Phillip Island, which is a two-hour drive south-east of Melbourne on Victoria’s stunning Bass Coast, is home to a mix of breathtaking wildlife, world-class surf beaches and a rugged coastline that’s just as likely to leave you awestruck. The island’s beaches and attractions are within spitting distance of the city, making it the perfect escape, even if just for a day.
Experience The Island’s Wildlife
At the Penguin Parade, you’ll get to see little penguins making their way ashore after sunset and scurrying across Summerland Beach to get to their burrows. Just a heads up — weekends, school holidays and summer are the times when you’ll need to book ahead to get a spot.
The Koala Conservation Centre takes a much more low-key approach. You’ll be walking along elevated boardwalks snaking through the eucalyptus woodland, getting a real up-close and personal look at the koalas as they just hang out in a natural bush setting.
Checking out The Nobbies is another wildlife highlight. The boardwalks here give you a great view out to sea, and you’ll get a glimpse of Seal Rocks, which is home to Australia’s biggest colony of fur seals. And if you wander a bit away from the main attractions, you might just spot a few wallabies or Cape Barren geese, or even catch the odd mutton bird rookery, which brings all sorts of short-tailed shearwaters to the coast —it just depends on what time of year you visit.
Explore The Coast And Beaches
Phillip Island has two distinct sides to its personality: the more laid-back Western Port to the north, and the rugged open water of Bass Strait to the south.
If you like a good walk, then Cape Woolamai is the place to be. The Cape Woolamai Walk is a real adventure – it starts at Woolamai Beach and takes you up over the dunes and onto the granite headlands, where you can take in the views out to Bass Strait and spot all sorts of seabirds making their homes in the cliffs. Of course, The Nobbies gives you a taste of the wild coast without requiring a huge amount of effort from you – and if the weather is right, Rhyll Mangrove Boardwalk is another real highlight, with its mangrove forests, mudflats and all sorts of wildlife to spot.
Now, the beaches, well, those are a bit more of a challenge. Woolamai is the reserve of the surfers , Smiths Beach can be a bit of a mixed bag (great for surfers and families on a good day, not so great on a bad one) and Cowes has generally calmer waters, but don’t get too complacent – Bass Strait is a pretty wild and unpredictable place, and you’d do well to check the conditions before getting in the water.
Discover The Towns And Local Life
Cowes is the useful all-round base, with the island’s main cluster of cafes, restaurants, shops and accommodation within an easy walk of the foreshore.
Rhyll is smaller and quieter, edged by Western Port and wetlands. Newhaven sits close to Churchill Island, where the scenery turns to paddocks, heritage farm buildings and open water. Cross the bridge, and San Remo marks the mainland gateway, centred on its fishing harbour and waterfront.
There is good reason to leave Cowes for a meal. Phillip Island Winery puts wine and food into a rural setting, while accommodation ranges from town-centre stays to countryside properties such as Five Acres.
Make Time For The Island’s Best Experiences
The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit hosts the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and Superbike World Championship. On major race weekends, expect a very different island: traffic builds, and accommodation tightens well ahead of the event.
At Churchill Island, historic farm buildings, gardens, and animals sit against the backdrop of broad Western Port views. Walkers have three quite different options nearby: Cape Woolamai for the bigger coastal outing, The Nobbies for a shorter hit of Bass Strait scenery, and Rhyll for level wetland trails.
Offshore, Wildlife Coast Cruises heads towards the fur seal colony around Seal Rocks. Surfing belongs mainly to the Bass Strait side; newcomers should match the beach to the day’s conditions rather than assume every break is beginner-friendly.
Plan Your Phillip Island Trip
The bridge at San Remo makes Phillip Island a doable day trip from Melbourne, albeit one that usually takes around two hours in normal traffic. However, holidays and big motorsport weekends can chuck a spanner in the works at a moment’s notice.
Having a car really makes a difference when it comes to getting around. Places like Cowes, Cape Woolamai, the Koala Conservation Centre, The Nobbies, and the Penguin Parade are scattered around the island rather than being grouped into a single route.
A day trip is doable if you keep your wish list pretty short. The catch is the Penguin Parade, which happens after sunset, so if you’re heading back to Melbourne, you’ll be finishing the day with a night drive. Add Cowes, koalas, Cape Woolamai and a few other stops in before the parade and your day becomes all about driving rather than actually seeing the island.
With a night or two, you get to change your pace. Cowes is pretty handy for dinner and everyday services while the rest of the island is more about beaches and countryside. Summer is warmer and busier, while the cooler months trade a bit of swimming weather for some fabulous wildlife and walking conditions. Before setting your dates, check what’s on at the Grand Prix Circuit and the Penguin Parade.
