Albany (Western Australia) Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Albany is situated on Princess Royal Harbour, a natural inlet of the Southern Ocean, 5 km east west and 3 km north south. It is the oldest continuous European settlement in Western Australia, and was founded in 1826, three years before Perth. Until the construction of Fremantle Port in 1897, Albany was the only deepwater port in Western Australia.

Albany used be a whaling station and was the place from where the conveys carrying troops to the Middle East during World War 1 departed. These two events alone would make the town a worthwhile place to visit but Albany also has a very convoluted coastline giving it many kilometres of charming beaches within half an hours drive of the city centre. When one adds the marvels of the Torndirrup National Park which abuts the city you have one of West Australia's great destinations. A leisurely visit to both the old whaling station and the ANZAC centre takes the better part of a day so that three or four days can easily be spent here exploring the sights, beaches and walks.

With a distinctly different climate to most Western Australia, Albany is cool and wet, with a Mediterranean climate. It receives an average of 942 mm of rainfall per annum and its average summer temperature is only 22°C.

Exports from the Albany port are grains, and woodchips. Imports are mainly raw materials for the production of fertilizers.

The direct route on the Albany Highway from Perth is around 4 hours drive, on single carriageway road with 100-110 km/h speed limit. There are overtaking lanes every 5–10 km or so. The tourist attractions along this road tend to be off the route, and slightly more scenic routes add significant additional kilometres and time to the trip.

TransWA offers daily services to Albany. Coaches arrive and depart from the Albany Visitor Centre, which also makes bookings and sells tickets. These coach services replaced the passenger rail service, which closed many years ago, and no longer runs to Albany.

• -34.9433117.8091 Albany Airport (10 km (6.2 mi) north of Albany on Albany Hwy), ☏ +61-8-9841-9208. There are daily flights from Perth with Skywest.  

Some cruise ships include Albany on their itinerary, however they are very rare.

Map of Albany (Western Australia)

All areas of Albany are accessible by road. To get to Whaleworld and the surrounding national parks and other features, you will need to have a car, or take a bus tour. Local taxi services are also available.

A limited inner-city bus service, operated by Love's Bus Service, runs two routes, collectively servicing residential areas of Albany, as well as Middleton Beach, Emu Point and Little Grove. Timetables can be found at the Public Transport Authority's Regional Town Bus Services website.

Central Albany, including the historical precinct, shopping area, and port are within walking distance of each other. The Middleton beach area is a few kilometres away from this area. You can walk from Middleton Beach around the base of Mt Clarence back to the port area on a specially built boardwalk. You will have panoramic views of the harbour and outer islands. You may also walk to Emu Point from Middleton Beach along a paved pathway.

There is a practical cycleway network connecting the areas of Albany, and several bicycle hire places in town. In particular the historical area, shopping precinct, Middleton Beach and Emu Point are all linked by a waterfront off-road cycleway.

