ALBANY & Surrounds
Step into stories that run deep, from the National ANZAC Centre to heritage streets lined with cosy cafés, galleries and firelit corners.
Add fresh local seafood, cool-climate wines, and a slower pace, and Albany becomes more than a destination — it’s winter, fully felt.
Must-see winter events
Check out these events that are worth rugging up for. From lively gatherings, fire performances, and immersive soundscapes, to relaxed moments shared with locals, discover what’s on and make the most of winter in Albany.
Welcome to Albany
Albany is where history and wild wonder converge, and in winter, it takes on a crisp, invigorating charm. Think cool ocean air, roaring swells, warm layers, and the kind of days that end with good food, great company, and stories worth sharing.
Stand on the edge of the world at The Gap, suspended between sky and surging seas, letting winter amplify the drama. And that’s before the annual whale migration begins. From June to August, humpback and southern right whales move through King George Sound and along the coast, often visible from shore or on tours departing the harbour.
Back in town, winter brings a full calendar of events that invite you to step inside, gather close, and experience Albany in a different way. The annual Maritime Festival, as well as the International Folk n Shanty Festival fill the city with music, art, community events, storytelling and seafaring traditions, echoing Albany’s long connection to the ocean.
Albany 2026 builds on this energy, offering a program that reflects the town’s many layers. ‘Albany Is’ launches in June and brings together a soundscape woven from the voices, songs, and everyday sounds of Albany and its surrounds, creating something both familiar and unexpected. While ‘Kaarla Wirren’ lights up the winter night with a powerful fire performance, drawing people together in a shared experience of warmth and movement.
Discover exhibitions across the city from ‘Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country,’ a landmark exhibition speaking to the deep and ongoing relationship between Menang people and their ancestral lands and waters.
To ‘Binalup Menang | First Light, First People’, captured by award-winning portrait photographer Nic Duncan, which presents a striking series of portraits that honour Menang Elders and their stories.
European history also runs deep here. King George Sound was the site of Western Australia’s first European settlement in 1826. Albany grew into a vital port, connecting Western Australia to the rest of the world. The full-scale replica of the Brig Amity on the foreshore offers a window into those early days.
Albany also holds a significant place in the story of the ANZACs. It was the last port of call for many troops departing for the First World War. Today, the National ANZAC Centre stands in quiet tribute, overlooking the waters from which they left. In winter, the experience feels especially reflective, with fewer crowds and a stronger sense of stillness.
The region’s more recent past is told at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station at Discovery Bay. Once an operational station, it is now a museum that offers insight into Albany’s storied whaling history. Visitors can step aboard the Cheynes IV whaling ship, explore exhibitions and even see breaching whales along the coastline.
In winter, Albany is a landscape of rich history, engaging events, and a place where you can feel the elements and be part of something special.
Don't miss
- A visit to Albany’s Historic Whaling Station, (pictured right) where you can explore interactive exhibits and see a full Blue Whale skeleton.
- A solemn stop at the National ANZAC Centre, where you can learn of Australia’s Wartime history, and view King George Sound.
- Feeling the wind on your face at The Gap and Natural Bridge, a platform 40m above the wild southern ocean.
- A cold morning plunge at Middleton Beach, before heading to a cosy cafe for breakfast.
- One of the dozens of Albany 2026 events happening throughout the colder months, to celebrate the City’s bicentennary.
Plan your trip
Follow that winter feeling with curated itineraries, blogs, and guides across the Shire of Manjimup.
Albany 2026: 7 Days Wandering With The Wild
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