Griffiths Island is a beautiful island reserve just off the coast of Port Fairy in southern Victoria. It's only about 40 minutes from Allansford, the official end of the Great Ocean Road, so the perfect add-on to any coastal roadtrip.
→ Check out my complete guide to driving the Great Ocean Road!
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
For thousands of years, the Gunditjmara people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived, and called the island Moleen.
The first Europeans arrived in the mid-1830s and, under John Griffiths (for whom the island is named), a merchant from Tasmania, established a bay whaling station which lasted until sadly all the whales were gone. Flora Dunlop, the widow of a Victorian politician, then purchased the abandoned whaling buildings in the 1850s to establish an educational mission for local Aboriginal youth including a schoolroom, dormitory, garden and farm. It only lasted a few years and closed in 1854.
The island is now connected to the mainland with a causeway so you can park in Port Fairy and simply walk onto the island. It has been a wildlife reserve since 1902 and is home to a massive shearwater colony; the island's trails carefully wind through their nests in the sand, so please don't step on them! The shearwaters spend the summer here between September and April and the winter in Alaska. They always return to their same nest with their same breeding partner with eggs hatching in January before they leave again in April. It's a very special spot.
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Griffiths Island is a beautiful island reserve connected via a causeway to Port Fairy in southern Victoria.
By car: The best way to reach Griffiths Island is with your own wheels. It's just 40 minutes from Allansford, the official end of the Great Ocean Road, so a perfect add-on for any coastal roadtrip. There is free parking on Ocean Drive from where you can walk onto the island.
By bus: From Allansford, take bus 9 to the Lava Street Interchange and transfer to bus 8. This bus will go past Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and carries on to Port Fairy. Get off at Bank St/Gipps St station and walk about 15 minutes to Griffiths Island.
By guided tour: You can join a guided walking tour of Griffiths Island from Port Fairy with New Leaf Tours (spring and summer only) to learn more about the history of the island and the shearwater colony that calls the reserve home.
Griffiths Island causeway connecting the island to Port Fairy
Many people will visit the Griffiths Island as an extension of their Great Ocean Road roadtrip but you may like to stay longer in the Port Fairy area to explore further.
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Driving in a car? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are some great accommodation options in Port Fairy to suit any budget.
→ Check out all the accommodation options in Port Fairy.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. The best way to find camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
Panmure Campground is a great free camping spot just ten minutes from Allansford, the official end of the Great Ocean Road, and about 45 minutes to Griffiths Island. This spot is just off the Princes Highway with loads of places to park up and, best of all, a beautiful swimming hole to jump into on hot days!
Portland RV Reserve is a lovely free camp located right on the waterfront at Portland Harbour, just under an hour from Griffiths Island. You must be fully self-contained and can then park in the grass along Lee Breakwater Road. It's peaceful and you can go to sleep and wake up with an ocean view. There is even free town WiFi available, big win!
When: year-round
Where: the start of this hike begins at the free parking lot on Ocean Drive from where you can cross the causeway onto the island
Difficulty: easy
Length: from the causeway to Griffiths Island, we hiked a 3.6km loop trail which took us about an hour
Directions: from the causeway, we took a left to follow the trail around the island, although you can go either way as it is a circular trail. The trail passes by the cheery red and white Port Fairy Lighthouse, built in 1859 by Scottish stonemasons to guide ships into Port Fairy on the Moyne River. Lighthouse keepers lived on the island until 1954 before the lighthouse became automated.
Please stay on the clearly marked trail as you go so as to avoid stepping on shearwater nests in the sand. The shearwaters spend the summer here between September and April and the winter in Alaska. They always return to their same nest with their same breeding partner with eggs hatching in January before they leave again in April. It's a very special spot.
→ Check out my exact route on Strava!
Bathrooms: yes, near the parking lot on Ocean Drive at the Lion's Club Playground
Lighthouse Beach
Port Fairy Lighthouse
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN PORT FAIRY!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Discover more from Jana Meerman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