• Albany Convict Gaol, Corner of Stirling Terrace & Parade Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-5403. Restored complex of men’s cell blocks and some warders' quarters, built in 1852 for Imperial convicts shipped to Western Australia as artisans and skilled labourers. This is also the town's main museum with extensive historic presentations of the local area including maps, photographs, interesting Aboriginal artifacts, and relics from the penal colony days. Open daily from 10:30AM to 4:30PM. Special night tours are also available on Fridays and Saturdays. 
• Residency Museum (near Stirling Terrace). M-Sa 10AM-5PM and Su 2-5PM. It was built as a store in the 1850s but converted into the Government Residency from 1873-1953. See the jaws of a white pointer shark and the huge rotating lens from the old Eclipse Lighthouse. 
• Albany Public Library and Information Service, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-9390. Also offers internet access. 
• Albany Tourist Information Centre, At the Old Railway Station on Proudlove Parade, ☏ +61-8-9841-1088. 
• Albany Town Hall Theatre, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-1661. Plays, concerts, musicals of all kinds, in one of Western Australia's oldest buildings. 
• -35.0581117.7831 Albany Wind Farm (Grasmere Wind Farm), OT 8141 Sand Patch Rd, Sandpatch (12 km south-west of the city centre), [email protected]. Worth a visit even if you are not into windmills. Twelve 1800 kW wind turbines supply a large percentage of Albany's electrical requirements. The Wind Farm is open every day of the year. There is a large car-parking area, extensive network of boardwalks with views over the southern ocean. There is artwork and information panels containing profound statements as you admire the view. The Bibbulmum Track passes through the area, and there is a staircase down the cliff to the ocean. Free.  
• Brig Amity Replica, ☏ +61-8-9841-5403. In the Albany Historical Precinct, off Princess Royal Drive. Replica of the Brig Amity (built in 1975) which brought Albany's first settlers from Sydney in 1826. Open daily. There is an honour box to pay entry fee onto the ship. 
• Old Post Office Building, Stirling Terrace. Historic former customs and bond store, with the middle level being a sorting area and post office. The spiral staircase in the tower is magnificent, and the building now houses restaurants, a weaver and a museum.
• -35.021641117.8820182 Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum, 39 Duke Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-6174. Wattle and daub home, built circa 1832, the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia. Open daily.  
• The Princess Royal Fortress and National ANZAC Centre, 67 Forts Road Albany (off Marine Drive), ☏ +61-8-6820-3500. The National ANZAC Centre was constructed on the site in 2014. The centre concentrates on providing a history of the site as an assembly point for the convoys to the Middle East during World War 1 and tries to give a glimpse of the troops' fortunes during the war. The visitor is given a card identifying a particular soldier which can then be used to follow that soldier's journey through the war. This technique is very effective and provides a moving experience. The rest of the site outside the centre also has many interesting exhibits and first class views of the sound and the bay. The site has a small shop and tearooms for visitors, a function centre and a covered area with barbecues and tables. Half a day could easily be spent here. (updated Feb 2018)
• -35.024716117.8741453 Vancouver Arts Centre, 85 Vancouver St, ☏ +61-8-9841-9260. Housed in the former Albany Cottage Hospital, a heritage-listed building built in 1887, the VAC is a focal point for all forms of the arts in the Albany area. 
• Albany's Historic Whaling Station, ☏ +61-8-9844-4021. Situated on the site of the iconic and (in)famous Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, closed in 1978. The self guided tour of the site includes an inspection of the whaling ship the Cheynes IV, the old flensing and cutting decks and the boilers where blubber was reduced. The audio tour taking you through the process of flensing, cutting and reducing the whale blubber is particularly impressive and gruesome. There are other interesting exhibits and movies and a cafe with good views. The small but well done native botanic garden attached to the site is good for recuperating. A visit could easily take you 3 hours. 
• -35.019032117.8855994 Dog Rock, Middleton Road (near the supermarkets). A large rock that looks like a dog's head from certain angles - helped by a collar painted on the base of the rock. The locals love it and many businesses close to the rock are named after it. (updated May 2018)

• -35.0099117.878681 Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, 52-70 Barker Rd, Centennial Park, ☏ +61-8-9841-2788, [email protected]. Gymnasium for fitness activities, swimming (including swimming lessons), aquarobics, basketball, netball, volleyball, indoor soccer, tennis, indoor hockey, badminton, rollerblading, climbing wall, crèche for minding children, activities for seniors, plus Jamma's Café. Open daily. 
• Albany Historic Town Trails - Two walks which visit 39 places of significant historical interest within a 2-km radius of the CBD. One starts from the Gaol and the other from Stirling Terrace. Free maps area available from the tourist information centre.
• Albany Whale Tours, 41 Shelley Beach Road, ☏ +61-8-9845-1068. Whale watching and harbour cruises. (updated Jun 2017)
• Bibbulmun Track. Long distance walking path running from Kalamunda, east of Perth, to Albany, a distance of 963 km. (The name comes from the Bibbulmun, or Noongar people.) There is also a parallel bicycle trail, called the Munda Biddi Trail, for part of the distance. (updated Jun 2017)
• Desert Mounted Corps War Memorial - built Port Said in Egypt, unveiled by Prime Minister 'Billy' Hughes in 1932, and shipped back to Australia in 1959. Good views from this point.
• Mount Clarence Trails - from the War Memorial at the end of Apex Drive around the edges of Mount Clarence. Views of the harbour and the town.
• Quaranup Point Possession Trail - 1.6-km walk from Albany's old Quarantine Station to Point Possession where George Vancouver claimed the whole of Western Australia for Great Britain. It is on the far side of Princess Royal Harbour on the way out to Torndirrup National Park.
• Albany Indoor Adventures - A family play centre featuring Ninja obstacle courses, climbing walls, mini golf and a children's adventure playground. Open daily. Social nights are open for 16+ on Wednesday and Friday nights.

