You'll be spoilt for choice with the myriad offerings in Albany!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Experience Extraordinary
The historic and picturesque coastal region boasts some of the most awe-inspiring coastline and stunning landscapes in the world
With unique and diverse flora and fauna endemic to the region, there is a wealth of national parks to explore. And to top off its natural beauty and cultural heritage, the region offers a variety of gourmet attractions, with an abundance of wineries, farmers markets and producers to discover.
Albany
The breathtaking beauty of Albany’s rugged coastline creates a fitting backdrop to a dramatic whaling, convict and settler history and a sensational south coast adventure. The Albany Highway gets you there in just five hours from Perth, while a direct flight from Perth airport will whisk you there in one hour and 15 minutes. Or why not take your time and enjoy one of the world’s greatest journeys, walking the Bibbulmun Track that runs from Perth to Albany or take a foodie route driving via the Margaret River Region.
This charming city marks the spot where the first European settlers set foot in Western Australia, and much of their legacy remains today with around 50 colonial buildings standing proudly as museums, galleries and restaurants. From convict prisons, whaling ships and taverns to quaint cottages and grand National Trust residences, you can take in almost two centuries of history on a 30-minute selfguided walk, following the Amity Trail. Albany’s King George Sound also marks the spot where the first convoy of ANZACs departed for the battlegrounds of the First World War.
Today, you can follow their extraordinary stories through the National Anzac Centre’s state-of-the-art interactive displays. You’ll also find some of the town’s biggest tales in the Historic Whaling Station at Discovery Bay, the only museum of its kind to be housed in a former whaling station. The industry met its end in 1978, creating a safe port of call for migrating humpback, southern right and blue whales. Spot them from the shore or join a whale watching cruise for a magical encounter.
One of the most scenic areas for whale spotting and cliff-top walks is Torndirrup National Park. Here, the Southern Ocean has sculpted the granite coastline into striking formations known as The Gap and Natural Bridge. For sensational views over King George Sound, head for Middleton Beach boardwalk trail. Or take a drive up to Albany Wind Farm and feel dwarfed by the towering turbines. As well as world-class hiking, you’ll also find some top-notch spots for fishing, sailing and diving.
A weekend visit also brings the iconic Albany Farmers’ Markets. No imports here, just fresh and fabulous, locally-grown flavours.
King George Whale Watching Tour
Oranje Tractor Wines
Taste Albany
There’s a reason Albany’s gourmet providores, organic food producers, farmers’ markets and dining outlets are stacking up all the food awards’ silverware. Produce so fresh you can count the minutes since it was harvested, devotion to sustainable agricultural methods, commitment to time-honoured cooking techniques passed down through generations and a strictly seasonal approach to dining room menus. The list goes on and so does Albany’s food and wine scene, brimming with produce so fresh it begs to be devoured, now.
Visit the cellar doors for a wine tasting, or dine in and taste some of the Great Southern’s fresh local produce. Linger around the vineyards and enjoy your peaceful surroundings. Start or end your foodie adventure in Albany with a trip to Western Australia’s famous Margaret River region, three and a half hours drive from Perth. Producing over 25% of Australia’s premium wine, the tastings are top notch. And besides over 200 wineries, you’ll be spoilt for choice with many fine restaurants, boutique breweries, art galleries and fresh produce, from divine cheeses to chocolate.
Top Things To Do
Albany Western Australia
Celebrate the Anzac Spirit
Albany is the epicenter of European history in Western Australia, with much of the streetscape a preservation of the original buildings from the first settlement in WA. The National Anzac Centre is Australia’s foremost museum honoring the Anzac legend. Set within Albany Heritage Park, the Centre offers visitors a deeply personal connection with the Anzac experience.
Anzac Peace Park – Albany
Stirling Ranges
Dizzy Heights, Sublime Views
With so many national parks to choose from, our favourite spots are; Bluff Knoll: Stirling Range National Park. The highest and one of the most spectacular peaks in south Western Australia.
Formed more than a 1,000 million years ago, the unique topography and climate hosts thousands of species of wildflowers and flowering plants, some only found here. Granite Skywalk: Porongurup National Park. One of the oldest ranges in the world. Granite domes weathered by a million years now play host to incredible biodiversity, alive with unique flora and fauna.
Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk: WalpoleNornalup National Park. Take a bird’s eye view of some of the tallest timber giants on Earth – Western Australia’s majestic tingle trees. Climbing 40 metres into the forest canopy and meandering through the treetops for 600 metres.
Get Active
With two world class tracks for walking and cycling, Albany is the perfect spot for those looking to stretch the legs. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walking trails, stretching over 1,000 kilometres from Perth to Albany.
Grab your mountain bike and explore the Munda Biddi, Western Australia’s premier long distance off-road cycling experience, extending 1,000 kilometres from Mundaring in Perth to Albany.
Bibbulmun Tracks
Middleton Beach
Natures Spectacular Coastline
Looking for secluded pristine beaches, dramatic coastal walks and jaw dropping scenery? The coastline in Albany and the Great Southern has all this and more. Must see’s include Greens Pool, Denmark – a spectacular natural swimming pool surrounded by granite rocks; The Gap and Natural Bridge, Torndirrup National Park – take your camera to capture this amazing rock formation; and Middleton Beach is one of Albany’s popular swimming beaches, with over five kilometres of pristine white sand, you’ll never be crowded out.
Extraordinary Food and Wine
With over five wine regions in the Great Southern, you will be spoilt for choice. The Great Southern is home to the largest wine producing region by area in Australia; and is also the coolest growing region in WA, producing 37% of all grapes grown in Western Australia. The region is fast becoming a favourite for Riesling and Shiraz. And to complement the wine, there is a spectacular array of gourmet produce and seafood, with farm gates, farmers markets, cafes and restaurants serving the best the Great Southern has to offer.
Clos Des Papes Wine Cellar
When to visit
The Albany region has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild cool winters. The best time to visit is from September to May. August – November see the spectacular wildflowers bloom. Mid May – December for Whale Watching.
Getting here
Daily flights from Perth get you to Albany in 1.5 hours. Or take a scenic five hour road trip from Perth or combine it with Margaret River on a wider south west loop. And during the season, major cruise liners utilise the Albany port facilities.
How to get around
For road trip visitors Albany has depots for all major rental cars. Taxis and guided tours are also available in the regional centres of Albany, Mt Barker, Denmark and Walpole.
