The sorrento ferry

How to get from one side of Port Phillip Bay to the other

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The Sorrento Ferry transports not only passengers but you can take your bike, your car, truck  or caravan, making it a great way to explore so much that Victoria, Australia has to offer.

What You Can See Traveling On The Sorrento Ferry

• The Sorrento Pier - constructed in 1870, the pier became essential to the development of the township. Steamships brought visitors from Melbourne and from here they traveled by steam tram over to the Sorrento backbeach.
• The Boiler - sometimes you can see the remains of the Steamer Wauchope sinking in 1918.
  
• South Channel Fort - South Channel Fort is an artificial island in southern Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia, 6 km north-east of the town of Sorrento. It was part of a network of fortifications protecting the narrow entrance to Port Phillip.
  Since 1995 it has been managed as part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park. Public access is permitted during daylight hours and it is a popular diving site.
• Mud Island - The Mud Islands are made up of three low-lying islands surrounding a shallow tidal lagoon connected to the sea by three narrow channels. Because of the movement of sand caused by tidal currants these shapes are constantly changing.
• South Channel Pile Light - The Light is a single-storey octagonal lighthouse in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia. Built between 1872 and 1874, it was used to guide ships through the narrow South Channel and until 1925 it was occupied by lighthouse keepers.
  The light was finally switched off in 1985 and actually ceased operating since then. The structure has since been restored by Parks Victoria  and is relocated three kilometres off the coast of Ryde Beach.
• Portsea - Portsea has become a popular holiday destination. It is the last western most settlement on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Portsea front beach is overlooked by the world famous Portsea Hotel. Events held at Portsea include the iron man competitions, the Portsea Pro-Am Classic, the Pier to Pub Swim, the Portsea Swim Classic, the Melbourne to Hobart and Melbourne to Davenport Yacht Races.
• Chinaman’s Hat - Once the site of a former Militry structure it has been renovated and is now the new seal platform erected by Victoria’s Park Authority in 2002. The post-war structure was built to replace a dilapidated military installation erected on a dolphin as part of the Port Phillip bay defence system shortly before 1942.
• Quarantine Station - In 1852 the sailing ship 'Ticonderoga' sailed through the heads and due to the fact that over 100 passengers had died during the voyage from Liverpool this area of Point Nepean was established as a Quarantine Station. It's purpose changed over the years, once used as a training college for army officer cadets, the Department of Defence for training medical personnel and a stop over for immigrant of war-torn Kosovo in 1999. Now the place is open to the public and makes for an interesting place to explore.
  
• Point Nepean - This marks the southern point of The Rip (the entrance to Port Phillip) and the most westerly point of the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria.
  
• The Rip -There is only one sea passage between Port Phillip and Bass Strait and that is through a narrow entrance called the ‘Rip’. 
  The headlands at the entrance to Port Phillip are Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean, know as the ‘Heads”. The Heads are 3.05 km apart however because of the reefs on either side entering is restricted as the channel is only about 300 metres. There are over 20 shipwrecks between the ‘heads’.
• Point Lonsdale - is a coastal township bordering Queenscliff. The headland is dominated by the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse.
• Shortland’s Bluff - here you can find 2 Queenscliff Lighthouses. The upper High or Black Lighthouse is situated in the grounds of Fort Queenscliff was built in 1863.  It is built of solid bluestone from the Maribyrnong district and has never been painted. It is the only black lighthouse in Australia. The building of the Low Light lighthouse started shortly after on the South side of Shortlands Bluff. The Low Light is also referred to as the White lighthouse. 
  Both lighthouses sit within the walls of Fort Queenscliff and it light ships through the RIP.
• Queenscliff Harbour - now a modern marina precinct established in a true Victorian working harbour. Watch the Pilot boats returning from their trips into the rip, book yourself in to dive the bay, swim with the dolphins or partake of a delicious meal in the restuarant, this harbour has it all. Why not climb the observation tower and check out the amazing 360 degree view .
  

Onboard Facilities On The Queenscliff/Sorrento Ferry

• Comfortable lounges and café style seating.
• Full length windows for maximum viewing.
• Various external viewing decks with outdoor seating.
• On board CAFE providing light snacks and refreshments.
• Lift from car deck to passenger lounge available. Lift can accommodate prams and wheelchairs.
• Dogs permitted on leash on external decks only. Not permitted in lounge areas.
• Baby change facility available.
  

Timetable and fares can be accesses from the official Sorrento Ferry website at http://www.searoad.com.au/timetables-fares/timetable/

Queenscliff Harbour
1 Wharf Street East,
Queenscliff, Victoria
Melways Reference 499 J10

Sorrento Pier
Sorrento, Victoria
Melways Reference 157 C5

Operating hours are 7 days per week 9am till 4:30pm.

A great way to connect the Great Ocean Road to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

Experience the beauty of Port Phillip Bay as the ferries glide past spectacular coastal scenery, big ships and maybe even a dolphin or two.

If you are a foot passenger why not take advantage of this fun service - The Bongo Transit

This little fun vehicle operates both in Sorrento and Queenscliff. Enjoy exploring both township shops and sights - perhaps take in the Queenscliff Market  

Getting picked up and dropped off at the ferry terminal, how convenient is that! One price is charged in both towns. You can also pre-book your transit experience. Just click on the Bongo transit link above for more details.

• Operating:  11.30am – 3.45pm
• Saturdays & Sundays
• School Holidays & Public Holidays
• Special Return Ferry and all day Bongo Offer ticket now available.
  

Bellarine Sightseeing & Bay Cruise
Do it 'Easy'

Sit back and let the experts guide you through some of the best that the Bellarine Peninsula has to offer with this fun and full on sight seeing tour offered by my travel partner, Experience Oz.

Experience the best scenery and culinary hotspots of The Bellarine on this guided day tour from Melbourne. Geelong's waterfront precinct and historic sea baths are the first glimpses you'll get of the peninsula. There is plenty of time for a beach walk before an immersive cultural experience at Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

As you make your way to lunch, you'll stop to snap some photos at the Bluff Lookout and Point Lonsdale Lighthouse to enjoy the spectacular coastline.

A 2-course lunch is served while sailing Port Phillip Bay and you may be joined by pods of dolphins. As the day tour comes to an end, taste the best of Bellarine touring Tuckerberry Hill Farm, famous for their strawberries and blueberries and Jack Rabbit Vineyard's award-winning wines with vineyards overlooking the ocean.

Click on the Buy Now button below for prices, departure points and more information

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Please note that some links on this page are to companies that I have an affiliation with. By that I mean that if you purchase a product through them I receive a very small commission. This way of earning income is termed Monetization and it is a way for me to keep my site out here for you to enjoy. I will only affiliate with companies that I feel offer value for money and excellent back up service. These are Companies that I personally have used to purchase products for myself, my family and my friends. To learn more please refer to my Disclaimer page

Consider booking some quality accommodation on either side of the bay. Check out what my travel partner, Booking.com,  has on offer. I am sure that you will be able to find a great deal!

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