The Australian Bucket List

Victoria

QueenscliffMake your way to the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula and uncover the best of old and new in this historic seaside village.

Take in heritage streetscapes filled with elegant Victorian-era hotels, stately churches and fishermen's cottages and then walk on to the modern waterfront development, the perfect base for adventures in Port Phillip Bay. Reminders of Queenscliff's elegant past are everywhere you look - especially the huge military fortress guarding the entrance to Port Phillip - but there's more to Queenscliff than nineteenth-century history. Wander along Hesse Street and fine art galleries, shops and great places to dine. Unwind with a quiet brew at a local cafe, suit up and enjoy fine regional cuisine or stock up on fresh produce at specialty shops and community markets. Alternatively, just grab a parcel of fish and chips and enjoy a seaside picnic under the giant pines. Queenscliff attracts visitors who come to enjoy the beach and the history, the buzzing arts and crafts scene and the sweeping golf greens. Check out local galleries, play a round on the island golf course, or rev it up on the Blues Train with some of the best blues artists in the country. Take your pick of countless opportunities for water-based fun, from swimming and sailing to water-skiing, fishing, or even swimming with dolphins and seals. The bay's southern reaches also offer some of Australia's best diving on reefs and shipwrecks, with abundant marine life to see. Celebrate the onset of summer at the Queenscliff Music Festival. Join musicians and music fans when they converge on Queenscliff for the annual festival, which boasts an eclectic mix of Australian artists and international guests. Ferries sail regularly between Sorrento and Queenscliff taking around 40 minutes to transport passengers and their cars from one side of Port Phillip Bay to the other. Queenscliff is 103 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, or about an hour-and-a-half by car on the Princess and Bellarine Highways.

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Things to do

Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

Sea, sand and sail are the key to Queenscliff’s history. Visit Queenscliffe Maritime Museum to discover the treasures of its rich maritime heritage, shaped by its proximity to the entrance of Port Phillip and its notorious ‘rip’. From sea pilots to sailors, fishermen to boat builders, lightkeepers or ferry captains, the sea has created a world full of stories of boats and maritime industry. Highlighted is the lifeboat 'Queenscliffe' which operated for fifty years rescuing people and ships. Manned by the lightkeepers and volunteers, including many fishermen, this was the last of the lifeboat service which operated for 120 years. Shipwrecks are numerous in the area, so discover their stories and artefacts amongst the exhibitions. See the old diving equipment, and try the diving bell helmet for yourself. Lighthouses have been beacons along the coast, despite changing technologies. As well as an extensive display of equipment, visits can be booked for Point Lonsdale Light station on Sundays between 9:30 am until 1:00 pm for the general public. With Queenscliff’s unique couta boats, its brave fishermen and a maritime history stretching back into the early days of Victoria as a colony, there is much more to discover on a visit.

Queenscliff Brewhouse and Distillery

Situated on the Bellarine Peninsula, walking distance from Searoad Ferries, The Q Train, The Blues Train, Dolphin Swims and the only Black Lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere, the Queenscliff Brewhouse (circa 1879) is in the historical town of Queenscliff, best known for its grand old hotels. The Queenscliff Brewhouse is a multi-award-winning hotel, brewery and distillery, with over 400 craft beers, 200 plus regional wines and 400 plus spirits. We have various food offerings throughout the venue, including a classic bistro menu, our cellar door menu specialising in local produce and our Whisky Restaurant & Bar upstairs for the more discerning food, complete with views of Swan Bay.

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