Overview
- Main Attractions: Whale World museum, Torndirrup National Park, whale watching
- Best Time to Visit: June to November
- Local Specialty: Whale watching
- Travelled By: Rental car
- Cost: $$$
- Duration of Stay: 2 days
- Location: Western Australia
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Summary
Albany is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia, established before Perth in 1826. It has a spectacular coastline, from Torndirrup National Park’s surf-pummeled cliffs to Middleton Beach’s white sands, and the calm water of King George Sound. It was infamous for the largest whaling station in Australia, now converted to the Whale World Museum after whaling was banned in Australia in 1978. Whales are still a part of the Albany experience, but these days are hunted by tourists through a camera lens.
Albany: Our Experience
Graham has to work in Perth for a week so we decide to stay the weekend and visit the beautiful seaside town of Albany.
The breathtaking beauty of Albany’s rugged coastline creates a fitting backdrop to a dramatic whaling, convict and settler history and a memorable south coast adventure for us.
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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.
In the morning, we follow the Amity Trail, a 30-minute self-guided heritage walk trail that allows us to take in almost two centuries of history. The trails takes us past convict prisons, whaling ships and taverns to quaint cottages and grand National Trust residences. The highlight of the Amity Trail is viewing the replica of the Brig Amity.
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The most impressive building in Albany is Whale World – the only museum of its kind in the world to be housed in a formerly fully-operational whaling station.
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One of the most scenic coastal landscapes for whale spotting or just taking in the fresh sea air is Torndirrup National Park. Here, the Southern Ocean has sculpted the granite coastline into striking formations known as The Gap and Natural Bridge.
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It’s a nice afternoon so we take a drive up to the Albany Wind Farm to see the towering turbines. As we drive along, we take in sweeping ocean views which is breathtaking.
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Albany is well known for its fresh local cuisine and we plan to enjoy it while we are here.
For dinner, we decide to splurge a bit and dine out at Lavender Cottage Albany.
