Guest ‘God’ JP Bolton…

So, when not delivering some of the world's best shows to the stage, where does JP love to spend some time out?  

It's his home state of Western Australia.  Here he tells us why…

I love a sundrenched coastline, and visiting Western Australia's beachside holiday destinations guarantees a great range of ideal spots to unwind and relax.

If I have the time, a visit to Monkey Mia, North of Perth, is top on my list of favourite places to linger. 

So too is Empire Spa and Retreat in Yallingup,  Margaret River (or Douth – down south – as the locals call it). Empire Spa is a haven for the soul and the most breathtaking natural views are just a short drive away, along with great local produce, wineries and culinary delights – you are very much spoilt for choice.

If you have limited time and just need to relax for a few days, then Perth’s local beaches are easily as enticing.

The Cottesloe Beach Hotel, known to locals as “The Cott”, is what I like to call my home base away from home. The recently renovated Perth icon is located across the street from one of Perth’s most popular beaches and offers very smart boutique-style accommodation with spectacular views over the Indian Ocean from your room’s private balcony.  This is also a great spot to loll the day away and watch the parade of people go by below.  It’s perfect if you like to go for a morning run, and you can even participate in the hotel’s early morning yoga sessions during summer.

Within the hotel there are a variety of different venues to enjoy a cocktail at sunset, or a long and lazy lunch on the bustling yet surprisingly relaxing beachside strip.

My favourite is the just opened Cott. & Co. Fish Bar which serves up daily seafood specials from locally and sustainably fished produce from the Indian Ocean. After a long wander along the beach, should you decide to leave the tranquility of your room, the ever-changing menu means lunch at Cott. & Co. has daily new delights to tempt a healthy lunchtime appetite.

The bar brings a touch of Mediterranean ambiance to Cottesloe with its southern Italian inspired menu. Head Chef Alan Spagnolo and Consultant Chef Russell Blaikie have sourced local, fresh seafood, including a number of different oyster varieties, as well as Butterfield beef, to be expertly prepared for guests.

The extensive wine list is packed full of light, summery proseccos, moscatos and champagnes.  Curated by Garry Gosatti the drinks menu features wines such as albariño, pinot grigio and verdicchio, carefully selected to complement each dish. Aperitivos built around aperol, campari and cinzano also feature.

Simple, fresh seafood is teamed with relaxed, elegant décor designed by Erol Öztan, esteemed Dutch interior architect chosen for his minimalistic design aesthetic. It's the perfect venue for catching up with friends with a range of seating available including communal tables or the option to stand or sit at high tables

After lunch, I either hit the beach for a swim or it’s back to my room for a siesta before heading down to Fremantle for the evening.

JP's lates Tips:

On my most recent visit to Perth, I was able to add two relatively new favourites to my ‘must visit’ list.

1. The Odd Fellow Bar is Fremantle's newest bar featuring an intimate performance space, which features live, original entertainment.  Located under the historic Norfolk Hotel, it’s a hidden treasure that a lot of people have yet to discover. Think adult drinks, delicious deli food and live music. The bartenders know the local’s names (and what they drink) and they also make a mean cocktail if that’s your poison of choice.  It’s so underground it’s actually underground so you might have to look twice before you spot the staircase that leads you down. Check the website to see who’s playing. This is where Tame Impala started out and the venue has a long history of nurturing young talent – you might be lucky enough to catch the ‘next big thing’.

2. Perched right on the white sands of North Freo’s Leighton Beach, Bib & Tucker is owned by one of Perth best young chefs, Scott Bridger, and hot young sports stars, including Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan, Steve Hooker and Jamie Dwyer. With a modern Australian menu, influenced by South American cuisine, there is much to enjoy in Bib & Tucker’s fresh and innovative approach to beachside dining.  And the view is the hands down the best in town. Unbeatable. 

Alison Carmichael-Rulten

Hi, I'm Alison Carmichael-Rulten the Publisher of Vacation Goddess, and I want to thank you for visiting Vacation Goddess – the one-stop shop for insider travel news, deals, 'Guest Goddes's stories, and of course our personal travel experiences. Plus, as we love to cruise we also try to find some amazing cruise deals for you too. From luxury, longer escapes right down to weekend breaks we know you love everything travel related. Here at Vacation Goddess, we hope you will find loads of inspiration and of course some amazing travel deals. We love a holiday at a great price and that's why we seek out what we call 'Champagne Experiences, on a Sparkling Wine Budget.' We constantly showcase a variety of special deals and offers and from time to time some very special competitions. Our recent 'Win a Trip to London' competition received over 24,00 entries. We invite you to visit us often, join our mailing list and please tell your friends