Port Fairy is a town that is a mix of long beaches, many eateries, and bars that go way back. This town has a great history and beautiful scenery, such as Battery Hill. No matter the time of the year you visit, there are many things to do in Port Fairy.
You can also see a lot of local art on almost every corner. We suggest the best activities and spots to make your experience wholesome and memorable.
1. Where is Port Fairy?
Port Fairy is almost 290 km Southwest of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This is the perfect weekend getaway site for families, couples, and friends.
It can also be a stop for a big Great Ocean region Trip as it lies on the Prince’s Highway in the Moyne Shire. It is the point where the Moyne River enters the Southern Ocean. The easiest way to reach the town of Port Fairy is via road.
This seaside town is all about history and has centuries-old communities, charm, stone homes, and buildings. Port Fairy is also famous for its calm and relaxing beaches. There are so many things to do in Port Fairy.
It was also voted number 1 in the Top Tourism Town Awards 2021. It is a famous tourist site in Victoria, so there are good hotels and cottages to rent.
2. Top 17 Things to Do in Port Fairy to Enjoy the Fullest
Port Fairy has a lot of things to do, and it can be fascinating. Look at the things not to miss when you are in Port Fairy.
2.1. Take the Port Fairy’s Historical Walk
The town hosts more than 50 beautiful buildings from the 19th century. These buildings are also listed with the National Trust, like the infamous two cottages with one chimney. There is also a shipwreck heritage walk.
An expert guide goes on Port Fairy’s Historic Town Walk to learn more about the town’s buildings and history. The guide helps you explore the history and discover the old stories about the events here.
Port Fairy is also one of the earliest settlements in Victoria. It goes back to the 1840s.
2.2. Learn Surfing from Port Fairy’s Surf School
Have you ever wanted to learn surfing? This is the perfect place to study. Try the Port Fairy’s Surf School for size. Qualified coaches take classes. It is also the longest-running surfing school on the southwest coast of Victoria.
The lessons are made for every possible fitness level in safe surroundings. The staff and teachers here are friendly and great. They do offer classes to everyone from 7- to 70-year-olds.
The coaches take you to Safe East Beach for practice and give you tips for a great first ride. They also offer other water sports like paddle boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling.
2.3. Explore Griffiths Island and Lady Julia Percy Island
Griffiths Island has incredible scenery that ranges from a walk to a lighthouse. It spans almost 1.5 km and is where Moyne River meets the Ocean. It is the silent part of the Port Fairy’s town.
The view is fantastic, and the walking trail leads to the Lighthouse. Griffith Island has small beaches that are worth strolling. You can also swim and paddle in the water. The only con is that there is no supervision, so be careful.
You can even see local wildlife like seals, wallabies, and more. But sadly, a full lap of the island isn’t possible. The view from the Lighthouse in the evening is the best.
Lady Percy Island is a small piece of land 22 km southwest of Port Fairy’s town. This island is called ‘Deen Maar’ in the indigenous ‘Gunditjmara’ language.
Percy Island hosts the largest fur seal group in Australia. It also has more than 2,000 couple of Little Penguins. You can even see native penguins locally.
You can go to the island on a boat for sightseeing, which can take almost 4 hours or so, and it goes from Port Fairy.
2.4. Stroll on the Wharf Area
As the name suggests, this is the Wharf of the region. It is one of the busiest places in Port Fairy. The marina houses luxurious yachts and weathered boats in various rows. There is so much to do here.
You can walk along the boardwalk, take a boat by the Moyne River, and go fishing. The place also has some great places to stay and eat. Griffiths Island, at the tip of the Wharf, has a playground and space to picnic.
This place was a main departure area during 1850 and so on.
2.5. Try Wine at Basalt Winery
Basalt Winery and Vineyard is the perfect place in Port Fairy to try various wines. It is just 9 km east of the Port. This Winery has a unique way of understanding bio-dynamic farming.
They have also replaced the conventional way with natural options. The cellar doors here offer snack bars and wine tasting, too. This Winery also offers Spanish and French tapas. You can also learn about ancient winemaking.
The Winery does have a fee for wine tasting and also specific timing.
2.6. Visit the History Center
History is one of the prominent parts of this town. Port Fairy has some great stories which can give a clear insight into the city. To have this clear image of Port Fairy, visit the History Center here.
The center offers us to see re-enactments of the courtrooms, photographs, and displays that cover the various times of the town. They also sell local history publications. Opening hours are seasonal.
2.7. Visit the Whale Bone Gallery
The place is used and run by local artists. The Whale Bone Art Gallery displays some intriguing exhibits. It is in the small coastal village here. These include jewelry, paintings, sculptures, and more.
The exhibits here are the finest examples of creativity and talent in Port Fairy. The artists here use various products like glass, photographs, textiles, ink, paint, and even stones in their art pieces. You can see the Art Map in the Gallery.
2.8. Stroll by the Port Fairy’s Beaches
The beaches here are the star attractions here. You can walk, swim, or sit and relax by these sandy beaches of the Shipwreck Coast. The town of Port Fairy has three beaches.
Below is more about these beaches.
2.8.1. Pea Soup Beach
This beach is a beautiful beach with pristine sand. It spans almost 1 km in length and is also clothing optional. It has a great view of the Ocean.
This is less crowded than other beaches, easy to access, and safe to swim. They are also known as Pea Soup Beach No.1.
2.8.2. East Beach
This beach spans almost 5.8 km with a long arc. It is located in the Bay of Port Fairy. East Beach has fine sand and is perfect for relaxing or sunbathing during the day.
