Frenchman Bay Tours
Albany's Historic Whaling Station Admission Ticket
4.5

Albany's Historic Whaling Station Admission Ticket

By Albany's Historic Whaling Station
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Ages 0-99
Duration: 2–3 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: German, Chinese, Italian, French
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  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • All activities
  • Free BBQ facilities
  • Entry/Admission - Albany's Historic Whaling Station
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Lunch


  • Wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47381P2

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 47381P2

From
AU$35.90
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Albany's Historic Whaling Station
    1,214
    Australia
    Joined in May 2008
  • sydneysider48
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting museum
    An interesting and well curated museum at a reasonable admission price which outlines the history of this industry, now extinct in Australia, including the last whaling vessel, which is dry docked as part of the Museum. We were guided around the Museum by a very informative guide and enjoyed a coffee at the cafe on site after viewing the exhibits.
    Written 2 November 2024
  • annelieb691
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceptional
    Exceptionally interesting museum, we stayed over 3 hours but still missed some displays. Walking around the old whaling boat was great, kids would love it. Good on so many levels, highly recommend. Entry fee not cheap but also covers a botanic garden and wildlife park. Saw a baby pademelon! Cafe at whaling station has a great location and good food.
    Written 27 September 2024
  • SAMARSHALL77
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting and gruesome past
    The information and history is very well presented and being aboard Cheyenne’s IV is fascinating. Their life was very hard. It is all part of our history, but it was barbaric and some of the videos are gruesome and very upsetting. I cried as I walked around. The skeletons of whales are very interesting
    Written 7 August 2024
  • janebG8948BM
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting museum of a difficult subject
    Very interesting museum covering what is now a controversial topic, which is handled sensitively. The history of whale hunting and its importance to the community in the past is well explained. Some things are quite shocking to the modern person, only thinking how important whale conservatin is today, but we need to remember the past.
    Written 27 July 2024
  • bobjanh
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Whalers’ Cafe at museum
    It was a miserable day in Albany and by the time we had driven out here, was only getting worse. Opted out an exploring the museum and had a coffee in the Whaler’s Cafe instead. It is a pleasant,modern venue with drinkable coffee: there were some gluten free cake options available.
    Written 9 May 2024
  • Melanie M
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating historical site
    We came across this site as we were heading out to The Gap. The Whaling Galley Cafe had great food and views. The historic site was very interesting and incredibly well done. Such a fascinating part of our history.
    Written 19 April 2024
  • carmens383
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic place
    A lot of history here, not to be missed. No longer operating. It is an eye opener. We all enjoyed this visit. It took us about five hours of driving from Perth. It is advidable that you should make stops along the way. Week end traffic can be daunting.
    Written 18 April 2024
  • EdD836
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Slice of heaven
    Although didn't visit the whaling ship we did look at the exhibitions and then visited the cafe. The cafe is great it overlooks the bay and the whaling ship and served the best vanilla slice I have ever eaten along with a really good flat white.
    Written 5 April 2024
  • Maree T
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting and Informative
    This tourist attraction is interesting and informative. This facility gives visitors an insight into whaling and processing through various interpretive signage, movies and holograph. The original buildings are all still there housing various machinery used in the time when this facility was still in operation. The whale chaser boat Cheyne IV is also on site and you are able to board it and have a look around. A great place to visit.
    Written 7 March 2024
  • Travelglows
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Confronting yet interesting stop
    Wow! We didn’t expect this. First of all we arrived at 4PM and the lady behind the counter told us that it would take 4 hours to see everything but we could come back for the next day. Great service. This place is very interesting to learn more about the history of Albany. Yes it is confronting at times, but in a good way, to learn. A big bonus is the location and surrounding views.
    Written 15 February 2024
  • AmandaK1265
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great family day out
    Great places for families of all ages. The toddlers enjoyed the playground, the tweens enjoyed climbing on the boat, the 3d movie about whales and the skeletons and everyone enjoyed the shell room. Animal park was a nice bonus. A little more expensive than other places perhaps but could spend a whole day easily with a great variety of things to see. The scrimmage room was a personal favourite. The volunteer on the boat was really friendly as well. What an amazing place. Recommend to other families.
    Written 23 January 2024
  • Tayporttony
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great day out and great value
    Fantastic day out, with way more to see than we expected. The whaling museum includes the last whaling ship in Australia, there were three cinemas including a 3D movie and then there was a wildlife park and botanical garden. We could have spent even longer there if we had time. The staff were incredibly pleasant and helpful and the whole day was ridiculously good value for money. We’ll be back whenever we get chance to come to Australia again.
    Written 29 November 2023
  • mrc49
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Whaling history - a must see
    This is the only complete land whaling station that is left on the planet. A monument to the ignorance and cruelty of mankind. There have always been whalers , probably as long as there have been boats but until the 18C whaling was not an industry. It is hard to believe with the last 50 years research results and social media reports and photos that these beautiful, intelligent and peaceful giants were just seen as products. There is a whaling chaser that can be visited as well as a museum. A must visit if you are in the Albany area.
    Written 6 November 2023
  • Teacake_Taster
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a whale of a time…
    “Albany’s Historic Whaling Station was the last operating station in Australia and provides a fascinating insight into Albany’s colourful past. Recognised as a heritage site, the whaling station is an engaging and educational tourism attraction for all ages to enjoy.” Spent most of the day at the Whaling Historic Centre which is in a great position, especially the cafe. It’s a fascinating but challenging experience and well worth the visit. There’s an Australian Wildlife Centre there as well and we saw a couple of wombats as well as other animals and birds.
    Written 30 October 2023
  • graemep280
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting, but OK!
    With much to offer, and providing an insight to our ‘whaling past’ this museum and wildlife park is definitely interesting, but overpriced! Whilst informative, the information provided at the whaling station certainly needs a refurb/ refresh/ update. The cafe on site was handy, and we enjoyed a cuppa and delicious scone before moving on to view the spectacular natural attractions that Albany has to offer. Albany is awesome, we didn’t stay here long enough!
    Written 11 October 2023
See all 1,214 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles70 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
16
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
5

