8 of the best things to do in Port Fairy

Jo Stewart Jo Stewart
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From joining a kayaking tour to pedalling along a historic rail trail and swooning over a cute, heritage lighthouse, there are plenty of things to do in Port Fairy.

A coastal town that once hung its hat on whaling and fishing, Port Fairy is now a hub where food, creativity and the arts flourish. A charming blend of old and new, Port Fairy is one of those places that makes you dream of packing it all in and setting up a new life by the seaside. Whether you prefer an active break or a more chilled getaway by the sea, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Port Fairy. Here are some to get you started.

1. Go to market

Held on alternating Saturdays at Railway Place, the Port Fairy Community Market and Port Fairy Farmers Market are lovely spots for a wholesome morning wander.

people busy shopping at Port Fairy Market
Shop your way around Port Fairy Market. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Fresh produce, cakes, preserves, local honey, wine, arts and crafts, plants and more are all for sale here, making it a top place to grab a gift for a friend or stock up on gourmet goods straight from the producer.

a woman holding a ceramic at a stall in Port Fairy Market
Head to Port Fairy Market for great ceramic finds. (Image: Visit Victoria)

2. Step back in time on a walking tour

Did you know that Port Fairy was once called Belfast? Or how about the town having more than 50 buildings listed with the National Trust? Learn historical facts and other stories about this distinctive town on a walking tour led by a local expert guide from the visitor information centre.

a couple on a historic walk in Port Fairy
Go on a historic walk in Port Fairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

If you miss out on joining one of the tours, you can DIY by downloading a heritage trail map and going for a self-guided wander.

a couple on a walking tour in Port Fairy
You can also opt for a self-guided wander. (Image: Visit Victoria)

3. Join in the festival fun

When it comes to festivals and community celebrations, little old Port Fairy certainly punches above its weight. Throughout the year, the town hosts a wide-ranging program of festivals, including the ever-popular Port Fairy Folk Festival (March), Port Fairy Jazz Festival (February), Port Fairy Literary Weekend (September), Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (October) and the Port Fairy Annual Show (November). Large festivals like the Port Fairy Folk Festival draw big crowds (so be sure to book accommodation and restaurants well in advance) while the Port Fairy Annual Show is a classic country fair beloved by locals. Either way, visiting when one of Port Fairy’s many festivals and events is in full swing is a great time to witness the strong community spirit of this mighty, little town by the sea.

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4. Explore Griffiths Island on foot

Walking from the centre of town to Griffiths Island’s famous lighthouse is a must-do when visiting Port Fairy. Home to a range of native wildlife, you may be lucky enough to see a swamp wallaby or echidna here.

the lighthouse on Griffiths Island
Griffiths Island’s famous lighthouse is a must-do when visiting Port Fairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

More than 80 bird species have been recorded on this small island, so if you’re into birdwatching bring your binoculars and bird book – you may just get to tick a few new species off your list.

walking on foot at sunset on Griffiths Island
Walk on foot at sunset. (Image: Visit Victoria)

As a nesting site for short-tailed shearwaters, you’ll need to leave your dog at home for this walk. The circuit around the island should take an hour or so to complete but take your time to take it all in – there’s no rush in this corner of Victoria.

biking around Griffiths Island
You can also pedal your way around Griffiths Island. (Image: Visit Victoria)

5. Get stuck into some water sports  

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, try your hand at kayaking or find out what paddleboarding is all about, Port Fairy is the top place to give it a go.

surfers heading out to the beach in Port Fairy
Learn to surf or go paddleboarding in Port Fairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Run by local surfers with top knowledge of local conditions, Port Fairy Surf School has a range of classes and tours that enable visitors to experience the area’s beautiful beaches and waterways.

surfers gathering at sea in Port Fairy
Hit the waves in Port Fairy. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you book a group kayaking tour for you and your mates, a private surf lesson to brush up on your technique or your very first surf class to learn the basics, you’ll walk away with some new skills and an awesome experience to remember Port Fairy by.

surfing on a sunny day in Port Fairy
Soak up the sun on your surfboard. (Image: Visit Victoria)

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6. Cruise the bay (and back) in under an hour

