Destination guides > Australia > Western Australia > South coast > Albany
Albany
Established in 1826, two years before Perth, Albany was the first city in Western Australia to be settled by Europeans. The city has some beautiful old buildings dating from colonial times and has a spectacular location within close range of dense forests and stunning beaches. Once a major centre for the whaling industry, whale watching is now one of Albany’s big attractions.
Practical information
Albany Visitors Information Centre
Old Railway Station, Proudlove Parade, Albany
Tel (08) 9841 1088
Website www.albanytourist.com.au
Open 9am-5pm daily
Coming & going
If you’re not driving, bus is the best way to get into town even though the services are fairly infrequent. Transwa (tel 1300 662 205) coaches stop at the train station and visitor information centre on Proudlove Parade and run from here to Esperance and Perth via Bunbury, Margaret River and other destinations in the southwest.
Local transport
Loves Bus Service runs local buses around town. There are a couple of handy routes although Albany is small enough to walk around.
Hostel accommodation
1849 Backpackers (London Hotel)
Peels Place, Albany WA 6330
Tel (08) 9842 1554
Albany Backpackers
Corner Stirling Terrace & Spencer Street, Albany
Tel (08) 9842 5255
Bayview Backpackers YHA
49 Duke Street, Albany
Tel (08) 9842 3388
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Whaleworld
Albany was home to Australia’s last whaling station, which ceased business as recently as 1978. It has now been turned into the country’s largest whaling museum. There are two guided tours a day that show you things that aren’t on display in the museum.
Frenchmans Bay Road, Albany
Tel (08) 9844 4021
Website www.whaleworld.org
Admission $20
Open 9am-5pm daily
Whale Watching
Albany Whale Tours (tel 0408 451 068) and Silver Star Cruises (tel 0428 429 876) operate whale watching cruises between (Jun-Oct). Two-hour cruises cost $40-65.
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