Immerse yourself in the fascinating stories, wildlife and vistas
of Port Phillip Bay with new tour operator South Bay Eco
Cruises.
Owner, skipper and long-time Bellarine Peninsula resident Mike
Randall knows the bay like the back of his hand. A shipwright by
trade, he designed and built the 20-seater South Bay cruiser
especially for local conditions. The boat's theatre style seating
and open sides make viewing and photographing the best sights of
the bay a breeze.
Depending on the season, passengers might see dolphins, whales,
Australian fur seals, penguins and seabird colonies, as well as
military and maritime relics. In favourable weather the boat can
even cross through the notorious rip at Port Phillip Heads and
explore the ocean-side reefs and beaches.
The Discovery (1hr 15min) and Explorer (2hrs 30min) cruises pass
by historic lighthouses, Point Nepean, Portsea Quarantine Station
and Maritime National Park areas. Or try the Mud Island Guided
Walk, which visits an internationally recognised conservation
wetland, home to thousands of pairs of breeding seabirds including
pelicans, muttonbirds, petrels and black swans.
History buffs will love the South Channel Fort Tour, which sails
to the only man-made island in the bay. Constructed as a coastal
defence station in the 1880s, South Channel Fort once housed up to
100 soldiers and has a fascinating network of underground tunnels
and fortifications that can be explored. The island is also a
significant bird sanctuary, and offers stunning 360-degree views of
the bay.
All South Bay Eco Adventures tours depart from Queenscliff
Harbour, a newly reinvigorated working harbour and retail, dining
and tourism precinct that also boasts a 30-metre-high observation
tower.
www.southbayecoadventures.com