Early one morning, we hopped in the car and headed towards Geelong (on Western Port Bay) with the intention of driving as far as we could along the Great Ocean Road, leaving time for a same day return.
We had a look at the Queenscliff marina. There were heaps of pleasure boats and lots of fishing trawlers were moored here also.
Some of the beautiful old homes, hotels and buildings in Queenscliff are being very well restored.
In summertime, Queenscliff gets very busy when a lot of Melbournites come for holidays to the warm sunny beaches and beautiful scenery.
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
Attention!!! Eyes Right!! Obviously someone is standing there with a chip.
The sign says it all - Bass Strait - straight ahead - all ocean until you reach Tasmania!
These old bunkers scattered along the beach at Point Lonsdale are part of history in the area, showing that it was important to protect the coastline during the war years. The scope of the view is very wide along the bay, the heads and out to sea.
Queenscliff is really a good area to begin your journey up the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia's most famous for it's scenery of spectacular cliffs and beaches. In many parts, the road is right next to the water and you can get some magnificent views from the higher sections of the road.
First, we stopped at Queenscliff a beautiful seaside area where the car ferry arrives from Portsea (on the other peninsula in Port Phillip Bay). Queenscliff has many historic buildings and from the train station you can take a 'tourist' run around the Bellarine Peninsula on one of the older style trains. 
We had a look at the Queenscliff marina. There were heaps of pleasure boats and lots of fishing trawlers were moored here also.
The Port Phillip Sea Pilots alarm bell in the park at Queenscliff is for marine emergencies only with heavy fines for any silly 'bell ringers'. Once out of the Bay and into Bass Strait the seas can be very unpredictable with big waves, so the sea pilots take this sort of thing very seriously! 
Some of the beautiful old homes, hotels and buildings in Queenscliff are being very well restored.
The water is beautiful, crystal clear and clean. From the jetty the water looks shallow but it is quite deep, just so clear.
In summertime, Queenscliff gets very busy when a lot of Melbournites come for holidays to the warm sunny beaches and beautiful scenery.Marine traffic comes through these narrow heads, in the channel between the two bay peninsulas, Point Nepean and Point Lonsdale. Apparently something like 8,000 marine vessels pass through each year.
Point Lonsdale LighthouseFort Queenscliff was set up to protect this part of Australia's huge coastline.
Attention!!! Eyes Right!! Obviously someone is standing there with a chip.The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
The sign says it all - Bass Strait - straight ahead - all ocean until you reach Tasmania! Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park 
There are some gorgeous rock forms and windblown landscapes here at the Point.
The waves appear to be a grid, due to the direction of the wind, waves and the tides.
Naturally, sealife and birdlife are quite at home here in the dunes and protected areas, but even so, the dire situation the Hooded Plover's are in must be averted ...
These old bunkers scattered along the beach at Point Lonsdale are part of history in the area, showing that it was important to protect the coastline during the war years. The scope of the view is very wide along the bay, the heads and out to sea.
Queenscliff is really a good area to begin your journey up the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia's most famous for it's scenery of spectacular cliffs and beaches. In many parts, the road is right next to the water and you can get some magnificent views from the higher sections of the road.
One of Victoria's world famous surfing beaches is Bells Beach. When the weather is right, this area pumps with huge waves, ideal for international pro-surfing championships. There is quite a big slope down to the water. We visited in winter, so there weren't a lot of people around. Summertime would be quite different and to swim here would require that you be pretty confident and competent in the water and surf.
Many of the houses are built to take in the commanding views around them. Some pretty amazing architecture ideas have been invented!
We spent 6 hours driving up and back with stops along the way at seaside towns such as Anglesea and Lorne, where we had fish and chips. There is still a lot more road to go. Next time, it will have to be for more than just the day!
No comments:
Post a Comment