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Stirling Ranges, Mount Barker — Image credit: Tourism WA

National Parks and Reserves

Stirling Range National Park

The Stirling Range, also known as Koi Kyeunu-ruff to the Noongar people, is one of Western Australia’s mountain wildernesses. The range stretches 65 kilometres from east to west and the tallest peak Bluff Knoll stands at 1059 metres above sea level. At 2500 – 2900 million years old the bedrock of the Stirling Range is composed of metamorphosed sandstones and shales, believed to have originated from an ancient sea. The height and south coast proximity of the range produce a unique climate giving rise to a location that is famous for rare West Australian snowfalls. The Stirling Range is also renowned for its unusual, and sometimes spectacular cloud formations. The unusual climate and soils give rise to a range of wildflowers that are staggering in both their number and beauty. The park is one of the world’s most important areas for flora, with 1,500 species (many of which grow nowhere else) packed within its boundaries and 123 Orchid species. The Stirling Range National Park is a mecca for sightseers, flora lovers, bushwalkers, trekkers and rock climbers alike. Anyone attempting any of the trails should read all safety information before heading out https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/stirling-range-national-park Know before you go and check for alerts, emergency incidents and road/park closures www.emergency.wa.gov.au and https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au.

Stirling Range National Park WA

12 km away

Stirling Ranges, Mount Barker — Image credit: Tourism WA

Natural Attractions

Bluff Knoll

Bluff Knoll is the most popular trail in the Stirling Range with outstanding views from the summit. Lookouts surrounding the parking area at the Bluff Knoll trailhead offer spectacular views of Bluff Knoll and other peaks of the Stirling Range. It's worth a visit even if you're not up to walking the trail to the summit. The lookouts and nearby undercover picnic area and toilets are wheelchair accessible. The walk starts on the southern side of the Bluff Knoll parking and picnic area. Consider travelling with a personal location beacon (PLB). The peaks are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes in the weather, and you should be prepared for sudden cool changes that cause the temperature to drop and rain or hail to set in. If you are planning to hike off marked trails, abseil or rock climb, please register your details at the shelter in the picnic area across the road from Bluff Knoll Road entry station. If you plan to hike on an established walk, no registration is required.

Borden WA

30 km away

Nancy Peak, Porongurup National Park

National Parks and Reserves

Nancy Peak, Porongurup National Park

Commencing from the Porongurup carpark, the trail passes by Karri boya-k (Tree in the Rock) before climbing to the top of the mountain's ridge. On the way, the trail passes through different ecosystems such as karri forest and moist glades of mosses. Emerging from the forest on the granite outcrops you will see the views to the Stirling Ranges and the Southern Ocean. Across the outcrops, the trail continues over a few peaks before descending into a pass between Nancy Peak and Devils Slide. Once on the main track between the two, it's a fairly simple karri forest ramble back to the car park. This is one of many trails in the Porongurup area. Other trails range from the Bolganup Heritage Trail, which is an easy 600 metre circuit, to a three-hour return hike to Marmabup Rock which is recommended for experienced bushwalkers only. The Castle Rock trail takes you past the famous balancing rock and up to stand on Castle Rock.

Porongurup WA

30 km away

Granite Skywalk, Porongurup National Park — Image credit: Tourism Western Australia

Natural Attractions

Granite Skywalk

Over 1,100 million years in the making, the striking granite outcrop of Castle Rock invites you to walk its 670-metre peak and take in a truly exhilarating view from the suspended Granite Skywalk or scale the last few metres to reach the summit. This unique granite range of 12 peaks sits in the heart of Porongurup National Park, just 45 45-minute drive north of Albany. From Perth, you can reach the Granite Skywalk in 4.25 hours via Albany Highway. Allow at least 2 hours to complete the steep three-kilometre return walk and stop to get a closer look at the incredible variety of plant and animal life that makes this region one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. As you ascend the peak, meandering through tall karri and marri trees, you're likely to encounter some of the 78 species of birds and 700 flowering plants, including many rare and extraordinary orchids and lichen varieties. On reaching Balancing Rock, you can access the lower and upper platforms of this remote engineering marvel and take in the views of Albany, Mount Gardner and Mount Manypeaks.

