'We have a unique mix of big-city facilities – five-star accommodation, top class restaurants, great public access golf courses – set within this environment of lush green fields, spectacular beaches and natural beauty.' (Andrew Clancey)

'The remoteness and freedom of Port Fairy and the Great Ocean Road are fantastic. You have rivers, beaches, bush. It’s especially great with kids.' (Shane Clancey)

It is a long way from the Mediterranean to Port Fairy, but that distance disappears at Portofino on Bank. One of the most celebrated restaurants in the region, Portofino on Bank serves dishes imbued with ideas from Italy, Morocco and Turkey, but created with Western Victorian ingredients. The harmonising of prime local produce with Mediterranean rim influences is orchestrated by Andrew Clancey.

Andrew’s food vision results from an international perspective being brought to bear on the local context. His brother Shane takes a similar approach to winemaking. Basalt Wines is a windswept vineyard with an unusual soil quality. He combines this environmental particularity with Austrian biodynamic philosophies and clone grapes from France and Spain.

Both brothers revel in the local environment. They swim in the ocean (Shane first thing in the morning; Andrew last thing at night), snorkel, fish and take long walks when time allows. “When our dining room is full you could be in Rome or London or New York, because a lot of our guests are from those cities, but in the morning you walk out and breathe fresh country air,” Andrew says.

That’s the Clancey brothers: working locally, thinking globally, and enjoying the best of both worlds.

ANDREW CLANCEY
FAVOURITE DAY TRIP: Cape Bridgewater Bay, one hour west of Port Fairy. There is a spectacular beach, a little café, and you can walk for miles.

FAVOURITE FOOD EXPERIENCE: Floating Islands, with creme anglaise and toffeed popcorn at Portofino on Bank. (26 Bank Street, Port Fairy, 03 5568 2251)

FAVOURITE NATURE-BASED EXPERIENCE: The Crags. A stretch of really wild windswept coastline with lunar ruggedness and a great view. (Turn-off six km east of Yambuk)

SHANE CLANCEY
FAVOURITE DAY TRIP: Tower Hill for a picnic. Learn about the Aboriginal history of the place, go on one of the spectacular walks, look at the wildlife. It is close by, but you feel like you are a thousand miles from anywhere. (Just off the Princes Highway, 15 km north-west of Warrnambool, 03 5561 5315, )

FAVOURITE FOOD EXPERIENCE: Nothing beats donning the togs at Killarney Beach and grabbing a lobster for the barbecue. (10km east of Port Fairy)

FAVOURITE NATURE-BASED EXPERIENCE: Swimming at Stingray Bay.(Eastern edge of Thunder Point Coastal Reserve, off McDonald Street, Warrnambool)