Albany (Western Australia)

Albany is situated on Princess Royal Harbour, a natural inlet of the Southern Ocean, 5 km east west and 3 km north south.
Albany 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.
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 110 km/hr 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 plane

• Albany Airport

  phone: +61-8-9841-9208
  There are daily flights from Perth with Skywest.

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. yiou 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.

• Albany Convict Gaol

  phone: +61-8-9841-5403
  address: Corner of Stirling Terrace & Parade Street
  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 MuseumIt 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

  phone: +61-8-9841-9390
  address: York Street
  Also offers internet access.

• Albany Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +61-8-9841-1088
  address: At the Old Railway Station on Proudlove Parade

• Albany Town Hall Theatre

  phone: +61-8-9841-1661
  address: York Street
  Plays, concerts, musicals of all kinds, in one of Western Australia's oldest buildings.

• Albany Wind Farm

  address: OT 8141 Sand Patch Rd, Sandpatch
  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.

• Brig Amity Replica

  phone: +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.

• Patrick Taylor Cottage Museum

  phone: +61-8-9841-6174
  address: 39 Duke Street
  Wattle and daub home, built circa 1832, the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia. Open daily.

• The Princess Royal Fortress and National ANZAC Centre

  phone: +61-8-6820-3500
  address: 67 Forts Road Albany
  The Princess Royal Battery provides an insight into the site, and into Australian military history. Apart from the many exhibits and displays, the site incorporates a small shop and tearooms for visitors; a function centre; and a covered area with barbecues and tables.

• Vancouver Arts Centre

  phone: +61-8-9841-9260
  address: 85 Vancouver St
  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.

• Whale World

  phone: +61-8-9844-4021
  On the site of the old Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, closed in 1978. Includes 'Whalers Galley Café-Restaurant,' whale-orientated museum with 20 different exhibits including ‘Giants of the Sea’ whale skeleton display, 3D whale movies, souvenir shop and visits to the 'Cheynes IV', a former whaling ship, tied up next to the museum.

• Dog Rock

  address: Middleton Road
  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.

• Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre

  phone: +61-8-9841-2788
  address: 52-70 Barker Rd, Centennial Park
  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 central business district. One starts from the Gaol and the other from Stirling Terrace. Free maps area available from the tourist information centre.

• Albany Whale Tours

  phone: +61-8-9845-1068
  address: 41 Shelley Beach Road
  Whale watching and harbour cruises.

• Bibbulmun TrackLong 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.

• 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 Farmers Market

  phone: +61 8 9841 4312
  address: Collie St

• Albany Dog Rock Motel Restaurant & Function Centre

  phone: +61-8-9841-1400
  address: Middleton Road

• Bay Merchants Gourmet Deli

  phone: +61-8-9841-7821
  address: 18 Adelaide Cres, Middleton Beach
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-7733
  address: Flinders Parade

• Black Duck Gourmet Pantry

  phone: +61-8-9842-1433
  address: 34 Peels Place
  Handmade chocolates, hampers, jams & marmalade, tea & coffee, wines, etc.

• Café Sails

  phone: +61-8-9841-5566
  Near the roundabout at the top end of York Street. Baked in-house gourmet food, cakes and slices, gourmet lunches.

• CBD Central Café

  phone: +61-8-9842-9551
  address: York Street

• Classics Cafe

  phone: +61-8-9842-1281
  address: Adelaide Crescent

• Cosis Café

  phone: +61-8-9841-7899
  address: Corner of York Street and Peels Place
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-8720
  address: 82-84 Stirling Terrace
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-1322
  address: Corner of Earl Street & Spencer Street
  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

  phone: +61-8-9842-4111
  address: Albany Hwy, at Banksia Gardens Resort Motel

• Hands On Café

  address: Stirling Terrace opposite Old Post Office

• Kooka's Catering

  phone: +61-8-9841-5889
  address: Stirling Terrace

• Lavender Cottage Restaurant

  phone: +61-8-9842-2073
  address: Peels Place
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-1732
  address: Stirling Terrace
  Gourmet Italian menu. Open Monday through Saturday, from 6:30PM until late.

• Moby Dick's Fish & Chips

  phone: +61-8-9841-6142
  address: 60 South Coast Highway

• Naked Bean Coffee Bean Coffee Roasters

  phone: +61-8-9841-4225
  address: Sanford Road opposite the Post Office
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-6820
  address: York Street
  Japanese take-away food. Open daily.

• Ocean and Paddock

  phone: +61-8-9842-6212
  address: 116 Middleton Beach Road
  Fish and chips, burgers, etc. Dine in or takeaway.

• Poppie's Cafe

  phone: +61-8-9841-7595
  address: Mews Arcade on York Street
  Morning and afternoon tea and light lunches. Closed Sundays.

• Rustlers Steak House

  phone: +61-8-9842-2454
  address: Frederick Street
  Wood-fire-heated outdoor dining area. Varied menu including steaks, seafood and vegetarian items. Kid's menu. Open 5PM until late.

• Three Plenties Palace Restaurant

  phone: +61-8-9841-4121
  address: 148 York St
  Quasi-Chinese food.

