There are some things you can only do when you live in Albany
It’s great to visit Albany and enjoy the many wonderful attractions on offer. But, living in Albany will allow you to enjoy the sights at a more leisurely pace, and the activities on offer expand when you make the place your permanent home.
There are many options for keeping fit with lots of walk & cycle paths around plus gyms, yoga, pilates & martial arts classes. There is a great range of sports to get involved in, such as football, soccer, basketball, netball, cricket, hockey, golf, archery, shooting and even Dragonboat racing. Living on the coast means ample opportunity for deep-sea or river boating & fishing, water-skiing, swimming, surfing, diving and much more.
For the creative person Albany has a very active arts community with classes and art groups and exhibition spaces, workshops, local theatre & light opera groups, photography groups and a good live music scene. In addition, every year, during January, the Annual Albany Summer School runs for 2 weeks, providing a chance to study art, craft, writing, and many other creative activities.
If you just want to kick back and take it all in or while away the hours, then you are in luck. Albany has many beautiful parks & beaches where you can take the kids, walk the dog or sit in the sun with a book. If you want to enjoy great food and drink, then as well as cafes, bars & restaurants, there are regular events such as the Taste Great Southern Festival – a true food & wine extravaganza.
One of the most incredible things about Albany is that often you won’t need to travel more than 15 minutes to participate in activities, see the sights or enjoy some great food.
If you are willing to spend a bit more time travelling, then the region surrounding Albany provides even more to see and do.
There is so much, and you will never see it all when you are only visiting the area. The only way to discover all of the treasures on offer is to do so with the luxury of time. Living in Albany will provide you with the time you need to explore the town and all of the great beaches and lookouts along the coast, some so secret that only the locals know about them.
Mt Barker and Denmark are only a short drive away, and it is great to be able to visit these places with the luxury of choosing to stay for a few days or make a quick day trip with plenty of time to explore.
Take a trip along Marine Drive, and you will be treated to the spectacular vista of King George Sound, where you might even spot a whale or two.
The dual-lane cycle/walk path from Ellen Cove to the Albany Port will allow you to take in the entire expanse of the Sound at your own pace. This walk includes several lookout points along the way, as well as the boardwalk at Middleton Beach.
Whale Watching is a popular attraction, and regular tours are available from late May through to early October. You may also like to visit Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, where you can learn about the history of whaling in Albany. Climb aboard and explore a whale chaser or stand under the skeleton of the last sperm whale harpooned in Albany.
The coastline around Albany varies from Pristine white beaches to jagged rocky clifftops to protected bays and river inlets.
Tordirrup National Park (pictured above) features a number of vantage points for amazing views, hiking trails of variable difficulty and beaches for swimming or fishing.
One of Albany’s most famous attractions is the National ANZAC Centre, a state-of-the-art museum that explores the ANZAC legend through multimedia, interactive exhibits and historical artefacts. In the same location are the Albany Forts & Barracks, with sections restored providing a genuine sense of wartime history.
Albany is one of the oldest European settlements in Western Australia and provides a wealth of historical architecture from a period spanning nearly two hundred years.
The town square features a dynamic mixture of classic and modern styles coming together. The Albany Town Hall (1888), Albany Town Library (1968) and recently built Albany Visitors Centre cradle the contemporary town square in the city’s heart.
Stirling Terrace features several heritage-listed buildings that look out over the harbour. It also features many bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique retail stores.
You can get a feel for what life was like for early settlers when you board the Brig Amity replica – the ship that first carried European settlers to Albany’s shores. Nearby is the Albany Convict Gaol, first established in 1852. Also nearby is the Museum of the Great Southern, where you can explore stories of the Menang Noongar people and early European settlers and convicts, plus learn about the natural flora and fauna of the area.
If exploring some of the best beaches and coastline in Australia is not enough, then you can always venture inland and explore the Porongurup National Park. This mountainous forest landscape offers bushwalks of varying difficulty that provide spectacular views. If you want to take it easy, you can explore the wineries and cafes scattered around the base of the mountain range.
Heading a little further inland, you will soon find yourself in the Stirling Range National Park. The Stirling Ranges offer even more dramatic views, with the famous Bluff Knoll one of the most popular attractions.
Rising more than a kilometre above sea level, in winter, you might even get to see snow on the peak. Of course, it only happens occasionally, but this is one of the few places where it ever snows in Western Australia.
During spring, visitors flock to the Stirling Ranges to view the natural spectacle of wildflowers that grow. It’s an orchid lovers delight with over 120 species found in the area.
Food and wine lovers will be in paradise. Albany has many excellent cafes, restaurants, and bars. When you get out into the surrounding region, you expand your options by sampling the many great wines for which the region is famous. The Porongorup Wine Region and towns of Mt Barker & Denmark are all only 30 minutes from Albany and will provide you with a versatile selection of local wines. There are also breweries and a distillery to choose from.
Ryde Building Company Pty Ltd can help provide predesign or custom plans for your new home.
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