Trifter

Phillip Island, located 90 minutes drive from Melbourne, is a natural playground for abundant wildlife, natural and adventure. Surrounded by some of the best surf and swimming beaches in Victoria, it is a great place to visit and stay a night or two, especially for families.

Here, you will find yourself standing nose to nose with koalas, sharing a beach with hungry pelicans, watching a colony of fur seals splashing in the sun and, of course, watching a march of the famous little penguins! At Phillip Island, nature is happy to get close to you. Each night at sunset, visitors from all over the world flock to Summerland Beach to observe the little penguins waddling up the sand.

This heart-warming parade is, and always will be, a winner for those who come to see it. Explore Phillip Island Nature Park with the rangers – an ecotourism adventure. Book your tour at the Phillip Island Information Centre or any Nature Park Visitor Centre. A few hours before sunset, for only A$10 per adult and A$5 per child, you can join the ranger to discover what goes on “behind the scenes” at nightly Penguin Park.

You will also learn amazing penguin facts and get great penguin viewing hints for the evening ahead! Bookings are essential as places are limited. Different penguin viewing options are also available. Hugely popular is the Penguin Plus experience, which offer more intimate up-close viewing of these adorable penguins with ranger-guided commentary.

Nature lovers can enjoy a close-up look at koalas at the Koala Conservation Centre. One of the best ways to enjoy the attractions on offer is to buy a Three-Park Pass for entry to Phillip Island Nature Park’s famous attractions including the Penguin Parade, Koala conservation Centre and Churchill Island. Tickets are available from the attractions themselves or can be purchased from the Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre in Cowes or Newhaven.

Perched on cliffs overlooking the wild waters of Bass Strait is Victoria’s newest eco-tourism attraction, the Nobbies Centre. The Marine Centre has large plasma screens that present close-up views of Australia’s largest fur seal colony on Seal Rocks through high-tech interactive seal cams as well as informative presentations on native marine and bird life. Just 15 minutes from the Penguin parade, the recently opened Rhyll Fishing Park lets holidaymakers fish ofor rainbow trout, then cook their catch on a traditional Aussie barbecue.

When the sun is shining, the best place to be is out the water. Wildlife Coast Cruises operate boat cruises around Phillip Island for up-close encounter with seals on a spectacular two-hour cruises witnessing one of Australia’s largest wild fur seal colonies situated on Seal Rocks just 2km off the rugged southwest coast of Phillip Island.

The boat drifts within metres of thousands of seals enabling you to witness their natural environment first-hand. It is impossible not to be captivated by these naturally playful and inquisitive animals which regularly approach the boat for a closer look at you. For an adrenaline rush, try the Seal Rocks Adventure Trip on a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat), a 70 minute journey of wave-jumping and nature-viewing.

Not everything in this region is focused on its natural wonder. Phillip Island has hosted motor-racing for the past 50 years. Racing enthusiasts gather in their tens of thousands or the Superbike World Championship in March and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in October, or zip around Cham Karts, located halfway between Cape Woolamai and the Nobbies, in one of its 25 new high-powered rental go-karts.

Phillip Island offers visitors a wide range of accommodation to cater budgets and tastes. The All-Season Eco Resort opened in late June, providing the perfect base for travelers who want to combine quality and comfort with environmental sensitivity. The villas have five-star eco rating, and use renewable or recyclable materials and passive energy design.

So whether it is natural beauty, water activities, fishing or just lazing about, Phillip Island has something for everyone.