Williamstown was Melbourne's first port. Before the Yarra was dredged to allow ships to reach the city, vessels anchored off Point Gellibrand, at the mouth of the river, and the town that grew up there still has the feel of an old maritime settlement, with bluestone warehouses, pubs, churches and a timeball tower that once signalled the time to ships in the bay. Rides finish here on Hobsons Bay, off this historic waterfront, and it is a fine place to do so.
The Strand, along the waterfront, has views across the bay to the skyline of Melbourne, especially beautiful at sunset, when the towers glow and the lights come on. A former navy minesweeper, HMAS Castlemaine, is moored as a museum ship, and ferries run across the bay to the city. The beach, on the southern side of the peninsula, is popular in summer, with a long promenade and cafés.
To the north, the West Gate Bridge crosses the Yarra on a high span. During its construction in 1970, one of its sections collapsed, killing thirty-five workers, one of the worst industrial accidents in Australian history, and a memorial park stands beneath the bridge. Today the bridge carries heavy traffic between the western suburbs and the city.
The Yarra Valley ride that finishes here takes you north-east of Melbourne to the wine country of the Yarra Valley and over the Black Spur, a winding road through tall mountain ash forest, among the tallest flowering plants in the world. Coming back across the city, the Monash Freeway and the West Gate jam up readily, so plan your return for a quieter time. Williamstown has fuel, cafés, pubs and fish and chip shops, and eating fish and chips on the foreshore, looking at the city, is a classic Melbourne way to end the day.