Albany, Australia

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Albany
Port of Entry
35°02.076'S, 117°53.377'E Chart icon.png
lat=-35.0346 | lon=117.88961 | zoom=14 | y
Australia Albany.jpg
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Port of Albany

Links below offer some background info on Albany and its history.

Charts

Australian Hydrographic Service. This is the national website for charts.

Click this link for a complete list of Australian paper charts. That list is in chart numerical order, not in location order.

The charts below are in order of travel, then in scale. Inclusion in this list does not mean that one needs that chart; it is a tool one can use in making purchase decisions.

Charts for the trip from Bunbury to Albany
No. scale Area covered
AUS 4725 1,500,000 NW Cape to Cape Leeuwin
AUS 755 150,000 Cape Peron - Cape Naturaliste
AUS 115 50,000 Approaches to Bunbury
AUS 335 300,000 Cape Naturaliste to Pt D'Entrecastieau
AUS 756 150,000 Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin
AUS 116 25,000 WA approaches (Hamelin Bay)
AUS 4726 1,500,000 Cape Leeuwin to Esperance
AUS 336 300,000 Cape Leeuwin to King George Sound
AUS 757 150,000 Cape Leeuwin - Pt D'Entrecastieau
AUS 758 150,000 Pt D'Entrecastieau - Pt Hillier
AUS 759 150,000 Pt Hillier to Bald Island
AUS 118 75,000 King George Sound
AUS 110 25,000 King George Sound - Oyster Harbour
AUS 109 12,000 Port of Albany
From Esperance to Albany
No. Scale Area covered
AUS 4726 1,500,000 Cape Leeuwin to Esperance
AUS 337 300,000 King George Sound to Investigator Island
AUS 119 75,000 Esperance approaches
AUS 116 15,000 WA approaches (Starvation Harbour)
AUS 759 150,000 Pt Hillier to Bald Island
AUS 116 20,000 WA approaches (Mary Ann Haven)
AUS 118 75,000 King George Sound
AUS 110 25,000 King George Sound - Oyster Harbour
AUS 109 12,000 Port of Albany


For a complete list of ENC (digital) charts, provided by the Australian Hydrographic Service, for the coastal area: Fremantle to Esperance click here.

The West Australian government (Department of Transport) publishes local charts of all popular boating areas around WA, in a scale from 1:10,000 to 25,000, link here. Note that these charts are not formally approved for navigation. The following info has been taken from that link.

For passage from Bunbury to Albany
WA 859 Bunbury to Busselton
WA 966 Cape Naturaliste
WA 1681 Augusta (this one is a must have if you want to enter the new marina there)
DMH 698 *Hardy Inlet
WA 1046 *Nornalup Inlet (Walpole)
DMH 019 *Peaceful Bay
DMH 337 *Wilson Inlet (Denmark)
WA 1083 Albany (very similar to AUS 110)

Those charts marked with ‘*’ are not really important for a passing cruising boat. And if one has all the Australian charts, then none of the above are needed for passage making.

From Esperance to Albany
WA 909 Bremer Bay
WA 1104 Hopetoun
WA 1083 Albany (very similar to AUS 110)

These charts offer details that AUS ones may not, that is if you want to visit these towns.

Lastly, there are Boating guides produced by the WA Dept of Transport. These are little free maps, more with safety and local nautical information, definitely not for navigation. At the same time, very handy! Link here, and then click on 'Boating guides', however some of these PDF files are rather large, up to 6 Mb. For the area Bunbury-Esperance there are guides for: Bunbury/Busselton, Augusta/Margaret River, Walpole, Albany and Esperance.

Weather

One can search the internet for a detailed weather history, current weather or forecast for this locale; BOM is an acronym for Bureau of Meterology:

My comments, in my own words:

Rain

Albany is fairly green, meaning regular rain, although the month November to March much less so. Average is around 930 mm (~36 inches) annually, source here.

Temperature (celcius)

A temperature over 32 degrees C (~90 degrees F) is a very hot summer day. Summer temp is generally 21-28 degrees, winter ones 13-21 degrees, source with detailed data. When comparing with Perth (WA capital) summer day temperatures are 7 to 10 degrees below that, winter ones only a few degrees lower.

Wind

Storms are not as violent as they are on the West coast ie Augusta to Bunbury. A 35-40 Knot wind in Winter (on the shoreline) is generally as bad as it gets, and that may happen 2 to 4 times in the winter months (May to Sept). On an approaching front, winds start to blow from the NW and then backs to SW and then Southerly. Note: winds offshore are substantially higher. Winds in Summer are predominantly from SE to NE, and quite strong from November to end of February, ie 20 knots is normal, but could be as strong as 30 knots.

