Perth Caravan & Camping Show draws a crowd to Claremont Showgrounds

More than 30,000 West Aussies flocked to Claremont Showgrounds last month for the 52nd Perth Caravan & Camping Show, showcasing the state’s biggest range of caravans, campers, trailers, and accessories from Thursday, March 20, to Sunday, March 23.

The Western 4W Driver team was on-site in the Tourism Pavillion, meeting our readers and sharing stories about our travels across the state.

“It was great to have the opportunity to meet so many of our readers during the event,” said Western 4W Driver Editor Brayden Edwards. “Some people said they had been reading the mag since the very first edition and still can’t wait to get their hands on it when every new issue comes out. It means a lot to see how the magazine has been a part of their lives for such a long time!”

The Western 4W Driver was also thrilled to give away some awesome daily prizes thanks to our amazing prize sponsors Maxtrax, Go Camping & Overlanding, MSA 4×4 Accessories, and Queen of the Murchison, along with free Western 4W Driver stubby holders for all our readers!

It was also great to rub shoulders with some other great organisations in the Tourism Pavillion, including all five of WA’s regional tourism bodies, along with representatives from outback destinations, tour providers and more.

Outside the pavillion, it was interesting to see all the new products and ideas on display.

The Snowy River Caravans’ VanCave—a man cave on wheels kitted out with massage and heated recliners, TVs, and beer taps—certainly drew a crowd, while Gypsy King Caravans, a new WA-born brand, impressed with their rugged, off-grid-ready vans designed for adventure.

Innovation was also on display in the tech space, where solar and lithium battery solutions continued to trend, driven by a growing interest in off-grid travel.

As it prepares to celebrate 53 years in 2025, the show is now gearing up for its southern counterpart, the Busselton Caravan & Camping Show, which rolls into the South West town from Saturday, September 20, to Sunday, September 21.

For more info about the upcoming Busselton Caravan & Camping Show, visit caravanwa.com.au

Get a taste for the Mid West as Shore Leave festival returns

Popular WA seafood festival, Shore Leave, is set to return this year, with the signature event taking over Geraldton from Wednesday, April 23, to Sunday, April 27.

Presented by Tourism Geraldton MidWest, the multi-day event will celebrate the culture, food, and adventure that make the Mid West region unique, with over a thousand visitors expected to travel from outside the region to attend.

Shore Leave’s signature Abrolhos Long Table Lunch event on East Wallabi Island is set to return, offering attendees one of the most distinctive seafood dining experiences in Western Australia, with two sittings this year due to high demand.

The Mid West Paddock to Plate will also return to Yanget Farm for a night of dining under the stars, while the Geraldton foreshore festival hub, The Helm, will offer a variety of food and beverages, live music, family-friendly craft workshops and sunset views.

The Beach Price Markets at Fisherman’s Wharf will feature Geraldton’s seafood and local produce, and guided tours to Kalbarri and Chapman Valley will allow attendees to meet and tour with primary producers, small breweries and artisans.

Alongside the ticketed events, a range of free events will round out the festival’s offering, catering to all ages.

Shore Leave festival hits Geraldton from Wednesday, April 23, to Sunday, April 27, 2025. For more info and tickets, visit shoreleavefestival.com.au

Gascoyne Food Festival brings fresh tastes to 2025

The Gascoyne Food Festival officially launched its 2025 season at Perth City Farm on Wednesday, March 26, unveiling the upcoming month-long celebration of the WA region’s food culture.

The festival is set to hit Carnarvon, Exmouth, Upper Gascoyne, Shark Bay, and Dirk Hartog Island from Saturday, July 26, to Sunday, August 31, with attendees able to explore the diverse culinary offerings from local farmers and producers against the unique backdrop of Gascoyne landscapes.

Guests at the Perth launch event enjoyed a taste of Gascoyne, with signature Ningaloo Gin cocktails, Whalebone Brewing Co. beers and Walsh & Sons Pét Nat. The canapés menu included locally produced regional delicacies like petite goat curry pies, charred prawn skewers with hot honey and finger lime and garlic scallops.