Getting out on the water is a must-do when visiting the Great Ocean Road, and the good news is you don’t have to commit to spending an entire day on a boat in order to experience some time on the sea. If you’re short on time, book a half-hour bay cruise on a small boat with Mulloka Cruises. Cruises leave from the town’s main fisherman’s wharf and offer top views of Port Fairy’s historic lighthouse. This short, simple cruise is perfect for kids or anyone who loves the idea of cruising, but not the cost (or seasickness) that comes with a full day out on the choppy, open water.

a woman walking on Port Fairy Beach
Spend an entire day on the sea. (Image: Visit Victoria)

7. Ride the Port Fairy to Warrnambool rail trail  

If the weather is fine, hop on your bike and explore this scenic rail trail that stretches from Port Fairy all the way to Warrnambool. On this 37.5-kilometre trail, you’ll pedal along the Moyne River, past the Koroit old rail station building, through wetlands areas and tracts of picturesque farmland. Don’t have your own wheels? Hire a bicycle or e-bike and helmet from the Port Fairy and Region Visitor Information Centre.

8. Taste premium seafood on an abalone farm tour

Seafood fans are well taken care of in Port Fairy. There are fish and chip shops, fine dining restaurants specialising in seafood and fishing charter boats you can join for a day of angling.

a basket full of abalones at Ocean Road Abalone, Port Fairy
Hold a basket full of molluscs at Ocean Road Abalone. (Image: Jo O’Keefe)

What many visitors don’t know is Port Fairy is also home to Ocean Road Abalone, a large abalone farm that is a pioneer of land-based abalone farming in Australia.

a hand holding a shell of abalone at Ocean Road Abalone, Port Fairy
Get a taste of premium Australian tiger abalone. (Image: Jo O’Keefe)

On the 90-minute tour, you’ll learn all about the production of premium Australian tiger abalone and get to taste some of the delicacies found on fine dining restaurant menus around the world.

a farmer harvesting abalone at Ocean Road Abalone, Port Fairy
See how farmers harvest abalones up close. (Image: Jo O’Keefe)
Here are 8 of the best Port Fairy cafes to add to your list.

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Jo Stewart
Jo Stewart is a freelance features writer who pens stories about nature, pop culture, music, art, design and more from her home in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. When not writing, you can find her trawling through vinyl records and vintage fashion at op shops, antique stores and garage sales.
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6 nature-based experiences to prove the Bendigo region comes alive in autumn

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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    A change is as good as a holiday, but never more so than in the Bendigo region when it’s the seasons putting in the transformative work.

    With its gold rush history, opulent architecture and booming food and wine industry, there’s no denying that the Bendigo region is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Visit between March and May, however, and you’ll find the Bendigo in autumn really comes alive. Foliage erupts in a canvas of golden colours and the cooling air makes immersing yourself in nature all the more enticing.

    Need a few ideas to get you started? We’re so glad you asked.

    1. Tackle the bike trails

    Pink Cliffs Reserve
    Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Welcome to a region that punches well above its weight when it comes to cycling. This is where hammies are tested on multi-day rides, and first-timers fall in love with the sport on short (and ridiculously pretty) trails.

    The 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail is the headline act, following the old railway line between Bendigo and Heathcote. Cross the Campaspe River at Axedale Recreation Reserve and pause at the Platypus Compass Sculpture and the First Nations mural marking the connection between Djaara and Taungurung Country, with Axedale acting as the perfect halfway stop to refuel at a pub or cafe.

    Pedal a little further Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve to be rewarded with views of sculpted pink clay cliffs and narrow gorges that are perfect for a photo stop. Searching for a different type of reward? The Heatchote Wine Region is full of inviting cellar doors.

    There are plenty of other options in the Bendigo region, from the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track, to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail – both ideal for riders of all abilities. The 3.7 kilometre Little Lake Boort loop is a great family-friendly option.

    Prefer something more adventurous? Spring Gully Mountain Bike Park has been keeping BMX Bandits’ dreams alive for years.

    2. Enjoy the crunch of autumn leaves

    two people having a picnic at Valley of Liquidambers heathcote
    Pack a picnic and head to the Valley of Liquidambers.

    Blinding clusters of crimson, burnt orange and brilliant yellow; here, autumn leaves are crisp confetti of fire and gold. See the magic up close with a slew of parks seemingly dedicated to showcasing Mother Nature’s colour wheel, especially from mid April to early June.

    Pack a picnic for an afternoon at Valley of Liquidambers in Heathcote, where Liquidamber trees transform into a wonderworld of magical foliage. Don’t miss taking a leisurely stroll across the swinging bridge back towards the main street.

