Albany & Surrounds

For tens of thousands of years Albany was known as Kinjarling, the ‘Place of Rain’, home to the Menang Noongar peoples. Albany also marks the spot where the first European settlers set foot in Western Australia, and much of their legacy remains today, with over fifty colonial buildings standing proudly as museums, galleries and restaurants. From convict prisons, whaling ships and taverns, to quaint cottages and grand National Trust residences, you can take in almost two centuries of history on a 30-minute self-guided walk, following the Amity Trail.

Albany’s natural beauty abounds with the surrounding region proudly boasting a number of reserves and national parks from which to spot the abundant wildlife and take in the stunningly ragged granite coastline that over time has been carved and sculptured by the wild Southern Ocean. Today the striking natural attractions of The Gap and Natural Bridge, both located in Torndirrup National Park, are a must visit for any traveler. At certain times of year, whale watching draws thousands of visitors to Albany as these majestic creatures frolic along Albany’s coastline.

Albany's King George Sound marks the spot where the first convoy of Anzacs departed for the battlegrounds of the First World War. Today, you can follow their extraordinary stories through the National Anzac Centre's state-of-the-art interactive displays, as well as commemorate their sacrifices at the world class and immersive installation by Bruce Munro, the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour.

Spring is Albany’s main flowering period for wildflowers, and between late August and December the surrounding hinterland becomes awash with the bright hues of pinks, purples, oranges and yellows. Being one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots, naturally over half of Western Australia’s 13 000 plant species grow in the South West and Great Southern regions, and some cannot be found anywhere else in the world! Plus there are literally hundreds of trails to choose from in the region meaning you are never far from experiencing nature’s spectacular colour palate.

Albany also provides the perfect base to view equally stunning art attractions like Albany’s PUBLIC silo and the rest of the PUBLIC SILO TRAIL found in Western Australia.