Coastal Trails in Port Fairy and Surrounds
The Moyne Shire region is a natural for walking, hiking, rambling and ambling, whatever your ability or experience level. Visit shipwrecks, a lighthouse and estuary, whilst reaping the relaxing benefits of breathing in the coastal air.
Griffiths Island and Port Fairy Lighthouse
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 the Australia’s most accessible breeding colonies of short tailed shearwaters or mutton-birds. The birds follow an amazing life cycle travelling incredible distances.
A short walk along the causeway from Martin’s Point gets you onto the island which hosts a number of paths. Please keep to the tracks on the island for a careless foot can collapse a burrow and bury a mutton bird or chick.
The Mahogany Ship Walk
The 22km beach walk from Port Fairy to Warrnambool passes the last known resting place of the elusive Mahogany Ship, thought to be a Portuguese caravel that was wrecked in the early 1500s. It later vanished under drifting sands in the 1890s.
The area is also home to echidnas, rare hooded plovers, mutton birds and crested terns. In winter or spring, you might even glimpse a southern right whale. For shorter walks, enter the region at one of several access points along the way, such as Port Fairy’s East Beach.
Yambuk Beach and Lake Walk
The Yambuk Beach and Lake Walk starts as a sandy track following the lake shores before meeting the boardwalk up to the lookout. Yambuk Lake Walk reveals some worthwhile views as the lake gives way to the ocean. From the lookout, you can continue the walk along the beach.
Peterborough Walking Trails
From the Bay of Martyrs carpark, you’ll find a network of trails that reveal the rugged beauty and history of the area. Begin with a short but striking walk to the site where the ship ‘Falls of Halladale’ famously ran aground in 1908. Here, you’ll be rewarded with stunning ocean views and a rich sense of maritime history.
If you’re up for a longer coastal journey, follow the trail through to Wild Dog Cove, and explore even further along the coastline.
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Explore more places to stay, play, and reconnect with nature in the Great Ocean Road Region
