Warrnambool to Port Fairy: Distance, driving time and road trip attractions

The Warrnambool to Port Fairy drive is only 29km long. But road trip attractions such as the Belfast Coastal Reserve, Tower Hill and Killarney Beach make it a great add-on to the Great Ocean Road.

The Warrnambool to Port Fairy drive is generally seen as an add-on to a road trip down Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Most tourists with a limited timespan will tend to turn back for Melbourne at Warrnambool. This keeps Port Fairy preserved as a charming fishing town with fantastic beaches, heritage buildings and handsome old pubs such as the Merrijig Inn.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy distance and driving time

The drive from Warrnambool to Port Fairy is a short one, but you can easily turn it into half a day’s road trip. The full Warrnambool to Port Fairy distance is 29km. The trip down the Princes Highway should take about 24 minutes.

Top Warrnambool experiences to book before arriving

Take a geologist-led tour of Budj Bim National Park – discover the Aboriginal cultural connections to the ancient volcano.
Relax in the rockpools – at the geothermally-fed Deep Blue Hot Springs.
Tandem skydive near the 12 Apostles – jump from a plane over the Shipwreck Coast.

The best Warrnambool accommodation options

The top places to stay in Warrnambool are:

For a family-friendly holiday park with a kids’ club: Discovery Parks Warrnambool.
For luxury with a full service spa: Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs.
For waterfront location: Lady Bay Resort.
For high quality apartments with a pool: Gallery Apartments.
For a good value motel: Mid City Motel.

However, you might want to significantly increase the Warrnambool to Port Fairy driving time with a couple of stops along the way.

7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy road trip attractions: Belfast Coastal Reserve

You can dip into the Belfast Coastal Reserve, which is all dunes, wetlands and birdwatching. This is a popular stretch with dog-walkers and surfers. It has a gloriously wild, untouched feel.

Next up is the top attraction on the Warrnambool to Port Fairy drive. The Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve in Koroit is an extinct volcanic crater with a lake in the middle. There are several walking trails, but you’ll not have them to yourself.

Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne

For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.

Tower Hill and Killarney Beach

The Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve teems with native Australian animals. Wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas and emus are particularly prevalent. It’s a gorgeous place to walk around, and one of the best places in the country to see iconic Aussie wildlife.

echidna at Tower Hill Reserve near Warrnambool — Echidnas are just one of the Australian native creatures you can see at the Tower Hill Reserve near Warrnambool in Victoria. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

The final attraction on the Warrnambool to Port Fairy road trip is Killarney Beach. This is one of the best beaches on the Shipwreck Coast for a swim. Offshore reefs keep the surf at bay, and there are dozens of rockpools for kids to explore.