Weekend Trip at Port Fairy (2024)

My first solo travel ever was to a place called Port Fairy in Victoria state of Australia. I was alone living in Melbourne and I wanted to travel. It is difficult to find travel buddies when you are living all by yourself in an unknown country. So, I decided to take the step and decided my first solo travel.

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Where is Port Fairy?

Port Fairy is a coastal town in the state of Victoria in Australia. It is 290 kilometers from Melbourne, and the nearest train station is at Warrnambool, 28 kilometers from Port Fairy. Port Fairy is named after a small boat called the Fairy, captained by James Wishart. The town was renamed to Belfast and then renamed back to Port Fairy.

According to 2016 census, there are only 3340 people in Port Fairy. The town survives on tourism and fishing.

The traditional owners of Port Fairy are the Eastern Maar people. Eastern Maar people are the aboriginal people who identify themselves as Maar. Whalers and seal hunters initially used the town in the 19th century.

I selected this town only because there was a Youth Hostel Association (YHA). I know, pretty lame reason but I think I did make the right decision at the end for my first solo travel as I loved staying at the hostel and meeting fellow travelers.

How to get to Port Fairy?

• Public transportation – There are frequent trains between Southern Cross in Melbourne and Warrnambool. The train journey is close to 3.5 hours. Then, there are buses between Warrnambool train station and Port Fairy.
  • The train tickets can be booked on Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
  • The fare for the train can be paid using the MyKi transportation cards.
  • For bus fares, check at the Warrnambool train station.
  • The total journey takes about 5 hours.
  • I took the public transport when I visited Port Fairy.
• Driving – Port Fairy is around 290 kilometres from Melbourne City. And the drive takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. This is the quickest and easiest way to get to Port Fairy.
  • You can hire a self-driven car in Australia. All you need is a valid full driver’s license (in English) and a credit card.

Where to stay?

• Hostel – As I mentioned before, I stayed at YHA Port Fairy. The hostel is very close to the beach and a beautiful place to stay. The hostel was neat and very comfortable.
  • A bed at a female dorm costs as low as AUD 30 per night. For up-to-date information on availability and prices, check their website.

• Hotels and Apartments – There are plenty of hotels and apartments in Port Fairy that range from AUD 100 to AUD 400 per night. You can consider staying at Port Boutique Accommodation, Sails, or Wytonia Beachfront Accommodation. The best website to book accommodation in Port Fairy is Booking.com.

Things to do in Port Fairy

The coastal town has plenty to offer despite being such a small town. It is a fantastic place for whale watching during the whale season (between May and October every year). There are lookout points where one can spot whales.

Walking along the Moyne River is fantastic, and you can spend a few hours just watching and sunbathing near the river.

Griffiths Island and Lighthouse

Griffiths Island is a low-lying island that is just 1.5 km long and 0.8 km wide. The island lies at the mouth of Moyne River, where the river enters the Southern Ocean. It now does not have any permanent inhabitants.

Even though nobody lives on the island, it is a trendy spot for walking. I recommend visiting the island in the morning for a walk as the scenes from the island are very pretty, and the air is crisp and beautiful.

The Port Fairy lighthouse is another notable thing to see on Griffiths Island. The lighthouse was built in 1859 and is an excellent spot for photographers to catch the sunrise or sunset.

Port Fairy Town

The town is cute and buzzing, with cafes and restaurants over the weekend. You can have a lazy and beautiful breakfast at cafes overlooking the beaches. Or you can walk around the town and shop for authentic local souvenirs and products in the little shops.

You can also stay at Warrnambool and then come down to Port Fairy for a day trip.

Beaches

Port Fairy has a 6 kilometres long beach stretch. And this makes a perfect way to spend an evening. Walk along the coast, watching the pretty beaches and soaking in the fresh breeze that comes from the ocean.

Port Fairy Folk Festival

An annual four-day music festival called Port Fairy Folk Festival happens at Port Fairy every year in March. You need to buy tickets to visit this festival, which can be bought online or at the Box office.

Safety for solo female travelers

This was my first solo travel, and I had a great time traveling to and in Port Fairy. The coastal town is safe, and I had no issues or concerns. And that is one of the reasons why I started traveling solo.

However, like any other town, be cautious and know your surroundings. I avoid exploring alone after dark and try to be in my hostel or hotel before it gets too late. This way, I avoid getting into trouble, especially in quiet towns like Port Fairy.

Closing Notes

Port Fairy is one of the most beautiful towns I have seen. The coast, river, restaurants, people, and everything else about this place are excellent. It is a little historical fishing town. So, I recommend visiting this fantastic town in Melbourne if you have time.

Also read:

• Victoria Travel Diaries