In fact BOM has a storm-archive. It shows 573 severe storms for WA 2005-2014. Offshore storms are NOT included; windgusts in these storms are generally bigger than 45 Knots. For Albany district only two were recorded for those 10 years (hmmm, I thought there would have been a few more....), and as comparison Cape Leeuwin had 44, and Cape Naturaliste had 35 severe storms for that same period.
Tides

Tides are semi-diurnal and generally the daily range varies from 0.40 to 0.70 metres. Predictions for 2016 published by BOM.

Waves are generally 2-4 mt, during W-SW storms 6 mt is common and at times larger than that. Wave data here as published by Department of Transport.

Passages

It is quite simple really, you either go around Oz clockwise or the other way.

Esperance

Going clockwise, likely you would have spent a few days there and one can only like the hospitality of that sailing club!! In theory one could hop in day-sail-size trips Esperance to Albany, but if winds are strong anywhere from SW to S to E, there will not always be a protected anchorage available. Note, I have not day-hopped this trip, just sailed the 200Nm in one go. However as from Starvation Bay to Albany, day-hopping with legs from 10-25 Nm is possible, in good summer/autumn conditions.

Bunbury

If you go anticlockwise, your last 'port' would have been Augusta, or more likely Busselton or Bunbury. Bunbury is really the last safe anchorage, before Albany, although there is plenty of space on the coast of Geographe Bay to anchor and Hamelin Bay on the West Coast is just idyllic....... but when it blows (and the winds start normally in the N to NW), none of these is a good place to be on an anchor. If that argument is not convincing, let me find a link to the website that is counting the historic shipwrecks, or more recently the number of yachts that have sunk or went onto the beach over the last few years..... added on 20-04-15: only 12 days ago two yachts ended up on the beach and one sunk near Quindalup, just East of Dunsborough..... Need more examples?

On your way to Albany (from Bunbury 300 Nm) there is a good marina just North of Busselton Port Geographe, and there are some good summer anchorages in Geographe Bay: Busselton, Quindalup, Meelup, Eagle Bay, Bunker Bay. Particularly the last three are quite 'rolly' with an easterly wind, winds and waves from different direction. And be mindful of some very strong easterlies in summer that start in the evening /night. You will find that your idyllic beach/anchorage is now the lee-shore, and you would not be the first one to end up on the beach. Notwithstanding that, if you are taking it easy, a day-sail from Bunbury to one of the bays East of Cape Naturaliste, staying at anchor there overnight is a good way to start the next leg, likely to Albany, hmmmm 270 Nm to go, unless you aim for Augusta ~70 Nm away.

Going around Cape Naturaliste is uneventful, just one will notice the swell is getting quite large and the swell period longer.

On the West Coast there are a few bays one could anchor, in theory: Canal Rocks, Cowaramup and Hamelin Bay. In these locations professional fishermen have summer moorings. With bad weather approaching NONE of these are suitable as an anchorage in my opinion. Hamelin Bay is an idyllic anchorage in summer, with crystal aqua clear water, a sweeping white beach, and there is caravan park and shop just back of the beach. Mind the rocks and reefs in the bay. And if the wind pipes up, from any other direction than East to South, get out of there quickly.

Going around Cape Leeuwin: some have good local knowledge and are able to dodge all the rocks and reefs. Without such knowledge I guess it is better going the long way, all around the reefs.

Generally it not possible for keelboats to enter the Hardy Inlet, sandbars are shifting, currents running. I would not even try, in any boat, unless I had local knowledge on board. The new marina in Flinders Bay is an option if you need a stop in Augusta.

Going further, now more in an SE direction, it is possible to anchor close to shore in a few locations: Windy Harbour, Sandy Island, maybe even Chatham Island and Torbay. I would not come close to any of the above in a large swell and strong winds. But if you are more adventurous, let me know how you went.

For myself, on a trip from Bunbury to Albany, I would keep well clear of the mainland by 10 to 20 Nm or so, and head more North when coming closer to Albany. Maybe I am over-cautious.

South Africa

Oh yeah, for the few of you that come straight from the continent West of here..... I guess the only thing you have to do is keep pointing the boat East for 5 or 6 weeks, maybe only for 3 or 4 weeks if you are sailing a really quick boat like a 'Around the World Clipper'.

For all of you, mind the merchant ships around Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin and between that and Albany. All AIS equipped ships with radio access to coastal AIS receivers are listed on this map. When I checked, most of the time there are 4 to 6 ships (with such AIS switched on) between Albany and Cape Naturaliste.

