portland!

No, we didn't make a trip to Oregon this month. Or Maine. About four and a half hours from Melbourne is an Australian city called Portland - and it's pretty awesome.

Known as the "birthplace of Victoria," Portland is the oldest European settlement in the state, and has a rich history of wool, fishing, wind farms, and antique buildings. It is also the starting point of the Great South West Walk, a scenic 160-mile walking trail. The CBD is home to many cafes, boutique stores, restaurants, local artwork, memorials, and a cute little tram that runs along town.

WWII memorial

whalers bluff lighthouse

lots of roundabouts in the Portland CBD

the Immigration Wall, remembering many of the first settlers in Victoria

the Portland tram

view from part of the Great South West Walk

view from the CBD

The place we stayed at was a few kilometres from town, but in a great location by the water's edge. The view from across the street was okay.

Just kidding, it was AMAZING. My morning routine consisted of seeing Ben off to work, making a cup of coffee, dressing in my warmest layers, and sitting outside to watch the sun rise. It was usually pretty spectacular.

During nice days, I sat on a bench overlooking a cliff and read and journaled and wrote songs on my ukelele, watching ships come and go, waves crash along the bottom of the cliff, clouds forming magical shapes on the horizon, wondering how I even got to this place in my life.

About two weeks into our stay, a lady was walking her dog near the bench area, and asked me "have you seen any whales yet today?" Have I seen any... what?? Apparently my little reading/ukelele spot is a popular place to watch Southern Right Whales journey through the waters in the winter. Which is pretty much now. Later on in the day, I did spot some whales - what looked like a mother and a baby, coming up for air, their fins breaking through the blue waters off in the distance.

There is plenty to see and do in Portland, if you like history. There is a vintage car museum, a model train display, and a trail of historic buildings that have been renovated into restaurants, stores and houses. The Portland Maritime Museum is full of lots of interesting artefacts and information about the whaling/fishing industry, sailing, local shipwrecks, and brave sea rescues.

skeleton of a sperm whale that washed up on shore

this lifeboat saved a lot of people

The Fawthrop Lagoon features a paved walking trail, and is home to various birdlife and some beautiful bridges.

Apparently, Portland is one of the few Victorian cities where koalas often make public appearances. I didn't see any during our visit. I did, however, have a pretty close encounter with a speedy kangaroo (or perhaps a wallaby?) while I was out running. I was kind of surprised, because it was in a populated neighbourhood, heading directly into the heart of town. No one else seemed too fazed, though...

Portland is a wonderful place - full of history, art, wildlife, scenic views, friendly people, and creative inspiration. It was a real pleasure to be able to spend almost a whole month here, and I highly recommend visiting this delightful city.

CK