Porongurup WA

31 km away

Porongurup National Park — Image credit: Tourism WA

National Parks and Reserves

Porongurup National Park

Porongurup National Park, within the Mount Barker sub-region of The Amazing South Coast, overflows with local flora and fauna and offers excellent bushwalking with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding plain. Home to the amazing Castle Rock Granite Skywalk, a walking gantry mounted high out from the magnificent Castle Rock affording breathtaking views in all directions. The park is one of the best places in the south for wildflowers - visit during spring and early summer for colourful displays. The ancient granite domes that rise 670m into the air are popular with rock climbers, while birdwatchers flock to see brilliantly coloured scarlet and yellow robins as well as rufous treecreepers. You might also spot western grey kangaroos and brush wallabies.

Porongurup WA

31 km away

Sukey Hill Lookout — Image credit: Australia's South West

Natural Attractions

Sukey Hill Lookout

Sukey Hill Lookout offers spectacular views of the Stirling Ranges on the outskirts of Cranbrook. Drive to Sukey Hill, park the car and walk the short distance to the lookout to capture the dramatic landscape on camera. Observe the vast land that stretches beyond the horizon. You will be impressed by the views of the remarkable Stirling Ranges, picturesque salt lakes and thriving farm land. Don’t forget your binoculars, to get the most out of the experience. Located at the Telecommunication Relay Station, the scenic lookout is a 10 minute drive from Cranbrook and four hours southeast of Perth. Head just 5 minutes drive further east from the lookout, where you can explore the Stirling Ranges National Park. Alternatively visit the charming town of Cranbook with its historic buildings, museums and a delightful craft shop.

Cranbrook WA

32 km away

Great Southern Highlights - Duke — Image credit: Australia's South West

Agritourism

Flavours of the Porongurup Range Trail

The Flavours of the Porongurup Range Trail is located in one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Here, karri trees and ancient granite boulders signify all that is unique to this beautiful part of Western Australia. While this National Park may be small in size, the Porongurup Range is mighty in its offerings! Enjoy a day trip or stay for a night or two while you experience the many flavours from the local enterprises that capture the essence of the Porongurup region. You can enjoy their award-winning wines, refreshing beers, home-cooked food and tantalising cuisine, while taking in the beauty of this majestic tree-covered range with sweeping views to the Stirling Ranges in the distance. Take this opportunity to meet the locals who have forged the character of this village-like community. They look forward to making your journey through the Porongurup Range a truly memorable experience.

Mount Barker WA

34 km away

Mount Barker Hill lookout — Image credit: Australia's South West

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Pwakkenbak (Mount Barker Hill)

A visit to the Mount Barker Lookout, a short three-kilometre drive from the Mount Barker Visitor Centre, is a great way for tourists and visitors to geographically orient themselves. Mount Barker (aboriginal name Pwakkenbak) rises to about 147 meters above sea level and is strikingly adorned with the Mount Barker broadcast tower, one of the tallest unsupported structures in the Southern Hemisphere. Step onto the Rotary Club of Mount Barker Lookout and you can take in views forever. To the north is the Mount Barker wind farm. Turn to the northeast and the green shadowy long undulating ridges of the Stirling Range disappear into the horizon. With your back to the tower, gazing directly east, you can take in the western ridge of the Porongurups. The southern view rolls across expansive lowlands interspersed with various low mountains, with clear days affording glimpses of our amazing south coast. It is a great spot to sit down with a hot drink or picnic lunch and absorb the sheer beauty of the view. Don't forget to bring along a set of binoculars and a camera to get the most out of your visit.

Mount Barker WA

37 km away

Luke Pen Walk, Albany

Natural Attractions

Luke Pen Walk, Albany

The Luke Pen Walk trail, located 20 kilometres from Albany in Western Australia's Great Southern region, is a beautiful meandering walk trail, closely following the Kalgan River. It offers a lovely mix of vegetation from large marri trees and conifers to farming pastures. Gorgeous views are present all the way along the trail. This easy, well-formed nine-kilometre Top Trail takes approximately four hours to complete and commences at a well-marked trailhead. After a short distance, you arrive at a wonderful shelter shaped like a flying kookaburra. From here, the return walk provides constantly changing views of the river, along with a mixture of vineyards, green pastures with grazing cattle and eucalypt bushland. Ideally, the time to complete this trail is on a sunny day when the countryside is green from winter and spring rains. During summer, there are various places where the trail gently descends to river level so a cooling dip is possible. A great family walk, ideal for strolling (although some sections have a slight incline) and for a picnic lunch. Remember to keep an eye on children as the trail closely follows the river.

