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Queenscliff information and attractions

Introduction:

The seaside resort of Queenscliff is located just inside the the entrance to Port Phillip Bay at the south-eastern corner of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Queenscliff was settled in the 1850s and soon became a strategic defence post given its proximity to the entrance of Port Phillip Bay which provides shipping access to the cities of Geelong and Melbourne. Legacies to Queenscliff's defence and maritime history can be found at Fort Queenscliff where tours are available, and further insights into Queenscliff's past can be discovered at the Queenscliffe Historical Museum in Hesse Street and the Maritime Museum on Weeroona Parade.

The commercial centre of Queenscliff, characterised by historic shop fronts and buildings, is situated on Hesse Street, dominated by the ornate Vue Grand Hotel which was constructed in 1881. Grand hotels and guest houses can also be found along Gellibrand Street which is separated from the cliffs along the coast in this area by extensive parkland.

Queenscliff is surrounded on three sides by water, giving the town large stretches of coastline, consisting of a combination of sandy beaches, rocky outcropts, cliffs and historic piers. At Shortlands Bluff is the Queenscliff Lighthouse which was built in 1862 and includes a lookout near the base. Further north along the coast is the Black Lighthouse, unique in Australia, having been constructed from bluestone.

The Queenscliff Harbour, situated along Larkin Parade, consists of several wharves and is home to several fishing fleets, some of which offer direct sales to the public from their boats. At the eastern end of the harbour is a car and passenger ferry service which operates between Queenscliff and Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, providing an alternative to the road route via Melbourne.

The Bellarine Peninsula Railway operates a collection of heritage trains from around Australia on 16 kilometres of restored track between Queenscliff and Drysdale.

 
Attractions:

Bellarine Peninsula Railway
Operating a collection of heritage trains from around Australia
Queencliff Maritime Museum
Discover Queenscliff's fascinating past with exhibits relating to the maritime history of Queenscliff and southern Port Phillip Bay including an extensive maritime research library, original fisherman's cottage, early boat building shed and much more

Art & culture:

Seaview Gallery
Exhibiting contemporary and traditional paintings from emerging and established artists as well as an extensive range of handblown glass and original jewellery
Salt Contemporary Art
Housed in the historically significant former drapery store, the gallery exhibits the works of contemporary Australian painters, sculptors and ceramicists

Parks, gardens & trails:

Bellarine Rail Trail
Commencing in suburban Geelong South, this walking and cycling track heads east to Drysdale where it then follows the Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway all the way to Queenscliff, passing through farmland, native vegetation and along the edge of Swan Bay
Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park
Located around the southern entrance to Port Phillip Bay, the park features a high diversity of marine life offering visitors boating, snorkelling and swimming opportunities

Festivals & events:

Queenscliff Music Festival
This festival features an eclectic mix of Australian artists coming to Queenscliff from around the country
Queenscliff Seafood Feast
This fundraising event offers a smorgasbord of seafood delights donated by professional fisherman and prepared for the public by volunteers and local restaurants, with live bands and performers throughout the day

Local tourist guides:

Queenscliff Visitor Information Centre
Events, attractions and accommodation for Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale
The Great Ocean Road - Queenscliff
Tourism guide covering Queenscliff and the Great Ocean Road
Walkabout - Queenscliff
A travel guide with information on the history of the area and things to see

* All the above links are external and open up in a new window

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