Islands

  • Eclipse Island: Lighthouse on top, deep water both North and South of the island
  • Breaksea Island: this has a lighthouse on it, deep water all way around, 20-40 metres
  • Michaelmas Island: deep water all way round 10-30 metres, although there is small patch on the North side (between it and the main land, where large ships anchor at times, in water 10-15 metres deep
  • Mistaken Island, hmmmm, only with very good local knowledge you can sail around it:
    • On the North side a 80-100 mt wide space between it and the oyster farm, depth 4-10 metres
    • On the East two rocks ("Two Sisters"), where seas are nearly always breaking, although on a very calm day you might be able to go between these 2 rocks and the island, in a small dinghy or kayak, otherwise give these a wide berth, depth 5-12 metres
    • On the South side, again one line of an oyster farm/floats, about 200 metres off the island. Water is 4-14 metres deep here.
    • On the West side a very narrow, shallow channel with a sandy bottom, littered with rocks, some submerged, good only for a dinghy or a yacht with good local knowledge and a fearless attitude.
  • Seal Island: in King George Sound with clear deep water all round, 15-30 metres of water.
  • Green Island: in Oyster Harbour with shallow water around it, seaweed over rocky ground, in 0.5 to 2 metres of water. One would not like to get on this island, or downwind from it, due to the awful bird-poo smell. Thousands of seagulls, pelicans and other birds breed here.
    • BTW, there are two small islands plus a rock also with the name "Green Islands", just NW of Eclipse Island; these islands do not show much greenery either.

Then there are some "rocks" in King George Sound: Gull Rock, Rock Dunder and Flat Rock. Deep water all around these.

None of the above islands and rocks can be accessed easily, no beaches; large swell with rocky coast makes it quite dangerous. In fact most islands are nature reserves anyway. Rock Dunder, in particular, can throw enormous plumes of foamy white water into the air, when there is a swell coming in from the South.

Communication

See Western Australia.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Local Volunteer Sea Rescue "Albany Sea Rescue Squad" keeps a 24/7 listening watch on VHF channel 16 and 82. The base is manned every Saturday and Sunday from 0800 to 1700 hrs and at all other times VHF is monitored from home-bases. The premises are at Emu Point. They have 2 high speed RIB Naiads, the large one with 3x300 HP outboards.

Channel #82 (repeater) is used commonly for all traffic, including for 'emergency' and general 'call' channel. This group has an HF radio but is not monitored. Range of VHF reception is about from Cheyne's Beach in the East to Denmark in the West. Call sign is "VMR610". 'VMR' stands for: Volunteer Marine Rescue.

Navigation

Coming from the West

You can pass Eclipse Island either side, some rocks on the West side, lighthouse on top
  • Watch out for Vancouver Rocks at coordinates approx -find them on your chart!-. At calm seas and high tide still visible, in rough seas (approaching from the West) you won't see them either until you are on top of them.
Just go around the pointy bit ("Bald Head"), then sail or steam towards Princess Royal Harbour or Oyster Harbour. Waters round Bald Head are very deep. Just mind the swell and the wash back from the rocks ashore when you are close to Bald Head. If you are very brave (and I guess -silly-), water is deep enough one boat length from the granite shore.....
You will see Breaksea Island ahead (lighthouse on top), keep that to your right, or in nautical parlance: keep that to starboard.

Coming from the South

Meaning from Antarctica? If you need this information you should have never gone that way!

Coming from the East

Generally between Breaksea Island (with lighthouse) and Michealmas Island. Deep waters all round.
Or between Michealmas Island and the shore. Again deep waters everywhere.
  • After passing Michealmas on your portside, just mind Gull Rock, which you might not see at night as it is a rock only and 1-2 metres high, deep water round this. One can sail between Gull Rock and the shore easily, but leaving this rock to Starboard makes much more sense.