• -35.02518117.878681 Albany Farmers Market, Collie St, ☏ +61 8 9841 4312. Sa 8AM-noon. 

• Albany Dog Rock Motel Restaurant & Function Centre, Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-1400. 
• -35.02536117.913651 Bay Merchants Gourmet Deli, 18 Adelaide Cres, Middleton Beach (Near the beach), ☏ +61-8-9841-7821. Daily 6:30AM-6PM. Great coffee using local milk from the Ravenhill Dairy and fresh roasted coffee from the Naked Bean. Homemade cakes, biscuits and gourmet lunches. 
• Beachside Middleton Beach Restaurant, Flinders Parade, ☏ +61-8-9841-7733. 
• Black Duck Gourmet Pantry, 34 Peels Place, ☏ +61-8-9842-1433. Handmade chocolates, hampers, jams & marmalade, tea & coffee, wines, etc. 
• Café Sails, ☏ +61-8-9841-5566. M-F 8AM-5PM. Near the roundabout at the top end of York Street. Baked in-house gourmet food, cakes and slices, gourmet lunches. 
• CBD Central Café, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-9551. Su-Tu 9AM-8PM, W-Sa 9AM-late. 
• Classics Cafe, Adelaide Crescent, ☏ +61-8-9842-1281. 
• Cosis Café, Corner of York Street and Peels Place, ☏ +61-8-9841-7899. Daily until 5PM. Indoor booths and tables, or busy outdoor alfresco square on York Street. Coffee and cakes as well as an extensive lunch and breakfast menu. 
• Dylans On The Terrace Restaurant, 82-84 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-8720. Overlooking Princess Royal Harbour. Breakfast served all day. Excellent food and coffee. Open daily from 7AM until late. In business since 1987. 
• Earl of Spencer Historic Inn, Corner of Earl Street & Spencer Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-1322. One of the oldest taverns in Western Australia (since 1874). Four open fires and heritage décor. Light snacks, homemade pies or large country main meals. Open all day (closes midnight). Al fresco dinner in warmer months. Resident ghost. 
• Endeavour Restaurant, Albany Hwy, at Banksia Gardens Resort Motel, ☏ +61-8-9842-4111. M-Sa from 6:30PM. 
• Hands On Café, Stirling Terrace opposite Old Post Office. W Th 5:30PM-late; F noon-3PM, 5:30PM-late; Sa Su 9AM-2PM, 5:30PM-late. (updated Feb 2019)
• Kooka's Catering, Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-5889. 
• Lavender Cottage Restaurant, Peels Place, ☏ +61-8-9842-2073. Historic cottage in the centre of town with French ambience and cuisine. Morning and afternoon teas with homemade cakes & lunches. Open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 4PM; and Friday night for dinner from 6:30PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. 
• Leonardo's Ristorante, Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-1732. Gourmet Italian menu. Open Monday through Saturday, from 6:30PM until late. 
• Moby Dick's Fish & Chips, 60 South Coast Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-6142. 
• Naked Bean Coffee Bean Coffee Roasters, Sanford Road opposite the Post Office, ☏ +61-8-9841-4225. Many blends of coffee, cakes and slices. Open Monday to Friday from 8AM until 5PM. Located a bit out of town towards Perth. 
• O`Ba-San Sushi Bar, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-6820. Japanese take-away food. Open daily. 
• Ocean and Paddock, 116 Middleton Beach Road, ☏ +61-8-9842-6212. W Th 3PM - 9PM; F-Su 11AM - 9PM. Fish and chips, burgers, etc. Dine in or takeaway. (updated Feb 2018)
• Poppie's Cafe, Mews Arcade on York Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-7595. Morning and afternoon tea and light lunches. Closed Sundays. 
• Rustlers Steak House, Frederick Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-2454. Wood-fire-heated outdoor dining area. Varied menu including steaks, seafood and vegetarian items. Kid's menu. Open 5PM until late. 
• -35.02561117.847752 Three Plenties Palace Restaurant, 148 York St, ☏ +61-8-9841-4121. Quasi-Chinese food. 
• Venice Pizza Bar & Restaurant, 179 York Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-3978. All day menu including traditional-style Italian pizzas and cuisine, seafood, fresh filled rolls and pastas & delicious home made cakes. Open from 9:30AM till late, six days a week. Closed Sunday. 
• Whalers' Gallery Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9844-4347. at Whaleworld, but you don't have to pay the admission to eat there. Nice views of the water. Burgers, seafood platters, dips and kids meals. 