Albany WA

58 km away

The Horsepower Highway — Image credit: Image from operators website

Agritourism

The Horsepower Highway

Western Australia’s unique and quirky Horsepower Highway has recently taken home three awards at the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards, winning gold in the Best Rural Art and Best Sculpture Park or Trail categories, as well as picking up silver in the prestigious Best Street Art Trail award. The Horsepower Highway offers travellers an insight into Western Australia's agricultural past with a 75 kilometre ever-evolving trail of roadside vintage tractors and other artworks, running along the Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road through to the Stirling Range National Park in Western Australia’s South West region. The trail was created in 2021 to encourage visitors to take the scenic route through stunning farmlands to the popular Stirling Range National Park – home to one of Western Australia’s highest peaks, Bluff Knoll. An interactive map of the trail has also been developed to provide information and history along the way.

Broomehill East WA

60 km away

King River

Natural Attractions

King River

Go fishing and birdwatching at King River in Albany. This scenic river flows into Oyster Harbour at its northern end. Special reserves by the river offer the best chance to see native birds including red-capped parrots, western rosellas, scarlet robins, as well as splendid and red-winged fairy-wrens. King River is a popular place to go swimming and canoeing. Throw in a fishing line and you’re likely to catch black bream, herring or skippy. King River stretches over 27 kilometres and is joined by the large tributary of Mill Brook. The river flows past picturesque scenery including rocky outcrops, high sandy banks and farmland fringed by paperbark trees. Small boats can be launched into the river at the upper and lower bridges. Albany is about a 4.5-hour drive south of Perth or you can fly there in just over an hour.

Albany WA

60 km away

Kalgan River

Natural Attractions

Kalgan River

Kalgan River in Albany is a popular place for boat cruises, fishing and birdwatching. The river is 140 kilometres long and passes through steep hillsides of lush forest and rolling farmland before reaching Oyster Harbour. Throw in a fishing line and you might catch black bream, skipper, herring and whiting. Boat cruises regularly explore the Kalgan River and its tranquil waterways are also popular for water skiing and canoeing. Picturesque walk trails along the banks of the river offer some great birdwatching opportunities. Bird species you might see include ducks, cormorants, thornbills, splendid and red-capped fairy wren, grey currawong and the western yellow robin. Albany is about a 4.5 hour drive south of Perth or you can fly there in just over an hour.

Albany WA

61 km away

Oyster Harbour

Natural Attractions

Oyster Harbour

Oyster Harbour is a permanently open estuary covering an area of 15.6 square kilometres. It is used to shelter a fishing fleet carrying out commercial fishing and farming oysters and mussels. The harbour is used by thousands of waterbirds for feeding. Mainly boat fishing takes place in Oyster Harbour but there is some jetty fishing. Likely catches include herring, skippy, whiting, squid, flathead and rock species. Good swimming beaches and picnic areas make Oyster Harbour a great place for a family outing. Experience one of the boat cruises that operate in the harbour and venture up the Kalgan River to explore the natural scenery.

Albany WA

61 km away

Emu Point (left) from above

Natural Attractions

Emu Point

Emu Point in Albany is the perfect place for families to go swimming and picnicking. It’s an ideal spot for children thanks to clear, calm and shallow water, as well as grassy lawn and trees. Pack a picnic and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Emu Point is also popular for fishing and boating. When the wind is up wind surfers skim along the shallows at a fast pace. Emu Point is a long promontory which juts out into the ocean near Oyster Harbour, just a few minutes from Albany. Albany is a four and a half hour drive from Perth or you can fly there in just over an hour.

