Over the last 2 days we have crossed a sea of water called the Great Australian Bight and we arrived at Albany on schedule this morning at 7:00 am. Also, there was another time change last night with the clocks going back another hour which makes it 3 in total since we left Melbourne.
Before passing through the cruise terminal we were treated to an Aboriginal smoking ceremony which is a traditional spiritual healing practice that involves burning native plants to create smoke that cleanses and refreshes the land and people. The ceremony can be used for many purposes, including healing, helping strengthen and renew the spirit, celebrate a birth and in our case today a welcome to a country.
Our privately booked excursion was for 4 hours and departed at 9:00 from outside the port gate. Our guide and also our driver was a man called Tim and there were 24 of us in his bus. We booked this about a year ago but received an email a few weeks back telling us one the places we were due to visit (The Gap) was now closed for renovation until the end of December. Given there was little else of interest thrown up when searching for things to do in Albany we decided to carry on with this tour.
Our first stop came after about a 15 minute drive and was a quick stop at a place called Goode Beach and as well as being extremely pleasing on the eyes also helped orientate us.
Back in the van and then on to Frenchman Bay which was the site of a former whaling station. Only a few terracotta bricks remain of what was quite a large operation. Today it is another picturesque spot that you would never know what its history was.
Frenchman Bay is also where George Vancouver, the first European explorer of King George Sound, landed in 1791 so quite a significant place in the area.
Back in the van again and this time to Albany’s Historic Whaling Station where we had a mid morning drink with some delicious scones with jam and cream (Cornwall style before you ask). We were there for 40 minutes and Tim provided us with a talk about the site and how it was the last whaling operation in Australia. It closed in 1978 and is now a tourist attraction to make people aware of the area’s history. We didn’t actually go in as there wasn’t enough time but were able to get a general idea about the area and operation.
Our next stop was to view Albany’s 18 windmill wind farm, not the most exciting place but it was very picturesque and it does supply 80% of Albany’s electric. All the tours were stopping here so it just shows you how little there is to see in the area.
Back in the bus for one final stop which was to Mount Clarence, home to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial and the Padre White lookout. Again there were some fantastic views over King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour We finished our day in port by being dropped off in Albany itself eventually walking back to the ship. We covered some distance today and saw some incredible scenery which has changed little since the first settlers arrived here in 1826 when Major Edmund Lockyer arrived on the Amity, from Sydney, and founded a British military outpost thus claiming the area for the British.
There is a replica of his ship, Amity which we passed on the way to our first stop. With more time permitting, it would have been nice to visit but as sail away was at four, we headed back to the ship.
A medical emergency delayed our departure for an hour with some poor soul being taken away in an ambulance.
Our evening followed the usual routine with dinner in the MDR but we were too fatigued to visit the theatre so retired to the cabin for the evening.
Tomorrow we have the tender port of Busselton
Fitbit Steps 12,484
That sounded like a long day. And two of them in a row with tomorrow? You are going to need some of those sea days.