Dog Rock, Albany

Location: Middleton Beach Road, Albany
Distance from Town Centre: 500m

There are no prizes for guessing why this rock is so named! This natural granite rock formation is a well-established Albany oddity and a fantastic photo opportunity.
History of Dog Rock: known as Yakka, (“wild dog tamed”) this rock is a significant heritage site to the Albany indigenous community, and is a traditional territorial boundary marker. It is believed that local Aboriginals regarded this site as dangerous and sacred and would not camp or shelter near the rock. This very old granite rock (believed to be thousands of years old), has a companion a little further down Middleton Road opposite the Catholic Church, known as “Yacka Nint” (dog’s tail). An Aboriginal dreamtime legend said that their gods used this rock as their model to design dogs on.
Courtesy Cert III Tourism student from GSIT Christine Fudge

The Windfarm, Albany

Location: Frenchman Bay Road, left onto Princess Ave, left onto Sandpatch Rd, Albany
Distance from Town Centre: 6km from York Stret Albany

Western Power's first large, grid-connected site is located at Albany. It was opened in October 2001. The 21.6MW installation consists of twelve of the largest wind turbines in the Southern Hemisphere. There are wonderful boardwalks which take you past the turbines and along the rugged coastline of the Southern Ocean.

The Ellen Cove Boardwalk, Albany

Location: Middleton Beach
Distance from Town Centre: 3kms from York St Albany

The Ellen Cove boardwalk is an easy hour return walk from Middleton Beach.  The superb views over King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour take in islands, Nanarup, Quaranup and Little Grove. Whales can be seen during the season.

Oyster Harbour Fish Traps

Location:  off Nanarup Road, look for sign off Morilla Road

Distance from town centre:  14 kms from York Street Albany

First recorded by Vancouver in 1791, the fish traps consist of eight weirs that extend along the north end of Oyster Harbour. Visible only at low tide, they are crescent shaped and formed round the shape of the Bay.

They are made of thousands of stones - excavations in 2000 showed over 80 stones of various sizes were used in a one metre section of the traps. With 800 metres of fish traps you understand the scale of work that went into them. An outlet gap was covered with branches, as the tide rises fish swim over the top of the weir and are trapped as the water level drops.

The site is an ancient one, important not only because of its age, but also as the place for the coming together of Noongah people, to celebrate and harvest all that nature had to offer. The fish traps  are on a traditional pathway dating back some 7,000 years.

The Noongah people want to become involved in sustainable community practises for a site as significant as the Oyster Harbour fish traps.  Courtesy Cert III Tourism student from GSIT Sandra Graham

Ancient Empire Walk, Walpole

Location: Valley of the Giants Rd off South Coast Highway
Distance from Town Centre: 13km from town of Walpole

The Ancient Empire Walk is a boardwalk through ancient tingle trees. It includes quiet meandering paths and tranquil rest places and picnic areas. Wheelchair access.