Albany, Western Australia

GORGEOUS! BEAUTIFUL! WISH YOU WERE HERE!!

Wanting to get away from the fast lane, the maddening crowds and the heat, then pack up the car and come and explore the Lower Great Southern and all its surrounds … in particular amazing Albany and the stunning Denmark region. You won’t be disappointed! There is something for everyone.

My husband and I were originally from Perth, relocated to Darwin for a few years with our careers and then moved to Albany some 10 years ago and have never looked back. We still do a lot of travel within Australia and overseas but always enjoy coming home to Albany.

For those of you nearing retirement or already there you will find plenty of diversity in the region to suit your needs. I promise you it will be a journey of discovery!

Albany is some 409 kms from Perth via the Albany Highway with some interesting stops along the way like Williams, Kojonup and Mt. Barker. If you prefer not to drive there is a bus service between Perth and Albany twice a day during the week (departing from the East Perth terminal at 9am & 3pm weekdays, 9am Saturdays and 5:30pm Sundays) – www.transwa.wa.gov.au or you may prefer to fly – Albany has an excellent airport which is currently serviced by Rex Airlines with 2 flights a day during the week and one on Saturday and Sunday. – www.rex.com.au.

Bald Head

If you are caravanning or camping there are numerous caravan parks within Albany itself and many are located right on the beach. There is a wide choice of other accommodation from B&B’s, farmstays, historical buildings, motels and more. There are some great websites to assist you with all your accommodation needs, such as the Albany Visitors Centre (through www.albany.gov.au) and Amazing Albany (www.amazingalbany.com.au) to name a couple.

You might want to throw in your golf clubs as the Albany Golf Club has an excellent course being one of the top 100 Links course in the country. Everyone is welcome and you can hire both clubs and carts if necessary. There are many courses in the region, some of which are smaller country clubs with sand greens only but all very welcoming to visitors.

Albany Golf ClubAlbany has a huge sporting culture and first class facilities are located centrally within the City limits, hosting any number of sports from football, basketball, netball, cricket, swimming, tennis, bowls, hockey, soccer and numerous other choices. If you have an interest in participating or being a spectator please visit the Albany Gateway website to search the various options available.

Sports not your thing but other recreational activities appeal to you more, then there are a myriad of options available in Albany such as wind surfing, hiking, diving, yachting, whale watching, yoga, gonging, cycling, kayaking, dancing, music, mah-jong, bridge etc. etc. The list is endless and something for everyone. The beaches and coastline in this region are nothing short of spectacular many of which can be explored on many of the amazing walking trails or you may wish to experience it from the air via small plane charter or helicopter. The Great Southern can also boast an abundance of excellent wineries producing world class wines. Trust me, I have tried most of them!!

The Gap

Albany is an historic town and was the first settlement in Western Australia, officially founded in 1827. There are many historic tours conducted throughout the region if you are interested in discovering the rich legacy of this part of the world.

Albany was the departure point of many of our Anzacs and to commemorate that occasion the National Anzac Centre was erected and opened in 2014 to honour those who fought and gave their lives in the First World War. The National Anzac Centre is located on Mt. Clarence and forms part of the Princess Royal Fortress site. It is a magnificent tribute to our fallen and so respectfully represented with its majestic location overlooking the spectacular King George Sound. You should also enjoy the Commemorative Walk within the fortress grounds showcasing some stunning views across the town to the coast. I would highly recommend this attraction as it will leave a lasting impression on you. It is also thought that Albany was where the first dawn service was conducted and still continues each and every year at the top of Mt. Adelaide.

ANZAC Centre

There is so much to share with you I could not possibly do it all justice in one session so will leave you with this little taste of Albany to whet your appetites and hopefully you will reward yourself with a visit to this spectacular part of Western Australia and discover the joy first hand!!

Until next time …

Cheers,

Kerry Lane

About the Author
Latest Posts

About Kerry Lane

I am 67 years of age and retired. I was born and bred in Perth but now live with my husband, Michael, in Albany, Western Australia. We have four children and six grandchildren. I have always enjoyed sports but my passion was basketball in which I played and attained State level. I coached at both junior and senior levels. I was also the team manager for the Perth Quit Breakers (now known as the Perth Lynx) for many years and was on the Board of the WA Basketball Association. I worked for Woodside Energy for 19 years before transferring to Darwin with my husband, also a Woodsider, who took up management of the Northern Territory operations of the company. I was the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Govt. during my time there before retiring. My husband and I then travelled around Australia in a caravan for a year before finally settling for a seachange in Albany. We built a house at beautiful Goode Beach, joined the Albany Golf Club and started to explore our surrounds. We have made many friends since arriving in Albany and family and friends from near and far enjoy visiting and experiencing our part of the world. We are heavily involved in the Golf Club which keeps us busy. I enjoy reading, wining, dining, good friends and still love to travel both here in Oz and overseas.

Visit My Website