Frith)

Ampersand Estates

Ampersand Estates has completed an extensive refurbishment program that has brought the region’s oldest winery, cellar door and accommodation thoroughly up to date. Located amid the rumpled folds of the Pemberton region, the winery is named after the ampersand symbol in reference to the many add-ons on offer. Enjoy a picnic on the grounds surrounded by old-growth trees, visit the gin and vodka lounge, and then retire to one of three luxury residences.

RAC Karri Valley Resort

The RAC Karri Valley Resort is one to bookmark for your next family holiday, with the top-to-toe renovation of its Chalets and Lakeside Rooms enhancing the guest experience. The Lakeside Restaurant and lounge room have also had an update, fixing the spotlight onto Lake Beedelup and the Karri Forest surrounds.

Aerial Shot of RAC Karri Valley, Western Australia

The RAC Karri Valley Resort is one to bookmark for your next family holiday. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Perched on the banks of Perth’s Swan River, the Wonil Hotel Perth pairs contemporary rooms and sweeping waterfront views with a sense of purpose that sets it apart.

In a rare model for the hospitality world, Wonil Hotel Perth operates as a not-for-profit hotel, directing 100% of its net revenue toward medical and scientific research across Western Australia’s five major universities. So while guests enjoy the calm of riverside living, their stay also quietly contributes to the future of science, innovation and health in Australia. And it’s a refreshing stand-out in Perth’s hotel scene.

Location

The peaceful riverside hotel is set on the banks of the Swan River.

Wonil Hotel Perth is located in the inner-city suburb of Crawley, a peaceful riverside locale about 10 minutes from Perth’s CBD. It’s positioned steps from Matilda Bay Reserve, where walking trails hug the shoreline and black swans glide along the water. From here, it’s a short drive or bike ride to Kings Park, Elizabeth Quay and the city’s arts and culture precincts. Though close to the action, the setting feels removed – quiet, leafy and surrounded by nature.

Style and character

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of Matilda Bay.

Named after the Noongar word for peppermint tree, of which there are many shading the riverbanks outside, Wonil Hotel Perth is the first Australian property in Accor’s Handwritten Collection. The overall style is minimal without being sterile – warm wood finishes, tactile furnishings and clever lighting create a relaxed, understated space that melts into its natural surroundings.

The lobby is stunning, spacious and filled with inviting leather couches, well-stocked bookshelves and Indigenous art and sculpture work. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors open out onto a sheltered outdoor deck filled with tables and chairs overlooking the river. During the day this serves as the world’s most picturesque coworking space, but come 5pm, it’s where you’ll find most guests milling around, cocktails in hand.

Facilities

Spend time reading books in the cosy library nook.

Wonil Hotel Perth leans toward a pared-back offering, focusing on what guests actually need. While there’s no on-site fitness centre, hotel staff can provide access to the nearby University of WA gym and pool. But why would you, when the hotel is in prime location for an outdoor workout. Walk along the trails that meander through Matilda Bay Reserve, run along the riverfront to the iconic Kings Park, or even tackle the nearby Kokoda Trail – a steep 150-step ascent designed to simulate the exhaustion and effort of the original Kokoda Track soldiers in WWII.

The hotel includes West Kitchen & Bar, a small but well-curated restaurant, plus free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and secure paid parking. Limited parking is available on-site with an advanced booking.

Rooms

the premier king room with river view at Wonil Hotel Perth

Each room is sleek and spacious with views over the Swan River.

The hotel’s 66 rooms range from Standard to Executive and Premium, many with balconies and uninterrupted views over the Swan River, and some with interconnecting options for families or groups. My room was a Deluxe King with a balcony and river view.

Bathrooms are luxe and spacious.

The space somehow manages to be both modernly sleek and warmly inviting – textured grey walls illuminated by warm sconce lights, an exposed concrete ceiling offset by rich timber accents, and a black wrought iron balcony met with earthy-hued, upholstered leather furnishings. The spacious king bed, roomy shower with luxe Mr Smith toiletries, and complimentary coffee add a special touch.

Food and drink

the outdoor terrace at Wonil Hotel Perth

Gather for sunset drinks on the outdoor terrace.

West Kitchen & Bar offers a truly local experience. When it comes to the drinks, you won’t find anything – wine, beer, spirits – from outside WA. Even the soda water hails from the west. The wine list sees big WA makers like Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager dance alongside smaller producers like Ironcloud, Singlefile and LS Merchants; with beers from local legends Gage Roads, Little Creatures, Beerfarm and Eagle Bay Brewing.

The dinner menu features seafood, steak and small plates designed for sharing, showcasing local producers. Standouts are the Rottnest kingfish with ruby grapefruit, the barramundi with Tuscan cabbage and the Harvey beef tri tip with smoked bone marrow butter and red wine jus. For dessert, a unique take on a classic – spiced red wine pannacotta, served with poached pear and fresh honeycomb.

Come morning, the hotel offers a curated selection of buffet breakfast options including seasonal fruits, homemade granola, pastries and sourdough. Plus, guests also get a choice of one item from the à la carte breakfast menu – the tomato bruschetta with balsamic, basil, feta and poached eggs on rye was exceptional.

Does Wonil Hotel Perth have access for guests with disabilities?

There are accessible rooms to accommodate guests with accessibility needs.

Is Wonil Hotel Perth it family-friendly?

Yes – the interconnecting rooms make family stays appealing, and the vast grassland and river foreshore of Matilda Bay Reserve are a beautiful spot for kids to run, splash and play in nature.

Best for: Couples, families, business travellers

Address: 21 Hackett Drive, Crawley