The CEO of the Gascoyne Development Commission, Tim Bray, highlighted the festival’s economic and social significance for WA.

“This event showcases the incredible talents of our local chefs, growers, and producers, boosting tourism and uniting the community in celebration.”

The festival is set to feature a diverse line-up of events, with the Chair of the Gascoyne Food Festival, Chris Higham, announcing that the festival had expanded from seven events last year to 16 events in 2025.

“The Gascoyne Food Festival is now Australia’s largest regional gastronomic food experience.”

One of the festival’s flagship events, the Carnarvon Long Table Lunch, is set to take attendees on a culinary journey and is led by Chef Ben Ing, renowned for his culinary expertise.

“I’m excited to meet the producers and share the secrets of Gascoyne’s exceptional growers with restaurants in Perth and across WA.”

Check out the program below:

Carnarvon Long Table Lunch
The Great Carnarvon Feast and Groove
Carnarvon Around the Firepit
Massey Bay Prawns and Pimms Race Day
Bullara Beef Fest x Terra Slate Wines Colab [SOLD OUT]
The Shack Mexican Fiesta
Mantarays Beach Resort Under the Full Moon
Exmouth Frothology: Beer & Bites
The Whalebone Hoe-Down
Stargazing, Sounds & Supper at Mount Augustus
Gascoyne Junction Stars & Savour
Flavours of the Upper Gascoyne
Outback Station Tour & Tea
Quartet & Canapés in the Kennedy Range
Shark Bay Beats & Eats by the Bay
Dirk Hartog Island Australia’s Last Sunset

Gascoyne Food Festival hits the Gascoyne region from Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, August 31, 2025. For more info and tickets visit gascoynefoodfestival.com

Rest awhile on the Coral Coast as Jamba Nyiyani Festival returns

Jamba Nyinayi (rest awhile) is set to return to Western Australia’s Coral Coast for its third year in 2025, running from Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20.

Held at Cardabia / Gunjayindiya Station near Coral Bay in the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo/Nyinggulu Region, the event sees the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation inviting people of all cultures, communities and nationalities to join them for a soulful celebration of connection, culture and community.

The festival offers a vibrant mix of activities, including art and craft workshops, children’s painting, and captivating dance performances by groups like Pundarra Performance Group, Coral Spawn Dancers, and Binmaga Yamtji Dancers.

Live music fans can look forward to a diverse line-up in 2025, with Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse, David Milroy & Lucky Oceans, Maatakitj, Razzy Mak and more to perform across the Easter long weekend.

Camping packages for three, four and five nights are available, which includes festival entry and a range of inclusions and options. All campers and festival attendees will enjoy the hugely popular campfire sessions, cultural workshops, food and arts markets, and station amenities.

Jamba Nyinayi festival takes place at Cardabia / Gunjayindiya Station from Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20, 2025. For more info and to buy tickets, head to jnfestival.com.au

Culture and nature come together for Karijini Experience 2025

One of the Pilbara’s most popular annual events, The Karijini Experience, returns in 2025, bringing a diverse four-day program to Karijini National Park from Friday, April 11 to Monday, April 14.

Bringing together adventure, cultural immersion, and culinary exploration, the festival program showcases the rich cultural heritage of the local Indigenous communities, alongside the breathtaking natural beauty of Karijini.

The event kicks off with a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Traditional Owners at the official opening on Friday night, giving attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in Banjima culture and experience a Barlgabi and smoking ceremony, followed by a live musical performance.

A returning favourite in 2025, The Yurlu Lounge, will feature performances from award-winning Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum and soulful singer-songwriter Nathan Lamont.

Across the weekend, attendees can also look forward to guided walks through ancient gorges, Banjima language classes, Aussie Rules football training sessions, scenic helicopter rides, markets, cooking demonstrations, art workshops, stargazing and more.