There is frequent patrolling at weekends, but avoid the northern end as rip currents are vital here.
2.8.3. Killarney Beach
The beach is a silent and calming beach. It is a little out of town. The beach is dog-friendly too. You can go fishing, snorkeling, and paddling in the lagoon.
Guests of nearby Killarney Beach Caravan Park mainly visit Killarney Beach.
2.9. Relax in the Port Fairy’s Day Spa
Need to relax after all the wandering and sightseeing? This is the place for you. This day spa has the perfect peaceful feel with total bliss and tranquillity. It is the most relaxing experience in Port Fairy.
They offer facials, massages, many body treatments, feet treatments, water treatments, detox saunas, and more. These activities calm the body. Port Fairy’s Day Spa promises to keep its customers focused on the day and offer the best service.
2.10. Party at the Port Fairy’s Folk Festival
This festival was first started in 1977. It usually runs in early March every year. Port Fairy’s Folk Festival is one of the most loved and prominent festivals.
The festival is more than music; there are workshops, great food, drinks, crafts, theatres, films, forums, markets, and more. Famous and favorite names include Eddi Reader, Sinead O’Connor, Tim Finn, and more.
To know more, visit the official website.
2.11. Visit the Local Port Fairy Markets
Make sure to visit local markets to buy something unique as souvenirs. There are two local markets in Port Fairy. You can also have something delicious too. It is one of the experiences you shouldn’t miss in Port Fairy, as it can be a great time.
The Port Fairy’s Farmers’ Market and Port Fairy’s Community Market are two different markets that the Railway Place holds.
The farmers’ market has fresh products like local fruits, flowers, vegetables, wine, cheese, cakes, and more.
The Community Market focuses on locally grown handmade products and produce.
2.12. Play Golf at Port Fairy’s Golf Clubs
Suppose you book a time at Port Fairy’s Golf Club, like to play golf. It is an 18-hole link course. It goes through not ruined dunes and has a great view of the South Ocean. This makes it one of the fun activities to be involved in when in Port Fairy.
It is a popular site for locals, and this course is listed under the Top 100 Australian Golf Courses. It is also quite affordable. The golf course has different times for weekdays and weekends, so check it out.
2.13. Visit the Tower Hill Animal Reserve
This wildlife reserve is in a vast volcanic crater. These hills rise from the lakes. It is considered one of the critical geological formations in Victoria. Tower Hill Animal Reserve was declared a National Park in 1892.
This reserve was mainly used for grazing, but in the 1950s, locals planted 300,000 trees to restore the region’s nature.
There is a trail known as the ‘Lava-Tongue Boardwalk’ where you can spot emus, koalas, and more up close. There are lots of tracks from the Tower Hill Game Reserve. The longest of the trail is 2 km, which can be steep, so be careful.
2.14. See the View at Crags Viewpoint
This is a viewpoint. It is almost 10 km up the coast away from Port Fairy Town. This is also a part of Crags Coastal Reserve. It is a fraction of the coast of Victoria with old tree roots and jagged rocks and has views of Deen Maar.
120,000-year or so-old tree roots form strange rock formations. These rocks have unique patterns that have been emptied and are reinforced with calcium carbonate.
Crags also have a unique cultural heritage for the Aboriginal people and have been used as gathering places for thousands and hundreds of years. It is also listed as the National Estate of the Country.
2.15. Visit the Budj National Park
This park is a UNESCO Heritage in Victoria. Budj Bim Park has so much to do here. They are known for eel traps, dams, and weirs. You get to know about ‘Gunditjmara’ culture.
These activities include camping, walking, 4WD driving, and mountain biking. There is a long lake called Lake Surprise, 700 m, for crater lake views and walks.
The lake is home to fish and many birds. This is the perfect place for naturists.
2.16. Go to the Hopkins Falls
This waterfall is impressive, with a width of 90 m. Hopkins Falls is only 30 minutes from Port Fairy town. It has an excellent view over the view platform or foot.
There, you can see eels on the water; if you are lucky, you might even see platypus in the pools at the base of the falls.
Have a picnic here with great food and fishing, or head for a walk. You can also get facilities like toilets and gas barbecues.
2.17. Go Whale Watching
Watching whales is one famous activity in Warrnambool. Visitors flock to Logan’s Beach platform each year from June to September. It is one of the unique things of Port Fairy.
You get to see Southern Female Right Whales that travel to the peaceful waters to calve. They often swim 100 m or so off the shore. There are specially made platforms in the dunes that are free and accessible all the time.
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Is Port Fairy a town worth visiting?
Ans- It is worth visiting with so many intriguing, beautiful places. There are historical places like Battery Hill to visit, too.
Q.2. Does Port Fairy have a Beach?
Ans- Port Town has three or so beaches that are pristine and worth seeing.
Q.3. Where can I watch the sunset?
Ans- You can see the best sunset anywhere in Port Fairy’s town, but the sight is far better if you go to Griffiths Island or the Lighthouse.
Q.4. Is this town good for kids?
Ans- The Port Fairy’s town is very family-friendly, which makes it perfect for kids.
4. Conclusion
Port Fairy is a small town with some of the most beautiful places with historical significance. It is just hours from Melbourne, Victoria, which makes it accessible too. It is a place that should be visited at least once.
Besides that mentioned above, there are many more things to do in Port Fairy. Visit the town, try out the food and wine, and enjoy nature’s beauty here.
Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Namrata
