8 of the best things to do in Port Fairy

Jo StewartBy 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.

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)

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.
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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This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

    Chloe CannBy Chloe Cann
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    Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington , like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

    We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

    A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

    inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes
    Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours . While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

    holding Portarlington mussels
    See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

    As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

    The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

    blue mussels off Portarlington
    Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

    Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

    Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli
    Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

    “Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

    a hand holding a Portarlington mussel
    Mussels are a sustainable food.

    Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

    But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

    guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard
    Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.