Under two hours drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island is renowned for being home to the Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix, and its wildlife; koalas and fairy penguins are the main attraction. San Remo is the last town before leaving the mainland and the gateway to Phillip Island. Local pelicans descend on the San Remo wharf every day at 11.30am for their daily feed. The first town on the island is the small fishing village of Newhaven – a popular place for fishing & surfing. On the south-east tip of the island is the quiet village of Rhyll. Wander through the Koala Conservation Centre or marvel at the birdlife around the wetlands at Rhyll Inlet. Cowes is the main commercial centre and has a wealth of charming cafes & upmarket restaurants. Take a cruise to the large fur seal colony on Seal Rocks or enjoy watching hundreds of penguins nightly at nearby Summerland Beach. With a diverse range of accommodation to choose from, Phillip Island is truly unique and not to be missed.
When to Visit Phillip Island
Phillip Island experiences milder weather than Melbourne and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for Summer is 23 deg C, while in winter it drops to 13 deg C. Spring and autumn average around 18-19 deg 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.
Getting Around Phillip Island
A comfortable 2 hour drive from Melbourne, Phillip island is easy to get to. Take the Monash Freeway south from Melbourne and follow the signs. There is a V-Line bus to and from Melbourne, which stops at Grantville, Corinella, Bass, San Remo, Newhaven and Cowes daily. And the Inter Island passenger ferry, travels from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula across Westernport Bay to Cowes. Tours to Phillip Island and its attractions run daily, however there is no public transport around the island, so once you are there you will either need to join a tour group or hire a bike.