What to do in Port Fairy, VIC
My love for Port Fairy began back in 2012 when my parents purchased a run-down holiday home on the Great Ocean Road (see Magnetic Cottage below). The cottage required extensive renovations so we came to visit all the way from NSW and helped out with the reno process as often as we could (well worth the 13-hour drive!). I’ve been back countless times since, with my parents purchasing another property and actually relocating permanently which suits me fine as now we have a regular beachside holiday destination at our fingertips!
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit this historic fishing village, you’ll probably agree that you feel transported to some Irish or European coastline. The town was settled as a whaling village in 1828 and was reportedly named after the sealing cutter/boat, ‘The Fairy’. However, the name Port Fairy didn’t stay for long after an Irish whaler re-named it after his hometown, Belfast, fitting, given the similarity in the landscape! In 1887, the town reverted back to its original name and remained ‘Port Fairy’.
No matter how many times I visit this town, I’m consistently wow’ed by the picturesque Moyne River, the stunning Norfolk pine-lined streets and the brilliant colours of the endless surrounding beaches. If you’re yet to visit this town, I’ve put together some of my recommendations below, please be in touch with any questions about Port Fairy - I’d love to help you get the most out of this gorgeous little spot in the world.
Accommodation:
In full disclosure, all accommodation sites listed below and lovingly owned and managed by my parents. I wouldn’t be a good daughter if I didn’t first spruik their offerings. However, if these are booked out during your visit (which they often are!) there are plenty of other lovely accommodation options in and around Port Fairy.
Old Market Inn
The Old Market Inn has my heart. It comprises of three (almost four) self-contained, luxury suites. The Inn is a heritage-listed 1870s Georgian bluestone hotel that has been lovingly restored by my dad and step-mum over the past few years.
Just a short walking distance to everything the beautiful town offers, the recently renovated building maintains all its historic charm including high ceilings, double-hung sash windows, original baltic floors, cedar staircase and fireplaces.
Each suite offers a unique experience and is completely self-contained and private; has three rooms that boast large bedrooms, luxurious living spaces, designer kitchens and beautiful bathrooms.
Your stay includes a delicious and locally sourced continental breakfast hamper and a small welcome gift. See each of the suites below.
Named after the original owners of the Market Inn.
Named after the historic Norfolk pines outside the Inn and lining most of Port Fairy’s streets.
Named after the builder of the Old Market Inn, John Mason. He also built a number of other bluestone properties around the town.
Magnetic Cottage
Magnetic Cottage was the property that started it all. If only I had before photos of this little one as it has undergone massive transformations! You can still get a good idea of the before from the real estate photos here.
This beautiful quaint stone cottage situated right in the heart of town, 200m to all the restaurants, cafes and boutique shopping and only a short 7-minute stroll to the fabulous East Beach. This historic cottage was built circa 1850s and has been renovated to a very high standard and offers all creature comforts for an enjoyable holiday. This property is great for large groups or families, plus it’s pet-friendly!
Bank St & Co, Port Fairy
Food & Coffee:
Fortunately you can’t really go wrong with food in Port Fairy, just another reason my foodie-self loves the town so much. I’ve collated a few of my faves below.
Poco’s Artisan Ice Cream, Port Fairy
Oak & Anchor - Great vibes for any time of the day. A great option for lunch and dinner.
Bank St & Co. - A great breakfast/lunch spot with awesome coffee.
Coffin Sally - Perfect for dinner, authentic pizzas full of flavour!
Merrijig Inn - “We write our menu daily, using whatever our garden and our local farmers produce”. This restaurant requires booking as it’s often booked out. It’s also housed in one of the oldest buildings in Victoria!
Port Fairy IGA - Probably one of the best IGA in Australia, so well stocked with a range of health and gourmet food items. Perfect if you’ve rented a place to stay and you want to eat in!
Poco’s Artisan Ice Cream - A great summer spot - delish homemade ice cream.
Rebecca’s Cafe & Icecreamery - Another great all-rounder. Rebecca does homemade ice cream, great coffee and runs a cafe with delicious food too.
Sightseeing & Things to Do:
There are so many amazing things to do in and around Port Fairy. Plus, being the last stop on the Great Ocean Road, there’s so much more goodness just within a short drive too. Below are just a few of my faves.
Go Surf - Stand-Up Paddleboarding
I highly recommend this activity! Even if you have had experience with paddleboarding, I recommend the lesson and tour as you get to paddleboard along the river, come out at the river mouth and paddle across into the calm waters of East Beach. This was one of the most amazing activities I’ve ever done. Whilst we didn’t get to see seals or dolphins on our trip, it’s not uncommon to see these beautiful animals in and around the Port Fairy waterways.
Go Surf can also organise surf and paddleboard hire as well as surf lessons during Summer.
Rundell’s Beach Horse Riding
Approximately a 15 min drive outside of Port Fairy is Rundells’s Horse Riding. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. We took my younger brothers too who would have been between 8 - 11 years old at the time so it’s also great for kids. Don’t forget to rug up! Even in summer!
Tower Hill is an incredible volcanic crater, abundant with wildlife. There are an abundance of beautiful walks, ranging from easy to more challenging. On my last visit alone I saw emus, kangaroos and 4 koalas! It’s a great spot for a picnic and has a great visitor’s centre full of information.
Griffith’s Island & Lighthouse Walk
Griffith’s Island is a must-see when visit Port Fairy, hosting the iconic Port Fairy lighthouse.
In the summer months, visiting the island just after dusk to watch the amazing display of Short-tailed Shearwater (mutton birds) come into nest after migrating all the way from Alaska!
There are stunning walks around the island between 20 - 60 minutes.
For a full write of this island visit the link here.
There is a range of other events and things to do in and around Port Fairy including, Port Fairy Golf Links (one of the best in Australia so I’m told!), the Port Fairy Folk Festival every year in March, the Summer Moyneyana Festival and Winter Weekends. There’s always something happening!
Shopping:
When it comes to shopping, my advice is to spend a morning/afternoon strolling up Bank and Sackville Streets. There are plenty of great stores with more and more popping up each time I visit. A couple of my favourites below.
My personal favourite store in PF + they have an online store!
“We wanted to pay homage to this beautiful town, Port Fairy, by offering vintage finds and quality wares. It's important to us to include raw, ethical and local materials along with an eclectic mix of pieces from around the world.” - pennyandreiby.com.au
A relatively newer women’s wear store in PF with some super cute curated pieces. You can view their online store here.
Beautiful modern homewares with an in-house styling service too!
Final Tips :
One thing to note is that the drinking water in Port Fairy is simply horrendous, if you’re staying at the Old Market Inn you are provided with bottled water. I recommend you bring your own water or buy it upon arrival!
Secondly, always pack warm. Part of the reason I feel transported to Europe when I visit Port Fairy is because it’s often freezing with strong, icy winds whipping off the ice caps from Antarctica. Always pack warmer than expected and a windproof jacket is essential no matter what time of the year you’re visiting. The saving grace is that the sun is always lovely and warm so find a spot out of the wind and you’ll be toasty!
Lastly, Port Fairy is such a dog-friendly town. We take our black lab, Leo, every time and he honestly loves it so much. You don’t need a car if you’re staying in town so we all end up going for so many walkies!
To learn more about Port Fairy, visit the I Am Port Fairy website. This will provide you with all you need when planning a visit to the region as well as the latest events.
Have a great stay, hope this little wrap-up has been helpful. x