• Albany Hotel, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-3337. Street-side bar right in the centre of town with sheltered outdoor al fresco area. Counter meal menu, plus coffees, as well as a large range of local and international beers. Open daily. 
• Liberte at the London Hotel, 162 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-1048. 
• Premier Hotel, Lower York Street (Part of CBC Central Café), ☏ +61-8-9841-11544. Open daily. 
• White Star Hotel, 72 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-1733. Modern micro brewery with 4-6 brewed. A tasting selection of 4 beers available for $10. Restaurant open daily for lunch from noon until 2:30PM. Then dinner from 6PM until late, but food is available in the bar outside those times. Serves local produce and locally ground Naked Bean coffee. 
• -35.04093117.847751 Great Southern Distillery Company, 252 Frenchman Bay Rd, Robinson, ☏ +61 8 9842 5363. A boutique whisky distillery, producing premium quality spirits using time honoured techniques and traditional copper pot stills. 
• -34.9982117.82362 Wilson Brewing Company, 47768 South Coast Hwy, ☏ +61 8 98423090, [email protected]. W-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 11AM-6PM. Brewpub. (updated Apr 2024)

• Acacia Grove Holiday House, 3 Greeble Street, ☏ +61-8-9761-7506. At Emu Point. 
• Ace Motor Inn, 314 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-2911. 54 units, unlicensed restaurant. 3.5 stars. $75–85 per night. 
• Albany Apartments, 27 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-5259. Self-contained apartments. 
• Albany Backpackers Lodge, Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-8848. Budget accommodation. 
• Albany Best Western Motel and Apartments [1] (previously the Frederickstown Motel), corner of Frederick's Street & Spencer Street. Tel: +61-8-9841-1600. Unlicenced Restaurant and a central location, the only motel/hotel in Albany with views of the harbour. 39 units, prices from $119 per night.
• Albany Dog Rock Motel Restaurant & Function Centre, Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-1400. Internet available. Rooms from $86 to $189. 
• Albany Gardens Holiday Resort, 22 Wellington Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-4616. Variety of self-contained deluxe units, holiday units, and chalets. Caravan and motor home sites, grassed, with double concrete pads, drive-thru, in garden settings. Ensuite powered sites, powered sites and unpowered sites. Communal showers and toilets. Laundry. (Formerly known as the 'Mt Melville Caravan Park.') 
• Albany Happy Days Caravan Park, Lot 21, Millbrook Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-3267. En suite cabins, spa chalets, onsite caravans, grassed van & tent sites. Shop, laundry facilities, canoe hire. 
• Albany Harbourside, 8 Festing Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-1769. Self-contained apartments. 
• Albany Holiday Park, 550 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-7800. Chalets, budget cabins, powered sites, camping, free BBQ + campers kitchen, dogs allowed, seasonal discounts. 
• Country Comfort Amity Motel, 234 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-2200. 40 air conditioned units plus restaurant and swimming pool. 
• Balnearie Seaside Resort Serviced Apartments, 27 Adelaide Crescent, ☏ +61-8-9842-2877. 
• Banksia Gardens Resort Motel/Apartments, 212 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9842-4111. Serviced apartments, located a short drive to Albany city centre & Middleton Beach. One, two or three bedroom suites with landscaped gardens. Includes 'Endeavour Restaurant.' 
• Bayview YHA Hostel, 49 Duke Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-3949. 
• Big Grove Bed & Breakfast, Lot 10, Panorama Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-4423. 
• Channel Retreat, 3 Mermaid Avenue, ☏ +61-8-9844-8100. Apartments. 
• Cheyne Beach Caravan Park, Cheyne Beach, ☏ +61-8-9846-1247. 
• Cosy Corner Eco Village, 9377 Cosy Corner Road, ☏ +61-8-9845-1065. At Torbay. 
• Country Manor Inn, 369 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-1177. 