An1ta069
Melbourne, Australia237 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The Albany Historic Whaling Museum is a look at our whaling industry which ceased in 1978.
The Cheynes Beach Whaling Company site has been turned into a museum walking you through how the whales were caught and their blubber harvested.
Gruesome in parts, it highlights the hard working conditions, the equipment used, and has several skeletons that highlight the sheer size of these amazing creatures.
The Cheyne IV has been restored and you can walk through and see the ship as it was.
The surrounding area is beautiful and there is an animal sanctuary and flora/fauna park also on the grounds.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Thank you for your review and comments following your recent visit. It certainly appears that you had a comprehensive tour through the factory, ship and exhibits on offer. A visit in summer really does let you enjoy our beautiful surroundings and we hope your review encourages other travelers to pay us a visit!
Written 8 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Geoff C
Nottingham, UK627 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Some people seem to think $32 is a bit fierce but I've paid far higher prices for far less. The Whaling Station sits in a beautiful location and is full of the paraphernalia of the whaling industry which was working out of Albany up until what I regard as recently. There's a guided tour that explains what you're able to see and how the whales were pulled ashore, gutted and turned into whale oil etc. It's a gruesome process and the explanations and pictures pull no punches. Not for thje squeamish.

The guided tour is done very rapidly and originally I wished for the chance to stay places and look around before moving on, but we galloped along. However the idea of the tour is to give you context and once it's over and you've seen a video, you have the chance to wander the site, check out the exhibits and the written down stuff too as well as roam the whaling ship itself. Once you know that, there is an immense depth to what's been stored there. And the cake's in the cafe are great too!
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Geoff Thank you for your detailed review and 5 star recommendation. We apologise for taking a while to respond but have only recently re-opened following an extended shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the economic situation means we cannot currently offer tours, but the information you mention is developed to allow for self-guided experiences and we hope that visitors continue to enjoy this aspect of our museum, as you did in March.
Written 4 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Julie R
Northampton, UK73 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Although a little pricey to enter, this is an important local history site to visit. I was not sure I wanted to see it due to its nature but it was a well laid out museum with different areas of information and some excellent displays including the ship, the whale skeletons and a magnificent shell collection. For children, the addition of a few furry animals in the attached wildlife park was nice but most are nocturnal so most were hidden away rather than visible. The cafe had a nice outlook and all the staff were welcoming to visitors.
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Julie Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your visit with us, it it interesting that you were initially reluctant due to the content of our display but entered regardless and found your visit to be worthwhile. We are aware of the need to display history in an unbiased way and are pleased that your review indicates that we have managed to achieve this. We hope your honest review encourages others to consider a visit and tour to learn more about Australia's whaling history.
Written 24 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Klz84
Brisbane, Australia69 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Can be confronting but definitely worth the money. Well laid out and presented. Try and catch a tour as it lays a great foundation to explore after.
Might seem expensive but you do get access to the Wildlife Park and Botanic gardens as well and you can return a second day without charge.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Thank you for your review and recommendation that a visit is worth the entrance fee. We encourage all visitors to join the guided tour included with entrance and it is pleasing to see you also explain that this is a great starting base to then explore further from. We do allow second day entries on the one ticket, this needs to be validated at the ticket counter prior to exiting on the first day but does certainly provide good value for money to our visitors. Thanks!
