Delve into history and get back to nature in this thriving city by the sea. Wander streets dotted with beautifully maintained heritage buildings and dine on great pub fare while overlooking the harbour. Head out into the blue to catch the perfect wave or a tuna or two. Take time to enjoy your visit on the lands of the Gunditjmara People.
Days of old
Take the Portland self-guided Historical Buildings Walk for a closer look at the city's hundreds of heritage buildings. Portland became Victoria's first permanent European settlement in 1834 and boasts more than 200 buildings of historic significance.
Visit the Maritime Discovery Centre for an insight into Portland's long seafaring history and then climb aboard the Portland Cable Tram and roll on through the Botanic Gardens, the Powerhouse Vintage Car Museum, WWII Memorial Lookout Tower and the Cable Tram Museum.
Whales and furry seals
Visit between June and August for a chance to get within just metres of a mighty southern right whale. Watch from the port, head out into the harbor, or make your way out west to Cape Bridgewater to see these giants of the sea on their annual migration through the Southern Ocean. While out on Cape Bridgewater, be sure to check out the colony of Australian fur seals, which number more than 600.
Peer out from Port of Portland where the whales often come to play within metres of the Lee Breakwater. For a glimpse of the blue whales that come in to feed on the local krill from November to May, head to Cape Nelson or back up to Cape Bridgewater.
Waterfront activity
Portland's waterfront is alive with activity – see big ships from around the world come in to load up local produce and the local fishing fleet unload its catch. Take a ride on the foreshore cable tram, spot seals at Cape Bridgewater and watch blue whales off Cape Nelson.
If you're after a spot of fishing, Portland is an angler's paradise. From a boat or the beach, there's an extensive range of fish to be hooked, including King George whiting, flathead, snapper, tuna and mulloway.
While locals may want to keep it quiet, Portland also has some of the best surf this side of Bells Beach.
Something epic
See some of the highest coastal cliffs in Victoria overlooking the deep-blue waters of Bridgewater Bay, where the coastline follows the rim of a huge, ancient volcano crater. Discover more natural landmarks and native flora and fauna along the Great South West Walk.
Visit the impressive dormant volcano and wetlands created by ancient lava flows at the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape National Park. Go camping, stay for a picnic, or take a guided tour and visit the state-of-the-art Aquaculture Centre, showing freshwater eel farming techniques practised by Gunditjmara people for thousands of years.