Approach Princess Royal Harbour

East of Mistaken Island there are 2 rocks ("Two Sisters") nearly submerged at high tide, seas are often breaking here, keep well East of these.
North of Mistaken Island and the "Two Sisters" there is a large oyster-farm, indicated by small yellow markers and faint flashing lights at night. Easily missed, both day and night. Stay East or North of all this.
A deep channel is dredged (to 12-13 mt) and marked for the big ships towards Ataturk entrance, which leads into Princess Royal Harbour.
  • It is deep (ie 4 mt plus) outside the channel, right to close to shore (ie 30 mt), except for:
    • 2 rocks at coordinates approx -to come-
    • multiple rocks past the 3rd port marker, and these are now roughly marked with a Cardinal marker at approx -to come-

Approach Oyster Harbour via Emu Point Channel

Hmmm, there is no other entry:

There is a sectored laser-light on the western shore:
Cheyne's Ledge is a reef, but the local name for this is "Skippy's Reef"; this is visible as the waves break over this in all but the calmest conditions, at coordinates approx -check your chart-, with a moored cardinal buoy on the South side and lit at night.
  • One can sail/motor on the inside of this reef ie stay close to shore ie no further out than 50 metres.
Emu Point channel is marked, and it narrowest approx 50 mt wide.
  • At times there is a tidal current up to 2-3 Knots.
  • It is not advisable to sail-only as winds are fickle here and the hill to the East causes the wind to change often by 180 degrees! Motor-sail if you want, to impress the folks on the groyne on the western side.
  • If there is a large swell running one tends to surge or even surf into the channel, although not without danger of broaching! In particular when tide is running out and swell/winds going the other direction. Therefore if the winds are Southerly and over 35 knots and/or waves 2 mts or more, unless you have local knowledge, consider alternatives and avoid this entrance.
Once in the narrowest part swell decreases and one can follow the narrow marked channel to the marina. Shortcuts are penalised at best with touching the seaweed over sand bottom, or at worst an instant soft 'thump': you ran aground.

Contact Albany Sea Rescue

Base phone : 08 9844 1005
For reporting emergencies phone: 0427 923 557
Email
Website
Facebook

Entrance

Albany, Australia is a port of entry for Australia. For details see Entrance: Australia.

Albany is a port of entry. Local customs office is 500 mt from the town marina on Brunswick Rd, ph: +61 08 9842 3344, Fax: +61 08 9841 8711. For entering into Australia for a full good description click here to link to cruisers-wiki, excellent write up: after clicking scroll a few pages down to "Arrivals" for the details.

Health

  • For emergencies call: 000 (triple zero)
  • For telephone help one can call ‘Health Direct’ on ph 1800 022 222 (this is Australia wide, 24/7)
  • There are about 8 GP practices, two of them open until early evening, and/or Saturday mornings. All of these practices are dotted around town. All of them are closed Sundays and Public Holidays.
  • There are 5 pharmacies, the one with the longest opening hours is ‘Amcal’ on York st (0830-2100 hrs, 7 days a week)
  • There is a hospital with several operating theatres, resident surgeons (including orthopeadic) etc; They have an emergency department open 24/7; located on corner Hardy Rd/Warden Av in Spencer Park (3 km from centre of town)
  • About 7 dentists in town
  • A range of Allied Health services in town: physio, podiatry, dieticians etc.
  • Anyone interested in Nursing Homes? Hmmmm, OK, I hear you, not yet.

Berthing

This is a large commercial port. There is a marinas in Albany suitable for sailing vessels. Also tis one more marina within few miles one in Oyster Harbour, near Elizabeth street. Finally there i yacht club in Pricess Harbour.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Albany Waterfront Marina

Albany Waterfront Marina/wiki/Albany,_Australia#Albany_Waterfront_Marina
Berth icon Albany Waterfront Marina [[Albany, Australia#Albany Waterfront Marina|Albany Waterfront Marina]] 35°01.920'S, 117°53.280'E
Port of Entry

70 berths on floating pontoons, quite pricey and close to centre of town (500 mts). All facilities, fuel berth, laundry. On arrival, moor to the Town jetty and contact the Harbour Master.

XX@XXX; Tel: +61 427 923 557; Fax: +61 8 9844 1005; VHF channel 81
Address: PO Box 1031, Albany, WA 6330, Australia
Hours:

Emu Point Boat Harbour

Emu Point Boat Harbour/wiki/Albany,_Australia#Emu_Point_Boat_Harbour
Berth icon Emu Point Boat Harbour [[Albany, Australia#Emu Point Boat Harbour|Emu Point Boat Harbour]] 34°59.460'S, 117°56.760'E

70 berths for 6 m to 25 m boats. Located 10 miles from the centre of Albany. There are also 60 recreational pens operated by the City of Albany. The concrete loading jetty provides single-phase and three-phase power, water and lighting. An ablution block with showers is located near the road access entrance to the Emu Point Boat Harbour.

