After hearing rave reviews about the Irish pubs and friendly small town atmosphere, we stopped in Port Fairy. This small port town was first settled by Irish immigrants. It was suggested to us that we would be happier here rather than Warrnambool because it was much smaller and had plenty of Irish pubs. We did explore Warrnambool and after talking to the owners of a T-shirt shop we found some other wildlife areas. But we would recommend Port Fairy because along with the laid back small town, there is a great wildlife area and beautiful lighthouse on Griffiths Island.

Port Fairy/Logan Beach

Logan Beach is outside of Warrnambool and is a calving area for whales. Several species come here but the most prominent resident is the Southern Right Whale. We were lucky enough to see a cow and calf about 100 yards off shore. There were surfers on the water who sat on their boards and watched as the pair swam within 10 to 20 yards. The pictures are from quite far away (someday we will get a long lens) but it was exciting to see these rare creatures so close to shore. And surfers so close to the whales. Back at Port Fairy we went for a sunrise hike around an island preserve called Griffiths Island. It wasn't quite light yet and there were wallabies feeding all over the paths. They would hop off the path a little ways and then turn and stare at us. Unfortunately, it was too dark for pictures. As we walked around the island, and it grew lighter, we found the lighthouse and plenty of birds.

Home • Apollo Bay • Shipwreck Coast • Port Fairy • Grampian Nat'l Park

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