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Port Fairy

Historic fishing town

This atmospheric whaling town in Victoria’s southwest would sit well in a Herman Melville novel. Established in 1833, it’s one of the oldest European settlements in Victoria, with no less than 50 heritage buildings protected by the National Trust of Australia. It’s especially famous for its annual music festivals, the most important of which is the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March (book accommodation a year ahead if visiting during the festival weekend).

Year-round draws include a postcard-pretty historic wharf and Griffiths Island, the latter home to a 19th-century lighthouse, beautiful beaches and a colony of short-tailed shearwater (mutton-bird). The birds migrate here from Alaska each October, staying until the weather begins to cool in April.

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How to get there

Port Fairy lies around 285km southwest of Melbourne on Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast.

Car: From Melbourne, the quickest route is via the Princes (M1) and Hamilton (B140) Hwys. If time is on your side, consider taking the longer but unforgettable Great Ocean Road (B100) route.

Train/Bus: V/Line trains run from Melbourne to Warrnambool, from where connecting buses reach Port Fairy.

Victoria

Image by Ed Dunens