XX@XXX; Tel: +61 8 9841 9333; Fax: +61 8 9842 5071; VHF channel XX
Address: Swarbrick Street, Kalgan, WA 6330, Australia
Hours:

Princess Royal Sailing Club

Princess Royal Sailing Club/wiki/Albany,_Australia#Princess_Royal_Sailing_Club
Berth icon Princess Royal Sailing Club [[Albany, Australia#Princess Royal Sailing Club|Princess Royal Sailing Club]] 35°03.884'S, 117°52.786'E

Sailing club with Clubhouse. Facilities are fairly old, and deep drafted vessels ie over 2 mt (6.6 ft) might bump the sand now and then. There is one floating pontoon, only attempt to dock there if it is close to high tide and your draft is less than 1.5 m (5 ft). A bus-stop is approx 1 Km away, but busses ride only 2 to 3 times a day

[email protected]; Tel: +61 8 98 444 033; Fax: +61 8 98 444 399; VHF channel XX
Address: Chipana Drive Little Grove WA 6330, Australia
Hours: Monday 9 am-3 pm, Tuesday 9 am-12 noon,Friday 9.30am -12 noon

Anchorages

Albany Local

No real safe winter anchorages on the coast near Albany or in King George Sound; Oyster Harbour and Princess Royal Harbour are far better options in adverse weather conditions. But then again, if one has good groundtackle..... one can anchor anywhere.

  • Frenchmens Bay offers good anchorages when it is blowing from the South or West
    • In front of the old whale station coordinates approx -to come-; there is a coffee shop at the Whale Museum, easy access to the beach behind the groyne, hmmmm, jetty and groyne was supposed to cater for big boats, but it all silted up.
    • Further West in Frenchmens Bay itself coordinates approx -to come-, where there is a spring that always provides fresh water, flowing from the rocks in the bush onto the beach. Captain Vancouver used that in year 1791 (as per Wikipedia). Water is 2 to 8 metres. Bottom is seaweed over sand. Stay approx 100-200 metres from the beach as it becomes very shallow. Good access to the beach. 13 km to nearest shop, 25 Km to Albany via road, no public transport.
    • Further west still, in front of Goode Beach and its same name settlement (no shops though), anchor in 3 to 15 metres of water crystal blue water with weed patches, anchoring is possible right up to Mistaken Island, then also being in the lee of any northerly winds, but more exposed to S to E winds.
  • Ellen Cove, that is in front of Middleton Beach: coordinates approx -to come-, no protection from the summer Easterlies, very rolly in a swell (and there is nearly always a swell) sandy bottom with some seaweed, reasonable access to the beach, coffeshops, cafes and restaurants on the beach front, 3.5 km to Albany via road, regular bus service to town.
  • Johnson's Cove, inside Oyster Harbour, coordinates approx - to come-, in 3 metres of water, bottom seaweed over sand, anchoring is prohibited but there are 3 public moorings for boats up to 15 metres, very well protected from the Easterlies that blow from November to March. Approach in the dark is not recommended, approach is via an unmarked wide channel. A long (and often wet) 1 Nm dinghy ride to the Emu Point Marina. 8 Km to Albany city centre via road, limited bus service to town.
  • Oyster Harbour: coordinates approx -to come-, which is to the N and NW of the Emu Point Marina, in waters 3-5 metres, bottom is seaweed over sand/mud. Good protection in winter from westerlies, 0.5 Nm to Emu Point Marina. There are now (2015) 3 moorings here, owned by Emu Point Slipway services. A fourth mooring is privately owned.
  • Inside Princess Royal Harbour. Coordinates approx -to come-, directly West of the town marina, in the lee of the groynes, good protection in summer from East and North in waters 2-4 metres, sea weed over sand. Not good in winter storms. Close to town, 100 metres in dinghy, 300 metres walk into town.
    • In fact one can anchor nearly anywhere in Princess Royal Harbour, depth is usually 2 to 5 metres, but check charts as there are large areas of shallow water to the West and South. The area close to the docks of the merchant vessels is dredged to 13 metres and obviously off limits for anchoring.

