Perth to Albany via the Great Southern Treasures

Stay: Premier Mill Hotel, Katanning

Begin your Albany 2026 adventure in Katanning, a vibrant multicultural hub known for its rich heritage, stunning architecture and thriving food scene.

Highlights in Katanning:

• Premier Mill Hotel – an award-winning boutique hotel built inside a beautifully restored 1890s flour mill.
• Katanning Public Art Trail – colourful murals, mosaic installations and community-made artworks.
• Katanning Sheep Saleyards – Australia’s largest undercover sheep saleyard.
• Heritage Rose Garden – Located opposite the Town Hall and incorporates a Noongar Time Walk, Malay mosaic, the Pioneer Women’s clock and roses dating back to 1830.

Enjoy dinner at the Premier Mill Hotel’s Cordial Bar, named in honour of F & C Piesse’s aerated water and cordial business. Enjoy an extensive, hand-picked selection of wines from the largest and most diverse wine region in Australia, paired with a carefully curated share-plate food menu before settling in for the night in your character-filled room.

Set off early and take the road less travelled, weaving your way through three Great Southern Treasures towns before arriving in Albany.

Stop 1: Broomehill

Just 20kms from Katanning, Broomehill is where you will discover the starting point of the iconic Holland Track, first carved out in 1893 for prospectors on their way to the Goldfields.

Stop 2: Tambellup

Once you’re done exploring the Holland Track, head another 23kms south to a small town with deep Noongar roots, Tambellup. While you’re here, visit:

• Tambellup Heritage Trail – A series of three interconnecting trails that start in the centre of town take in much of the history of the early settlement.
• Diprose Park – Perfect for a picnic or coffee break
• Gordon River Weir and Picnic Area – Interpretive signage tells the stories of the river’s importance to the Goreng Noongar people.

Stop 3: Cranbrook – Gateway to the Stirling Range

35kms away, Cranbrook is a beautiful stop for nature lovers. Set beneath the peaks of the Stirling Range National Park, Cranbrook is known as the gateway to the Stirling Range.

• Pink Salt Lakes – Part of a chain of salt lakes north of the Stirling Ranges that sit along the path of an ancient waterway.
• Enjoy views across farmland and the rugged mountain silhouettes from Sukey Hill Lookout.
• Cranbrook Museum – Built soon after the completion of the railway line in 1889, it is the oldest brick house standing in Cranbrook and served as the stationmaster’s house.

Continue on to Albany (approximately 1 hour drive) to immerse yourself in the Albany 2026 program including commemorative events, exhibitions, light installations, community ceremonies and more.

Visit the Albany 2026 website to view the range of events on offer throughout the year.