Top 10 Reasons To Visit Queenscliff

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Posted 2016-10-12 by Ian Gill ⇒ follow

Queenscliff is a classic seaside holiday destination, home to a long list of things to see & do and one of Victoria's premier tourist attractions.

I've nominated what I think are the top 10 reasons you should visit this historic township.

**1. Fort Queenscliff
**
Work on fortifications at Shortland's Bluff had originally begun in 1860 with the construction of a sea wall on top of the bluff capable of housing heavy guns and by 1864 the first permanent battery was in place.

There was little progress on the defenses between 1864 and 1879 when work commenced on another two batteries. They were finished in 1882 and construction of the walls continued until, by 1886, the fortifications at Queenscliff were completed.

Originally the entire perimeter was surrounded by a moat with access gained through two large gates each fronted by a wooden bridge.
The north wall included a fort within a fort. Called the 'Keep' it was a self-contained, raised watchtower overseeing the landward approaches and manned by a small force able to fight on if the main garrison was over run.

Today the fort is a meticulously maintained historic site. The original command post, signal station, guardroom and cell block have all been carefully restored and are supplemented by a small but excellent military museum.

Without doubt, time spent at the Fort, the largest and best preserved of Australia's 19th century fortifications, is time very well spent.

Tours commence at 1PM and 3PM Saturday, Sunday and school & public holidays. An additional tour commences at 11AM during September and December/January school holidays.

Fort Queenscliff
1 King Street, Queenscliff
Tel: (03) 5258 1488
WEB: [LINK=www.fortqueenscliff.com.au] www.fortqueenscliff.com.au
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**2. Step back in time – The Vue Grand Hotel
**
Construction of the Vue Grand Hotel commenced in July 1881 and, although only partially complete, opened as Adman's Grand Hotel on 22nd December 1881.

Considered one of the finest hotels in the colony many of the well-heeled guests were brought from Melbourne to Queenscliff on-board the luxury steamers Ozone and Hygeia.

The Vue Grand was the hallmark of opulence & luxury and reflected victoria's wealth, riding on the back of the world's greatest gold rush.

In October 1927 the hotel was almost destroyed by fire, possibly the result of a manager's young son playing with matches.
Today the Vue Grand allows visitors to step back in time with a range of accommodation options, great places for a convivial drink or two including the Roof Top and Vue Street Bars and, perhaps the ultimate Vue Grand experience, fine dining in the iconic Grand Dining Room.

The Vue Grand
46 Hesse Street, Queenscliff
Tel: (03) 5258 1544
WEB: www.vuegrand.com.au

**3. Wining and Dining
**
Queenscliff offers an incredible range of eating and drinking options ranging from some great paper-wrapped fish & chips to the ultimate fine dining experience in a magnificently restored 19th century hotel.

There's Chinese and Italian and everything in-between at establishments such as Athelstane House, The Tavern, Gingers Restaurant & Bar, The Couta Boat Café and the great hotels like the Vue Grand, The Queenscliff and The Esplanade.

**4. Bellarine Railway
**
The Bellarine Railway is a volunteer run heritage train service which runs between Queenscliff and Drysdale.

Commissioned in 1878 the original railway line ran between South Geelong and Queenscliff, principally servicing Fort Queenscliff, one of the State's key defence installations.

The Line ceased commercial operations in 1976 and a group of Geelong railway enthusiasts set about restoring a section of the line on which to run its steam engines.

The railway runs regular tourist trips year round as well as special school holiday programs, special occasion & wedding charters, group and school tours and the very popular Blues Train featuring live music on most Saturday nights between August and May.

Bellarine Railway
20 Symonds Street, Queenscliff
Tel: (03) 5258 2069
WEB: [LINK=www.bellarinerailway.com.au] www.bellarinerailway.com.au
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5. Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre

The Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre is an educational and eco-tourism facility run by Fisheries Victoria and provides a hands-on learning experience for children and the general community.

The Centre includes a visitors aquarium, student laboratory and classroom as well as field activities in the surrounding habitat.

Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre
2A Bellarine Highway, Queenscliff
Tel: (03) 62568 3344
WEB: [LINK=www.mdca.org.au/centres/queenscliffe]www.mdca.org.au/centres/queenscliffe
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**6. The Queenscliff Music Festival
**
The annual Queenscliff Music Festival has been a feature of the town since 1997 and is staged over the last weekend in November, for 2016 that will be the 25th to 27th inclusive.

Artists for this year's event include Abbe May, Abigail Grace, Ash Grunwald, Denise Scott and the Doug Anthony Allstars to name just a few.

The festival is forecast to sell-out for the first time in its 20-year history so you'll need to be quick to get the last remaining tickets to this fabulous simmer, seaside event.

Queenscliff Music Festival
Tel: (03) 5258 4816
WEB: [LINK=www.qmf.net.au] www.qmf.net.au
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**7. Great Seaside and Coastal Views
**
Some of the scenery around Queenscliff is nothing short of spectacular.

Great views can be had from within Fort Queenscliff overlooking the bay to Sorrento & Point Nepean and along the beach between the ferry terminal and Shortland's Bluff.

Other scenic lookouts include a viewing tower within the marina complex and also the Roof Top Bar at the Vue Grand Hotel.

The car park immediately behind Fort Queenscliff provides a view through The Rip and across to Point Lonsdale as well as 'ship-spotting' of vessels entering and leaving Port Phillip.

**8. Queenscliff Maritime Museum
**
Queenscliff Maritime Museum is jam-packed full of history relating to the wrecks and rescues that have taken place in nearby waters in in particular the operation of Queenscliff's famous and now preserved Lifeboat.

The displays include artefacts and models detailing the operation of luxurious bay steamers, particularly Hygeia and Weeroona, which serviced Victoria's bay side resorts.

There's also a fascinating history of the Port Phillip Sea Pilot Service.

The museum is open daily between 10.30 AM and 4.30 PM.

Queenscliff Maritime Museum
Wharf Street, Queenscliff
Tel: (03) 5258 3440
WEB: [LINK=www.maritimequeenscliff.org.au]www.maritimequeenscliff.org.au
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**9. Architecture
**
The real charm of Queenscliff lies in its magnificent hotels, Coffee Palaces, guesthouses and private homes.

As the gold capital of the world in the 1880's there was money to be spent in Victoria and luxurious holiday locations were in great demand.

Queenscliff's outstanding scenery and ready accessibility from Melbourne via steamship or by road from the gold fields or rich grazing areas of the Western District made it ideal. The hospitality industry flourished and grand structures sprang up to cater for the trade.

Standout buildings include the Ozone Hotel (1881), the Esplanade Hotel (1878) and of course the iconic Vue Grand Hotel (1882).

For something a little different check out the Black Lighthouse within the grounds of the Fort.

The only black lighthouse in Australia, it was manufactured in Scotland, broken down into individually numbered stone blocks and shipped to Queenscliff where it was reconstructed in its present location.

**10. Take the Searoad Ferry to Sorrento
**
Searoad Ferries commenced operations between Queenscliff and Sorrento in 1983 and despite its sceptics the service has gone form one success to the next, introducing bigger & better vessels and a regular, all-weather service.

At just 5.6 kilometres the crossing takes about 40 minutes.
Services depart Queenscliff and Sorrento every hour, on the hour between 6 AM and 7 PM. Seasonal variations do apply to the timetable so be sure to check the website for applicable times on your proposed travel date.

Searoad Ferries offer a quick and reliable alternative to travel between the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsula's with the road connection via Melbourne covering more than 200 kilometres and sometimes taking between 3 and 4-hours.

Searoad Ferries
Tel: (03) 5257 4500
WEB: [LINK=www.searoad.com.au] www.searoad.com.au
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Get yourself down to Queenscliff this summer. You'll have a ball.

By the way, did you know that both spellings of the name Queenscliff, with and without the 'e', are correct?

Queenscliff without the 'e' refers to the town itself, while Queenscliffe with the 'e' refers to the Borough of Queenscliffe, which includes both Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.