Within a daysail from Albany

Going from West to East
  • Torbay, waters around West Cape Howe are often rough, and in particular around Torbay Head. Out in the ocean there is a slow Leeuwin current from West to East direction from 0.1 to 0.5 Knots, and in Torbay itself there is often a current going anticlockwise. Any of the following anchorages might become hazardous with a large swell and strong S or SE winds. If conditions worsen possibly it is best to return to Albany.
    • Dunsky Beach, the first beach around Torbay Head is only small room for 2 or 3 boats, in 4 to 10 metres of water with sand and seaweed, good protection from S to NW winds, although swell is nearly always present. Beach is accessible with dinghy, and by 4WD via a long and very rough track
    • Shelley Beach is the 2nd beach, 0.5 Nm further North, water is 6 to 12 metres but then drops off steeply, sandy with seaweed, protection from SW to NW, always a swell. Beach is mostly not accessible by dinghy due to large surf. This beach is well known for its hang-gliding (from the top of the cliff), cliff climbing and whale watching in season (July-October). There are always campers on the grassed area behind the beach, has easy car access.
    • Dingo Beach is next. Often a surf will prevent dinghy access; a rough track for 4WD only can lead to civilisation, anchorage protected from the SW to the N.
    • There are good protected anchorages behind the 2 islands Richards and Migo, protection from virtually all directions, and the water is deep enough to allow an approach close to shore, depth goes from 12-6 metres to 3 metres. Passed Migo island it shallows to 1.5 metres and then just rocks...... If you are passed the 3 fishermen's moorings then you have gone too far, and you will see Hartmans Beach, a spot that is used to launch trailer boats from, you are about the hit the rocky bottom.......
    • Cozy Corner is long sweeping beach with one outcrop of rocks, protection from S to N, in 4 to 10 metres of water, sand and seaweed
    • After the rocky outcrop it is called Perkins beach. Protection is good from the W to NE. There is an estuary visible that at times breaks though the beach-sand ie in early spring, draining into the ocean, this then colours the water murky brown caused by the tannins in the fresh water.
    • And if you tuck behind Shelter Island, between it and the shore, (although the local name for this island is "Muttonbird Is") you are protected from virtually all directions. Water is crystal blue over sand, becoming quite shallow towards the reef that protects the SE entrance. So, there is only one way in and out there, the same way one came from!
    • In the middle of Torbay is another island, Seagull island. One can anchor on the North side and be protected from wind and swell from the South. Approach is only from the NW to N!! Water is 8 to 15 metres with sand and seaweed.
  • In the stretch from Shelter Island to Bald Head there are some beaches and generally NOT suitable for anchoring due to the large swell and the depth of the water.
  • Anchorage East of Albany: details to be provided in due course
    • Gull Rock Beach, locally known as "Boiler Beach"
    • Nanarup Beach
    • Coffin Island, hmmm, this name does not sound like an attractive anchorage
    • Two Peoples Bay, South/West
    • Two Peoples Bay, North/East
    • Two Peoples Bay, small cove unnamed
    • Betty's Beach
    • Waychinicup Inlet, stunning!!!!
    • Cheyne's Beach / Hassell Beach

Right now we are well beyond a day's sail from Albany

  • Cape Riche
  • Black Head / Boat Harbour
  • Around Groper Bluff (Beaufort Inlet)
  • Dillon Bay
  • Bremer Bay
  • Doubtful Bay
  • Point Anne
  • Hopetoun
  • Mason Bay
  • Starvation Bay

And from hereon the anchorage info should belong to the next town: Esperance

Amenities

Facilities
Water Water is available in all marinas and jetties
Electricity Electricity is available in all marinas, although there are limited outlets in the Emu Point marina. Outlets are all 240 Volt, and generally limited to 10 Amps
Toilets ?
Showers ?
Laundry There are 3 laundries in Albany: one in Middleton Loop in the centre of town, one at Minna st, approx 700 mt form centre of town, the third one is close to the Railway/Bus terminal close to the town marina.
Garbage Princess Royal Sailing Club has a dedicated large skipbin (with a padlock).

The boatramps in Emu Point and Town Marina have smaller bins, these are free.

