Portobello is a maritime village: It faces the Otago Harbour around Latham Bay, Portobello Bay and Edwards Bay. Its people are water-people: Countless canoes, kayaks, tinnies, trailer sailors, powerboats and yachts call Portobello home. Historically, the harbour ferries brought visitors to the village by sea. The village's rural trade was conducted by water.

Today, Portobello is at the heart of the Otago Peninsula's tourist routes. Each year thousands of overseas visitors pass through the village on their way to view penguins, sealions and albatross. Many arrive by cruise ship at Port Chalmers, but must skirt the harbour by bus to access the wildlife attractions.

Portobello's maritime focus and heritage is not missing entirely, but the village's use of the harbour is extremely limited. This fine natural resource laps at its doorstep, but the village struggles to come out to play.

Harbour Access Precinct

This site provides information on the Harbour Access Precinct project which aims to develop proposals for the re-development of the Portobello Jetty area.

You can view information here about:

For further information contact Stephen Swabey (4780 909) or Warren Morris (4780 255) or email us.