Albany
Located on Western Australia’s south coast and at a 5-hour drive or 420km southeast of Perth, Albany is the cultural and administrative hub of the Great Southern region.
Albany, with a population of around 38,000, is often used by visitors as a base to explore the beautiful and very diverse coastlines of the south coast.
This charming city was where the European settlers first arrived in Western Australia. For that reason, visitors can explore colonial history by visiting the historic colonial buildings which are now used as museums, galleries, and restaurants.
Albany is also the home of the National ANZAC Centre. Opened in 2014, the centre honours the ANZACs of the World War One.
Remarkedly, there are 450 natural reserves covering over 11,500 hectares currently under the management of the City of Albany. These large number of natural assets, coastline, and green spaces are used for a wide range of activities such as picnics and barbeques, recreations, trail walking, bushwalk, and camping. The many coastal cliffs and beaches are some of the most spectacular scenic coastal locations in Australia.
The Albany Waterfront Walk
If you choose to go for a relaxed walk at the Albany Waterfront on Sunday morning, try to make Albany Boatshed Markets the start point and endpoint of your walk.
You can walk from Albany Boatshed Markets in the western direction, past Albany Entertainment Centre, to ANZAC Peace Park, back to Albany Boatshed Markets, and finish with a coffee or a breakfast at the markets.
Alternatively, you can cross over the overhead pedestrian bridge near the Albany Entertainment Centre to Albany city centre to explore the city centre on foot.
Albany Boatshed Markets
The Albany Boatshed Markets are on every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm at the Boatshed on Princess Royal Drive. The Markets feature local growers and producers of seasonal fresh and gourmet foods, wines, and products of the local artisans. As well, there is live music to entertain the market visitors.
Albany Entertainment Centre
From the Boatshed Markets, Albany Entertainment Centre (AEC) is just 400m away by the waterfront.
Completed in September 2010, AEC is well-located at the Princess Royal Harbour. AEC is the Great Southern region’s premier performing arts and convention centre. The main theatre of AEC is the 618-seat Princess Royal Theatre.
Albany Entertainment Centre is managed by the Perth Theatre Trust, which also manages His Majesty’s Theatre, Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth Cultural Centre, and State Theatre Centre of WA. Like all the other venues, AEC is used by local, national, and international professional and amateur performing arts companies, performers, and artists, as well as for school and children’s performances.
ANZAC Peace Park
Continue walking by the waterfront from AEC in the western direction, ANZAC Peace Park is just another 200m away.
ANZAC Peace Park is situated in a reclaimed land at the end of York Street, Albany’s main street that runs through the city centre. The park was designed to symbolise the message of peace and to mark Albany’s role as a departure point for soldiers in World War One.
The walk by the waterfront offers walkers beautiful views of Shoal Bay and Vancouver Peninsula in the south on the other side of Shoal Bay.
Want to discover more great walking locations around Perth? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
If you choose to go for a relaxed walk at the Albany Waterfront on Sunday morning, try to make Albany Boatshed Markets the start point and endpoint of your walk.
You can walk from Albany Boatshed Markets in the western direction, past Albany Entertainment Centre, to ANZAC Peace Park, and back to Albany Boatshed Markets and finish with a coffee or a breakfast at the markets.