Queenscliff or Portsea
Jan 16th, 2005, 12:55 PM
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Queenscliff or Portsea
Hello
We are visiting Melbourne in February and we are interested in doing one of the dolphin swims in Queenscliff or Portsea, please can you tell me how long it will take to drive from Melbourne to each of these places and if you could recommend one of the dolphin swim companies?
Thanks in advacne for your help
Suzanne
We are visiting Melbourne in February and we are interested in doing one of the dolphin swims in Queenscliff or Portsea, please can you tell me how long it will take to drive from Melbourne to each of these places and if you could recommend one of the dolphin swim companies?
Thanks in advacne for your help
Suzanne
Jan 16th, 2005, 01:12 PM
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Hello Suzanne,
According to Travel Mate's Map Maker website, Melbourne to Portsea is 122 km / 2 hr 10 min.
Melbourne to Queenscliffe is 105 km / 1 hr 25 min.
Aside from being a departure point for dolphin swimming, Queenscliffe is quite a quaint town and of some historical interest in its own right.
If you want to drive to the dolphin swimming in one direction, you could then catch the ferry that plies between Queenscliffe and Sorrento, and return up the other side of Port Phillip Bay, just for the sake of variety.
You can get a good view of Port Phillip Bay, with Melbourne in the distance, from Arthur's Seat, which is on the Mornington Peninsula (on the Portsea side of Port Phillip Bay).
Sorry, I don't know about companies that take people swimming with dolphins.
According to Travel Mate's Map Maker website, Melbourne to Portsea is 122 km / 2 hr 10 min.
Melbourne to Queenscliffe is 105 km / 1 hr 25 min.
Aside from being a departure point for dolphin swimming, Queenscliffe is quite a quaint town and of some historical interest in its own right.
If you want to drive to the dolphin swimming in one direction, you could then catch the ferry that plies between Queenscliffe and Sorrento, and return up the other side of Port Phillip Bay, just for the sake of variety.
You can get a good view of Port Phillip Bay, with Melbourne in the distance, from Arthur's Seat, which is on the Mornington Peninsula (on the Portsea side of Port Phillip Bay).
Sorry, I don't know about companies that take people swimming with dolphins.
Jan 18th, 2005, 11:19 PM
#4
I have not heard of the dolphin swims but they sound great. As far as towns go, Queenscliff has much more to offer than Portsea. You could easily spend a couple of days in and around Queenscliff. If you do go to Portsea, a nice place for lunch or a walk is the small town of Sorrento, a few miles before you get to Portsea.
If you don't get much info from this forum, you could try the forum on www.travelmate.com.au
Kay
If you don't get much info from this forum, you could try the forum on www.travelmate.com.au
Kay
Jan 19th, 2005, 04:58 PM
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http://www.moonrakercharters.com.au/
http://www.dolphinswims.com.au/
http://www.polperro.com.au/
Hello Suzanne
Here are websites for three companies which provide dolphin swims. You can compare the prices and what they have to offer. I have not used any of them, but have seen the Moonraker company setting off from Sorrento pier on many days.
The vechicular ferry from Queenscliffe leaves every hour and goes to Sorrento (not Portsea), the trip takes about twenty five minutes across The Heads.(the ferry also takes foot passengers and cyclists)
The much smaller solely passenger ferry goes from Queenscliffe, to Sorrento on to Portsea and then return to Queeenscliffe. It is subject to the vagaries of the weather and does not go out when the seas are high and rough.
Re timing it would be quicker to drive over the Westgate Bridge, straight down the Geelong Road and turn left at Geelong for Queenscliffe, than to drive to Sorrento or Portsea.
If you do not want the hassle of driving then both Queenscliffe and Sorrento are easily accessible by public transport. For Queenscliffe take the train to Geelong (from Spencer St) and the Queenscliffe bus will meet you at the station
For Sorrento take train to Frankston station(suburban train) Bus no. 788 from Frankston station to corner Hotham and Melbourne Roads and you are there
http://www.dolphinswims.com.au/
http://www.polperro.com.au/
Hello Suzanne
Here are websites for three companies which provide dolphin swims. You can compare the prices and what they have to offer. I have not used any of them, but have seen the Moonraker company setting off from Sorrento pier on many days.
The vechicular ferry from Queenscliffe leaves every hour and goes to Sorrento (not Portsea), the trip takes about twenty five minutes across The Heads.(the ferry also takes foot passengers and cyclists)
The much smaller solely passenger ferry goes from Queenscliffe, to Sorrento on to Portsea and then return to Queeenscliffe. It is subject to the vagaries of the weather and does not go out when the seas are high and rough.
Re timing it would be quicker to drive over the Westgate Bridge, straight down the Geelong Road and turn left at Geelong for Queenscliffe, than to drive to Sorrento or Portsea.
If you do not want the hassle of driving then both Queenscliffe and Sorrento are easily accessible by public transport. For Queenscliffe take the train to Geelong (from Spencer St) and the Queenscliffe bus will meet you at the station
For Sorrento take train to Frankston station(suburban train) Bus no. 788 from Frankston station to corner Hotham and Melbourne Roads and you are there
Feb 1st, 2005, 07:07 PM
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Hi again Suzy
Just an update,(I hope I am not too late) last weekend I was down in Queenscliff and went across on the ferry to Sorrento. There were lots of dolphins, several schools/pods, in the water and three boats out.
Correction to the time to cross The Heads on the ferry it is closer to 50 minutes than the 25 I originally stated.
If you have the time, a trip to Point Nepean National Park is highly recommended
Just an update,(I hope I am not too late) last weekend I was down in Queenscliff and went across on the ferry to Sorrento. There were lots of dolphins, several schools/pods, in the water and three boats out.
Correction to the time to cross The Heads on the ferry it is closer to 50 minutes than the 25 I originally stated.
If you have the time, a trip to Point Nepean National Park is highly recommended
