Point Possesion Hiking Trail, Albany: The Ultimate Guide 2026
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If you’re looking for a hike with stunning views, beach swims and the chance to spot incredible wildlife – then look no futher! Point Possesion hiking trial is classed as a Grade 3 meaning it requires a decent fitness level with some uneven surfaces, steep steps and also beach walking (and swimming!) It is a 5km circuit trial starting and finishing at the Whalers Cove car park offering spectacular views at every moment of the hike!
Albany in Western Australia is slowly becoming a must see destination on the South West Coast. With lots of amazing hikes to complete in the surrounding area, the option are endless whether you’re an avid hiker or just want to stretch your legs with an amazing view. Hikes like Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range National Park, located only 1 hour north of Albany, is a great hike to get your heart pumping. However, there are definitely more gentle hikes where you can take in the stunning landscape that the South West of Australia have to offer – like this hike for exmaple!
FAQs
Where is Albany?
Located on the Southern Coast of Western Australia, Albany lies around 420km southeast of Perth.
How to get there?
By Car: Perth to Albany is 421 kilometres. It takes approximately 4 hours 35 minutes to drive from Perth to Albany
By Air: flights from Perth Airport to Albany Airport take just over an hour. Hire a car to explore when you land.
By Bus: TransWA East Perth and arrives in Proudlove Parade Albany, but having a car gives you more freedom to explore
How many days should I spend in Albany?
I recommend at least 4-5 days to explore the main attractions. But you could stay up to a week if you want to explore slower and have more time to try the amazing local wineries or spend more days soaking up the sun on the beaches.
Places to stay in Albany
If you’re looking for more things to do in this region check out my blog post on 8 amazing things to in Albany!
The Hike
The hike starts at Whalers Cove carpark. Use AllTrails Peak to download the map offline (enjoy 30% off with this link!) There is a beach here too meaning you can take a dip for your hike or enjoy a cool down afterwards, although this hike includes 2 beach walks – perfect for cooling off mid hike! The start of the walk is clearly signed and there is also an information sign located in the car park which gives you an indepth description of the history and hike. The sign states to allow 3.5 hours return, however I believe it doesn’t need this long to complete. That said, if you want to take your time to swim at the beach or take in the views then allow more time!
The hike starts walking along a sandy track amongst the bushes – as always, watch out for wildlife. The views of the ocean and coastline is truly spectacular, I think I ony got about 2 minutes into the hike before I had to stop in awe at the views! The beginning of the hike is relatively flat with only a gradual incline. Even though the track is sandy, it is well maintained and easy to follow.
Along the track, keep your eyes out for native plants and wild flowers (when the season allows.) Once you’ve been walking for around 15-20 minutes, you will come across a wooden staircase. The track continues to be a wooden for a little while from this point, making it easier to hike the gradual hill climb. The wooden staircase is a great place for a breather and to watch the ocean for a while – maybe even spot whales or dolphins!
From here I would reccomend you walk steady especially if the ground is wet and it becomes granite rock. There is a big opening between the bushes which offers a spectacular view of the headland and beach – where the trail continues!
As you start to descend downhill the track becomes uneven and rocky, however it is still clearly signed and it’s obvious where the track goes. Just take your time and go slow if you need, especially if it’s wet underfoot then it will become slippy. Once you get to the bottom of the hill you can choose to continue either clockwise or anti-clockwise, as this part is circular and you will finish the loop here before taking the same track back up the hill to the carpark. I personally chose to go anti-clockwise and walk along the white sandy beach first!
The beach here is called Barker Bay Beach. A pristine, white sandy beach with turquoise blue waters making it very inviting for a swim! Unfortunately for my hike the weather was cloudy, windy and approximately 15 degrees celsius so I didn’t fancy going in for a dip this time. On a hot summers day, this would be an ideal place to cool off and would even be better if you chose to go the clockwise route meaning you can swim here before taking the trek back up the hill!
After completing the sandy walk, it almost marks the half way point of the trail. At the end of the beach walk, there is another wooden staircase and uphill climb. The views are great walking up the hill and offer a different perspective of the islands out to sea, plus can look back towards Whalers Cove beach and where the trail started!
The end of the headland marks the halfway point and just a little futher around the corner is a cairn with a lot of wide open space, making a great place for a snack and a break – however it can become very windy!
The next part of the track is very steep! Use the rails to help gentlely guide yourself down the rockface, take care when the surface is wet as it will become very slippery! You will be greeted by overlooking the next beach walk, however this section is only available to do during certain tide times. There is an alternate route if you can’t cross, look out for the markers!
For my experience, the beach was covered in seaweed and unfortunately not very pretty! I had to walk on top of piles of seaweed to reach the footpath again! Looking back, I probably should’ve taken the inland alternative route to save my poor new boots from becoming covering in a gloopy seaweed mess!
The rest of the track is simple as you join back on where you’ve already walked back up the hill and along the top to reach the carpark. I definitely recommended diving in for a swim at the beach (I must point out, it’s a clothing optional beach!) before hoping back in the car as the water is delightful and very clear.
Final thoughts: This walking track is great for beginner hikers who want to take in some gorgeous views and mix in some sunbathing and swimming time! The hike isn’t too strenous but some parts can be become difficult, especially in certain weather conditions! I would recommend completing this hike multipe times through out the year, during summer for the ocean swims and during winter to spot whales and other marine life from the shore! Enjoy!
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