Queenscliff

Quick facts

• Population 1,967
• 103 kilometres south-west of Melbourne
• Historic restored buildings
• Luxury seaside retreat
• Village charm
  

Reminders of Queenscliff’s elegant past are everywhere you look – from imposing Victorian-era hotels, a huge military fortress guarding the entrance to Port Phillip, solid old churches and quaint fishermen’s cottages. But there’s more to Queenscliff than nineteenth century history, including art galleries, shops, great places to dine, safe beaches and a tree-lined foreshore.

Queenscliff started as a fishing village then became a fashionable holiday destination for Melbourne's elite in the late nineteenth century who made the two-hour journey aboard paddle steamers. When the railway was built, visitors could travel by train through the countryside via Geelong and Drysdale.

Queenscliff continues to attract visitors from all points of the compass who come to enjoy the beach, a picnic under the giant foreshore pines, the village charm or even a game of golf. Modern ferries sail on the hour, every hour between Sorrento and Queenscliff taking around 40 minutes to transport passengers and their vehicles from one side to the other.

When in Queenscliff take a ride on the Bellarine Railway that runs from historic Queenscliff station to Drysdale, or enjoy some of Australia's best live blues performers on board the Blues Train.

Activities and attractions

• Climb aboard the steam train to Lakers Siding or Drysdale on Sundays and public holidays
• Dive to discover coral, sponges and shipwrecks around the bay entrance
• Charter a boat and swim with dolphins or to cast a fishing line
• Tee-up for a round of golf on one of two sandbelt courses
• Learn about nineteenth century military history at Fort Queenscliff (tours available on weekends and holidays)
• Enjoy the beach and picnic under the giant foreshore pines
• Indulge yourself at one of the fabulous restaurants or enjoy a meal of fish and chips from one of Queenscliff’s award-winning fish and chipperies
• Unlock the secrets of the deep at the Marine Discovery Centre (open school holidays 10am–4pm)
• Sail into history at the Maritime Museum (open weekdays 10.30am–4.30pm and weekends 1.30–4.30pm)
• Enjoy the vista to Port Phillip Heads from the Ocean View Lookout with historical markers that commemorate a number of maritime events
• Unearth Queenscliff’s colourful history at the Historical Museum (open 2–4pm daily)
• Browse the shops and galleries for clothes, artworks and bric-a-brac
• Take an historic walking tour and gain an insight into Queenscliff's elegant past. Tours are run on Saturdays, departing from the Queenscliff Visitor Information Centre.
  

Events

• Queenscliff Seafood Festival – Easter
• Queenscliff Music Festival – November
  

How to get there

Queenscliff is approximately 1.5 hours from Melbourne on the Princes and Bellarine Highways. A vehicle and passenger ferry operates between Queenscliff and Sorrento taking approximately 40 minutes.

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