Port Fairy

We only stayed in Portland for one night, and it was a pleasure to head to the pub for a “schnitty”. We left the following day at 0530 and arrived in Port Fairy at 1030.

The first thing to do was get the washing done and tidy the boat. Then it was time to explore this beautiful town, best described as quaint. Port Fairy is so pretty and tidy; no litter, no long untidy grass, and no rundown houses. On the contrary, the people here appear to be very houseproud. The town is full of old buildings and cottages that all seem to be freshly painted! All the white paint at the wharf area appears to be newly painted….. there is no bird poo on anything… yes there are lots of birds around, but where they defecated before Thorfinn arrived, I do not know. Note to self… squirt Thorfinn down before setting sail.

Lighthouse & Shearwater Colony

We explored much of it on foot during the three days we spent in Port Fairy. The walk to the lighthouse is enjoyable. Plenty to see, including an egret and a swamp wallaby.

The walkway meanders through a large shearwater colony. The shearwaters, also known as mutton birds, are currently on their annual migration, which takes them past Japan and North America before arriving at the Aleutian Islands, near Alaska. They spend a few months at the Aleutian Islands before they make their way back to Port Fairy, coming on or around the 22nd of September. They will lay and incubate their eggs in January and take off again, around the 16th of April, to head to the Aleutian Islands again.

Botanical Gardens & Battery Hill

Another of our walks led us to the botanical gardens. It was once a sizeable impressive garden, but there is not much to it now. However, the garden led us to the caravan park, where we found an old tree stump with clever carvings, including a mermaid.