Port Fairy, Victoria: Things to do & accommodation prices

The best things to do in Port Fairy, Victoria, include swimming at East Beach, stand-up paddleboarding tours and drinking in historic pubs like the Merrijig Inn.

The best things to do in Port Fairy are:

Visit the Port Fairy Museum.
Walk to the Griffiths Island Lighthouse.
Take surfing or paddleboarding lessons at East Beach.
Swim in the Killarney Beach rock pools.
Do a historic pub crawl.

All of these activities are covered in more detail below.

Where is Port Fairy, Victoria?

Port Fairy, Victoria, is the best Great Ocean Road town that not actually on the Great Ocean Road. Australia’s most famous tourist route ends in Warrnambool, and Port Fairy is another 29km west, past the Belfast Coastal Reserve.

Book now for the best prices on Port Fairy accommodation.

Because the day-trippers all turn back at Warrnambool, Port Fairy is much more chilled out. This Shipwreck Coast town has plenty of character, swathes of heritage buildings and a strong arty streak.

Things to do in Port Fairy, Victoria: Museum and Griffiths Island Lighthouse

Things to do in Port Fairy include visiting the Port Fairy Museum inside the Old Port Fairy Courthouse. It’s one of 60 heritage buildings in this Shipwreck Coast town recognised by the National Trust of Victoria. Inside the Port Fairy Museum, there’s your standard local history stuff, with a heavy focus on shipping and shipwrecks.

Another key Port Fairy attraction is the Griffiths Island Lighthouse. You can’t go inside, but the island is no longer an island, and the walk to the Port Fairy Lighthouse is about 400 metres long. You might prefer to go for a walk along the Moyne River, however – there are several riverside parks.

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.

What to do in Port Fairy, Victoria: Port Fairy beaches

Port Fairy is also a beach destination, with East Beach the largest beach on Port Fairy Bay. This 5.8km beach sees reasonably high waves around Reef Point in the east, but they’re more tame near the Port Fairy Surf Life Saving Club. All in all, East Beach is one of the safest beaches for swimming on the Shipwreck Coast.

East Beach is also where Go Surf runs beginners’ surfing lessons and stand-up paddleboarding tours. The SUP tours start off by meandering down the Moyne River before reaching East Beach.

Paddleboarding in Port Fairy, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria

Other Port Fairy beaches worth a visit are Killarney Beach further east and Southcombe Beach to the west. Killarney Beach has several rockpools and is protected by offshore reefs, making it popular with families who are happy to let their kids swim.

There are more rockpools at Southcombe Beach – sometimes called South Beach or Pea Soup Beach. It’s best treated as an alternative when the surf is too rough at East Beach.

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.

Port Fairy pubs: Merrijig Inn and Caledonian Hotel

But if you’re asking what to do in Port Fairy, you’re probably asking the wrong question. This is a delightful town to just hang out in, with numerous artsy, crafty shops and some fabulous old pubs. Top Port Fairy pubs include the Oak and Anchor and the Merrijig Inn, which claims to be Victoria’s oldest inn. The Caledonian Hotel, aka the Stump, reckons it’s the oldest pub in Victoria. Take both claims with a pinch of salt, but they wear their 19^th century heritage on their sleeve.

Things to do in Port Fairy, Victoria: Whales and Tower Hill

Come to Port Fairy in winter and you’ve got a good chance of seeing southern right whales breaching in the bay. The other major wildlife attraction near Port Fairy is the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve in Koroit. This extinct volcanic crater is home to dozens of species. You’ve got a very strong chance of spotting wallabies, kangaroos, emus and echidnas.

Best Port Fairy accommodation picks

The best places to stay in Port Fairy are:

For a treat: Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel.
For heritage and character: Merrijig Inn.
For family-friendly cabins and facilities: Big4 Port Fairy Holiday Park.
For backpackers: Port Fairy YHA.
For a comparatively affordable motel: Seacombe House Motor Inn.

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