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Albany is a port city on south coast of Western Australia, 400 km 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. Exports from the Albany port are grains, and woodchips. Imports are mainly raw materials for the production of fertilizers.

Albany is the oldest continuous 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.

Unlike nearly all of 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 22.4°C. Information is available from the City of Albany web site [1].

Get in

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. There 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 [2] 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 is 10 km North of Albany on Albany Hwy. There are daily flights from Perth with Skywest. Tel: +61-8-9841-9208.

By ship

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

Get around

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 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. [3]

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.

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

  • Albany Convict Gaol, ☏ +61-8-9841-5403. 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 WA 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. Originally built as a store in the 1850s but converted into the Government Residency from 1873-1953. Open from 10AM to 5PM from Monday to Saturday and from 2PM to 5PM on Sundays. See the jaws of a white pointer shark and the huge rotating lens from the old Eclipse Lighthouse.
  • Albany Public Library and Information Service, ☏ +61-8-9841-9390. York Street. Also offers internet access. 
  • Albany Tourist Information Centre, ☏ +61-8-9841-1088. At the Old Railway Station on Proudlove Parade. 
  • Albany Town Hall Theatre, ☏ +61-8-9841-1661. York Street. Plays, concerts, musicals of all kinds, located in one of Western Australia's oldest buildings. 
  • Albany Wind Farm. 12 km south-west of the city centre. 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. Entry is free. 
  • Brig Amity Replica, ☏ +61-8-9841-5403. Located 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, 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, ☏ +61-8-9841 9333. Forts Road (off Marine Drive). The Princess Royal Battery currently functions as a tourist destination and provides an insight into the site and Australian military history generally. 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, ☏ +61-8-9841-9260. Vancouver Street. 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, ☏ +61-8-9844-4021. Situated 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' an actual former whaling ship, tied up next to the museum. 

Do

  • Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, ☏ +61-8-9841-2788. Barker Road. 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, 41 Shelley Beach Road, ☏ +61-8-9845-1068. Whale watching and harbour cruises. 
  • 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. 
  • Desert Mounted Corps War Memorial - originally located at Port Said in Egypt, unveiled by Prime Minister 'Billy' Hughes in 1932. 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.

Buy

Eat

  • Bar Cino, 338 Middleton Loop. Wireless internet hotspot, famous coffee, juice bar, licenced cafe restaurant. Caters for vegetarians. Open for breakfast and lunch daily except Sundays.
  • Bay Merchants Gourmet Deli, ☏ +61-8-9841-7821. Near the beach on Adelaide Crescent. Great coffee using local milk from the Ravenhill Dairy and fresh roasted coffee from the Naked Bean. Homemade cakes, biscuits and gourmet lunches. Open daily from 6:30AM until 6PM. 
  • Beachside Middleton Beach Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9841-7733. Flinders Parade. 
  • Café Sails, ☏ +61-8-9841-5566. Near the roundabout at the top end of York Street. Baked in-house gourmet food, cakes and slices, gourmet lunches. Open Monday to Friday from 8AM until 5PM. 
  • CBD Central Café, ☏ +61-8-9842-9551. York Street. Open for lunch and dinner. 9AM until 8PM Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. 9AM until late Wednesday through Saturday. 
  • Cosis Café, ☏ +61-8-9841-7899. 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. Open daily until 5PM. 
  • Earl of Spencer Historic Inn, ☏ +61-8-9841-1322. 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, ☏ +61-8-9842-4111. Albany Hwy, situated at Banksia Gardens Resort Motel, open Monday to Saturday from 6:30PM, 
  • Genevieves Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9842-1711. Adelaide Crescent. (no longer open as The Esplanade Hotel has been demolished) 
  • Golden Town Restaurant & Takeaway, ☏ +61-8-9841-8038. Corner of Aberdeen Street & Frederick Street. 
  • Goshu-ya Japanese Restaurant, 1 Mermaid Avenue, ☏ +61-8-9844-1111. Emu Point. Traditional Japanese menu with views over Emu Point. Traditional sushi, meat and rice dishes. BYO, snacks and seafood. Open from 10AM until late. 
  • Hands On Café - Stirling Terrace Opposite Old Post Office. Open W,Th from 5:30PM until late; Fr 12PM-3PM & from 5:30PM until late; and Sa,Su 9AM-2PM & from 5:30PM until late. Closed M,Tu.
  • Harvest Moon Vegetarian Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9841-8833. Stirling Terrace. Various filled foccacias and curries to suit vegetarian needs. Homemade cakes and slices. Open from 10AM until 5PM Monday to Wednesday; and Thursday from 10AM until 8PM; Friday from 10AM until 6PM; and Saturday from 11AM until 4:30PM. Closed Sundays. 
  • Lavender Cottage Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9842-2073. 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, ☏ +61-8-9841-1732. Stirling Terrace. Gourmet Italian menu. Open Monday through Saturday, from 6:30PM until late. 
  • Monet’s Café, ☏ +61-8-9842-6900. At Middleton Beach. Morning and afternoon teas and lunch. Cakes and coffee in a courtyard garden. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 8AM until 5PM; Friday and Saturday night dinner from 6PM until late. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 
  • Naked Bean Coffee Bean Coffee Roasters, ☏ +61-8-9841-4225. 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. 
  • Nonna's Brasseria, ☏ +61-8-9841-4626. York Street. Gourmet Italian food. Open from 11AM until late on weekdays and from 5PM until late on Saturdays. Closed Sundays. 
  • O`Ba-San Sushi Bar, ☏ +61-8-9841-6820. York Street. Japanese take-away food. Open daily. 
  • Poppie's Cafe, ☏ +61-8-9841-7595. Mews Arcade on York Street. Morning and afternoon tea and light lunches. Closed Sundays. 
  • Rookley’s Gourmet Café, ☏ +61-8-9842-2236. Peels Place. Al fresco gourmet dining. Open Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 3PM (winter) & 9AM to 5PM (summer). Closed Sundays. 
  • Rustlers Steak House, ☏ +61-8-9842-2454. Frederick Street. Wood-fire-heated outdoor dining area. Varied menu including steaks, seafood and vegetarian items. Kid's menu. Open 5PM until late. 
  • Shells Restaurant, ☏ +61-8-9841-4144. Albany Highway. Open daily from 6:30PM. 
  • Stirling Terrace Book Café, ☏ +61-8-9841-4611. Stirling Terrace. Range of gourmet tea and coffee options and a café menu. Large range of books. Open 9AM until 5PM Monday through Friday and 9AM until 12 noon on Saturday. Closed Sundays. 
  • Three Plenties Palace Restaurant, 148 York Street, ☏ +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. 

