Onwards to Albany

It was difficult leaving our Denmark B+B after breakfast but we were rewarded with another  sunny morning and the drive to the main highway sparkled with amazing vistas.

Suttons Road

Farmland views

Tree-lined avenue to South Coast Highway

We opted to bypass Albany to begin with and headed straight around Oyster Bay to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve.  The wild coastline from the Visitor Centre was spectacular in its own right but we thanked our lucky stars we decided to drive a bit further on to Little Beach because that left us completely speechless.

Two Peoples Bay

No picture can do justice to the insane prettiness of Little Beach.  The sand is white and so fine it is like walking on powdered snow.  We were among only a handful of people on the beach and a friendly bystander instructed us to take a short walk along the rocks to get an even better view of the coast.  We are eternally grateful to that stranger because the landscape opened up into a series of dazzling rock pools and the surf beyond. 

Little Beach

Little Beach

Rockpools

Rockpools

Rockpools

Selfishly I hope this place remains a secret because it is such a pristine environment.  The lichens on the rock are testament to the pure air and lack of disturbance. We were absolutely privileged to experience this place on the best of days and to appreciate its quiet wilderness.

Returning to civilisation, we stopped for a coffee break at Middleton Beach before making our way to the newly opened National ANZAC Centre.  Opened only a few months ago on the 100th Anniversary of the start of WWI, it is a magnificent memorial to the ANZACs who departed from Albany in a large number of convoy ships.  For many it was the last glimpse they had of Australia.  The displays were high-tech without being detached or cold, and we left the museum deeply moved by our visit.

National ANZAC Centre, Albany

The building uses space and aspect to great effect - here a view over the Bay where
the ANZAC convoys would have sailed past during WWI

Desert Mounted Corps Memorial, Albany

It was a steep climb up steps to the War Memorial but worthwhile for the views it offered over Albany and the harbour. Returning to earth (literally and figuratively), we made our way to Dunmoylen House, our accommodation for the evening.  Ross was determined to dislike Albany so he begrudged the fact our room didn't have a window.  As a heritage house, it had its quirks but it was comfortable enough.

Dunmoylen House

Dinner in Albany was less rewarding as mid-week and offseason meant that most decent restaurants were shut.  We ended up having a pretty ordinary meal in the main street.  So perhaps not the most magnificent way to finish our holiday but on balance the day certainly  delivered!