Visiting... Albany

If you’re in Western Australia and you have the time, why not drive to Albany for a few nights? It’s about 400 kilometres (4.5 hours) from Perth. Both Albany and neighbouring Denmark (50 kilometres west) feature picturesque bay after halcyon headland after idyllic, white-sand beach, with one sweeping vista after another – simply magnificent!

We stayed at the comfortable and reasonably priced Dog Rock Motel. It’s just a couple of minutes’ walk from Albany town centre, and its Lime 303 restaurant was outstanding. It’s also just a five-minute drive from there to lovely Middleton Beach and also to the scenic old port. For me, the highlight was the nearby Torndirrup National Park and its impressive geological formations – The Gap and The Bridge. Full marks for the site’s safe accessibility via paths and viewing platforms, plus explanatory signage.

Albany is both geographically gifted and historically significant, so don’t leave without visiting Anzac Heritage Park and its state-of-the-art National Anzac Centre.