Cape Bridgewater (21km west) is one of the more striking day trips from Portland. The dramatic cliffs and the Blowholes — sea caves that spray water on a swell — make for a memorable coastal walk. A petrified forest on the clifftops and a resident seal colony add to the appeal.
Discovery Bay Coastal Park stretches west from Portland to the South Australian border. The 26km Bridgewater Bay is one of Victoria's longest uninterrupted beaches, backed by dunes and coastal heath. The park is excellent for birdwatching and four-wheel driving on the beach is permitted in designated sections.
Hamilton (70km north) is the regional centre for western Victoria and makes a worthwhile detour, particularly for the Hamilton Art Gallery, which holds a strong collection of British watercolours. The Grange Burnside homestead, a National Trust property, is also nearby.
Heywood (25km northeast) has a small but genuine heritage streetscape and is the gateway to the Cobboboonee National Park, a tall-forest reserve of lowland swamp gum and manna gum that is largely unchanged since European settlement.