• Devines Bed & Breakfast, 20 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-8050. 
• Discovery Inn Backpackers & Guesthouse, 9 Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-3160. Budget accommodation. 
• Dolphin Lodge Holiday Units, 1 Golf Links Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-6600. At Middleton Beach. 
• Emu Beach Caravan Park, ☏ +61-8-9844-1147. At Emu Point. 
• Emu Point Motel, ☏ +61-8-9844-1001. Located at the corner of Medcalf Avenue and Mermaid Avenue at Emu Point. 27 air conditioned rooms, suites and studio apartments. 
• Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
• Foreshore Apartments, 4/81 Proudlove Parade, ☏ +61-8-9842-8800. 
• Frenchman Bay Caravan Park, Frenchman Bay Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-4015. 
• King River Homestead Bed & Breakfast, Bushby Road in Lower King, ☏ +61-8-9844-7770. 
• King River Palms Waterfront Caravan Park, Chester Pass Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-3232. 
• Memories of Albany Bed & Breakfast, 118 Brunswick Road, ☏ +61-8-9842-9787. 
• Middleton Holiday Apartments, 180 Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-4080. 
• Norman House Bed & Breakfast, 28 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-5995. 
• Oakview Cottage Bed & Breakfast, 34 Fredrick Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-4538. 
• Oyster Harbour Caravan Park, Elizabeth Street, ☏ +61-8-9844-7164. 
• Panorama Caravan Park, 106 Frenchmans Bay Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-4031. 
• Royal George Hotel/Motel, 62 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-1466. Budget hotel rooms plus motel-style units. Counter meals. Beer garden and satellite TV. Views of harbour from upstairs rooms. Price range of rooms: $39 to $74. 
• Ryan's Premier Hotel/Motel, York Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-1544. 
• Sherrilou Bed & Breakfast, 104 Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9841-4751. 
• The Beach House at Bayside, 33 Barry Court, ☏ +61-8-9844-8844. 
• The Castlereagh, 9 Flinders Parade, ☏ +61-8-9842-0500. 
• The Terrace Bed & Breakfast, 36 Marine Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9842-9901. 
• Torbay Guest House, Lot 24, Peet Rise, at Cosy Corner Torbay, ☏ +61-8-9845-1327. 
• Valley Pond Farmstay, 3 Pine Rise at Lower Kalgan, ☏ +61-8-9846-4224. Farm holidays in self-contained stone chalet with slow combustion stove. 30 acre property. 
• View Street Lodge, 35 View Street, ☏ +61-8-9842-8820. 
• White Star Hotel/Motel, 72 Stirling Terrace, ☏ +61-8-9841-1733. 
• Woodridge Country Retreat, Tackenup Road, Napier, ☏ +61-8-9844-3446. 
• Woody Grange Chalets, 208 Willyung Road, ☏ +61-8-9844-3458. 4 self-contained chalets on 80 acres. No smoking. No pets. 

Free Internet access is available at the Albany Public Library. Some cafés may also offer Wi-Fi services.

• Stirling Range National Park - about 80 km north of Albany. Rugged peaks rising abruptly to more than 1000 m (3281 ft) above sea level, with stark cliff faces, magnificent views and rare plants ranging from tiny orchids and heathland to flowering gums. Most peaks have paths leading from the parking areas to the top. This is the only place in Western Australia to have any snowfall.
• Porongorups
• Perth via 30

• The Rainbow Coast - stretches from the hamlet of Walpole in the west to Bremer Bay in the east, and from Albany in the south to the towns of Kojonup and Katanning in the north. Approaching Walpole is the tree top walk, where you can walk among the large red tingle eucalyptus trees.
• Denmark
• Coastline parks - Fitzgerald River National Park

• Torndirrup National Park - along Frenchman Bay Road, less than a twenty minute drive out of town. Dramatic and beautiful coastline, known for 'the Gap,' 'the Natural Bridge,' 'the Blowholes' and 'Peak Head.' Panoramic views from the Stoney Hill Heritage Trail. Visit Elephant Rocks and Green Pool for safe swimming, among spectacular coastal scenery. Toilets and change facilities are located at some points in the park, but not all. Check the maps, and plan accordingly.