Situated about 140 kilometres south of Melbourne, Phillip Island has become a fabulous island getaway for backpackers. Thought to be one of Australia’s top natural spectacles, Phillip Island covers around 10,000 hectares and measures roughly 26 kilometres in length and 9 kilometres in width, at its widest point. The island flaunts a mild climate, a panorama of the flat countryside, and a beautiful town, Cowes. Phillip Island has a stable population of approximately 6000 but is surprisingly visited by over three million visitors each year.
Thought to be occupied by the Bunurong tribe of Indigenous Australians earlier, Phillip Island European history is assumed to begin with its discovery in 1798, by a nobleman named George Bass. Ten years after the arrival of the first fleet, this invention resulted in the island being named in honor of Captain/Governor Arthur Phillip who later authoritatively declared the Shire of Phillip Island in 1928. The first overpass to link the island to the mainland was built in the 1940s. It was then replaced in 1969 by a 640-meter long bridge, originating at San Remo.
From then till now, Phillip Island has been a beloved destination on Victorian travelers’ itineraries and is predicted to continue being a favorite even in the future. Hosting an extraordinary range of accommodation, restaurants, activities, displays, and being renowned for its fairy penguin parades every evening, Phillip Island is such a unique place to visit.
Phillip Island Accommodation
Located within the vicinity of the Victorian capital city of Melbourne, Phillip Island is deemed a prime holiday location boasting a vast range of activities, natural attractions, and fantastic accommodation. Enjoyed by international travelers and visiting locals, this exclusive island has a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets and requirements.
The main town, Cowes, is where the bulk of accommodation, restaurants, and shops are located. Visitors can choose from a variety of accommodation, including hotels, lodges, inns, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, holiday homes, units, cottage, eco-cottages, caravan parks, and selected camping grounds.
Once a place of accommodation has been chosen, travelers to Phillip Island are advised to join a tour group, rent a bicycle or hire a private car, as there is no public transportation currently operating around the island. Access to Phillip Island is via a 640-meter long bridge from San Ramo.
Phillip Island Activities And Attractions
Phillip Island is home to an array of exciting activities and natural attractions for entertaining people of all age groups. Commonly known for the fairy penguin march at dusk, Phillip Island guests can also enjoy learning from a magnitude of art exhibitions, magnificent year-round festivals and events, famous race track, and the features of the adjacent islands to name a few things.
The most popular attraction on Phillip Island is its sunset penguin parade. Various tours lead fascinated travelers to the shores of Summerland Beach, approximately 20 kilometers from Newhaven Bridge, to see the little penguins appear from a day of fishing in the Bass Strait. Returning to their burrows at dusk, the penguins are the most visited natural attraction on Phillip Island.
There are lots of activities and attractions available on Phillip Island. Natural draws include The Nobbies, The Blowhole, Cape Woolamai, The Colonnades, Forrest Caves, Smith’s Beach, Pyramid Rock, and Seal Rocks. Wildlife discovery is also a readily available natural activity, with a wicked mutton bird colony residing at Cape Woolamai and several bushwalking tracks spread across Phillip and other adjacent Islands. A few other activities close to nature accessible to island visitors, include rock climbing, fossicking, bird watching, trekking, and cycling on the tracks of Oswin Roberts Reserve and Conservation hill, bird watching, and photography.
Places suggested to visit on Phillip Island include the Heritage Centre, Koala Conservation center, the Clock Museum, Maritime Museum in Rhyll, the Phillip Island Wildlife Park, and Wildlife Wonderland, the vineyard and winery, and the Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre. For all bike and car racing aficionados, a trip to Phillip Island would not be complete without a visit to the Grand Prix Race track.
From attractions and liveliness on land to the water and beyond, Phillip Island has it all. Visitors will find excellent isolated beaches to the north and some beautiful surfing beaches to the south including Berry’s Beach, Smith’s Beach, near Waratah Bay, Summerland, Cat Bay, and Woolamai.
Alternatively, Phillip Island is the centre of many cruises and tours to nearby islands. Mingle with the koalas on small Churchill Island located to the north-west of Newhaven settlement or take a solar-powered eco-tour exploration of French Island. Other available sea or beach-based activities on Phillip Island include fishing trips, Duck tours, sea kayaking, windsurfing at the celebrated Sandy Point or taking a boat charter.
There is an abundance of activity and attractions accessible to all Phillip Island tourists.