    Rosalind Park might be celebrated for its annual tulip display come springtime, but it’s hard to compete with the theatre of autumn. Here, many trees date back to the 1800s, and there’s no better place for a romantic stroll than along the elms, oak and Queensland Kauri that dominate this park.

    Head straight to Lake Weeroona, where an ornamental lake begs for a leisurely lap around its edges, either on foot, or with pedal power.

    3. Immerse yourself in First Nations culture

    woman exploring Kooyoora State Park with guides
    Explore Kooyoora State Park on a cultural tour.

    Its ‘Mountain of Light’ (Guyura in the Dja Dja Wurrung language) title is impressive, but so too is Kooyoora State Park’s rugged landscape of granite outcrops, rocky ridgelines and wide-open skies.

    While there’s nothing to suggest you couldn’t explore Kooyoora’s walking tracks on your own, the best way to understand the 40,000 years of history behind its natural wonders is to book a 2.5-hour Kooyoora Cultural Tour with Dumawul Tours.

    Led by Djaara cultural guides, expect a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, before engaging storytelling rewinds the clock to reveal the deep cultural significance of the land, its flora, fauna and its continuing connection to Country.

    Keen to stay a little longer? Consider staying overnight at the campground and committing to the park’s wealth of walking trails, such as the 5.3-kilometre hike from the camping ground to the lookout on the Long Rock Walking Track.

    4. Splash in the region’s waterways

    Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail
    Paddle through Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Water babies rejoice: the Bendigo region offers a wealth of waterways to explore.

    Flowing 392-kilometres from the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River, the best way to enjoy Loddon River is with a stop at Bridgewater. Here you can swim in the natural infinity pool or tackle the all-abilities, five-kilometre Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail before browsing the cute stores in town. Hungry? Grab a bite at Bridgewater Hotel.

    Lake Eppalock is popular for water activities, but don’t miss a visit to Little Lake Boort and Big Lake Boort. Birders, in particular, will love the former, thanks to the large variety of bird species that nest in the boardwalk area surrounding the lake.

    Meanwhile, Big Lake Boort is celebrated for its significant Indigenous history and over 400 scarred trees, and offers an opportunity to spot birds and go canoing.

    Meanwhile, watersports and recreational activities at Crusoe Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Bendigo, are the order of the day. Take a walk to the picnic spots of No. 7 Park nearby, and maybe even camp there for the night.

    5. View epic lookouts

    customers at Peregrine Ridge
    Spend time at Peregrine Ridge.

    Sometimes a holiday requires a phenomenal spot on which to perch as you survey your temporary kingdom below. The Bendigo region, happily, doesn’t do anything by halves.

    Located in Heathcote-Graytown National Park, Viewing Rock Lookout – a rocky outcrop offering spectacular views over Heathcote and surrounds – remains a popular choice. Take the hour-long Viewing Rock Circuit Walk and try your hand at gold prospecting nearby.

    Prefer the romance of sunrise or sunset? Pyramid Hill, a stunning granite hill rising 187-metres above sea level, is the place to be (preferably with a coffee and a bagel)

    Over in Terrick Terrick National Park, a walk to the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of woodlands, farms and open-sky plains. Pack lunch – and perhaps a tent – as picnic tables and camping are available.

    Carve out time for Peregrine Ridge, a vineyard situated at the eastern side of Mt Camel Range with an elevation ranging from 250-290 metres. Be rewarded with delicious wine and a cellar door which offers floor-to-ceiling views.

    6. Enjoy the Bendigo region’s parks and gardens

    Rosalind Park in bendigo
    Stroll through Bendigo’s best gardens. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Rosalind Park, located right in the centre of town, is considered Bendigo’s backyard and rightly so. Home to the Bendigo Easter Festival, it’s just as popular year-round for its sixty acres of rolling lawns, towering elms, fernery and winding paths – not to mention the playground which has plenty of little fans of its own. A short drive away, Bendigo Botanic Gardens – established in 1857 – offers a more tranquil space for deep-level nature immersion.

    Those who favour something a little more formal, cottage-style Canterbury Park Gardens – famous for its dahlias in autumn – delivers.  Stroll through its meticulously maintained ornamental gardens before checking out Lake Tom Thumb and Lake Neangar nearby.

    Time to start planning your adventure to the Bendigo Region, visit bendigoregion.com.au.