Albany is 420km south of Perth by road — about four hours on the Albany Highway through the wheat belt. The drive is straightforward but long; most visitors either hire a car in Perth or take the daily Transwa bus service, which connects Albany to the capital with stops along the way.
Albany Airport has regular flights to Perth operated by Rex (Regional Express). The flight takes about an hour and is worth considering if you want to cover the distance quickly. The airport is 8km from the town centre; there is no public bus, so arrange a taxi or shuttle.
If you are travelling on to Esperance or other points along the south coast, a hire car makes the most sense — public transport between south coast towns is limited, and the coastal scenery between Albany and Esperance is one of the great drives in Western Australia.