Supplies
Fuel
None of the marinas and jetties have a fuel bowser. Although one can order a fuel delivery by contacting GSF (Great Southern Fuels) on 08 9844 3243. The other alternative is to make multiple trips using jerrycans..... then the following retail/car outlets are closest:
  • Emu Point: One of the caravan parks (Rose Gardens on Mermaid drive, 500 mt away) sells petrol and diesel.
    • or otherwise at BP on Angove St. in Spencer Park, approx 5 km away
  • Town Marina: Caltex, on top of York St, 1-2 km away, at least the trip with full jerrycans is downhill....-
  • Princess Royal Sailing Club: 1 km up the road
Bottled gas Propane gas (bottles)
refills at BCF, Kleenheat, some fuel stations
exchange bottles at Trailblazers, Bunnings, most fuel stations
Chandlers
  • Rusty Marine, Chesterpass road, 7 km out of town, caters mainly for small powerboats, Honda dealer
  • GB Marine, Chesterpass road, 7 km out of town, caters mainly for small powerboats, Suzuki dealer
  • Watercraft Marine, at the Emu Point Marina, caters mainly for small powerboats, Yamaha dealer
  • Westerberg, on the town waterfront, caters mainly for the small to medium powerboats, also a boat builder in aluminium
  • O'Keefe, Serpentine rd, right in town, paintshop that also sells some SS boat fittings, some rigging
Camping and fishing, and some small boat stuff
  • Trailblazer, Albany Highway, 1 km from centre of town; enormous range of gear, including clothing
  • BCF, Albany Highway, 3 km out of town
Hardware
  • Makit Hardware, Chesterpass road, 6 km out of town
  • Southern Tools and Fasteners, Chesterpass road, 5 km out of town, large range of fasteners, and lawn mowers, I thought you might like to know that
  • Bunnings, Albany Highway, 4 km out of town
Hydraulics
  • Albany Hydraulics, Chesterpass road, 5 km out of town
Other
  • V-belt and rubber, Albany Hwy, close to town, large range of hoses, fittings, belts, pullies, filters
  • Albany plastics, Albany Hwy, close to town, plastic boxes, foam, mats
Services
Repairs
Slipway/shipwright
  • Emu Point Slipway; ph 0427 426 272
    • does fibreglassing, woodwork, metal boat repair
    • travel lift for up to 40 tonnes
    • provides also hardstand
Fibreglass
  • See Emu Point Slipway Services as above
  • IDO Boardroom, Sandalford st, 1 Km out of town
  • Fibreglass Worx, Lockie St (behind Bunnings), 4 Km out of town
Canvas repair 
  • Crumps Canvas, Lockie St, 4 km out of town (behind Bunnings); they may do sail repairs as well, ph 08 9841 3866
  • Ken Stone Canvas, Prior St, in town, ph 08 9841 6688
Electronics sale/repair
  • Some fishing tackle shops (BCF, Trailblazers) and boating shops sell some basic gear
  • No repair facilities in Albany for marine electronics
  • For radio repair see -to come-
12 Volt Electrical
  • Battery World, Albany Hwy, 1 km out of town
  • Autospark, Chesterpass rd, 5 km out of town, large range of fittings, switches, wires, solar, meters etc
Diesel engine
  • ALD, Newbie st, 6 km out of town, specialising in diesel injection systems
Aluminium / SS fabrication
  • Albany Aluminium Fabrication, Graham st, centre of Albany
  • Westerberg, on the foreshore near the town marina, also a (power)boat builder
Bearings
  • Statewide Bearings, Chesterpass rd, 4 km out of town
  • GT Bearings, Chesterpass rd, 5 km out of town
  • GS Bearings, Newbie St, 6 km out of town
Internet ?
Mobile connectivity The following mobile phone carriers have coverage in Albany: Telstra, Vodaphone, -more to come-.

But outside centre of town, coverage is patchy or poor, with Telstra having by far the best coverage. In the centre of town the coverage is 4GX, at the town fringes it is 4G, outside town 3G.

There are two areas with free WiFi, around the the city square that is between the library and the town hall in the centre of town and around the "Boat-sheds", that is at the waterfront/town marina. Emu Point Cafe has WiFi for its customers, but it barely reaches the marina, and this cafe closes at 1700 hrs. Of course many coffee shops in town offer WiFi, but mostly nowadays (2016) give you a key or password to access that. And it may be valid only for an hour or so. The local Library on York Street offers computers and internet free.

The backpackers hostel on Stirling Tce has an internet cafe. The one internet cafe (Ethereal) still advertised on the web is not offering that service anymore

Vehicle rentals Hire cars:
  • Avis, ph 08 9842 2833
  • Budget, ph 08 9841 6021
  • Albany Car Rentals, ph 08 9841 6021 or mb 0419 835 481
  • Albany Truck and Car Hire, ph 08 9841 8466 or mb 0427 418 150

Motorbikes:

  • On Lower Denmark rd, motorbikes and scooters ph 0429 003 199
  • Middleton Beach rd, scooters ph: same as above

Provisioning

  • Coles and Woolworth in centre of town (open 6 days a week)
  • IGA x3: one on North Road, one near railway close to town marina, and one in Spencer park near the hospital (all open 7 to 7, 7 days a week)
  • Small handy market/deli/fuel/bottleshop, 1 km from Princess Royal Sailing Club marina in Little Grove

Eating out

Too many to list: coffee shops, cafes and restaurants all over town, concentrated in town and some in Middleton Beach area. This is a link to most of the establishments.

