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WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 is a hidden Kimberley gem

Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
From country communities to coastal favourites, these destinations have been crowned WA’s top dogs.

Each year, the Top Tourism Town Awards celebrate the regional destinations striving to not only attract visitors, but to keep them coming back. And right now, the spotlight is firmly on Western Australia. This year, a bounty of remarkable destinations was whittled down to just 13 contenders across three categories.

Top Tourism Town finalists: Geraldton, Kununurra and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Small Tourism Town finalists: York, Carnarvon, Jurien Bay and Harvey.
Tiny Tourism Town finalists: Coral Bay, Gascoyne Junction, New Norcia, Kalbarri, Pemberton and Walpole.

With such a stellar line-up of finalists, the competition was always going to be fierce. But the winners have now been revealed – and the crowns couldn’t be more fitting.

Top Tourism Town

Bungle Bungle Range, WA
Base yourself in Kununurra for easy access to the Bungle Bungle Range. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Taking first place as WA’s Top Tourism Town for 2026 is Kununurra, located more than 1000 kilometres inland from Broome near the Northern Territory border. Often referred to as the gateway to the Kimberley, this remote outback gem serves as the perfect base for exploring some of Australia’s most extraordinary natural wonders, including Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungle Range.

Ord Valley Muster in KKununurra, WA
Don’t miss the Ord Valley Muster, an icon of Kununurra’s cultural calendar. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

But it’s not just Kununurra’s spectacular landscapes that helped secure its new title. Home to a passionate and tight-knit community, the town hosts a range of locally led initiatives designed to celebrate its unique culture, history and character. Among them is the beloved Ord Valley Muster, a bucket-list festival of music, art, food, comedy and First Nations experiences.

Silver: Geraldton
Bronze: Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Small Tourism Town

Jurien Bay, WA
Find pure beachside bliss in Jurien Bay. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

The sleepy coastal town of Jurien Bay is officially WA’s Small Tourism Town for 2026, found roughly 2.5 hours north of Perth by car. This laid-back locale in the Wheatbelt region is a mecca of marine life, offering endless opportunities for boating, diving, snorkelling and swimming amongst its crystalline waters.

Sea lion in Jurien Bay Marine Park, WA
Colonies of the rare Australian sea lion call Jurien Bay Marine Park home. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Situated on WA’s humpback highway, Jurien Bay is a prime spot for whale watching. From May to December, admire the majestic beasts as they migrate between Antarctica and the warm waters of the Kimberley. Visit Jurien Bay Marine Park and you’ll also encounter sea lions, dolphins, turtles and fish as they meander among vibrant reefs and seagrass meadows.

Silver: Carnarvon
Bronze: York

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Tiny Tourism Town

Kalbarri, WA
River meets reef on Kalbarri’s doorstep. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Taking out the title of WA’s Tiny Tourism Town for 2026 is Kalbarri, perched where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean along the state’s Coral Coast. The breezy town is a place of striking contrasts, where rugged gorges and winding riverways give way to soaring coastal cliffs and turquoise waters.

Kalbarri Skywalk, WA
The recently completed Skywalk overlooks Murchison River Gorge. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Flying under the radar for far too long, Kalbarri is now earning a reputation as one of Australia’s top emerging towns. A wave of new infrastructure is helping to support this growing popularity, including the spectacular Kalbarri Skywalk, completed in 2020. Together with Kununurra and Jurien Bay, Kalbarri highlights WA’s remarkable breadth of destinations just waiting to be discovered.

Silver: Pemberton
Bronze: Walpole

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 visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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Theatre, art and music: Our top picks from this year’s Perth Festival lineup

Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy

    Lynn Gail Lynn Gail
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    Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.

    Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:

    1. East Perth Power Station

    East Perth Power Station during Perth Festival
    See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)

    Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.

    A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.

    2. St Mary’s Cathedral

    Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth
    Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)

    Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.

    The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.

    3. Lotterywest Films

    guests at Lotterywest Films as part of Perth Festival
    Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)

    One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.

    4. The Embassy

    guests at The EMbassy as part of Perth Festival
    Step into the old world glitz of The Embassy. (Image: Franz Bato)

    Modelled on Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, a devilish dance venue that operated in the 1900s, The Embassy in Perth Town Hall, serves sophistication in its A-list shows. Set your sequins a’sparkle at the, What’s TINA Got to Do With It extravaganza where guest artists play tribute as they belt out the glitzy star’s hits. The returning act, Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band, will have you jiving as you take to the dance floor reimagining a bygone era. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Black-bearded drag sensation, La Gateau Chocolat puts the raw in cacao. World-renowned for his feisty range of storied songs, he reveals the inner-man come artist through his deliciously sweet and intimate act.

    5. Unusual locations

    still from The Trial theatre
    Watch a star-studded cast in The Trial. (Image: Cole Baxter)

    We’ve all heard of the hit show, The Office, but a spinetingling operatic thriller acted out in disused office space? Philip Glass’ nail-biter, The Trial, has a star-studded line-up. Together they deliver a dramatic ordeal showcasing Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton’s libretto; the suspense lingers after the final bow.

    Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence.  Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.

    6. A View From A Bridge

    A View From A Bridge special event at Perth Festival
    Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.

    Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.

    What else to do in Perth

    Shadow Wine Bar in perth
    Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.

    Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

    After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.

    Start planing your 2026 trip to Perth Festival at perthfestival.com.au.