Albany WA

66 km away

Islet Point, near Nanarup Beach — Image credit: Tourism WA

Natural Attractions

Nanarup Beach

Nanarup Beach is off-the-beaten-track yet well worth a visit. Travel north-east from Albany City Centre and cross the Oyster Harbour bridge towards Nanarup and Two Peoples Bay. Nanarup Beach is a popular fishing and four-wheel driving location. There is a long beautiful white sandy beach at Nanarup. With picnic and barbecues and easy stairway access, it's a delightful place to stop for lunch. The Taylor Inlet discharges through Nanarup Beach and can also be explored from the carpark. Several sets of picnic benches as well as toilet facilities are located at the entrance to Nanarup Beach. There is a lookout which you can access from the eastern side of the beach. This cannot be seen from the entry boardwalk but only accessed from on the beach. This is a good place to see whales in season (bring your binoculars). Four-wheel drive vehicles can access the beach alongside the Taylor Inlet at the carpark. Vehicles are not permitted on the western side of the beach, but fully-kitted four-wheel-drive vehicles can drive from Nannarup Beach all the way north-east to Two Peoples Bay along the beach. Please note that there is no swimming in the Inlet.

Nanarup WA

67 km away

John Holland Track

Natural Attractions

John Holland Track

Follow in the tracks of pioneer John Holland on a three-day Holland Track adventure through the Great Western Woodlands - the largest intact Mediterranean climate woodland on Earth and one of the world’s most impressive displays of spring wildflowers. Starting in Broomehill, a 3.5 hour drive from Perth, a host of natural and cultural treasures await on the 670 kilometre track, which weaves its way on sealed and unsealed roads from the southern Wheatbelt to the historic Goldfields town of Coolgardie. Visit Lake Grace, where you can take in sweeping panoramas of the vast salt lake and glimpse early settler life at the Inland Mission Hospital. Traverse the Great Western Woodlands - an area so vast and biologically rich it’s considered as internationally significant as Africa’s Serengeti. Explore the birthplace of the gold rush, Coolgardie, one of Australia’s best preserved gold mining towns and the starting point for another great road trip - the Golden Quest Discovery Trail. Accommodation options for your Holland Track adventure range from basic outback camping to farmstays and heritage hotels. Please note, the trail begins on sealed roads but becomes increasingly challenging and remote. A high-clearance four wheel drive, with emergency communications and recovery equipment is strongly recommended.

Broomehill Village WA

67 km away

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve

Natural Attractions

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve

You'll find unspoilt coastal scenery and a beautiful beach perfect for swimming at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany. The reserve is famous for its small colony of rare and endangered noisy scrub birds. These birds were believed to have been extinct until they were rediscovered at Two Peoples Bay in the 1960s. You can learn more about the birds and the program in place to protect them at the Interpretive Centre. Take a stroll along the clean white sand of Little Beach and enjoy a scenic view over rolling hills and small granite outcrops. There are some excellent bushwalking tracks including the Two Peoples Bay Heritage Trail which is a one hour hike over the headland and along the beach. Barbecue and toilet facilities are available near the car park. Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve is about half an hour drive from Albany. Albany is a four and a half hour drive from Perth or you can fly there in just over an hour.

Albany WA

67 km away

Little Beach, Albany — Image credit: Tourism WA

Natural Attractions

Little Beach

Regularly voted one of Western Australia's best beaches. Features pristine sand and calm waters set within Two People's Bay Nature Reserve Little Beach is the most picturesque perfect, magical beach in Western Australia. With a combination of white sand, azure water, granite headlands, and greenery, it easily surpasses some famous beaches worldwide. You can find Little Beach and Waterfall Beach beneath Mount Gardner on the Two People's Bay northern headland.

Nanarup WA

68 km away

Visitor Hub — Image credit: The National Trust of Western Australia

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Strawberry Hill at Barmup

Strawberry Hill at Barmup sits on Menang Noongar Country at a place called Barmup, meaning ‘place of tall trees’. For many thousands of years, Barmup was an important campsite and place of shelter for Menang people, situated along a well-worn walking track with a ready supply of fresh water. It was on this site in 1826 when the British established a military outpost at King George Sound (later Albany) that the first farm in Western Australia was established, and likely the state’s first fences. In 1833 the new Government Resident at King George Sound, Sir Richard Spencer, purchased the Government Farm, then known as Strawberry Hill. He lived here with his wife, Lady Anne, and their ten children. After a period of neglect, in 1889 Francis and Augusta Maud Bird purchased and restored the house and farmed the land. Transferred to the National Trust in 1964, the place is being conserved to appropriately reflect its significance. The owners have been working hard over recent years to undertake consultation with the Menang people to tell the shared history of this cultural landscape. Start your visit in the award-winning Visitor Hub, explore the new interpretation in the 1836 house and take one of the self-guided tours of the grounds to appreciate the surrounding cultural landscape.

