The Queenscliff Film Festival runs Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June 2026 at the historic Queenscliff Town Hall. Five films across a winter weekend, an opening night with two well-known names, and dinner at a beachfront restaurant. It is a community-run event, put together by a committee of volunteer lovers of film who describe it as “an eclectic program of films selected from around the globe to digest, challenge, discuss and enjoy.” Warm, unpretentious, and exactly the kind of thing worth building a weekend around.
The Town Hall is about five kilometres from Lonsdale Palms, roughly a six-minute drive. Close enough to head in for an evening session and be back before the kettle cools. No parking hunt, no long dark drive home after the late Saturday finish. You stay here, you drive in, you watch good cinema, you come back.
A weekend you can actually pace
The festival opens on Friday night from 6pm with wine and canapés, then Eddie Perfect in conversation with Pete Helliar before the film My Brother’s Band. A proper opening night, the sort where the room is half the fun.
Saturday is the heart of it. Cactus Pears screens late morning, Calle Malaga mid-afternoon, then a break for dinner at Tarra Restaurant down at the ferry terminal, two courses with drinks at bar prices. The day finishes with I’m Still Here from 7:30pm. That is a full day of cinema, broken up by a beachfront meal, with your bed a few minutes away when the last credits roll.
Sunday eases off. DJ Ahmet screens from 11am, a relaxed finish before checkout. You could see all five films or pick the ones that pull you. Either way it paces like a holiday, not a marathon.
Why base yourself at Lonsdale Palms
Lonsdale Palms is at 85 Bellarine Highway, Point Lonsdale, a few minutes from the Town Hall and built for exactly this kind of trip. The whole retreat sleeps up to 16 across three cottages, so a group of friends can do the festival together and still have room to breathe. A couple can take one cottage and have the rest of the weekend to themselves.
Bring the dog. The cottages are pet-friendly, water and food bowls provided, and Point Lonsdale has the only off-leash dog beach in the area. Between sessions is the perfect time for a walk along the sand, dog included.
If anyone in your group needs step-free access, Jade Cottage is Accessibility Australia qualified for independent wheelchair users, with ramps and a universally designed bathroom. The festival sits in one fixed venue with a short flat drive, which makes the whole weekend manageable for guests who want a low-mobility escape. That combination is hard to find anywhere else on the Bellarine.
What else is on around Queenscliff and the Bellarine?
The films are the anchor, but the weekend has more in it. Tarra and 360Q both do waterfront dining in Queenscliff, and The Esplanade Hotel (the Espy) is the kind of coastal pub that suits a cold afternoon. Late June falls inside whale migration season along this coast, so you might spot a humpback or a southern right from the foreshore if the day is kind. Add the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse, the Bellarine Railway steam train, and a few good galleries, and you have a winter weekend with plenty in it.
Book early, sessions sell out
The Queenscliff Film Festival sells tickets through its official site, and popular sessions sell out, with a wait list once they do. Book your festival tickets early at queensclifffilmfestival.com.au so you are not left on the wait list. Then book your stay directly at lonsdalepalms.com.au and set yourself up five minutes from the action.
FAQs about staying near the Queenscliff Film Festival
Where can I stay for the Queenscliff Film Festival?
Lonsdale Palms in Point Lonsdale offers spacious, affordable accommodation just five minutes from Queenscliffe’s main festival venues, including Queenscliff Town Hall.
How far is Point Lonsdale from the Queenscliff Film Festival?
It’s around a five-minute drive or a 20-minute bike ride along the scenic Bellarine coastline.
What types of accommodation are available near Queenscliff?
Lonsdale Palms features a four-bedroom Heritage House and two cottages – Ruby Cottage and Jade Cottage – suitable for up to 16 guests total or each cottage can be booked separately for smaller groups. Our accommodation is accessible and pet-friendly, ideal for book clubs or family groups.
What else can I do while attending the festival?
Explore beaches, wineries, walking and cycling trails, and local dining around Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff. Late June is whale watching season so walking along the beach you might just spot a pod. It’s the perfect balance of culture and coastal relaxation.