So you’ve landed in the charming seaside village of Port Fairy the perfect place to base yourself and explore. Port Fairy and surrounds has many natural attractions. Here are The top 8 places you must see for yourself – from a local!
Declared Victoria’s first National Park in 1892, Tower Hill is the ideal place to experience the Australian bush, enjoy magnificent scenery and landscapes while getting up close and personal with some of Australia’s most iconic native birds and animals including emus, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and seasonal reptiles. Tip: Book a guided tour! Take a 90 minute tour with a local guide giving you an exclusive opportunity to discover the natural habitat of some of Australia’s most iconic animals. Gain plants for food and medicinal purposes and even learn how to throw a boomerang!
A short drive west of Port Fairy you will find The Crags. Crags is a wild and scenic section of the coastline with calcified tree roots, jagged outcrops and panoramic views along the coast. The rocky cliffs protect small bays and are rich in wildlife including significant Silver Gull breeding site on the eastern most island. You can view the whole reserve from the lookout including Lady Julia Percy Island offshore. Tip: Its worth getting up early to make it for sunrise!
A natural oasis almost in the heart of the town, Griffiths Island supports a number of native animals including a small mob of swamp wallabies. It is also the site of one of Australia’s most accessible breeding colonies of short tailed shearwaters or mutton-birds. Tip: Griffiths Island is very popular for bird watching from September through to April.
A 33-metre thrill-seeking ride down Yambuk’s sand dunes! Climb the steps to the top of the slide for panoramic views along the coastline and out to Lady Julia Percy Island.
You cant go to a seaside village without exploring its beaches and you’re in luck Port Fairy has a beach to suit everyone whether it’s surfing, swimming, fishing or simply exploring rock pools.
Budj Bim National park is a half hour drive from Port fairy. Featuring several walking tracks, a camping area and excellent picnic facilities. The geological features include Lake Surprise, a beautiful crater lake, lava canals, a natural bridge, lava blisters, collapsed lava tunnels and lava cave. Tip: Pack a picnic lunch and take a torch for exploring.
Childers Cove offers wonderful seascapes in relative isolation. Easy access to these stunning coves rewards you with large sea and surf, sandstone stacks and colorful sandstone/limestone cliffs. Walking these beaches is one of those rare experiences of seclusion mixed with awe of the forces of nature.
Spend the day rock pooling at Pea Soup Beach — good old simple fun! Just remember if you pick up any little critters to place them back where you found them
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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
