COMING EVENT

Friday 20th of March 2026 - MX-5 Alive - Great Southern Weekend Away - Albany

Established in 1827 as NSW Government military outpost, Albany is the oldest European settlement in WA and our base for the 2026 Weekend Away. If you can get Friday off work join us at the Waypoint Bakery Cafe (map), 4 Marinup Street, Dwellingup at 9 for a 9:30 am departure for the first leg to The Daily Grind Cafe, Katanning (map) for Lunch. After lunch the second leg takes us via the Horsepower Highway, a trail of vintage and quirky tractors, to Bluff Knoll Cafe (map) for Afternoon Tea. The final leg takes us via the Bluff Knoll Lookout (map) to Albany for you to check in to your accommodation.

After you checked into your accommodation make your way to The Earl of Spencer ((menu)) (map), 60 Earl Street (corner Spencer Street), for a meal and/or after dinner drinks. It’s one of the oldest taverns in WA; there has been a building on the site since 1865. If you can’t get the time off make your own way down on Friday afternoon/evening; catch up at “The Earl” if you can, and join us for the Saturday and Sunday drives.

On Saturday we check out the sights: we meet at the Albany Entertainment Centre at 8:30 am for a 9 am departure and start with a visit to the Albany Wind Farm (map) followed by The Gap and Natural Bridge (map), The Blowholes (map) and Jimmy Newell’s Harbour (map) within Torndirrup National Park and then Discovery Bay (map) where you can learn about Albany’s somewhat grim history as a whaling town followed by a visit to the Limeburners Great Southern Distilling Company (map). Next we checkout the Chainsaw Sculptures (map) and Little Beach (map) in Two Peoples Bay, aka Australia’s most beautiful beach, before we stop for lunch at the Emu Point Cafe (Menu) (map). After lunch we drive via the Rotary Lookout (map) that overlooks King George Sound towards the three peaks in Albany (Mount Melville, Mount Clarence and Mount Adelaide) ending at the Princess Royal Fortress and the National ANZAC Centre (map).

The Saturday Night Group Dinner is at the Garrison Restaurant and Bar (menu) (map), Albany’s premier fine dining restaurant at the Summit of Mount Clarence. Overlooking King George Sound they serve outstanding food, along with an amazing selection of cocktails, local and international wines and beers — a bit of a splurge but worth it! It’s also the perfect spot to check out Lighting The Sound; a major outdoor light experience by internationally renowned Finnish artist, Kari Kola, with dramatic illumination of the landforms in and around King George’s Sound. Lighting the Sound is the first opportunity to see his work in Australia and it’s anticipated to be the largest ever light installation on Earth.

On Sunday we head back to Perth the scenic way through the Blackwood and Ferguson Valleys; first stop is the Mt Barker Lookout (map) before we grab Morning Tea at the famous Mt Barker Country Bakery (map) The second leg takes us to the Tone Bridge Rest Area for a leg stretch/comfort break before the third leg takes us to The Cidery in Bridgetown (map) for Lunch. After lunch we continue via the Brockman Highway and Nannup - Balingup Road to The Mushroom At No.61 Cafe (map) in Balingup for afternoon tea. Alternatively you can cut out an hour’s driving by heading directly to Balingup via the South Western Highway. From Balingup we continue via Brookhampton and Wellington Mill to the intersection of Henty Road and the South Western Highway. Turn Right to head to Perth on the South Western Highway or Turn Left to return via the Wilman Wadandi and Forrest Highways.

Participants make their own accommodation arrangements, so it is up to you if you want to stay in a hotel, a motel, B&B , a chalet/cabin at a caravan park, the local YHA or try an Airbnb either by yourselves or shared with other participants. Have a look at Amazing Albany for the many options. For those wanting an accommodation suggestion, the Country Comfort Amity Motel (map) is a good option. As you pay for your own accommodation, food and drinks there are no costs payable to the club.

Please email an expression of interest (Click here for EOI) if you are interested in coming along advising if you are interested in sharing accommodation so we can put you in contact with like-minded people. Note that you will still be responsible for your own booking. Once you have confirmed your participation and accommodation, please can you confirm by emailing a confirmation (Click here to confirm) so we have your full details.

Expressions of Interest:

Confirmed Participants and Accomodation Location:
Aart ter Kuile
Michael Clowes - Country Comfort Amity Motel

COMING EVENT

Friday 20th of March 2026 - MX-5 Alive - Great Southern Weekend Away - Albany

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