We recently took a boat into Portland Bay Marina. We had sailed from the east through Bass Strait, and it felt good to be back onshore. The marina is sturdy, well maintained and secure. Although this marina has few facilities, it is close to amenities such as toilets, showers, laundry, supermarkets, bars, cafes, and beaches.
Marina Information
The marina accommodates permanent bookings and visiting boats and can accommodate boats up to 18m long and, in some circumstances, vessels up to 30m long. Swinging moorings are also available.
Power and water are available at no extra cost, and although they do not have a fuel dock, diesel can be readily arranged.
Security is offered in the form of CCTV and secured access gates.
Portland Bay Marina
Location – Lee Breakwater Rd, Portland
Phone – +61 (03) 5522 2140
Website – Portland Bay Marina
Apply for a Berth – Online
Click for maps – Marina Map or Local Port Map
Email
The Manager: [email protected]
The Port Officer: [email protected]
Amenities Nearby
Approximate walking distances using stairs near the small tram station.
Toilets – Information Centre (350m)
Showers – Portland Yacht Club (700m)
Rubbish disposal – at the main gate to berths
Supermarket – Aldi & Woolworths (both about 1km)
Laundry – Extreme Clean Laundry (1km)
Pharmacy – Guardian & Amcal (both about 900m)
Travel Agent – Hello World (1km)
Pub – Royal Hotel (1km)
Things to do
History
Portland, settled in 1834, was Victoria’s first permanent European settlement. The area boasts 200 buildings of historical significance and museums to visit if history interests you.
History House
Housed in the former Portland Town Hall (a historic 1863 bluestone building), this museum exhibits include indigenous settlement and European arrival. The centenary celebrations of 1934, sealers and whalers, and the Hently brother (to name a few).
Location – Cliff Street, Portland, VIC
Open – Daily 10:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00 (Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day)
Cost – Adult $3.00 / Child $2.00 / Pension $2.00
Phone – 0355 222 266
Portland Cable Tram
The Cable Tram meanders for 7.4km along the foreshore, enabling you to hop on and off at your leisure to visit attractions, including the Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, Powerhouse Museum, World War II Memorial lookout, and Portland Botanic Gardens. The Portland Cable Tram Depot and Museum is home to an 1880 horse-drawn carriage, a model railway, classic cars and a gemstone display.
Location – 2a Bentinck Street, Portland
Open – Daily 0900 – 1630 (Closed Christmas Day). Click here for the timetable.
Cost – Adult $22.00 / Child $10.00 (under 5 free) / Concession $20.00 / Family $65.00.
Phone – (03) 5523 2831
WWII Memorial Lookout Tower
The lookout, a 25 metres high tower, was developed from an old obsolete water tower. Now housing a display of local military history on the first floor, the views from the top (on a clear day) reveal views of Lawrence Rocks, Cape Bridgewater, Cape Nelson, Mt. Richmond, Mt. Napier, and Mt. Eccles.
Location – 2 Wade St, Portland
Open – Daily 0900 – 1600 (Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Cost – Adult $4.00 / Child $3.00
Phone – (03) 5523 3938
Powerhouse Vintage Car Museum
The Powerhouse Museum houses a range of vintage and classic vehicles, stationary engines, a workshop, plus an extensive array of exciting memorabilia.
Location – Corner Percy & Glenelg Street, Portland, VIC
Open – Daily 1000 – 1600 (closed Christmas Day & Good Friday)
Cost – Adult $10.00 / Child $1.00 / Concession $8.00 / Family $20.00
Phone – 0355 235 795
Portland Maritime Discovery Centre
The centrepiece of this museum is an 1858 Portland lifeboat, the oldest type of its type in the world, 14-metre Sperm Whale skeleton, stories of Portlands maritime history, the Admella story (a maritime tragedy), couta boats and whaling (to name a few).
Location – Lee Breakwater Road, Portland
Open – Daily 0900 – 1700
Cost – Free
Phone – 1800 035 567
Portland Botanic Gardens
Established in the 1850s, these gardens contain rare species and native plants and a rose garden. It is wheelchair and dog friendly, with BBQ and picnic facilities, toilets, and croquet green.
Location – Glenelg St, Portland
Open – Daily from Sunrise to Sunset
Swimming, Surfing, Fishing
Swimming
Beach – Bridgewater Bay (patrolled), Dutton Way, Maritime & Nun’s Beaches, Henty Beach (also has a swimming pontoon), Narrawong Beach and Shelly Beach.
Pool – Portland Leisure & Aquatic Centre, indoor and outdoor pools, 50m pool, 25m pool, sauna
Surfing
Blacks Beach, Whites Beach and Bridgewater Bay (only Bridgewater Bay is unsuitable for beginners).
Fishing
Boat Ramps
Boat Ramp South – located in front of the Portland Yacht Club, is a four-lane ramp that can park around 26 vehicles and trailers and has a toilet block.
Boat Ramp North – is a four-lane ramp with eight fish cleaning tables, fish weigh station, fish waste bins, a toilet block, a boat and trailer wash-down area, and parking for 70 vehicles and trailers.
Portland Jetty – seating, lighting, and fishing
And keep an eye out for a little street art!
More Information
Currency
Australian dollar – AUD – written here as $
Eating Out
On a recommendation from a local man, we dined at The Royal Hotel. I had the chicken schnitzel, and Dwayne had the Pork Roast. Both meals were delicious and good value.
Laundry
We used Extreme Clean Laundry. Washing machines from $4.00… and the dryers actually work! This laundry has a change machine and a washing detergent dispenser. It also has a charging station, so you can charge your phones while you wait.
Open – daily 0730 – 2100
Location – 3 Richmond St, Portland.
Accommodation
We typically book our accommodation through booking.com. We like the convenience of booking online, and we can usually pay for our accommodation on arrival at the hotel/resort or room. Also, booking.com advertise many different accommodation styles in Portland, so you are sure to find the perfect place.
Transport
We sailed to Portland but had to get alternative transport to Adelaide. Getting the V-line bus to Mount Gambier or Melbourne is easy and inexpensive. Book online – click here – and then pick the tickets up from the travel agent. Alternatively, you can organise tickets at the travel agent Hello World at 53 Julia St, Portland.
Cost – $9.20
We got on the Stateliner from Mount Gambier to Adelaide. We booked online – click here.
Cost – $85.20
Do you need a visa?
Click here for an Online Travel Visa Check. Simply enter what country you are from and where you are going!
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
Photo credits
The Portland tram route. Portland is in the Western Districts of Victoria near the South Australia border by denisbin
Portland Botanic Gardens. Autumn display of dahlias by denisbin
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