Albany, with its idyllic location boasting the Southern Ocean, paradise beaches, historic architecture, friendly locals and seemingly never-ending stunning geographical features is a hard place not to fall in love with.
- Walk the Lookout Trail: Starting at the Granite Skywalk at Castle Rock, this 2km section of the Lookout Trail starts at this impressive rock formation and is a suspended walkway that offers unparalleled views of the surrounding natural environment. The trail continues into Torndirrup National Park and onward to Padre White Lookout and the Wind Farm at Sand Patch Beach.
- Take a Kalgan River Cruise: A 4-hour boat trip along the river, discovering wildlife and the history of the region as you go, with a live commentary that discusses local Dreamtime, the Anzac legend, and points out wonders of wild kangaroos, sea eagles, Percy the Dancing Penguin and more… Just as much fun for adults as it is for the kids.
- The Wine: Ah yes, the wine… The region boasts many wonderful wineries, with award winning Rieslings and Pinot Noirs well worthy of your attention. Combine these tastings with some local cheese at locations such as Wignalls Wines and Ironwood Wines.
- The Whales: The ocean off Albany is one of the world’s ultimate whale watching spots, with the chances of spotting these sea-behemoths from the natural clifftop lookout points almost as good as heading out on one of the many whale watching boat tours.
- Incredible accommodation: With none better than the stunning luxury options on offer from www.privateproperties.com.au. From oceanside beach houses to nature-lovers’ bush lodgings and everything in-between, spoil yourself with incredible private house holiday accommodation. Couple this with the family-run expertise from this bespoke company and you really can experience the millionaire lifestyle whilst on holiday. After all, with a region as beautiful as Albany to discover you need to match this brilliance with the ultimate place to stay… To find out more give their friendly team a call on 08 9750 5444.
- The National ANZAC Centre: An award-winning museum and facility dedicated to the ANZAC spirit and that honours those who’ve served. Its spectacular location overlooking King George Sound is matched by the quality of the interactive technology, historical artefacts, listed Princess Royal Fortress and striking architecture. A fascinating visit that commemorates the war through Anzac stories in a neutral manner, as opposed to those that are anti or pro-war.
- Mount Romance Sandalwood: The use of Australian Sandalwood in the global fragrance industry is a valuable, natural and sustainable ingredient. A visit to Mount Romance allows you to learn, experience and shop their wonderful array of fragrance and beauty products to your heart’s content, and even take part in a meditation session as you soak up the atmosphere.
- West Cape Howe National Park: Hire a 4WD and head to the southernmost tip of WA in the West Cape Howe National Park. Soaring cliffs and crashing surf will blow away even the most tangled of cobwebs, not to mention the opportunity to enjoy bushwalks, camping, fishing and simply soaking up the best that Mother Nature has to offer.
- The beaches: It’s difficult to know where to start, simply because the region is blessed with some of the finest stretches of sand on the planet. Emu Point, Middleton Beach, Cosy Corner and Shelly Beach are but a few along the coastline. From family friendly to the ultimate in surf rollers, there really is something here for everyone…
- The food: Albany boasts an amazing selection of restaurants boasting local products, with multiple options ranging from take out to fine dining. If you fancy home cooking then be sure not to miss the weekly Farmer’s Market that takes place every Saturday from 08:00am – a place that real farmers (not third party sellers selling at a mark-up) bring their produce to locals and visitors alike. If you’re self-catering (and even if you’re not) this is an artisan market that really does deserve your rapt attention.
So when it comes to curating a Top 10 of the best things to do here, we have to say that we were somewhat spoilt for choice. But we’ve risen to the challenge, with a lot of help from local knowledge, and come up with the definitive list of not-to-be-missed activities that visitors can enjoy, encompassing both natural and man-made delights at their very, very best…
