Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Check out the 360-degree views from this hard-to-miss
(Larkin Pde, Queenscliff Harbour)
tower.
Fort Queenscliff
HISTORIC SITE
( 03-5258 1488, for midweek tours 0403 193 311;
www.fortqueenscliff.com.au
; cnr Gellibrand & King Sts; adult/
child/family $10/5/25; tours 1pm Mon-Fri, 1pm & 3pm Sat & Sun)
Queensliff's fort was first used as a
coastal defence in 1882 to protect Melbourne from a feared Russian invasion. It remained
a base until 1946, before being used as Army Staff College until late 2012; today it func-
tions as the defence archive centre. The 30-minute guided tours take in the military mu-
seum, magazine, cells and its twin lighthouses. Bring ID for entry.
Queenscliff Maritime Museum
MUSEUM
( 03-5258 3440;
www.maritimequeenscliffe.org.au
; 2 Wharf St; adult/child $7/5; 10.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri,
1.30-4.30pm Sat & Sun)
Home to the last lifeboat to serve the Rip, this museum has displays on
the pilot boat process, shipwrecks, lighthouses and steamships. Don't miss the historic
1895 boatshed with its paintings that served as a record of passing ships in the bay.
Queenscliff Dive Centre
( 03-5258 1188;
www.divequeenscliff.com.au
;
Queenscliff Harbour; per dive with/without gear $130/65)
Victor-
ia's premier dive operator offers trips to over 140 sites in the area, taking in rich marine
life and shipwrecks from the past three centuries, including ex-HMAS
Canberra
(scuttled
in 2009), and WWI submarines. Also does snorkel trips and dive lessons.
DIVING
Bellarine Peninsula Railway
TRAIN TRIP
( 03-5258 2069;
www.bellarinerailway.com.au
;
Queenscliff train station; return adult/child/family $30/20/70;
departs 11am & 2.45pm Sun, plus Tue & Thu during school holidays)
Run by a group of cheerful volunteer
steam-train enthusiasts, the railway has beautiful heritage steam and diesel trains that ply
the 1¾-hour return journey to Drysdale.
Sea-All Dolphin Swims
SNORKELLING
