Travel

Stuff Your Face

It’s east meets west budget bohemian grit, which isn’t to say the food is gritty, just that the feel of the place often is. After all, this is Northbridge, a dining destination without parallel in Western Australia. Historically, the hub for newly arrived immigrants Northbridge is home to many of the diverse cultures that have mished and mashed together to create WA as it is today. And nowhere, nowhere, is that diversity more evident than on the plates of Northbridge restaurants. Eating in Northbridge is thus best looked at as an adventure to be had, a chance to taste a different culture without the expensive airfare. While there are a few high-end restaurants, Northbridge is for the most part budget eats where the charm lies less in ambience and service and more in quirky authenticity. (more…)

Northbridge is the hub of nightlife in Perth with a smattering of clubs, a spattering of pubs and just a dash of the g&l in the form of Connections Nightclub and The Court Hotel. Beyond Connections and The Court and amid the spattering and smattering are quite a few rainbow-friendly places for a night out. So, if you want to mix some diversity into your gay nights out, consider some of the following for a cocktail or a show before going back to the age-old one-two combo of The Court and Connies. (more…)

Northbridge is a shopper’s heaven. In recent times it has experienced a revival of sorts with a rush of designer boutiques opening its doors along William Street and in arcades everywhere. What started off in 2004 as just Keith & Lottie and Red Stripe Clothing (two opposite ends of the fashion spectrum if ever there was one) has now exploded into the William Street Collective, a hub of shops run by bright young business minds with approximately 12 retail outlets cuddling under the On William umbrella. From fashion to flowers to home goods to horror, Northbridge has an assortment of hotter than hot shopping spots sure to sate any and all retail wants, needs and desires. (more…)

Just as Northbridge is a shopper’s paradise, so is it the arty heart of our city, a veritable cornucopia of creativity and ingenious new thought. It’s home to over ten art galleries, one international film cinema, the main offices of West Australian Music Industry, Artrage and Propelarts as well as being home to Gotham Studios, the oldest studio spaces in the state. After all, Northbridge has a Cultural Centre because… well, it is the cultural centre. (more…)

The best thing about winter, and one that Perth doesn’t get nearly enough of, is snow. The best thing about snow - and something that Perth definitely doesn’t get at all - is skiing. And skiing is definitely at its best when performed in the company of several hundred gay and lesbian wintersports enthusiasts. So, all things considered, it would be practically criminal to skip Gay Ski Week in Queenstown, New Zealand. (more…)

The Swan Valley has long lived in the shadow of Margaret River, as the less attractive, dare we say it, the ugly stepsister of Western Australia’s wine regions. For many Perth people, the Swan Valley enters their radar in spring because of Spring in the Valley. If that’s all you know of the Swan Valley, then you are missing one of Perth’s best kept secrets. So, let us be the first to say it, the Swan Valley is no longer an ugly duckling, and we at OUTinPerth are tipping it to become one of the hottest daytrip destinations in WA. Here we give you a guide the best places for drinking fine wines and microbrews, dining on dishes by some of Perth’s best chefs, and viewing some of the best and most diverse art galleries this side of the Nullarbor. (more…)

Perth-Ayers Rock-Cairns-Hong Kong-Shanghai-Beijing-Mongolia-Seoul-Tokyo -San Francisco-Los Angeles-Chicago-Miami-Boston-New York City-Paris-Madrid-Berlin-London-Norway-Dubai-Bangkok…

If you return from a quick getaway wishing the holiday magic could last longer, then consider a round-the-world ticket the ‘nasal delivery technology’ that will stretch your travel out to multiple destinations. And to help you get more satisfaction from your mile-high ventures, here are OUTinPerth’s 7 round-the-world tips (one for each continent) to get you out of the rut of came (home)-too-soon vacations and on a plane to lands far, far away… (more…)

If Perth is the glittering jewel of the West, then Fremantle is the heart of that gemstone, the point where all paths interact and refract to create a rich shimmering field of experiences. After all, Fremantle is the embodiment of urban bohemia, from the cavalcade of eco-aware enviro-friendly shops to the mad sprawl of chic cafes, authentic pubs and boutique breweries. And Fremantle is also responsible for some of our city’s most vibrant street culture and arts. (more…)

Robert La Bua ignores bad press for good times in Papua New Guinea.

It’s not surprising that Papua New Guinea is misunderstood; no nation with 867 languages is easily explained. From tropical islands to mystical highlands, this enigmatic but little-visited country has been the source of fascinating stories for centuries. Though headhunters are no longer their families’ (sweet)breadwinners, Papua New Guinea still conjures images of the most primal of human cultures, now battling to survive the encroachment of modern life. Though there is no gay scene to speak of, something mysteriously sexual lurks in the wide smiles and dark eyes of handsome men with robustly muscular physiques honed not from reps but from labour. What a bizarre concept. (more…)

With the increasing costs and hassles of air travel, it is worth remembering that in Europe there is a great remedy to airlinitis found right on the ground. European rail travel is convenient, stress-free, and in some cases, even faster than flying. So, come along as OUTinPerth travel correspondent Robert la Bua takes to the rails of Europe. (more…)