Perched at the far end of the Great Ocean Road on Victoria's famous Shipwreck Coast, Port Fairy is a beautiful historic retreat of wide shady streets and old stone churches. Enjoy sailing and swimming in the azure seas, see native animals in their natural habitat and sample delicious artisan food.

Things to do

Take one of the historic walking trails around town to see Port Fairy’s fine 19th-century architecture, grand merchant’s houses and whitewashed whaler’s cottages. The Historic Lifeboat Station houses an exceptional collection of maritime equipment from the past 200 years, including a restored lifeboat from 1857.

Port Fairy is still a popular fishing spot today, with river fishing, beach fishing and boat trips all available. Spend an afternoon enjoying a new watersport, such as stand-up paddleboarding and kitesurfing, or work on your swing with a round at the Port Fairy Golf Club.

Want to get up close to some iconic wildlife? At Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve you can see emus, kangaroos, koalas and wallabies in their natural habitat on a guided eco-tour. Griffiths Island has a colony of short-tailed shearwaters and a charming lighthouse built of local stone.

The arts flourish in Port Fairy, with a diverse array of boutiques and antique stores. Shop for jewellery and crafts at the Community Market or fruit, vegetables and honey at the Farmer’s Market. Afterwards, try some regional produce and local wines in Merrijig Inn Restaurant.

Getting around

Port Fairy is 3.5 hours’ drive directly from Melbourne or 4.5 hours along the picturesque Great Ocean Road. There are daily trains from Melbourne to Warrnambool and a bus connecting Warrnambool to Port Fairy. A local bus service will get you wherever you want to go in town and takes tourists out to the wildlife reserve.