The Karijini Experience takes place at the Karijini Airstrip and throughout Karijini National Park, from Friday, April 11 to Monday, April 14, 2025. For more info and to buy tickets, head to karijiniexperience.com

Ready 4 Adventure Show brings ultimate outdoor expo to Perth

The Ready 4 Adventure Show is bringing the ultimate outdoor expo for lovers of 4WD, caravanning, camping, boating, and fishing to Wanneroo Showgrounds from Friday, May 9 to Sunday, May 11, 2025.

The Ready 4 Adventure Show, once known for its popular 2022 TV series, Ready 4 Adventure, is a live, interactive event that gives adventure enthusiasts the chance to explore the latest in adventure gear, hear from industry experts, connect with other travellers, and discover new products that will help them take their outdoor experiences to the next level.

The event is set to have more than 100 exhibitors, a massive market alley, thousands of products, the biggest brands in one venue, exclusive show deals, a guest speaker stage, cooking demos and more.

The outdoor expo event is family-friendly, with plenty of kids activities, including rock climbing, rides, entertainment, and more, as well as food trucks and licenced bars for adults.

The show comes courtesy of The City of Wanneroo, Interact Digital and Media Junction.

Ready 4 Adventure Show takes over Wanneroo Showgrounds from Friday, May 9 until Sunday, May 11, 2025. For more info, head to ready4adventure.com.au

Variety WA’s 4WD Adventure returns to conquer the Gascoyne coast

Variety WA‘s 4WD Adventure is back this year, bringing together the 4WD community for an exciting journey along the Gascoyne Coast from Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1.

The eight-day 4WD trek is set to explore some of Western Australia’s most popular off-road destinations, such as Dirk Hartog Island, Steep Point, Useless Loop, Kalbarri and Shark Bay.

It’s an opportunity to tackle hidden 4WD tracks, conquer hill climbs, rock climbs, mud pits, sand dunes, river crossings, ocean crossings, sandy beaches and more.

The trip includes free exclusive track access, all-inclusive meals, showers, toilets, entertainment, and an experienced support team.

A regular event since 1996, the trek raises money for Variety WA, a charity that helps WA children in need. The event is open to all 4WD skill levels and gives participants the option to choose from a shorter four-day trip or the full eight days.

The Variety WA 4WD Adventure returns this year from Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sign up for the event at varietywa4wd

Turning back time: New photo exhibition captures the history of the Goldfields

Time and Time Again: Rephotographing the Goldfields is a new collaborative exhibition that pairs historic photographs of Kalgoorlie and its surrounds with contemporary images of the same locations a century later.

Presented by Fremantle-based American/Australian photographer Brett Leigh Dicks, the exhibition is showing at the Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie-Boulder from Saturday, November 30, 2024, until Sunday, February 9, 2025.

As a 2023 ART ON THE MOVE Activating Collections Artist in Residence at the Museum of the Goldfields, Dicks spent a year researching and meticulously pinpointing the sites of the original photographs before recreating the scenes. Drawing from the Western Australian Museum’s Dwyer and MacKay Collection, his work presents a visual comparison between the Kalgoorlie of the early 20th century and today.

“Most of the photographs were created over a hundred years ago, and since they were created for commercial purposes, many of the images lacked precise locations,” Dicks explained.

“This meant analysing as much identifying information as I could and then turning to Google Street View to scour the area for recognisable landmarks. Once a location was identified, it was then a matter of determining the viewpoint and angle and when and how to best match the lighting parameters in the origin photograph.”

Funded by the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost, the Activating Collections Program encourages artists to work with heritage collections to create new work about local histories. Dicks’ project offers a unique glimpse into the evolving landscapes of the Goldfields, from iconic sites like The Palace Hotel and Boulder Town Hall to intimate street scenes, residential homes, and abandoned mining claims.

According to Dicks, it also offers an insight or two into the work ethic of his predecessors.

“Aside from how incredibly prolific the two photographers were, one of the things that quickly became apparent was Dwyer wasn’t much of a morning person,” the photographer said with a laugh.

“A lot of his photographs were created in the afternoon light, whereas MacKay was often out and about in the morning. But the most revealing aspect of the project has been just how important heritage is within the Goldfields. Even after a hundred years, a lot of the buildings depicted within those original photographs are still standing. Not only is that a remarkable achievement, it’s a testament to the local community and the value it places on local history.”