Written 25 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mersina L
Perth, Australia74 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020
Hubby and I decided to go to the whaling station. The cost of the ticket was $32 per person which included the animal farm and botanical garden. We are not interested in going to the animal farm or the botanical garden but there was no option to buy separate tickets just to the whaling station. We also thought it was too expensive just to go to the whaling station. How much business have they lost because they are not giving customers options. Well they lost our business and I WILL NOT be recommending this place whatsoever. If they were to charge $10 for each place and $25 for all 3 then they would get heaps of business. Thats what you get for going to a tourist attraction, oh well, their loss
Written 2 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Mersina We are sorry that our ticketing structure didn't meet your expectations, but on the whole we receive regular feedback that the option of adding the gardens and wildlife to a whaling station ticket at no extra charge represents good value. The option to see just the whaling station is there, at a price of $32 and we have many people happy to purchase a ticket who choose not to see the gardens or wildlife if they are pushed for time. An average visit includes films, audio displays, restored ship and factory, galleries filled with artefacts and photographs and takes most people 3 hours or more so we disagree that the tickets are too expensive. Unfortunately, it doesn't suit everyone and we are sorry this is the case for you but we hope your comments do not deter others from experiencing this unique piece of Australian history.
Written 18 November 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

deanwebb2016
Brisbane, Australia332 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Well worth the visit if you're interested in this stuff. The outdoor Audio Experience (either 11:30am or 1:30pm) is good. It runs through the process of when the whale is landed , hauled up the ramp, and worked on by the Flensers etc. You move along the yard with the voice over through outdoor speakers explaining what was done in each area. Certainly brings a realism to what happened back then.
On the whaling boat, Cheynes IV, we got to talk to "Bob", an ex-whaler from the 70's, who has many a story to tell. He's no longer pro-whaling, as most of us aren't, but I think most of us understand those were different times. (the internal areas of the boat were closed due to COVID social distancing restrictions, but these were about to be relaxed).
When starting your walk through the site, i think it was the first small building on the right, that has dozens of early photos showing the process workers plying their trade. a definite eye-opener. The shed containing whale skeletons (including a Pygmy Blue) towards the end of your tour is also definitely worth a visit. All in all an insightful day out, one that's very unique.
Written 2 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Dean Thank you for your recent visit, and for taking the time to share your detailed review to our business profile. It certainly does sound like you made the most of your visit within our museum, joining an audio experience and exploring the whaling ship are great places to start to absorb the history. Happy to report that the Cheynes IV is indeed now back open in all areas for our visitors, as it is easily the highlight of many people's visits. The heritage photo gallery that you mention (correctly, on the right as your first hit the grassed area in front of the ship) is home to a fantastic collection of photos. They were taken by the late Ed Smidt, photo-journalist for the local newspaper in the 1970s and they really do give an accurate account of what whaling as an industry was like. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your visit, and hope your review encourages others to also visit our community-owned museum.
Written 18 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Victoria M
Sydney, Australia35 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
Terrible Value at $32. I only wanted to visit the garden however the only option was an admission ticket to all three "attractions". The managers need to revise their pricing structure or make it much clearer on their website as $32 per person to visit this very sad garden represents terrible value.

