Queenscliff Local Knowledge
- Activities (1)
- Must do/see (3)
- Eating out (3)
- What to do (11)
- What to see (2)
- Children's activities (4)
Activities
Sightseeing on a dolphin swim cruise is an awesome and exciting experience. Explore marine parks with unique marine animals. View historic maritime and military sites. Imagine it - calm seas, clear water, warm sun, great company and a friendly crew.
Must do/see
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QueenscliffQueenscliff is located at the south-eastern tip of the Bellarine Peninsula, 30 km south-east of Geelong. Unusual in combining popularity with sophistication, Queenscliff is characterised by elegant hotels, guesthouses and galleries, chic restaurants and cafes. There are five excellent golf courses and many renowned boutique wineries as well as both bay and surf beaches which afford excellent dolphin swims, seal watching diving and fishing. |
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The BullringThe Bullring, as its locally known, is a large round carpark located at the top of the main street which runs between the Queenscliff bowling club and the Fort. It is the best place in Queenscliff to view ships coming through The Heads and to see across to the other side of the peninsular. A popular spot to eat lunch sitting in your car or in finer weather outside on the bench seats. |
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Walking path - Pt. LonsdaleIf you find yourself in Pt. Lonsdale don't drive to the Pt. Lonsdale lighthouse. Instead ditch the car and take the walking track which starts at the playground. It is an easy walk which runs through the tea tree along the top of the cliff, to Pt. Lonsdale's Rip view lookout carpark (fantastic views of The Rip as the title suggests) and continues at the far end of the carpark to the lighthouse. Walk just that little bit further and you'll get to investigate the old war relic gun lookout. The lighthouse has information boards about William Buckley and you can view the outside of the cave he lived in below the lighthouse. The lighthouse also has tours, the best views ever! Check with tourist information, you'll need to book. |
Eating out
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LatteBest coffee at 'KELP'. Point Lonsdale promenade. |
03 52584797 |
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Queenscliff Ferry CafeLocated at the Ferry terminal, this cafe is the only one situated right on the beach foreshore. It has fantastic views and a great breakfast which you can take your time to enjoy while your children (if you have any) can run off their excess energy safely outside. Arrive just after the hour, the ferry will have just departed and you should get a table! |
52584211 |
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The caravanThis funky little take-away food van is just fantastic. Located at what is locally known as the Bullring, right on the edge of the caravan park, it serves up a range of food including great vegy burger wraps, falafels and excellent bags of hot chips! There are a few outdoor tables and the owners are extremely friendly and helpful. Usually open weekends and during holiday periods. |
What to do
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Adventure ParkVictoria's First Water Park... new exciting water play park, slides and more. |
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BeachesThe Bellarine offers beaches to suit everyone - safe bay beaches and surf beaches are easily accessible. Lonsdale Bay beach access is just across the road from BIG4 Beacon Resort |
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Bellarine RailwayRide the historic railway along the shores of Swan Bay and through the Bellarine hinterland to Drysdale and back. Operates every Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday all year round |
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Bike ride to DrysdaleRather than bike ride to Drysdale do it the other way around......put your bikes on the Historic Steam train at Queenscliff, enjoy the journey to Drysdale and then bike ride back. It's definitely the easier way to do it, it's more downhill than up if you do it in this direction. I think it's about 18kms, not one for the little kids, although having said that my 5 and 6 year olds have done it but it's considerably slower! |
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Chauffeur Driven Winery ToursRelax and experience the pleasure of being chauffeured in one of our 2 1934/35 Classic Buick sedans. Each vintage car can seat up to 4 adults. The tour takes between 4 - 4 half hours, including all wine tastings and a 2 cource lunch a either Bellarine Estate or Oakdene Vinyards. |
0407 866 568 |
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FishingTry your luck off the piers, on the beach or charter a boat - snapper, whiting, squid, trevally, flathead and more are frequently caught in the waters surrounding Queenscliff |
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Fort QueenscliffTour the historic fort including underground tunnels and museum. Built in the 1800,s |
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Golf CoursesNumerous golf courses are within a 20min drive from BIG4 Beacon Resort... try island golf on Swan Island just off Queenscliff, sand belt course at Lonsdale GC or one of many more on the Bellarine, Surfcoast and Geelong |
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Heritage WalkTake a guided walking tour of Queenscliff and discover the stories behind the historic buildings and gracious hotels. Finish with coffee & cake at one of the grand hotels. |
0352584843 |
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Queenscliff Dolphin SwimsGet to know the local marine life - take a charter around Port Phillip Bay. Visit Pope's Eye Gannett Rookery and snorkel the man made reef, play with the seals at the Chinaman's Hat and hopefully get a swim with the wild dolphins along the way. |
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Queenscliff Historical SocietyLocated in the main street of Queenscliff, right next to the library but set back slightly it's really worth a look. For a small donation you can see photos of Queenscliff as it was when people took trips "down the bay" as well as heaps of relics and items from "the olden days" Run by helpful and generally friendly volunteers. |
What to see
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Dog BeachFantastic beach open every day of the year where puppies can run and play happily off the leash in Queenscliff. |
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Maritime MuseumDiscover Queenscliff maritime history - Couta boats, the pilots and fisherman |
Children's activities
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Bike pathThe bike/walking path from Queenscliff to Pt. Lonsdale is fantastic. You can start at the Ferry terminal riding by the marina but the formal path starts at the Railway Station. From there it's 6kms to Pt. Lonsdale. It follows Swan Bay, with signs detailing points of natural significance, along the Narrows, cross over at the pedestrian traffic lights, and then head through the Dog beach carpark and follow the track to the beach. From there it's a wide paved path that follows the beach all the way to Pt. Lonsdale. While there is a slight uphill section at the beginning once you get to the Narrows it's all pretty flat. There are distance markers along the whole path so you'll always know how far you've got to go and the playground at Pt. Lonsdale is great for the little ones. That's where you get your coffee/ice-cream reward! |
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Playground- SorrentoIf the weather's not great take the journey to Sorrento as a foot passenger. Pack a picnic and walk up the hill (it is a bit steep) to the parkland at the top. It has a terrific adventure playground, BBQ facilities and heaps of room to kick a footy. You can always stop for a refreshing drink at the Sorrento hotel on the way up if the 500mts of steep incline necessitates! |
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The Bullring BeachLocated below the Bullring carpark is a fantastic swimming spot for toddlers. At low tide a large shallow sand rock pool is exposed. It's depth and size may vary slightly with sand movement but it warms up beautifully on a hot summers day and is great for kids and adults to float and lull. For more wave action for the slightly older ones just walk 50mts down the beach! |
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The secret pathI don't know if this section of walking path has a name but the kids and I think of it as a secret path because of the way it runs through the sand dunes. Located on the left hand side of the path leading to the Dogs beach (carpark off the narrows. Known as the narrows because it's the narrow bit of road between Queenscliff and Pt Lonsdale) it use to be a sandy track that ran through the sand dunes adjacent to the dogs beach and ending around Cottage by the Sea. Over the past year the area has been re-vegetated and the track made into a more definable sandy path. It's around the 1km and includes an old war relic lookout. Excellent hide-and seek spots! |