On this day – 13th May – in 1787 the First Fleet left England from Portsmouth to set sail for NSW Australia to establish the first European settlement in Australia. This was a terrible time for many and the birth of the nation of Australia.

Looking at the prospect of port to port travel. Did you know we have quite a few very pretty port towns here in Australia? Let’s discover a few worth visiting.

Port Noarlunga, South Australia

Located 30kms south of the City of Churches, Adelaide, you’ll find the picturesque seaside village of Port Noarlunga. 

It comes complete with red sandstone beach cliffs, a long jetty and reef you can visually see from the end of the jetty.

The Port Noarlunga Reef and worth the visit on it’s own. The reef, along with it’s aquatic reserve is apart of the Encounter Marine Park, an iconic diving destination and a divers and snorkelers paradise, and a scenic perfect place to swim and kayak as well.

Travelling to Port Noarlunga Beach is also iconic. It’s part of the Route 31 Coastal Drive, where you can explore 31kms of pristine coastline from O’Sullivan Beach to Sellicks Beach

Metung, Victoria

Head to Melbourne, then 4 hours east to the end of Great Alpine Road. Metung is such a pretty town – picture book pretty.

Metung stretches along a narrow sandy peninsula of Gippsland Lakes, making it a go-to place for the boat lovers. You can hire your own yacht or boat, hire your own jet ski or speedboat, or join a scenic laidback cruise. 

It’s one for the anglers as well, showcasing excellent fishing spots all year round. You can catch your own bream, tailor, flathead, King George whiting and prawns a plenty.

Speaking of fish, and the fact that it’s a port town, it’s one the foodies will enjoy because you’ll have the best seafood resturant selection on offer.

But wait, there more. Metung is also known for hot springs.

The Metung Hot Springs is an award winning bathing and wellness experience. What makes this hot spring interesting is its views over the Gippsland Lakes. They recently opened their Lagoon Precinct which boasts a floating sauna. Sign me up!

Port Fairy, Victoria

If you look up “Port Town Australia” online, Port Fairy comes up the most – and with good reason – it’s darn pretty.

It’s located 3.5 hours west of Melbourne, right at the end of the Great Ocean Road.

You’ll get swept up by the historic charm of this place, with it’s historic Celtic influenced architecture throughout town. It’s a quaint, quiet town with a population of only 3,340.

But don’t let it’s small population fool you, this place has world class food. It’s known as a town of restaurants with some amazing eateries.

It also has a flourishing art scene with open studios and galleries throughout their streets. You’ll find them linked on an Art Walk

In early 1800, a boat called ‘The Fairy’ chose this tiny bay to shelter from a storm.