In addition to the photographs, Dicks has curated a series of ekphrastic poetry responses to some of the portraits from the Dwyer and MacKay Collection, drawing on personal stories and contributions from local residents. These poems, which capture the voices and memories of the Goldfields community, will be displayed alongside the portraits, adding a deeper layer to the narrative.

Visitors can also engage in a series of associated events, including a floor talk by Dicks on the rephotography movement and a hands-on workshop where participants will have the chance to recreate iconic Goldfields photographs themselves.

“The Goldfields region has such incredible history, and Time and Time Again captures that story in such a unique way,” said Marta Perona, Regional Manager at the Museum of the Goldfields.

“Brett’s work offers a visual dialogue between past and present, encouraging appreciation for the extraordinary heritage preserved within our community. It’s an opportunity for visitors to see our landscape through a new lens, bridging generations and revealing just how much, or how little, has changed over the last century.”

Time and Time Again: Rephotographing the Goldfields is a free exhibition showing at the Museum of the Goldfields from Saturday, November 30, 2024, until Sunday, February 9, 2025. For more information visit visit.museum.wa.gov.au

Australia’s most iconic charity motoring event returns for 50th year celebrations

Children’s charity organisation Variety will celebrate its 50th year of operations in Australia in 2025 with the return of its iconic charity motoring event, the Variety Bash.

It will be the first ‘national’ Variety Bash in 10 years, whereby every Variety Bash route will be coordinated to be in one place to acknowledge the collective achievement. Traditionally, a National Bash is staged every five years; however, the 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID restrictions.

In the first two weeks of August 2025, around 650 cars with over 1,600 Bash entrants from across Australia will venture to South Australia to celebrate this momentous milestone. The journey is set to depart from Adelaide on Friday, August 8 and finish in Kalgoorlie on Saturday, August 16.

In 1985, famous Australian entrepreneur, aviator and businessman Dick Smith invited his mates for ‘a drive in the bush’ to raise funds for Variety. The Variety Bash was born and quickly became an incredibly successful fundraising event.

Offering a unique blend of adventure and philanthropy, participants in the event traverse remote and regional areas, raising essential funds to support children who are sick, disadvantaged, or living with disability.

Each year, the Variety Bash features a colourful convoy of creatively themed cars and a route that takes participants through some of Australia’s most stunning and remote landscapes, covering diverse terrains from outback tracks to coastal roads.

Participants also get the opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of their fundraising, visiting local communities and schools along the way to deliver Variety Grants that provide life-changing equipment and programs to children in need.

The Variety Bash runs from Friday, August 8 to Saturday, August 16, 2025. For more information and to donate, head to fundraise.varietywa.org.au

New round of EV grants to ‘Charge Up’ WA’s energy transition

The State Government is furthering its support for EV uptake with a third round of Charge Up Grants to support not-for-profits, small businesses, and local governments to install charging infrastructure throughout Western Australia.

Charge Up Grants, which cover up to half of the costs for installing EV infrastructure, are designed to increase the availability of EV chargers throughout WA, including at workplaces, local attractions and tourist destinations, and for public charging along key travel routes.

To date, more than $4.5 million of grant funding has been approved to assist organisations, businesses, and local governments to install 611 chargers in 341 locations, spanning as far north as Port Hedland and as far south as Walpole.

The grant applications opened on Tuesday, October 8, and close on Monday, June 30, 2025.

“These grants are a great way to help organisations support the energy transition,” said Energy, Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby. “This funding is available to support a wide range of users to install EV charging infrastructure where there is growing demand, including at workplaces and local tourist attractions.”

“By funding charging infrastructure and easing range anxiety for EV drivers, we are helping reduce carbon emissions and putting WA closer to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”

The State Government has announced a third round of Charge Up EV Charging Grants, with applications closing on Monday, June 30, 2025. For more information, visit www.wa.gov.au/chargeup