Port Fairy: Coastline, Island Trails and Maritime History

Port Fairy combines distinctive beaches with island trails and a rich maritime history. To shape your stay, you can choose from a long stretch of coastline, walking trails through bushland, historic tours and experiences on the water. These different sides of the town can help you decide which surroundings and excursions suit your trip.

Beaches with their own character

East Beach is Port Fairy’s main beach and stretches for 5.8 kilometres. Its broad, sweeping arc runs from Reef Point in the east to North Mole, or the harbour entrance breakwater, in the south. The beach faces in different directions at either end: south at Reef Point and east at North Mole.

Pea Soup Beach offers a different coastal landscape: it is shallow, sheltered and protected by a reef, and it also has rock pools. If you choose beaches based on their features, you can compare these characteristics with the length and shape of East Beach. Pea Soup Beach is shallow and protected by a reef, while East Beach is a 5.8-kilometre-long, sweeping beach.

Griffiths Island and walks

A short walk across the causeway from Martin’s Point leads to Griffiths Island. Trails run through low bushland there. Visitors are asked to stay on the trails; dogs are not permitted on the island. If you are planning a trip there, these guidelines are worth considering when deciding whether the island fits into your day. A natural oasis lies close to the town centre, and is also home to a small group of swamp wallabies.

Griffiths Island is also home to the Griffiths Island Lighthouse and the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. Both were built from bluestone by Scottish stonemasons in 1859. These historic buildings add a tangible glimpse of Port Fairy’s maritime past to the island’s natural setting.

Culture and maritime history

The port’s past can be explored in several ways. The Port Fairy Historic Wharf Tour is a guided walk through the Historic Port Precinct along the Moyne River, led by knowledgeable guides. The Port Fairy Maritime and Shipwreck Heritage Walk focuses on local maritime history. The Port Fairy Historic Walking Tours centre on historic buildings that have survived to this day. If you are interested in the town’s history, you can choose between a guided walk by the river, a focus on shipping and shipwrecks, or historic buildings.

The Port Fairy Folk Festival is also part of the town’s history: it has been held every year since 1977 on the land of the Pyipgil Gundidj in Peek-Whurrong Country. The Norfolk Island Pine Avenues of Port Fairy were recently added to the Victorian Heritage Register. The significant pines along the streets are to be protected and enhanced for their importance to Port Fairy’s character, community and history.

Experiences on the water

The Port Fairy Surf School caters to children and beginners and serves Port Fairy and Warrnambool. Its activities include snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and surf lessons, as well as surfboard hire. For families who would like to include water activities in their trip, this specific focus is a helpful guide. Visitors can also take a cruise from Port Fairy wharf to the seal colony on Lady Julia Percy Island.

For more destinations, explore Smythesdale, Orbost, Ovens, Rutherglen, Cavendish, Red Cliffs, Rubicon and Lalbert.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.