Who needs Portofino when you’ve got Freo?

The sun glitters on the water and on the hull of a fishing boat called Portofino in Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour.

Portifino

Portofino is also a lovely fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline, southeast of Genoa, on the Mediterranean. Just like Portofino, at Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour, seafood restaurants fringe the harbour and it’s the perfect spot to watch boats coming and going.

Credit Portofinotourism.com

You never know what boats you’ll see in Fishing Boat Harbour. On Wednesday 1 February, amongst other craft, there were fishing boats as well as recreational boats moored along side – their passengers enjoying fish and chips at Cicerello’s and Kailis’.

And there were three research vessels.

And a ferry.

And two small cruise vessels, Odyssey and Kimberley Quest II!

Odyssey is tied up at the Sardine Wharf and preparing for the first trip of the year – a 10 day journey up the coast from Fremantle to Broome departing end of February. Or a 26- day combined cruise all the way from Fremantle to Wyndham including all the magical waterfalls of the Kimberley. This custom built 24-metre expedition catamaran was launched in 2006. It is perfect for sneaking into secluded shallow bays as she only draws 1.8 metres.

Kimberley Quest 11 is moored on a berth on the western side of Fishing Boat Harbour. She is one of the most iconic and awarded Kimberley cruise vessels.She’s 25 metres long and sleeps 18 guests in air-conditioned en-suite cabins. She usually cruises from Broome and Wyndham. She has a helipad and a spa and looks like a super yacht should look!

If boats aren’t your thing – maybe birds are? There are thousands of silver gulls around the harbour and Pied Cormorants (or Shags) hang around with wings outstretched drying off in the sun.

Don’t forget the Fremantle’s Boat and Seafood Festival is on 10 March 10 @ 9am – 5pm. The Festival is a showcase of the best big boat and sailing boats in WA, as well as being a celebration of Western Australian seafood. You won’t want to miss it. Look here for all the details.

* STORY by our Shipping Correspondent, Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE –