"Port MacDonnell, Lobster Capital of Australia" Port MacDonnell by Kate-Me

Port MacDonnell Travel Guide: 21 reviews and 66 photos

This little beachside town just across the border from Victoria, is Australia's southern Rock Lobster capital, so fishing is very big here indeed.
Otherwise, the town is fairly small, with the town centre made up of a couple of fish and chip shops, an op shop, old historic Customs House, Maritime museum, a park, beach foreshore, caravan parks down one end and not much more.
Most action in the town seems to take place on the pier or on the water, where there are many small boats and fishing boats.

We had a lunch stop here, enjoying the sunshine as we sat on the foreshore and ate our takeaway fish & chips from the blue Parade Fish shop (also good views of the ocean from this shop).
From the beachfront, you can also see an impressive mural in the distance which is worth checking out.
It covers the whole back and side walls of the Red Cross building in the street.

The beach here looks pretty enough, and fairly clear for swimming. At the other end of town one of the caravan parks sits almost right on the beach - could be an ideal spot for a relaxed beach holiday with no shopping distractions...

It's worth the drive a few kms further to see the rocky cliffs of Cape Northumberland, where little fairy penguins come ashore at dusk (we were only there during the day time, but if you go, you'd want to stay well back from the crumbly cliff edges). There is a viewing platform, however...worth trying out, though the beach is a long way below the cliffs. Binoculars might be a good idea.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great for fishing, a nice small town
Cons:If you don't like fishing, there's not a lot else here
In a nutshell:A small town where fishing is the main attraction

Last visit to Port MacDonnell: Jan 2007
Intro Updated Feb 16, 2007
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Reviews (5)

Secondhand goods Shopping (1)

Port Macdonnel doesn't have a lot of shopping, but each time we visit, we pass the same little sign on the main road,... more travel advice

Cape Northumberland Off The Beaten Path (1)

Entering Port Macdonnell from the south, if you keep driving for another few kilometres, you reach Cape Northumberland,... more travel advice

Customs house Favorites (2)

This building, also on the beachfront (the town is so small that most things are on the beachfront side) was once the... more travel advice

World War 2 Mine Favorites (2)

This is the first Aussie town I've been to which had in its park not the usual war canon, but a former real German... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Fish & Chips on the beach

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Comments (3)

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FergusM69 Jan 11, 2005 at 8:44 PM

Adam Lindsay Gordan Cottage 2 kms North West, Surfing near lighthouse, scenic walks, new skatepark, walking trail in front of seafront. Beautiful place but windy!
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danlea Sep 28, 2004 at 8:19 PM

The best beach where people swim is Brownes Bay 10ish kms east of Pt Mac
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Ronald_T May 3, 2004 at 5:54 PM

Nice start Kathryn. I will visit this page later again...