Nature

Find out where to go whale watching, cruise on the river, see wildflowers, animals and fishing.

After choosing which accommodation or site to stay in, you have all the time in the world to see some of these amazing natural attractions in and around Albany, Western Australia.

Beaches

The Amazing South Coast of Western Australia is home to some of the world's best beaches.  We are located on Middleton Beach which is Albany's closest beach.  It's a short drive to many other beaches in the region. 

Our favourites include Middleton Beach, Emu Point, Sandpatch Beach, Whalers Cove, Misery Beach, Salmon Holes, Frenchmans Bay Beach, Goode Beach, Gull Rock, Nanarup Beach, Two Peoples Bay, Little Beach, Muttonbird Beach, Cosy Corner, Shelley Beach and Cheynes Beach.

For your safety please be aware that coastal risks are significant in this area. Please, ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and heed visitor risk warning signs. 

• Click here to see all beaches and find out more about the coastline.
• See the most popular Middleton Beach / Beaches of Kinjarling including wind direction and the most sheltered beaches via a live feed.
• Misery Beach is anything but miserable. This beautiful secluded beach is located a few hundred metres from the historic Whaling Station, with views looking out onto King George Sound. 
• Nanarup Beach is located located 20kms east of Albany. Boasting long stretches of white sand, the views are breathtaking and nearby picnic tables make it the perfect place to stop, recharge and drink in the views. It's also popular for four wheel driving and fishing.
• Little Beach - quite simply one of the most beautiful places anywhere.  Think squeaky white fine sand, blue seas, beautiful rock formations, abundant bird life and a rugged coastal bush environment.  Little beach is one of our most famous beaches, making it into top to do lists on Tripadvisor and listed on many websites as one of the best beaches in the world!

Discovery Bay

Discovery Bay is open 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed Christmas Day. The area is at the end of Frenchman Bay Road, a 25 minute drive (20km) from the Albany city centre.

• Albany's Historic Whaling Station
• Albany's Australian Wildlife Park
• Albany's Regional Wildflower Garden.

Whale Watching

Whale watching season in Albany is late May to the end of September, but of course as whales can be fickle creatures, we cannot guarantee that perfectly! While out on a cruise, you might also see dolphins, seals and other marine wildlife.

Humpback Whales and Southern Right Whales are yearly visitors to Albany, with the occasional sighting of a Blue Whale and Orcas.

Humpback Whales come up from Antarctica to the south coast and then travel east to west until they round Cape Leeuwin heading north up to Broome to give birth in the warmer waters or to mate. Their journey through Albany waters have them travelling in a line from Michaelmas and Breaksea Islands on the edge of King George Sound to Bald Head and are usually spotted from June to late August. Albany has one of the longest whale watching seasons in the world.

Southern Right Whales are a quiet but curious whale and like to shelter in bays, such as King George Sound by Middleton Beach. They too, like the Humpback Whales, travel up from Antarctica, but stay along the south coast. They typically stay for about 10 days to mate and then return to Antarctica. They come back to the south coast to give birth after an 11 month gestation period.​

• Albany Whale Tours
• Albany Ocean Adventures
• King George Sound Safari
• Bremer Bay Killer Whales.

River Cruise

• Kalgan Queen.

National Parks

• Australia's South West
  • The Blowholes are one of nature's many fascinating creations. Water sprays up through the rock platform well above sea level, depending on the swell conditions.
• Torndirrup National Park
  • Blowholes Trail, The Gap and Natural Bridge, Misery Beach, Salmon Holes and Bald Head Walk.
• West Cape Howe National Park
  • Shelley Beach and Torbay Head.
• Gull Rock National Park
  • Ledge Beach.
• Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve
  • Little Beach, Two Peoples Beach, Sinker Reef Beach and Two Peoples Bay.
• William Bay National Park
  • Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks, Madfish Bay and Waterfall Beach.
• Porogurup National Park
  • Granite Skywalk.
• Stirling Range National Park
  • Bluff Knoll , Mount Trio, Toolbrunup Peak and Talyuberlup.
• Walpole-Nornalup National Park
  • Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk and Conspicuous Cliff.
• Waychinicup National Park 
  • Cheyne Beach.

Wildflowers

Wildflower viewing season in Albany is late August to the end of February, but of course as wildflowers can be unpredictable, we cannot guarantee that perfectly!

While out on a drive or leisurely stroll, flora might not be the only natural phenomena you encounter; whales, dolphins and seals frequent the beaches along which many of the hundreds of wildflowers can be seen.

The wildflowers you see will depend on the month that you choose to go exploring, but do not fret as there are thousands of different species that bloom during the season!

For more information, please visit the following websites:

• Wildflowers Boardwalk Middleton Beach
• Wildflowers of the Rainbow Coast
• Wildflower Society of Western Australia.

Animals

• Albany Australian Wildlife Park at Discovery Bay
• Denmark Animal Farm & Pentland Alpaca Stud
• Denmark Dinosaur World.

Fishing

• Middleton Beach and Ellen Cove Jetty for King George Whiting, sand whiting, flounder, flathead, bream, and squid
• Emu Point - off the rocks near channel for King George Whiting, sand whiting, flounder, flathead, bream, and squid
• Kalgan River Bridge for bream
• Shellys Beach - West Cape Howe National Park for bonito, yellow king fish, pinky's, sambo, and blue fin tuna. Salmon season is February to April and we have caught them at Middleton!
• Salmon Holes - Torrndirup National Park. Don’t climb the rocks, lives have been lost!! Salmon and sharks, predominantly bronze whalers, grey nurse and gummy sharks, flat heads, and herring
• Town Jetty for silver and black bream, King George Whiting, herring, yellow tail scad, skippy, flounder, flathead, leather jackets, salmon trout, bay snapper, squid, octopus and cuttlefish
• Sandpatch Beach for salmon and sharks, predominantly bronze whalers, grey nurse and gummy sharks, flat heads, and herring.

Four Wheel Driving

• Nanarup Beach
• Mutton Bird Beach
• Shelley Beach
• National Parks.

If you're up for some adventure during your stay, take a look at where you can walk, cycle, paddle, play golf, go skating, horse riding, diving, snorkelling - and more!