Princess Royal Harbour is a large, sheltered saltwater harbour adjacent to the city of Albany. It connects to the larger King George Sound via the Ataturk Channel. The harbour is a significant maritime area with a working port, featuring a deepwater jetty and shipping channel. For paddlers, the primary formal launch point is the sandy beach on the west side of the Emu Point Boat Harbour car park, which offers toilet and change room facilities. Another recommended launch is from the Albany Waterfront Marina area, accessible from Princess Royal Drive. The harbour's character is defined by its mix of industrial port activity, historic sites, and natural beauty, with views of Mount Clarence and Mount Adelaide framing the northern shores.

A specific 7-kilometer circuit paddle starts from Emu Point Boat Harbour. This route heads out through the marina, requiring awareness of boats and ships, then crosses the harbour southeast to the Cheynes II shipwreck, which is grounded in 3-4 meters of water. Paddlers can circle the wreck but should not board it. The route continues north past Camp Quaranup and its historic quarantine station jetty, where landing is not permitted, and onward past Inner Bramble Beach, which can be a safe landing spot for a rest at high tide. The area is known for wildlife; dolphins are regularly seen, and large rays and small fish can be observed in the shallows. Paddlers must be mindful of other water traffic, including water skiers and jet skis near Green Island, and should stay to the right in marked boating channels. The harbour is exposed to wind, and its open water can develop a fetch, so conditions can change. Tides influence access to certain areas like Inner Bramble Beach.