Port Fairy is a pretty coastal town nestled on the coast in southwest Victoria. It takes around three hours to drive there directly from Melbourne, but why would you, when you can take the much more scenic route via the Great Ocean Road? The iconic tourist drive finishes just near Warrnambool, 20 minutes from Port Fairy.
This quaint fishing village is steeped in whaling and sealing history. Port Fairy tours take visitors to local attractions like Griffiths Island with its bluestone lighthouse, faithfully guiding ships to safety since 1859. Port Fairy holidays are perfect during the summer months when the town is hosts an array of events and festivals.
In 2012, Port Fairy was voted as one of the world's most liveable cities at The International Awards for Liveable Communities. It’s a stunning town with many of the early port buildings remaining, 50 of them protected by the National Trust of Australia including Victoria's oldest licensed hotel, the 1844 Caledonian Inn.
At Port Fairy, it’s easy to lose yourself among the beautiful boutiques, antique stores, art shops, and eateries. At the mouth of the Moyne River is Griffiths Island, a natural oasis almost in the heart of town. You can walk to the lighthouse and maybe glimpse some native animals along the way.
Home port for one of Victoria's largest fishing fleets, Port Fairy’s Fisherman’s Wharf area along the river is always lined with boats. There’s a footbridge over the river that offers superb views, or head to Battery Hill for a panorama stretching from the river to the ocean.
Port Fairy boasts diverse natural attractions from scenic coastlines to riverside parks and an island you can walk to! There are three main beach areas, and all are great for swimming. At some, you can try paddleboarding, take off on a kayaking adventure or do some boogie boarding with the kids!
The Port Fairy Botanic Gardens, first established in 1859 were once described as ‘the handsomest of any provincial town.’ Though they’ve since reduced in size, they are still worth a visit. One of the things you won’t miss on a stroll around Port Fairy are the rows of majestic Norfolk Pines lining the Moyne River and many of the town’s streets.
Some of the wildlife that call Port Fairy home are kangaroos, wallabies, and emus, while in the oceans you might spot dolphins and seals and the Southern Right Whales that shelter and breed in the area between May and September.
The Gunditjmara people also known as Dhauwurd Wurrung are the traditional owners of the coastal area that includes Port Fairy. Their lands cover Portland, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Woolsthorpe, inland to Camperdown, and much of the Budj Bim heritage area.
The bay was named by Captain James Wishart after his cutter 'The Fairy' in 1828. James Atkinson, a Sydney solicitor, purchased land in the town by special survey in 1843 and carried out large-scale works including building the harbour.
He renamed the town 'Belfast' in 1854 after his hometown in Northern Ireland. The town reverted to its original name of Port Fairy in 1887 as the result of an Act of Parliament.
The protected waters around Port Fairy are all perfect for swimming. Along Ocean Drive are numerous sandy beaches and there’s a patrolled surf beach that faces Port Fairy Bay or swim anywhere along almost six kilometres of shoreline.
Travelling along the Great Ocean Road between Port Fairy and Melbourne, there are many picturesque stops like Great Otway National Park, London Arch, Memorial Arch, Loch Ard Gorge, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and of course the Twelve Apostles. Some favourite towns include Bells Beach, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, and Apollo Bay.
There are plenty of day trips from Port Fairy to places such as Portland, the oldest European settlement in Victoria, Mount Gambier with its mysterious blue lake, and the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village at Warrnambool with its large shipwreck collection. Then of course there’s the fabulous surf coast with amazing views, and the Great Ocean Road and the famous 12 Apostles.
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