The Great Southern is a fantastic weekend destination in both summer and winter. The vast array of restaurants, wineries, national parks and beaches give the Margaret River region a run for its money. This weekend, we were fortunate enough to get away from the hustle and bustle of Perth city life and check out some of the gorgeous sights of Albany. We stayed a couple of nights at the beautiful StableBASE which is located in Robinson, about 10 minutes west of the Albany town centre. We have more about the accommodation as below, but here's the IN guide to the Albany region. Day by day, and play by play.

FRIDAY NIGHT: 

Arrive in Albany and drop your things off at StableBASE. Enjoy a wine on the porch before heading into town for dinner and drinks. We recommend the lovely Liberté where you can cleanse your palette with a well priced apéritif, and tantalise your taste buds with a fusion of French/Vietnamese cuisine. 

SATURDAY MORNING: 

Begin your morning by cooking breakfast using farm-fresh eggs from the StableBASE pen. Then kick back and read a book with some coffee or tea on your private porch overlooking the green paddocks. 

If you're feeling adventurous (and if the weather permits) tackle the Castle Rock walk followed by the famous Gap site. Then head into the Albany Farmers Market to pick up provisions and a coffee.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON:

No trip down south can be without tasting local wines, so drive over to the Albany Entertainment Centre precinct where you will find Due South. Due South is a beautiful bar and restaurant perched on the water where you can treat yourself to some lunch and a glass or wine (or pint) while taking in the gorgeous scenery. Adjoining the restaurant is the franchise of franchises, Cellarbrations. This bottle-shop is literally the one-stop shop for all great southern wines. Taking a stop at this bottle shop will save you money and time. The manager, Barry, has skilfully curated the range of wines in store and may even give a discount if you pick up a case or two! This is a very convenient option for those trying to maximise their experience down south.

Then head home to StableBASE where you can cook dinner in your fully equipped kitchen or utilise the barbecue facilities on your private porch. Proceed to sit back and relax by the fire with a good book. 

SUNDAY MORNING:

Rise early and drive across town to Emu Point where you will enjoy breakfast with a view at the Emu Point Cafe. After a walk around the shores of Emu Point you may wish to drive around the corner and check out Ocean & Paddock for an early lunch. The family owned restaurant was recently voted 'the best fish and chips in WA' and we can attest to the great customer service and delicious food. 

As for the drive home on Sunday afternoon, we recommend stopping by the picturesque Denmark and Pemberton. Our lifestyle guide on the Karri region may give you some inspiration! 

WHERE TO STAY: 

StableBASE is an architecturally designed Airbnb nestled a short 10 minute drive to the west of the Albany city centre. It is nestled on a 6-acre property and is a pleasant surprise to the discerning traveller. The holiday accommodation is a self-contained wing of the property which is accessed through the main entry hall, shared with Tom & Sam's wing of the house or via glass doors directly from the deck area and guest parking. The accommodation consists of two spacious bedrooms, each with their own ensuite. A well-appointed kitchen and living room complete with a pot belly stove for those cold winters nights provided a gorgeous atmosphere.

Tom & Sam are the perfect Airbnb hosts and made every aspect of our stay enjoyable. Tom greeted us on our arrival and Sam gave us a tour of the property the following morning. The intuitively designed home equipped with stylish fittings and materials was very much 'in tune' with its rural environment, lending itself to a feeling of peace and relaxation. What was even more impressive was the commitment to sustainable design and living practices which you can read more about here.

Their gorgeous dogs, egg-laying chooks and enchanting horses captured our hearts and made the experience so much more special. While we did not get to pick their homegrown veggies and herbs, there was certainly plenty to choose from! Nothing has been left to chance in this rural clean-living retreat.  StableBASE certainly exceeded our expectations with its attention to detail and we are looking forward to returning in the summer for beach walks and tours of the national parks. 

If you would like to experience the best accommodation Albany has to offer, we are running a special promotion in partnership with StableBASE. Like StableBASE on Facebook and tag who would like to bring along on a 2 night retreat in the month of September, October or November. Winners will be announced on September 15!