The idea of our “catch up by the water” events is to explore different areas via geocaching. Whether it be a river, a lake, the ocean or a waterfall there is something special about being by water so let’s combine them together. Welcome to event #8 😊
When: Sunday 2nd March 2025
Time: 12.30pm – 1.00pm
Where: Queenscliff Lookout, Queenscliff
Facilities: Several picnic tables are available and a kiosk.
Whilst we will aim to secure a picnic table, the area can get busy so be prepared should you need a seat.
The Rip, also known as The Heads, is the narrow waterway entrance connecting the Bass Strait to the bay of Port Phillip and is the only route of maritime transport into Port Phillip and thus seaport access into Melbourne and Geelong. Because of large tidal flows through the relatively narrow channel from the bay to the ocean, and a high rocky seabed, The Rip is a dangerous stretch of water and has claimed numerous ships and many lives.
Geography
The Rip is generally considered to be located in the triangular area of water between the land points of Point Nepean, Shortlands Bluff and Point Lonsdale. The entrance between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean is 3.5 km wide but the reefs projecting from these points reduce the navigable width to about 1 km. Within 800 m outside the Heads, there is a shallow rocky flat known as the Rip Bank. The water deepens outside this flat to 30m and inside the Heads to as much as 90 m. This inequality of depth combined with tidal streams running up to 6 knots, causes the world-renowned dangerous conditions. The variation in seafloor depth within the rip itself can be anywhere from 100 m to less than 5 m amongst the rocky reefs and shoals.
Navigation
The area of The Rip is a navigation hazard for recreational and small commercial vessels, due to strong tidal movements, unpredictable waves and proximity to active shipping lanes.
Control of shipping movements through the heads is managed by the Point Lonsdale Signal Station. Large ships may only enter Port Phillip with a qualified pilot aboard to help them navigate through the heads. When entering, large ships must follow a precise S-shaped course through the heads. The Queenscliff Low Light ("white lighthouse") and Queenscliff High Light ("black lighthouse") form a leading line to guide ships through the main channel, in conjunction with the Hume and Murray Towers that show red and green lights respectively.
Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rip
Hope you can make it.