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12 Top Ideas for Seniors Around Albany

Home > Western Australia > Seniors | Places of Interest | Lists | Fun Things To Do | Free
by finy (subscribe)
A retired business owner, my passions are cooking, photography and eating. I use all three of these when I write for recipeyum.com.au which is on HubGarden
Published March 1st 2018
Seniors - have a great time in Albany
All these places are around the South West town of Albany, and all are suitable for seniors, mostly having only short walks to their destination.

You can see as little or as much as you are fit, or want, to do!

1. Princess Royal Fortress
This is at Forts Road, in the Albany Heritage Park, and entry is free. It is one of Australia's best outdoor military museums and the site of the National ANZAC Centre.

The Fortress is on the summit of Mt Adelaide and was built as a result of all the Australian states contributing money and the Imperial British Government providing guns. It was the first federal defence of Australia, and it opened in 1893.

In 2014, the National ANZAC Centre was added to the Fortress complex, and it also houses an extensive collection of War memorabilia of the 11th Battalion and 10th Light Horse Regiments.



You can even see an anti-submarine missile up close, while there are benches scattered around if you need to sit down.

2. Mandalay Beach
Mandalay Beach is well worth a visit as it has fantastic sweeping views of Chatham Island, as well as spectacular coastline and a long white sandy beach. Access to the beach is along a dune-side boardwalk which descends, in several flights, to the sand, and this view is spectacular.

This boardwalk from the Mandalay Beach lookout onto Mandalay Beach is part of the Bibbulmun Track, so seniors can claim to have walked along part of this famous Track!

3. The Knoll Scenic Drive
The Knoll Scenic Drive is a five-kilometre circular drive on the peninsula between the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets. It is part of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park, and here there are picnic tables, walking trails at The Channels, and a rest area with picnic tables overlooking the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet Channel.

There is a vast diversity of scenery on this short drive.

4. Denmark Heritage Rail Trail & Heritage Railway Bridge
The Wilson Inlet Heritage Rail Trail stretches from the South Coast Highway in the east, up until the North East side of the Inlet, and then continues through the forest and valleys to Nornalup in the West.

The Heritage Rail Bridge is easily accessed from Denmark Town driving south along the river on Hollings Drive, and here there are picnic tables and a gazebo.



Seniors can go for a stroll across the bridge and along the trail on the north side of the Inlet. It is also a pleasant walk along the river either from town, or down to the river mouth along the Mokare Heritage Trail.

5. Ellen Cove
This is at the southern end of Middleton Beach, and here the bay goes around King Point.

It is sheltered from the strongest waves by King Head, and there is a Boardwalk which goes up a hill to the south above Ellen Cove Jetty, with views over the King George Sound and Middleton Bay.

6. Albany Whaling Station
Albany's historic Whaling Station is the only one of its kind in the world, and a MUST see when in Albany.

There is an intact whale processing factory and whale chasing ship, which is fully restored and fascinating to look over.

The Cheynes Beach Whaling Company was the last whaling company to cease operations in Australia when it closed in 1978. Opening as "Whale World" in 1980, it is now an interactive museum on whales and whaling.

You can join a tour of the whaling factory and these are on every 40 minutes and are included with the entrance fee, and Whale World is at 81 Whaling Station Rd, Frenchmans Bay.



7. Albany Wind Farm
Wind Power in Albany is one of the most spectacular and largest wind farms in Australia. The wind farm walk offers spectacular views of the eco-friendly turbines along the Torndirrup Peninsula at Sand Patch.

These turbines are at the top of the ridge, which is windy almost every week, and this farm produces about 80% of Albany's electricity.



The wind farm is open to the public every day of the year and is free to visit.

8. Emu Point
Emu Point is located a few kilometres north-east of Albany City Centre and it is a rocky groyne with views over King George Sound, and Middleton Beach from the northern end.

The Oyster Harbourside is totally protected and is a perfect place for relaxing with a picnic, and having a swim as the water is shallow, and clear.

From the Pontoon in Oyster Harbour, you can have a coffee, lunch or a snack at the cafe, or sit on a grassed terrace to enjoy the white sandy beach. It has picnic tables, toilets, a restaurant and plenty of car parking.

9. The Brig Amity
The Brig Amity is a replica of the original vessel which brought the first white settlers to Albany. There is a small fee to go through here, and you can wander around the decks and go below deck.

The replica was built in 1975 and is placed a few hundred metres from where Major Edmund Lockyer and the party of 45 people arrived on the shores of Princess Royal Harbour on Christmas Day 1826, and they were officially the first people to land and settle in WA.

10. The Gap
The Gap is a must-see for anyone going near Albany and is a fascinating and impressive granite channel carved by the waves of the Great Southern Ocean crashing against the granite coastline, and eventually forming a spectacular sheer drop of almost twenty-five metres.



The large car park is only 100 metres from the viewing platform along a winding paved track which makes The Gap and the nearby Natural Bridge Formation easily accessible for seniors.

Just a few metres away, you can view the Natural Bridge formation from another viewing platform down the path.

11. Torbay Glass Studios
This is located at Coombes Rd, and they have decorative, architectural and contemporary artworks.

It is a fascinating glass studio, with a wide range of glass works as well as jewellery.



12. Over 50's Association
If you happen to be in Albany when this Association has a meeting, it would be well worth going to for Seniors!

They have a large variety of outings including walks; easy bike riding; line dancing, exercise; cards and games; social dancing and more. You can see their programme at the Over 50's website.
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Why? For things to do for seniors in and around Albany
When: All year round
Where: Around the Albany region
Cost: Varies
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