Location | Albany

How to get to Albany

Albany, a seaside city on the southern tip of Western Australia, is a destination known for its beautiful beaches, breathtaking national parks and the rich history of not only the ANZAC’s but also the whaling that was only put to a stop in 1978.

Albany is accessible by car, bus or plane, it is approx. 420kms south of Perth or 480kms west of Esperance. Self-driving is a great option, however, you can sit back and enjoy the scenery and travel by bus with Transwa or if you prefer to get there quicker, you can take in the sights from above and enjoy a plane ride with Rex airlines.

Some Fun Facts About Albany

• Whaling is a huge part of Albany’s history, this occurred in the local Albany waters up until 1978, one company alone slaughtered almost 15,000 whale’s – You can learn the history of the whaling at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. This is an educational experience that can bring mixed emotions so be sure to allow up to 3 hours and during the season be sure to keep an eye out for any whales (Humpback’s & Southern Right’s) resting close by in the bay.
• Albany is home to the National Anzac Centre. The centre was opened for Albany’s Anzac centenary commemorations in late 2014, this superb museum remembers the men and women who left by convoy from Albany to fight in WWI. Excellent multimedia installations provide realism and depth to the exhibitions, and there is a profound melancholy in the museum’s location overlooking the same expansive body of water the troopships left from.
• There are many stunning natural attractions in and around Albany, The Gap – Natural Bridge at Torndirrup National Park is one of our favourites, it offers breathtaking views on a cliffside 40M above water, on a rough day you will often feel the water spray as it smashes along the cliffs beneath you.

Albany Whale Watching Experience

Albany is a great location for an Albany Whale Watching experience, from late May/early June through to October the Humpback and Southern Right Whales begin to come into the sheltered waters of King George Sound and use it as a resting spot (their first rest since leaving Antarctica) before making their way to the warmer Kimberly waters.

Southern Right whales & Humpback whales are the main species you will find in the King George Sound, Albany. It is always a treat to see the whales here, especially after the whaling history in this region. Southern Right whales are still coming back from almost being close to extinct, unfortunately, after the whaling, there were not many Southern Right whales left. It has been said that the Southern Right whales were given that name as they were the “right” whale to hunt.

How Can I see the Whales in Albany?

You can watch the whales in Albany from the shore. Fortunately for the very lucky Albany residents, you are able to see the Humpback & Southern Right whales resting in King George Sound, often you will also get to see Dolphins! There have been some incredible sightings over the years from the popular Middleton Beach, a great spot where family and friends often enjoy the beach, scenery and delicious food from the cafes and restaurants.

We do not offer any Whale Watching tours from Albany however we do highly encourage you to join us from one of our departure locations that are based throughout the South West.

• Bremer Bay Killer Whale Watching Tours to see the Killer Whales (Orca): December – April
• Augusta Whale Watching Tours to see the Humpback & Southern Right Whales: May-August
• Busselton Whale Watching Tours to see the Humpback, Southern Right & BLUE Whales: August – November
• Dunsborough Whale Watching Tours to see the Humpback, Southern Right & BLUE Whales: August – November

Some handy tips when whale watching from the Albany Shoreline (King George Sound)

• Have a pair of binoculars handy, whilst not always required these can certainly make the search for the whales easier
• Look out for the whale’s “blow” … Whales blow air, water vapour and mucus as they surface to take a breath. Each whale species has its distinctive blow, such as small and bushy for humpbacks, V-shaped for southern rights and up to 12m high for blue whales. The blow can be seen from quite a distance away, so this is a really effective way to search for whales
• You may strike it lucky and see a Humpback or Southern Right Whale “breach”, a breach is when a whale lunges part or even their whole body out of the water, it is an amazing experience to witness this happen!

Where to eat & drink in Albany

Albany apart of the breathtaking Great Southern region is known to produce some of the best Riesling in Western Australia. Not only is great wine produced here but you will also come across some of the tastiest fresh food that will leave you wanting more!

Be sure to check out some of our favourite venues to eat & drink:

• Due South Albany, a stunning venue situated on the waterfront of Princess Royal Harbour. Whilst doing some work in Albany our crew frequently visited this establishment, they had a lot of praise for their steaks, good cold beer and their favourite… views of the harbour and vessels in the marina.
• Emu Point Café, this café is in a gorgeous location, when camping nearby at Emu Point we would bike ride down to this beachside venue and enjoy a good coffee and bite to eat generally after a refreshing swim.
• Whaler’s Galley Café, on a visit to Albany’s Historic Whaling Station we stopped into the café there to relax the legs and have something to eat, whilst waiting for our food to arrive we were absolutely stoked to see some Southern Right Whales right outside this café! It was such a special moment, sitting inside and watching these 2 whales frolic in the bay through the window, it really made the visit there one to remember!

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If the above isn’t enough to keep you busy during the months of January – April take a drive to Bremer Bay to join Naturaliste Charters on a Bremer Canyon Killer Whale Expedition and while your there why not adventure into the beautiful Fitzgerald National Park, a nature lovers paradise.