Things to do in Albany

Enjoy national parks, whale watching, fishing, diving, walking & wine trails.

Top 10

1. Take in the amazing views and history at the National ANZAC Centre.
2. Canoe or kayak down the Kalgan River, or snorkel at the picturesque inlet of Waychinicup National Park.
3. Take in the sounds of more than 120 bird species in the scenic Stirling Ranges.
4. Walk beneath giant karri among spectacular granite formations at the Porongurup National Park.
5. Hike the famous Bibbulmun Track, stretching from Mundaring to Albany.
6. Paraglide over pristine Shelley Beach.
7. Catch a local beauty – wave or fish – from the shore or the rocks at one of Albany’s many coastal hotspots.
8. Take the plunge and explore the wreck of HMAS Perth (diving guides available).
9. Hit the Southern Art + Craft Trail for a peek at Albany’s most creative hotspots and galleries.
10. Hop on your mountain bike for an off-road adventure along the Munda Biddi Trail.

Local tips

• Nanarup, northeast of Albany, is a secret beach full of endless white sand. The hidden golf course at Little Grove has a par three layout and a full nine holes, with kangaroos everywhere.
• Dylan's, the Harbourside Cafe that was our hangout after school, still serves the best pancakes in town.
• Experience the legend that shaped a nation at the National ANZAC Centre, and follow in the footsteps of one of our soldiers. Stand on the southernmost point of Western Australia, at West Cape Howe National Park.
• Experience frolicking whales between June and October, from whale-watching charter boats off Albany’s coastline, as well as from land-based lookouts. Albany is part of the Great Southern wine region, Australia’s largest wine region by geography. Taste some of our delicious wines straight from the cellar doors.
• There are plenty of ways to spend your day at Albany Heritage Park, with walking and bike trails, picnic areas, stunning lookouts and more. Grab the 10 Great Rides brochure, with amazing Albany rides for all ages and abilities, be it a family or a solo expedition.

Things to do & see

The foreshore makes for the perfect family holiday spot. Take a walk, and roam the winding paths, have a swim, or relax on the grass. Catch the Southern Edge Art’s program at Centennial Park – the circus kids are incredible. • Emu Point has a huge park and playground, plus a safe beach, and a beautiful cafe for the grownups. The vintage car museum is also nearby for four-wheel fans. Kids will love the Albany Wind Farm's enormous white windmills with 35m blades, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

Two Peoples Bay National Park

This stunning reserve, 35km east of Albany, boasts idyllic swimming, fishing and beach-walking experiences, not to mention the noisy scrubbird, whose calls are particularly poignant during mating season (May to September). It is also home to Little Beach – along with Waterfall Beach, it boasts sheltered, shiny waters that are a must- visit during the warmer months.

Torndirrup National Park

With massive granite outcrops, sheer cliffs and the famous rock formations of The Gap, The Blowholes and Natural Bridge, this rugged national park 10km south of Albany draws visitors to its wave- carved spectacles. There are lookouts and walking trails, and you can even spot whales from the cliffs. View The Gap and Natural Bridge from the spectacular (and safe) new lookout platform, while new site information for visitors and wheelchair- accessible path networks enhance the viewing experience.

West Cape Howe National Park

West Cape Howe is one of the most extreme, yet totally serene pieces of coastline you’ll see. This landscape, 30km west of Albany, is the most southern point in WA, with dramatic sheer cliffs of granite and black dolerite battered by the Southern Ocean, rugged limestone outcrops, isolated golden beaches, and rock islands. Some 500 species of plants and 50 species of orchids are found here, including a few carnivorous plants, yet it attracts campers, bushwalkers, fishermen and adventure-seekers alike. Some sites require a 4WD, while 2WD vehicles can access the park via Shelley Beach Road, a prime launching site for hang-gliders. The beautiful Shelley Beach area is great for fishing and camping, with the nearby lookout offering super views. Bushwalking along sandy tracks, you’ll see dolphins, seals and sea lions from the cliffs, along with humpback and southern right whales during winter and spring. TIP: If driving a high-clearance 4WD sounds too difficult, let someone else sort it out, and jump on the 4WD eco tour. Apart from seeing things you’d probably never find yourself, it’s also lots of fun.

Discovery Bay

Home to Australia’s last operating whaling station, Discovery Bay is a truly unique tourism destination, its history now captured in Albany’s award-winning whale museum. The facility also features a stunning Botanic Garden of Australian plants, and Australian wildlife exhibits, not to mention one of the best views in town from the restaurant. Guided tours are included with admission, or go at your own pace, following the informative displays past the plants and animals.

Cycling

There are plenty of trails further out from the city centre or close to town. The Go Taste trail is a 75km loop through food-and-wine country. The trail to Middleton Beach is a 6km gem, littered with lookouts to wonderful shorelines. For wildlife lovers, a four-hour trail leads around Oyster Harbour to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. The Munda Biddi Trail is a 1000km off- road trail from Mundaring to Albany. It has free huts, campsites and toilets, and is best in autumn and spring. Bikes can be hired from Albany Bicycle Hire and delivered free of charge to your accommodation.

Fishing

In Albany, the fish are biting all year round – talk to the local tackle shop to gauge when to cast a line, and how best to reel them in. Nanarup Beach has a sheltered pool for the kids, while you chase herring, skippy and whiting off the beach. Fish for salmon and mulloway from the rocks at Cosy Corner, but be careful of dangerous king waves during high-yielding winter. Oyster Harbour is a permanently open estuary, where rock species are abundant, as are squid and flathead. The Kalgan River is home to some of WA’s largest bream, King George whiting, mulloway, and small sharks.

Aboriginal Art

Albany is the traditional home of the Minang Noongar people. When the settlement at King George Sound was established in 1826, the Minang people established a relationship with European settlers in a period of harmonious co-existence. Albany’s emerging Indigenous art scene offers real insight into an ancient culture, with galleries open around town.

National Anzac Centre

Australia’s foremost museum honouring the ANZAC legend opened with a stellar ceremony late last year (100 years after the first convoy of soldiers left Albany), and it's been pulling crowds ever since. Set within Albany Heritage Park, the $10.6 million centre allows visitors to assume the identity of one of 30 ANZAC characters, and to walk in their shoes. Experience World War I, from recruitment through training and embarkation, to engagement in conflicts in the Indian Ocean, arrival in Egypt and then on to Gallipoli, the Palestine and Sinai, and across the Western Front. The stories are told through interactive multimedia displays, poignant artefacts, rare images, and film- and audio commentary, before concluding with a remembrance gallery where you can discover each ANZAC's fate. Visitors can document their feelings about the stories through a special interactive display.

Take to the seas

Albany has a rich history as a port town, and is still home to passionate sailors and seafaring types. A full season of events, like the Fremantle to Albany Race, brings yachties ashore from around the country, but you don’t have to know the ropes to get involved. Why not charter a yacht with Albany Yachts and explore the islands and historic coastal features of King George Sound? Whale-watching tours run all winter through Albany Whale Tours, or you can take a marine or coastal wilderness cruise. For something on the romantic side, put the summer breeze to good use on a picturesque twilight cruise from the twinkling harbour.