Transportation

  • Access roads
    • to Perth ~420 km, road #30, mostly 2 lane, busy at times, allocate 5 hrs for the trip, plus a rest period, or more in holiday period.
    • to Bunbury, several routes are possible, road #1, #102, #107 and 2 other routes, mostly winding roads, 340-370 km, allocate 4 hrs or 4.5 if you get stuck behind slow(er) traffic
    • to Esperance 500 km, road #1, straight-ish road, hardly ever busy, except for some trucks and many caravans, allocate 5 hrs, plus a rest period
  • Plane travel: Rex Airlines is flying to/from Perth 1 to 4 times daily, Rex airlines
    • Prices generally $173 to $239 one way (June 2016)
    • Airport is 15 km out of town
  • Coach (bus) travel provided by "TransWA" to/from Perth, Bunbury and Esperance Website
    • TransWA bus-station is at the old train-station, bottom end of town, 500 mt from town marina
    • Bunbury and Perth daily, Esperance twice weekly
    • Prices $60 to $75 one way (Apr 2016)
    • Timetables for all bus travel here
  • Albany local busses Timetables. Top 3 tables are for Albany.
    • Particularly timetable "Albany #2" is interesting for yachties as it includes Emu Point (route #803) and Little Grove/Sailing Club (route #805)
  • Taxis:
    • Albany City Cabs, ph 131 008
    • Amity taxis, ph 9842 2855
    • Eclipse taxis, ph 132 227, also does tours
    • Taxis and charters, ph 08 9844 4444
  • Although there is a railway link to Perth, it is not used for passengers anymore

Nautical events

  • Albany Anzac Commemorative race, 17-27 April 2015
    • Ocean yacht race Fremantle - Albany, approx 380 NM, leaves Fremantle Friday 17-04-15 1100 hrs
    • First yachts are expected in Albany around midday Sunday 19-04-15; if winds are not favourable.... much, much later
    • Yachts leaving Albany for the return race: Saturday 25-04-15 around midday (please check time)
    • More info
    • Race is now over, records have been broken, result to be published on above website?
  • Around the world Clipper race, 21 November to 2 December 2015
    • Race starts in UK on 30-08-15
    • Third leg from South Africa will finish in Albany in arrival window 22 to 27 November 2015
    • Fourth leg will start on 1 December 2015
    • More info
    • Left Albany to return in November 2017?

Tourism

History

Give a short history of the port.

Places to Visit

In no particular order, well some kind of order, leaving the best for last:

  • Dozens of wineries
  • Distillery
  • Whale Museum
  • Local Museum
  • Strawberry Farm
  • Walking, many paths ie Albany is the start or end of the Bibbulmun Track
  • Pushbike riding (many very good riding paths), also the start or end of the Munda Biddy cycle track
  • Porongerups
  • Stirling Ranges
  • the Gap and Natural Bridge
  • Blowholes
  • Whale watching (either from the shore or from a boat), season is approx. June to October
  • Fishing, be careful of 'King' waves that cause fishermen to be washed off the rocks and often drown, on average one death each 2 or 3 years
    • Added 18-04-15: another 2 deaths here today!
    • Added 26-04-15: another death here today
  • Diving, water is nearly always very clear, and there is a dive wreck "HMAS Perth" near Seal Island; link of South Coast Diving here.
  • Swimming on the many pristine beaches, a comprehensive list here.
  • Kayak heaven (sorry, no white water stuff), localities from West to East:
    • on rivers: Deep, Frankland, Denmark, Hay, King and Kalgan
    • on inlets, estuaries from West to East: Broke, Nornalup, Irwin, Parry, Wilson, Torbay, Albany Harbour, Oyster Harbour, Taylor, Norman, Waychinicup, Beaufort, Wellstead, Gordon, Fitzgerald, Dempster, Hamersley
    • and off course, on the ocean!!
  • Surfing
  • Did I mention "Sailing"?

For a complete list see the tourism link on first page


Friends

One can contact the following for more information or assistance:

  • Royal Princess Sailing Club: as listed in the Marina & Yacht Club section
    • Note their website is not updated regularly, but emails are checked at least 3 times a week, when the manager is present at the club
  • For repairs and haulout: Emu Point Slipyard Services as per contact details under the Yacht Repair heading
  • For Volunteer Sea Rescue see contact details under Radio Nets

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

References

See Australia.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Albany, Australia and this page's details validated:

  • To the best of my knowledge, information and links are correct at Feb 2015, updated June 2016
  • However a seconder to this info would validate the information
  • Photos, coordinates and maybe 'chartlets' may be added later when I get more knowledgeable with this cruisers-wiki stuff --HankOnthewater



This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.


SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Haiqu, HankOnthewater


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