Albany (Western Australia)

Albany is a port city on the south coast of Western Australia, south of Perth, the state capital.

Understand
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.

By car
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.

By coach
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.

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

By car
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.

By bus
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.

By foot
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.

By bicycle
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.

See

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Do

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Sleep

 * Albany Best Western Motel and Apartments (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.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Albany Best Western Motel and Apartments (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.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Albany Best Western Motel and Apartments (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.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.
 * Flinders Park Lodge Guesthouse, corner of Harbour Road & Lower King Road, Tel: +61-8-9844- 7062.

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

North

 * 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

West and east

 * 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

South

 * 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.