Bellarine Peninsula

The Bellarine Peninsula [Four] forms the western side of the mouth of Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, Australia. It lies instantly to the east of the city of Geelong. It contains a number of seaside towns and is a popular destination for its beaches, boating, wineries, orchards and historic attractions.

Understand Edit

The visitor information centers in Geelong serve the Peninsula also.

• Geelong and Fine Ocean Road Visitor Information Office, Princess Hwy, Little Sea, toll free one thousand eight hundred 620 888, five thousand two hundred eighty three 1735 (fax five thousand two hundred twenty three 2069). Every day 9AM-5PM. [Five]

• Geelong – National Wool Museum Visitor Information Centre, twenty six Moorabool St (cnr Brougham St), Geelong, toll free one thousand eight hundred 620 888, five thousand two hundred twenty two 2900 (fax five thousand two hundred twenty three 2069). Every day 9AM-5PM. [6]

• Queenscliffe Visitor Information Centre, fifty five Hesse St, Queenscliff, toll free one thousand three hundred 884 843, five thousand two hundred fifty eight 4843 (fax five thousand two hundred fifty eight 3726). Every day 9AM-5PM. [7]

To e or not to e

Should Queenscliff end with an e? Both spellings are used in different contexts. The town is Queenscliff, but the borough is Queenscliffe

Get in Edit

By plane Edit

Avalon Airport is close to the region.

By car Edit

The main connecting route from Queenscliff to Geelong is via Bellarine Highway (Queenscliff Road).

By bus Edit

McHarry’s Buslines [8] run from Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula towns of Barwon Goes, Ocean Grove, Pt Lonsdale and Queenscliff (30 km).

By ferry Edit

Car/passenger ferries cross the mouth of Port Phillip Bay inbetween Queenscliff and Sorrento on Mornington Peninsula. They depart each terminal on the hour every hour 7AM-6PM every day. From twenty six Dec. until end of daylight saving there are also 7PM sailings. Foot passengers adult $Ten, 5-15 years $8, under five years $1, foot passenger’s bicycle $Two, tandem $Three; passengers with vehicle adult $7.50, 5-15 years $Five.50, under five years $1; vehicle rates vary with season – car up to Five.5m inbetween $48 and $54. [9]

By bike Edit

The Bellarine railtrail runs from South Geelong Station to Queenscliff. Bike hire is available in Geelong from Geelong.

Get around Edit

See Edit

Queenscliff Edit

• Fort Queenscliff , King St’ , [Two]. was built in the 1880s as a defense against Russian invasion. The Black Lighthouse is in its grounds. There are guided tours at weekends and public holidays, adults $8. The fort is still a military establishment so you are required to sign in and display identification.  edit

• Queenscliff Maritime Museum, one Weeroona Parade.

• Bellarine Peninsula Railway. Steam trains run to Drysdale and comeback.

• A number of incredible 19th century buildings remain, particularly along Gellibrand St.

Barwon Goes Edit

• Home of the ABC television ‘Seachange’ program with a children-friendly safe estuary beach and rugged ocean beaches such as 13th Beach for the more intrepid. Barwon Goes has long been a summer holiday destination for Victorian families.

Barwon Goes sits on the lower Barwon Sea Estuary where it comes in Bass Strait. This estuary and the extensive Lake Connewarre wetlands to the north form a wetland of international significance and is part of the Port Phillip (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site because of its importance to both migratory and resident wetland and shorebird species. Where the sea meets the sea is one of the coasts most superior features, the calcarenite Barwon Bluff, also known as Mt. Colite, an significant place for local Indigenous Victorians for thousands of years, and a beacon for the nearby entrance to Port Phillip Bay for navigators. The Bluff has been actively restored and revegetated from a degraded site, including a gravel car park, into a haven for nature by many volunteers, local managers, and school students. Underneath the Bluff lies the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary, a seventeen hectare reserve which aims to protect the rich intertidal reefs and the diversity of life they support, both above and below the water. Rich kelp forests cover the much of the sub-tidal reefs that have been carved and weathered by the surging southern swells. Large schools of reef fish are often found amongst the kelp while a rich diversity of invertebrates can be found on the reef. The site is a popular destination for students investigating local marine life and the local Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff (52583344) also conduct holiday activity programs here. The Marine Sanctuary is one of eleven Marine Sanctuaries and thirteen Marine National Parks in Victoria set aside to provide protection of representative and significant areas of the sates rich and diverse temperate marine environments. These areas are managed by Parks Victoria [Ten]/ and like National Parks are fully protected from all forms of extractive or harmful activities. Fishing is not permitted in the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary or any other Marine National Parks or Marine Sanctuaries and penalties apply to offenders.

Point Lonsdale Edit

• The headland is right at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The channel through the goes is known as the Rip for its strong tidal currents. There are brief walks linking the Rip View Lookout, the pier and lighthouse.

Do Edit

Buy Edit

Eat Edit

Drink Edit

Sleep Edit

• Portarlington Beach Motel a pleasant family possessed accommodation that has recently been renovated. Fourteen luxury units well suited to families and couples on looking for that special holiday. Located at 153-155 Newcombe Street, Portarlington, VIC three thousand two hundred twenty three Phone +61 three 5259-3801 or Fax +61 three 5259 three thousand nine hundred ninety three [11]
• Hawthorn Suites, one thousand seven hundred thirty two Barwon Goes Road, ++61 three 5254-1777 (Fax: ++61 three 5254 1666), [12].

Queenscliff Edit

• Queenscliff Hotel , ☎ +61 three 5258 one thousand sixty six , [Three]. $240-$270 .  edit

Get out Edit

Take the ferry to Sorrento or head to Geelong.

Alternatively drive or bus along the Good Ocean Road. You don’t need to drive through Geelong – from Barwon Goes take the Barwon Goes Rd which becomes Lower Duneed Rd then turn left onto the Surf Coast Highway.

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