Western Australia is once again inviting the world to step into a landscape that feels almost unreal. Tourism Western Australia has unveiled the second iteration of its immersive global tourism brand campaign, ‘Walking On A Dream’, reaffirming the state’s positioning as a destination where nature, culture, and creativity converge in extraordinary ways.
Launched on Friday, 20 February 2026, the refreshed campaign presents Western Australia (WA) as a place of vast desert horizons, turquoise coral reefs, and ancient landscapes that carry stories stretching back millennia. The cinematic series was filmed across iconic locations, including Ningaloo Reef, Margaret River, Rottnest Island, Perth, and Mirima National Park in the Kimberley.
A cinematic tribute to place and culture
At the heart of the campaign is a reimagined version of Empire of The Sun’s global hit Walking On A Dream. The new interpretation was overseen by WA-raised frontman Luke Steele and performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) alongside Aboriginal artist and Karajarri man Billy-Jo Shoveller.
“Walking On A Dream has always been about a sense of wonder and escape,” said Steele. “Working with Billy-Jo and WASO to create this new version was magical — it feels like WA itself, magical and otherworldly.”
Billy-Jo Shoveller described the collaboration as deeply personal. “I’m proud to be part of this campaign as a Karajarri man. Working with Luke Steele gave me a chance to bring some of my culture and connection to Country into the project — WA is a special place, and it feels good to help show that to people everywhere.”
The films star Nyikina man Nelson Baker and emerging actor Angelica Blazeska, both alumni of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Through five 30-second destination vignettes and a 60-second hero film, the campaign blurs the line between reality and reverie, portraying WA as a place where nature and cultural identity are inseparable.
Trade significance and recovery momentum
Developed in consultation with Traditional Owners and Western Australia’s Aboriginal tourism sector, the campaign places culture, Country, and connection at its core. The global rollout begins in February 2026 across key international markets.
The original ‘Walking On A Dream’ campaign, first launched in 2022, played a pivotal role in Western Australia’s tourism recovery. In the year ending October 2025, WA welcomed just over one million international visitors, surpassing the previous record of 996,000 international arrivals set in 2019.
For the travel trade, the refreshed campaign strengthens WA’s premium, experience-led positioning — particularly across nature, marine experiences, wine tourism, and Aboriginal-led cultural journeys. With increased global visibility and renewed creative storytelling, Tourism Western Australia aims to sustain inbound growth and deepen engagement across priority source markets, including India.
Tourism Western Australia, the state government agency responsible for promoting WA as a holiday and events destination, continues to focus on innovative marketing campaigns, major events development, improved visitor access, and industry collaboration to drive long-term growth.
The second iteration of ‘Walking On A Dream’ signals not only a creative evolution but also a confident next chapter in Western Australia’s global tourism narrative.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