I definitely would not recommend anyone visit this place if they only want to see the garden, definitely not worth the drive there or the price of admission.

I also briefly visited the "wildlife park" on the way back to my car, this consisted mainly of some wombats, pademelons, possums and wallabies in chicken wire enclosures, it was a bit embarrassing and the whole place was imbued with a sad and depressing sense of neglect, I felt very sorry for the animals.
Written 31 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Victoria We are sorry to read that you had a bad experience. Our main attraction, as reflected in our name is the historic, museum site. Ticket pricing is based on this, with the add-on of being able to also visit the wildflower garden and the wildlife park. Our website does state that a ticket covers all three areas (after purchase customers can freely choose how much of each attraction to explore), and further explains that a 'gardens/wildlife' only ticket is made available in WA school holidays. We apologise if this was not clear enough for you ahead of your visit. Peak flowering for wildflowers in our region of WA is late September through to November, and unfortunately a visit in March will not provide for the full wildflower experience. However, the planted wetland environment is beautiful all-year round and we hope you were able to explore and appreciate this. Please be assured that the wildlife park animals are not at all neglected, and that much more than just the animals you list from your quick visit are available to see. We will of course pass your concerns regarding pricing on to our management board, as part of their annual review of ticketing. Thank you.
Written 18 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

westy54
Sydney, Australia13,545 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
The old Cheyne Beach Whaling Station was built in 1952 although whaling activities had been recorded as being undertaken in King George Sound as early as the 1840's. The Whaling Station closed on 21 November 1978 and the station was subsequently turned into a museum in 1985.

During the years it operated, from 1952 to 1978, a total of 1,136 humpback and 14,695 sperm whales were caught and slaughtered.

Concession entry for seniors was $30 per person and included a self guided tour of the old whaling station, boarding the Cheynes IV Whale Chaser, reviewing the original equipment used to process the whales, watching some movies and seeing a number of artifacts and an enormous collection of shells. It also included a self guided walk of the attached Regional Wildflower Garden and Australian Wildlife Park although as it was raining heavily off and on, we opted to give this one a miss.

It was very interesting boarding the Cheynes IV and looking in the various cabins and the bridge and talking to one of two volunteers working that day who also worked on the Whale Chasers. One would have only been a teenager when he started on the Whalers and told us that there were very few other occupations that he could have moved into as the revenues from the Whaling industry virtually supported the whole town. Obviously attitudes to whaling have changed and thank goodness for the better, but back in the 1950's and 1960's it was almost a case of work on a Whaler or be unemployed, which many of the men were after the station closed.
Written 31 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Westy54, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the variety of exhibits. We understand that weather can sometimes impact plans, and we hope you'll have a chance to explore the Regional Wildflower Garden and Australian Wildlife Park on a future visit. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back!
Written 19 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dan Fab
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
Absolutely amazing place! Great information, videos, artifacts! Would of loved more conservation information or just acknowledging more of it! Had a great video on shark conservation however at the cafe sold shark *face palm* and sold whale oil as well…? I don’t know seems a little bit backwards in that sense
Written 24 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lorraine L
Tarwin Lower, Australia3,581 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
This was much more than I expected. The museum is really well set up and there must have been lots of work over the years to bring it up to the standard it is. You are given a map to start with and if you follow it around you will learn so much about this old industry. There are a few videos to watch around in the various sheds and they give a good insight to the industry then and how the workers feel about it now. I think to understand where we are going you need to know about the past.
Written 3 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lorraine Thank you so much for your review. Yes there has been many hours of work by our dedicated staff and volunteers to restore the ship and factory to its current state and we really appreciate when visitors comment on this. As a not-for-profit organisation with only a small team of workers, we are extremely proud of how the site presents today! We are so pleased that you enjoyed your experience at our museum.
Written 12 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Albany's Historic Whaling Station Admission Ticket provided by Albany's Historic Whaling Station

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