DESTINATION: Queenscliff

Surveyed in 1853, this seaside town has a noticeable 19th-century atmosphere generated by its old hotels, fishermen's cottages and public buildings. Queenscliff is located 107km south of Melbourne and 30km SE of Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Main Attractions

The Historical Centre, in Hesse St, displays items relating to Queenscliff's marine, military and tourist heydays. The Maritime Museum, facing the bay, houses the last of the area's original lifeboats. The Marine Discovery Centre, the educational wing of the Marine and Fresh Water Research Institute, opens during school holidays and has living displays of marine life. Fort Queenscliff is Australia's largest and best preserved fortress; building began in the 1870s to protect investments from the threat; real or imagined; of foreign invasion. The most historic sections of the fort, the guardroom, cells, original lightkeeper's signal station, underground magazines and a military museum are open for inspection. The Fort offers tours on weekends, public and school holidays at 1pm and 3pm with an extra tour at 11am in January. Fishing charters, seal and dolphin-watching tours, and 'swimming with the dolphins and seals' can all be organised through the information centre.

Nearby attractions

The Bellarine Peninsula Railway originally linked Queenscliff and Geelong. Today the Geelong Steam Preservation Society displays its collection of vintage carriages and steam locomotives at the old station. The society also runs tourist trains along the 32km line to Drysdale on Sunday. Additional trips are run during school holidays. Queenscliff is linked to Sorrento, on the Mornington Peninsula, by vehicular and passenger ferries. The seaside holiday resort of Point Lonsdale is 6km SW.

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Region: Melbourne Bays and Peninsulas

Peninsula Hot Springs & Day Spa, Victoria

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Melbourne’s Bays and Peninsulas, Victoria, popular for Sailing, beaches, fine food and wine and chic beachfront towns. Major attractions include: Arthur's Seat, Bellarine Peninsula, Cape Schank, Frankston, Geelong, Hastings, Mornington Peninsula, Port Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, Portsea, Queenscliff, St Kilda, Sorrento and the Werribee Park Mansion. more

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Hesse St, Ph: (03) 5258 4843

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