• Venice Pizza Bar & Restaurant

  phone: +61-8-9842-3978
  address: 179 York Street
  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

  phone: +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

  phone: +61-8-9842-3337
  address: York Street
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-1048
  address: 162 Stirling Terrace

• Premier Hotel

  phone: +61-8-9841-11544
  address: Lower York Street (Part of CBC Central Café)

• White Star Hotel

  phone: +61-8-9841-1733
  address: 72 Stirling Terrace
  Modern micro brewery with 4-6 brewed. A tasting selection of 4 beers available for $10. Restaurant open daily for lunch from 12 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.

• Great Southern Distillery Company

  phone: +61 8 9842 5363
  address: 252 Frenchman Bay Rd, Robinson
  A boutique whisky distillery, producing premium quality spirits using time honoured techniques and traditional copper pot stills.

• Acacia Grove Holiday House

  phone: +61-8-9761-7506
  address: 3 Greeble Street
  At Emu Point.

• Ace Motor Inn

  phone: +61-8-9841-2911
  address: 314 Albany Highway
  54 units, unlicensed restaurant. 3.5 stars.

• Albany Apartments

  phone: +61-8-9841-5259
  address: 27 Albany Highway
  Self-contained apartments.

• Albany Backpackers Lodge

  phone: +61-8-9841-8848
  address: Stirling Terrace
  Budget accommodation.
• 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.

• Albany Dog Rock Motel Restaurant & Function Centre

  phone: +61-8-9841-1400
  address: Middleton Road
  Internet available.

• Albany Gardens Holiday Resort

  phone: +61-8-9841-4616
  address: 22 Wellington Street
  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

  phone: +61-8-9844-3267
  address: Lot 21, Millbrook Road
  Ensuite cabins, spa chalets, onsite caravans, grassed van & tent sites. Shop, laundry facilities, canoe hire.

• Albany Harbourside

  phone: +61-8-9842-1769
  address: 8 Festing Street
  Self-contained apartments.

• Albany Holiday Park

  phone: +61-8-9841-7800
  address: 550 Albany Highway
  Chalets, budget cabins, powered sites, camping, free BBQ + campers kitchen, dogs allowed, seasonal discounts.

• Amity Motor Inn

  phone: +61-8-9841-2200
  address: 234 Albany Highway
  40 air conditioned units plus restaurant and swimming pool.

• Balnearie Seaside Resort Serviced Apartments

  phone: +61-8-9842-2877
  address: 27 Adelaide Crescent

• Banksia Gardens Resort Motel/Apartments

  phone: +61-8-9842-4111
  address: 212 Albany Highway
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-3949
  address: 49 Duke Street

• Big Grove Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9844-4423
  address: Lot 10, Panorama Road

• Channel Retreat

  phone: +61-8-9844-8100
  address: 3 Mermaid Avenue
  Apartments.

• Cheyne Beach Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9846-1247
  address: Cheyne Beach

• Cosy Corner Eco Village

  phone: +61-8-9845-1065
  address: 9377 Cosy Corner Road
  At Torbay.

• Country Manor Inn

  phone: +61-8-9841-1177
  address: 369 Albany Highway

• Devines Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9841-8050
  address: 20 Stirling Terrace

• Discovery Inn Backpackers & Guesthouse

  phone: +61-8-9841-3160
  address: 9 Middleton Road
  Budget accommodation.

• Dolphin Lodge Holiday Units

  phone: +61-8-9841-6600
  address: 1 Golf Links Road
  At Middleton Beach.

• Emu Beach Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9844-1147
  At Emu Point.

• Emu Point Motel

  phone: +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

  phone: +61-8-9842-8800
  address: 4/81 Proudlove Parade

• Frenchman Bay Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9844-4015
  address: Frenchman Bay Road

• King River Homestead Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9844-7770
  address: Bushby Road in Lower King

• King River Palms Waterfront Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9844-3232
  address: Chester Pass Road

• Memories of Albany Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9842-9787
  address: 118 Brunswick Road

• Middleton Holiday Apartments

  phone: +61-8-9841-4080
  address: 180 Middleton Road

• Norman House Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9841-5995
  address: 28 Stirling Terrace

• Oakview Cottage Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9841-4538
  address: 34 Fredrick Street

• Oyster Harbour Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9844-7164
  address: Elizabeth Street

• Panorama Caravan Park

  phone: +61-8-9844-4031
  address: 106 Frenchmans Bay Road

• Royal George Hotel/Motel

  phone: +61-8-9841-1466
  address: 62 Stirling Terrace
  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

  phone: +61-8-9841-1544
  address: York Street

• Sherrilou Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9841-4751
  address: 104 Middleton Road

• The Beach House at Bayside

  phone: +61-8-9844-8844
  address: 33 Barry Court

• The Castlereagh

  phone: +61-8-9842-0500
  address: 9 Flinders Parade

• The Terrace Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +61-8-9842-9901
  address: 36 Marine Terrace

• Torbay Guest House

  phone: +61-8-9845-1327
  address: Lot 24, Peet Rise, at Cosy Corner Torbay

• Valley Pond Farmstay

  phone: +61-8-9846-4224
  address: 3 Pine Rise at Lower Kalgan
  Farm holidays in self-contained stone chalet with slow combustion stove. 30 acre property.

• View Street Lodge

  phone: +61-8-9842-8820
  address: 35 View Street

• White Star Hotel/Motel

  phone: +61-8-9841-1733
  address: 72 Stirling Terrace

• Woodridge Country Retreat

  phone: +61-8-9844-3446
  address: Tackenup Road, Napier

• Woody Grange Chalets

  phone: +61-8-9844-3458
  address: 208 Willyung Road
  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 WiFi 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

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.