Drink

  • Albany Hotel, ☏ +61-8-9842-3337. 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. 
  • Premier Hotel, ☏ +61-8-9841-11544. Lower York Street, (Part of CBC Central Café.). Open daily. 
  • White Star Hotel, ☏ +61-8-9841-1733. 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 (www.distillery.com.au/), 252 Frenchman Bay Rd. Robinson, Albany, WA 6330. A boutique whisky distillery, producing premium quality spirits using time honoured techniques and traditional copper pot stills. 

Sleep

  • Acacia Grove Holiday House, 3 Greeble Street, ☏ +61-8-9761-7506. At Emu Point. 
  • Albany Apartments, 27 Albany Highway, ☏ +61-8-9841-5259. Self-contained apartments. 
  • Albany Backpackers Lodge, ☏ +61-8-9841-8848. Stirling Terrace. Budget accommodation. 
  • Albany Best Western Motel and Apartments [4] (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's Cruize-Inn, 122 Middleton Road, ☏ +61-8-9842-9599. Self-contained house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, modern laundry and a spacious living area with island style BYO bar, piano and tile fire. 
  • 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 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. www.albanyholiday.com.au 
  • Balnearie Seaside Resort Serviced Apartments, ☏ +61-8-9842-2877. 27 Adelaide Crescent. 
  • Cosy Corner Eco Village, 9377 Cosy Corner Road, ☏ +61-8-9845-1065. At Torbay. 
  • 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 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.
  • King River Homestead Bed & Breakfast, ☏ +61-8-9844-7770. Bushby Road in Lower King. 
  • King River Palms Waterfront Caravan Park, ☏ +61-8-9844-3232. Chester Pass Road. 
  • Memories of Albany Bed & Breakfast, 118 Brunswick Road, ☏ +61-8-9842-9787. 
  • Oakview Cottage Bed & Breakfast, 34 Fredrick Street, ☏ +61-8-9841-4538. 
  • Royal George Hotel/Motel, ☏ +61-8-9841-1466. 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. 
  • Torbay Guest House, ☏ +61-8-9845-1327. Lot 24, Peet Rise, at Cosy Corner Torbay. 
  • Valley Pond Farmstay, ☏ +61-8-9846-4224. 3 Pine Rise at Lower Kalgan. Farm holidays in self-contained stone chalet with slow combustion stove. 30 acre property. 

Connect

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

Go next

    • 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.
    • West
  • Denmark
    • East
  • 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.


This city travel guide to Albany is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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