|
Queenscliff
By
Richard Moore
Photos
of Queenscliff
Accommodation:
Geelong
Ocean
Grove
Point
Lonsdale
Queenscliff
Anglesea
Apollo
Bay
Cape
Otway
Lorne
Torquay
 About
20 minutes outside Victoria's second city of Geelong is the very
pretty town of Queenscliff.
Queencliff
overlooks the southern section of Port Philip Bay and has been a
town attracting visitors for more than 100 years.
While
reasonably isolated from bigger population centres Queenscliff links
the eastern side of the bay with a ferry service that can transport
both passengers and vehicles to Sorrento.
It
is a town studded with heritage buildings including a pretty imposing
brick-walled fort that was operating as an Australian army base
until recent times.
 Queenscliff
has been the subject of many artists and there is an arts trail
you can follow while in the town.
The
series of information boards highlights celebrated artists and photographers
who have used their skills to immortalise the essence of Queenscliff
and the surrounding area.
There
is also a heritage walk around the town to take in its historic
buildings. The guided tour takes about 75 minutes and starts at
2pm on a Saturday.
If
an organised trip is not your thing then do a self-guided stroll
around the town. You can buy a booklet from the local visitor centre
and complete the tour in about 45 minutes.
 You
can end your journey with afternoon at one of the heritage buildings
in the town. If you are thinking of a place to stay in the area
you can do well at the pretty Queenscliff Tourist Park.
The
park is right on the water and provides campsites, powered and not,
as well as cabins. The thing I loved about it - apart from it being
very clean and tidy - was the fact that in the middle of it was
a football and cricket oval.
The
Australian Defence Force's Fort Queenscliff is an interesting site
- brick walls and metal firing holes - and nearby you can get some
good views down over the Queenscliff Pier and its ferry terminal.
 Now
Queenscliff is not just good looks, the town is historically important
to Victoria as in the early days it was there ships had to stop
to get customs clearance and be checked for any nasty disease outbreaks.
The
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum protects the town's sea heritage with
four galleries of themed displays.
It
was created to preserve and display the town's last lifeboat - the
Queenscliffe - which served the community for 50 until it was brought
ashore in 1976. The Queenscliffe is the star attraction - surrounded
by interesting items that cover the 160-year history of the lifeboat
service.
Queenscliff
is a beaut little town to visit and belies its size with plenty
to see and do.
|
