Home to the last lifeboat to serve the Rip (the treacherous stretch of water linking Port Phillip Bay to Bass Strait) , this recommended museum has displays on the intriguing current-day pilot-boat process, shipwrecks, lighthouses and steamships. Head out the back to see the heritage-listed 1895 boat shed, with paintings that served as a record of passing ships in the bay.
![](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2019-06/28a54ab977ecfc44853cac6b92eeed18-queenscliff-maritime-museum.jpg?w=1920&h=640&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cedges&auto=format&q=75)
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
2.99 MILES
Commanding expansive ocean views, this windswept national park on the peninsula’s western tip was a seasonal base of its traditional owners, the Boon…
Mornington Peninsula National Park
19.57 MILES
Stretching from Portsea along a long sliver of coastline to Cape Schanck and then inland to the Greens Bush area, this national park showcases the…
24.07 MILES
One of the largest vineyards on the peninsula, Pt. Leo Estate has a magnificent setting overlooking Western Port Bay. Its winery complex is state of the…
Australian National Surfing Museum
19.57 MILES
The perfect starting point for those embarking on a surfing safari is this superbly curated museum that pays homage to Australian surfing. Here you'll see…
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
21.01 MILES
One of Victoria's most impressive regional galleries, the MPRG has a permanent collection focusing on the cultural heritage of Mornington Peninsula as…
9 MILES
Set up by a local family who know their stuff, this gin distillery produces everything on-site and has a tasting room to sample the goods, accompanied by…
17.59 MILES
Geelong's botanic gardens (established in 1851) are the fourth oldest in Australia and make for a peaceful stroll or picnic. Aim to get here for a…
18.5 MILES
Geelong's sparkling revamped waterfront precinct is a great place to stroll, with plenty of restaurants set on scenic piers, plus historical landmarks, a…
Nearby attractions
0.24 MILES
Check out incredible 360-degree views from this tower at Queenscliff's harbour.
0.31 MILES
Within a heritage building on the main street, this quality gallery focuses on the work of contemporary Australian artists, including pieces by Indigenous…
3. Queenscliff Historical Museum
0.38 MILES
This small museum on the main strip is dedicated to the area's rich local history. Exhibits change every few months, but its catalogued historical…
0.46 MILES
A lovely space inside a historic stone church (c 1868), this worthwhile gallery exhibits works by contemporary Australian artists who work on paper…
0.5 MILES
Pop by this lovely main-street gallery to see works by established and emerging Australian artists.
0.68 MILES
Queencliff'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, and was…
7. Marine & Freshwater Discovery Centre
1.66 MILES
While this education centre is aimed at schoolchildren, it's worth popping in to have a gawk at the local species that live in the sea and lakes. Display…
2.71 MILES
Established in the late 1870s, Fort Nepean played an important role in Australia's military defence. Located at the far western tip of the national park,…