Located 3 and a half hours southwest of Melbourne, getting to Port Fairy is an easy and enjoyable scenic coastal drive along the iconic Great Ocean Road touring route. Although the Great Ocean Road is in itself a tourist attraction, Port Fairy is the last stop on the famous touring route and is well-signed along a dual lane highway. Once you're on the Great Ocean Road, you won't miss a minute of this picturesque route thanks to well sign-posted main roads that ensure you can easily find your way to Port Fairy and back on track again if you wish to continue south or head back to Melbourne.
There are two main routes for getting to Port Fairy from Melbourne. The Princes Highway is the most direct and quick route taking about 3 and a half hours. This route is ideal for visitors who want to get to Port Fairy in the quickest and most efficient way. However, the longer and more scenic Great Ocean Road route is by far the most popular way for getting to Port Fairy. Taking at least 4 and a half hours with no stops, you should allow yourself the whole day to get to Port Fairy from Melbourne in order to enjoy the many attractions, distractions, charming seaside towns and spectacular scenery along the way.
If you don't have your own car or the means to hire one, there's still plenty of great public transport options available for getting to Port Fairy. Three V/Line rail services operate daily from Melbourne to nearby Warrnambool. There are then a number of local bus services that offer transfers from Warrnambool to the town of Port Fairy. An affordable option, public transport allows you to sit back and enjoy the ride, taking in the sights while someone else takes care of the driving.