Albany WA

68 km away

Dog Rock

Natural Attractions

Dog Rock

Named Dog Rock, this huge granite outcrop near the town centre of Albany has an unmistakable likeness to the head of a bloodhound sniffing the air. Dog Rock is a must-do stop on any trip to Albany and is a popular place for that great holiday photograph. There’s even a dog collar painted around this iconic Albany tourism attraction. Dock Rock is located on Middleton Beach Road, and a two-minute walk from the town centre. Albany is a four and a half hour drive from Perth or you can fly there in an hour and a half.

Albany WA

68 km away

Fitzgerald Biosphere

Natural Attractions

Fitzgerald Biosphere

Almost a fifth of all Western Australia's plant species thrive in the diverse landscapes of the Fitzgerald Biosphere, many of these are found nowhere else on Earth. Little wonder this flora hotspot is internationally recognised as one of the world's most botanically significant regions, with a listing in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Fitzgerald River National Park is the centre of the Biosphere and covers more than 300,000 hectares on the south coast of Western Australia, between Bremer Bay and Hopetoun. Only a two-hour drive east of Albany, a 4.5-hour drive west of Esperance, or a 6.5-hour drive southeast of Perth. Take the unsealed road (suitable for two-wheel drives) and walk trails into the heart of the southern wilderness, exploring dramatic peaks, breakaways and plains. Or follow the sealed coastal road, passing a string of untouched beaches to Point Ann - one of just three special locations in Australia where southern right whales calve in large numbers. Between July and October, you can get a front-row seat at this spectacular show. Two camping grounds in the park offer the full wilderness experience.

Centennial Park WA

68 km away

Ellen Cove to Albany Port Trail

Natural Attractions

Ellen Cove to Albany Port Trail

The multi-use pathway from Ellen Cove to Albany Port is one of the best ways to see the famously beautiful coastline of the historic town of Albany in the Great Southern region. This moderate six-kilometre return Top Trail passes through Middleton Beach and is great for whale watching. A mixture of bitumen path and wooden boardwalk, the path clings to the side of the hill and sweeps around with spectacular views of the bays. Commencing at the Ellen Cove trailhead, head up the boardwalk, keeping an eye out for the southern right or rare blue whales during whale season; a far cry from the days of whaling. There are lookouts, memorials to past leaders and explorers, and interpretive signage along the uphills and descents. As you gaze out to sea imagine the Australian troops heading from here to go and fight in Gallipoli. Near the port, there are historic buildings, including the lighthouse and bunkers. Once at the Albany Port, negotiate some of the roads to head into town, or return the way you came.

Albany WA

69 km away

Middleton Beach

Natural Attractions

Middleton Beach

One of Albany’s most stunning seascapes, Middleton Beach is popular for its safe swimming, windsurfing and picnicking. Middleton Beach has picnic and barbecue facilities, as well as playground equipment. Enjoy five kilometres of pristine white sand means there’s plenty of space to find your own stretch of beach. Across the horizon are two picture-perfect granite islands, Michaelmas and Breaksea. Fishing is popular from the jetty and it’s also a great place to watch the sunset into the ocean. Take the scenic route to Middleton Beach along Marine Drive from Albany. Albany is a 4.5 hour drive from Perth or you can fly there in just over an hour.

Albany WA

69 km away

The Albany Town Hall

Entertainment Venues

The Albany Town Hall

The Albany Town Hall is one of Western Australia's oldest and grandest historic buildings. Converted into a charming 310-seat regional theatre in 1983, it hosts a number of performances throughout the year. Located on the main street of Albany, four-and-a-half hours southeast of Perth, the theatre is renowned as the best venue of its type in Western Australia Be sure to check out the upcoming performances before arriving in Albany. The theatre offers an extremely enjoyable experience thanks to the comfortable plush velvet seating, state-of-the-art sound and the closeness to the stage. Watch out for the theatre's resident ghost! The coastal town of Albany offers a great selection of attractions for all tastes. Catch a glimpse of the humpback whales passing by on their migration south or visit the Brig Amity replica ship. If you have time, take a drive to the Stirling Ranges and climb Bluff Knoll or join one of the numerous walking trails in and around Albany including the Bibbulmun Track which travels 900 kilometres north to Kalamunda in the Perth foothills.

Albany WA

69 km away

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