Phillip Island

  The first town on the island is the small fishing village of Newhaven - a popular place for fishing from the pier, surfing on one of the best surf beaches in Victoria, walking along the beautiful Cape Woolamai or exploring nearby historic Churchill Island. Cape Woolamai is at the south-eastern tip of the island and is a state fauna reserve featuring mutton bird rookeries and walking tracks along the coastal cliffs.

  On the south-east tip of the island is the quiet village of Rhyll. Wander through the nearby Koala Conservation Centre and Woodland to see koalas at close range or view birds as you walk through the famous wetlands at Rhyll Inlet. Other attractions at Phillip Island include the historical island farm of Churchill Island and several theme parks. Cowes, the main commercial centre on Phillip Island, has a wealth of charming cafes and upmarket restaurants for visitors to enjoy. Take a wildlife cruise to the large fur seal colony on Seal Rocks or enjoy watching hundreds of Little Penguins returning to their burrows at the nightly Penguin Parade at nearby Summerland Beach. Major racing events are held at the island's Grand Prix Circuit including the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Superbike World Championship and several car racing events.

  Savour seafood and sea views on Phillip Island where food is fresh, seasonal and worth celebrating. There are so many dining options to enjoy in each of the island villages. Spend an al fresco afternoon by the water at Rhyll and then head to Cowes with its diverse choices for the main meal. Linger in seaside restaurants or replenish at airy beach cafes. The island's scattering of vineyards are building a reputation for cool-climate wines with full fruit flavours. Visit a cellar door for tastings with the winemakers and stay for lunch among the vines. Snap up delectable seafood straight off the boat at the San Remo Fisherman’s Cooperative. Fish for trout at the fishing park and cook it all up at one of the island's foreshore picnic areas

Getting to Phillip Island is easy. Choose from a comfortable drive of under 2 hours from Melbourne, let someone else do the driving and jump on the bus, or board the inter-island passenger ferry that crosses the bay to Phillip Island. V/Line runs daily coach services between Southern Cross Station and Cowes, via Grantville, Corinella, Bass, San Remo and Newhaven. The Inter Island passenger ferry, travels from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula across Westernport Bay to Cowes.

Phillip Island is an all-year destination, but as expected of a coastal island, the wind can be icy during winter and there is also more chance of rain in the colder months.   

Any time of year is great for Phillip Island as there is such a range of both indoor and outdoor activities and always something new to see at each change of season. It's a very popular place, so there will always be plenty of people around whenever you go. Melbournians enjoy coming to Phillip Island for the weekend or during their annual vacation (January is the peak month), so avoid weekends and the month of January if you'd rather avoid the crowds. The island also gets busy where there is a race on, so check the circuit's website for a calendar of racing events.   Phillip Island experiences milder weather than Melbourne and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for Summer is 23 °C, while in winter it drops to 13 °C. Spring and autumn average temperatures are around 18-19°C. June is typically the wettest month. The prevailing wind for most of the year is a South-Westerly which blows in off Bass Strait.