Albany WA, Mt Clarence, Desert Mounted Corp, Emu Point

Albany 19 April 2015

An interesting run down to Albany from Hyden through the back country. On our map, they started of as thin brown lines and became thin red lines for some 360km. At first the country was flat, vast expanses of dry looking wheat fields interspersed with heaps of salt lakes, the biggest one of which is Lake Grace, which boasts a tiny town with a large railway siding. The only thing open on a Sunday morning was the servo, where we took some time out to have a coffee and muffin. After Lake Grace the country started to get greener and greener. Way off in the distance we could see the outline of the Stirling Ranges. We figured out that they must be up to 50km away. They kept getting closer and the big flat plains gave way to rolling hills leading up into and across the ranges, which boast their own national park and there were camp grounds and hiking trails all over the place.

Stirling Ranges WA

Stirling Ranges WA

Pressing on we finally came into Albany and followed the GPS to our van park, which is right on the beach at Middleton which is about 3 km out of town itself.

The obligatory tour of Albany proved that we could remember almost nothing about the place despite having been here only just 40 years ago. Judy remembers houses with very large rocks in the front yards, but nothing else rings any bells. All the way across to WA we have been hearing about the ANZAC Memorial here at Albany, and while we didn't go in this afternoon, we drove up to the top of Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence, which is the Anzac precinct. They seem to have recreated an entire fort type area and on top of Mt Clarence is a massive memorial to the Desert Mounted Corp. 

Desert Mounted Corp memorial
Mt Clarence, Albany WA

We checked out the marina at Emu Point, which is at the end of the beach and has a delightful grassed area and bay type beach for the kiddies. It also has a rather nice cafe right on the point. Say no more.

Emu Point. Albany WA

Gull and Judy keeping a beady eye on each other
Emu Point, Albany WA

Cafe. Emu Point, Albany WA

Finally, we had a go at the spa in the van park, which was a nice way to ease the road-weary body. 

Middleton Beach from top of Mt Clarence. That's our van park between the tree-tops
Albany WA