GateWAy Blog

Hi Everyone

Finding whales was not the problem – obeying the law…keeping 100 metres clearance zones was impossible!  The whales wanted Albany’s human company.  At Ellen Cove and Middleton Beach, human land-watchers were watched by whales…floating by…watching them!….interrupting curious glances while caressing their fellow whale companions with tails and flippers….sometimes breaching…seemingly just for fun…and as our boat lay inert…they’d drift over to ‘take a look’ before…more whale caressing, tail caressing, flipper fondling loveliness.  Thirty mesmerized silent people on ‘Sail-A-Way’.
(more…)

Hi Everyone

31 July, 9.30 am.

Grey-black, glistening surface water of Princess Royal Harbour….two black humped shapes metres apart, breaking the glisten, making barely a ripple….only the still wraith-mist of their breath hanging in the still air….300 metres away, on the other side of the channel….5 Southern Rights absolutely different, absolute fascinating.
(more…)

Hi Everyone

I thought I would give you a precis of the wonderful recent sightings we have had.

For the past three days I have left “Sail-A-Way” saying “that was the best whale sighting I have ever had….breaching, tail-slapping, close-up encounters, and whales, whales, whales…everywhere!

(more…)

Hi Everyone

Yesterday a Southern Right became very curious about our “Sail-A-Way”…just outside the channel by the lookout.  My guests loved its curiosity and gentle sighs as it responded to our music.  I thought of the shore-bound watchers and wondered if our information could help them get past their fears of sea-sickness.
(more…)

Hi Everyone

We had a wonderful day of whale watching yesterday.  Our guests so enjoyed it I thought I would let them tell you about it.
(more…)

Every morning on Albany Whale Tours “Sail-A-Way”, eager adventure-seekers meet to look for whales.  Every morning, the skipper ‘chairs’ the meeting ….weather…wind direction….wave action…the whales, sighted from the hill…and the adventure seekers design the trip and make their votes. (more…)

Wayne is a Maori living and working in Albany and, lucky us, staying at our new accommodation premises at 1849 Backpackers, behind the London Hotel.

Wayne has been a singer/songwriter for more than 30 years and today shared a CD with me, with a little of his music. To coin a cliche … I was blown away!

This track is dedicated to his mother specifically, and to all mothers everywhere. I don’t think it even has a title, I have listened to it only four times but it impacts and touches me every time I hear it, so I felt the need to share this with you.

To listen to an audio track only, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

We have been privileged to listen to Wayne play us everything from Rock and Roll to Blues to Jazz, to playing covers and his own songs to improvising for hours and indulging in what is clearly, lucky for us again, his passion.

This is an audio file only so have a listen while surfing and checking emails. I think you’ll be glad you did.

The other nine tracks are superb too and I believe he deserves to sell a million of these. What do you think? Please click on the link below. Enjoy …

Wayne Maxwell

Get practicing for the Mount Barker Cherry Pip Spitting championships which are on throughout  the Community Fair on the 28th Nov at the Visitor Centre Stall.

The biggest spitter will win $100.00 for their nominated club or charity also $50.00 cash to keep.Should the winner make it to the 2nd round in Manjimup  then  another Mt Barker winner will be off to New Zealand again as a prize. Also collecting $50.00 for making the trip to Manjimup.
There will be spot prizes  on the day for  both adults and kids. The cost will be $2.00 per spit and any money raised will go to the Mount Barker Visitor Centre.
Ring 98531110 for more Information.

With the demise of a local brewery, comments were made by the company spokesman that Albany was not ready for an inovative hospitality industry. It’s not the first time a concept has failed in Albany but has thrived in other cities. Is it true that Albany clings to it’s old habits?  So instead of a trendy Tangleheads, we are getting back “our” White Star Hotel. (more…)

Great Southern at Work photo competition

Use your digital camera to capture the Great Southern at work and you could be in the running to claim a prize in a competition celebrating the launch of the new Albany Gateway regional internet portal.

The Great Southern at Work digital photography competition is being run by the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC) with submitted images being entered and displayed in a gallery available for public viewing on the Albany Gateway.

“The GSDC is pleased to support the launch of the new-look Albany Gateway and I urge all photographers in the region to get involved,” said GSDC Chief Executive Officer Bruce Manning. (more…)