Point Lonsdale at the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula stands guard over the mighty rip at the entrance to Port Philip Bay. Point Lonsdale offers splendid views of Point Nepean and the Mornington Peninsula, which is only about 3 kilometres away.
Home to about 2500 people, like many of the coastal towns, Point Lonsdale swells to over double that number during the summer months when thousands of holidaymakers call the town their home.
Being situated between Ocean Grove and Queenscliff, the town has so much to offer for the holidaymaker who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle and commercialism of the larger towns. Point Lonsdale is a fantastic spot to relax in a quiet haven where all you have to worry about is what time you will go down to the beach.
Much of the beach has a west facing cliff face which gives protection from the hot afternoon sun, making it an ideal place for beach activities. The wide sandy shores are a favourite for the young who make sand castles, play in the shallows or have a shot of an Aussie favourite, beach cricket.
Over the last few years, a few major developments have transformed the township from a fairly sleepy place to a more cosmopolitan centre. Although only small and non-intrusive, the main shopping strip offers some great outdoor dining and is a great place for the favourite past times of people watching and overlooking the beautiful rip waterway.
The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse is probably the most iconic structure in Point Lonsdale and serves as an important beacon for ships entering through this dangerous piece of water. The Rip is often regarded as one of Australia’s most dangerous waterways.
A trip to Point Lonsdale is not complete without visiting the rip lookout. With the huge amount of shipping traffic entering and leaving the ports of Melbourne and Geelong, it is very common to see some large ships tackle the rip. The beaches and surrounding cliff faces usually attract quite a few people when some of the larger passenger cruise liners enter the bay.
Another favourite is the historic Point Lonsdale Pier, many a good fisherman has caught his dinner here, including some pretty big sharks which were not expected. The pier is a great place to see the town and surrounding landscape from the water.
The town has a very important shallow salt lake that is home to many migratory birds, and the costal rock platforms and water around the heads are part of the Port Philip National Park. The waters have been noted as having the highest diversity of invertebrates on any reef in Victoria.
Many people also visit the Point Lonsdale Cemetery; this historic place is home to graves of many of the notable people from the town, and quite a few ship wreck victims who have lost their lives along the rugged coast. The earliest graves date back to 1856
The second Sunday of each month, Point Lonsdale holds the Sunday Market at the Primary School, here is a great place to pick up some homemade and gourmet goods. There is something for everyone, fresh baked goods, fruit and veggies, hand crafts and plants. The market is one of the most popular in the region.
