In my humble opinion, Port Fairy is home to some of the best beaches in the world. A three hour drive from Melbourne towards South Australia, this coastal town is a treasure trove of sandy shores suitable for young and old. Whether you’ve brought your snorkel, surfboard or cricket gear along, here, there’s a beach for you.
East Beach
By far my favourite beach in Port Fairy, East beach is the most popular. Its waves are perfect for beginner surf lessons and experienced surfers alike.
When the sea is calm, grab your snorkel and head out to the small kelp forest near the front of the surf club, you may just come across a few brightly coloured fish!
With few rips, predictable and consistent sand and incline, it’s a safe beach for the whole family. The beach is patrolled between the flags out the front of the surf club by local volunteer surf life savers.
The beach stretches for a few kilometres from the mouth of the Moyne River all the way out to Reef Point. The sand is lovely, bright and clean and perfect for lazing around with a good book or wide enough for a hit of beach cricket.
Pea Soup / South Beach
Pea Soup is the ideal spot for a snorkel, as a reef and rocks protect it from the big ocean waves typically found at South Beach. In almost any weather, it’s calm and perfect for stand-up paddle boarding.
A big hit with young families, Pea Soup’s rock pools are an absolute delight. Crabs, sea stars and all kinds of other ocean critters can be easily discovered.
When the weather is harsh at East Beach, Pea Soup can offer a sheltered alternative. The ocean floor can be a little uneven in places, yet it remains one of the safest beaches.
The Passage
Not for the faint-hearted, the Passage is home to big waves, rocky shores and kelp forests, with its unpredictable nature more suited to experienced surfers.
Rock pools closer to shore are popular spots for taking a quick dip, going crabbing or watching the surfers do their thing. The carpark overlooking the Passage offers a great view of the waves too, if the day is too windy.
The Lighthouse
While the lighthouse beach is usually not safe for swimming, it is a great place to take a few photos and explore the rock pools. Located on Griffiths Island, the lighthouse is only accessible via walking or bicycle. A short causeway leads to a concrete and gravel path out onto the island.
You might spot the occasional surfer catching a few waves behind the lighthouse. There’s also whispers of a big shark that lurks off-shore, so you won’t catch me braving it!
Griffiths Island Beaches
While on your scenic walk to the Griffiths Island lighthouse, you will wander by a couple of sandy shores. The first is the Port Fairy Coastal Reserve. A variety of bird-life, and brightly striped fish call this place home. The sand is a little dense and sticky here, so take your thongs off before striding through.
The second beach you’ll come across on the way to the lighthouse is more suitable for taking a dip and laying down your towel. In a small bay area, this beach is excellent for building sand castles and dipping a toe in.
Take a long walk around the island and read up on its history as you go via the informative signage. You may even spot a placid wallaby hopping by!
South Mole
I only learned the name of this beach recently, as up until I wrote this article, I’d been referring to it as the childhood nickname my friend and I gave to it. So there you go, it’s called South Mole! This beach is great for discovering sea stars or reading a book. Relatively protected from the crashing waves, this lesser known spot is also great for snorkelling. A short walk along the rocks towards the ocean also leads to a popular fishing spot.
Where to book lessons/hire gear:
The cheapest and longest-running surf lessons and gear hire in town is at Port Fairy Surf School, part of Daktari Surf and Dive. Housed in a little shop in Bank Street, group surf lessons start at just $33 and run most days in summer. The store also offers stand-up paddleboards tours, snorkelling safaris, diving and kayak adventures. Most gear can be hired at a very competitive price – but get in early on those hot summer days as it can be popular! This isn’t a paid ad, but I may be a little biased as I used to work here in the summer holidays.
Learn more about the safety of each beach here.
What is your favourite beach in Port Fairy? Leave a comment below.