Victoria · Attraction
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
Guardian of the Rip
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Standing sentinel at the western entrance to Port Phillip Bay since 1902, Point Lonsdale Lighthouse is one of the most dramatically sited lighthouses in Victoria. Its white tower rises 21 metres above the clifftops of Point Lonsdale, and its light shines 37 metres above sea level across the infamous shipping passage known as the Rip. Sunday guided tours by volunteers take visitors inside the tower for panoramic views of Bass Strait and Port Phillip Heads.
The lighthouse grounds are freely accessible at all times, and the headland walk offers outstanding views of the Rip, the historic quarantine station at Point Nepean across the water, and the constant parade of container ships and ferries navigating one of Australia's busiest shipping channels. A World War II gun emplacement on the headland adds another layer of history to the site.
Guided lighthouse climbs run every Sunday morning. Each tour lasts approximately 30 minutes with a maximum of eight people. Tickets must be booked in advance through the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. The climb is not suitable for those with vertigo, claustrophobia, or pacemakers, and children must be at least five years old and 90 centimetres tall.
Point Lonsdale township, just a short walk from the lighthouse, has a relaxed village feel with cafes, a surf beach, and the tidal rock pools of the Back Beach. It is a popular day trip from Geelong and a natural complement to visits to Queenscliff, only a few kilometres along the coast road.
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Scenic views
