Rolling hills majestically link the countryside to the glittering water and rugged coastline of Phillip Island. Koalas, grazing cows, the Grand Prix circuit and that group of Little fairy penguins waddling up the beach; here are the Top things to do in Phillip Island Australia.

Victoria; a small, underestimated state tucked away at the bottom of Australia. Victoria offers many diverse and extreme natural beauties. From snow, mountains, beaches, countryside like the Secrets of Sale, to metropolitan city lights.

A leisurely 90min drive from Melbourne; you will find a little piece of paradise, Phillip Island; one road in and one road out the island has so many experiences to offer, these are the top 8 things to see in Phillip Island Australia.

1. FAIRY PENGUINS

Staring eagerly into the waves crashing onto the beach; waiting for that little head to pop up out of the water. A dot appears and then as quick as a flash drives back into the water; once the coast is clear (Excuse the pun) the group of adorable fairy penguins waddle up the beach; towards their burrows in the sand dunes. The exciting “chatter” of the Penguins returning home is heart-warming. Having this adorable wild animal waddle past not even 2m away from you is a very unique experience.

The photos on the website of the Phillip Island Penguin Parade were a little offputting. It looked touristy and overcrowded; however, do not be fooled you will not see anything like this anywhere else on the Island. The money for the tickets helps with the conservation of the area and is totally worth it. Depending on the time of year; you may come across crowds of people, however; the boardwalk is set so that you can watch the Penguins coming from the ocean, and then make your way along the boardwalk. To get an up-close and personal experience with these beautiful little penguins.

Important Information

 Address: 1019 Ventnor Road, Summerland’s Victoria 3922

4 Park Pass

This is a fantastic way to see the spectacular sights on Phillip island and save a bit of cash along the way. By purchasing the pass, you would be saving yourself $17.25 if you were to visit all sites individually. With the 4 parks pass you get access to 4 of the top things to see in Phillip Island; Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation sanctuary, Churchill Island, and the Antarctic Journey. Adult: $55.00     Child (4-15): $30.00     Family 2 Adults & 2 Children: $140.00

You need to know before going to the Penguin Parade

 It depends on the time of year as to how many Penguins you will see. We visited the Penguin Parade on New Year’s Eve and were lucky enough to see over a thousand Penguins. (How they count them every night is beyond me) as well as a glimpse of their babies in the nest.  Check the calendar before you go; to give yourself an idea of how many and what time the Penguins will make an appearance.

• IT’S ALWAYS WINDY AND most times COLD; Do not underestimate the blast of a cold wind; as your waiting an hour for the Penguins to turn up. Take a heavy coat or wind sheeter so that you can comfortably wait for the Parade to begin.
• Arrive at the info centre at least an hour to an hour and a half before the scheduled parade time. Personally, we did not want to sit, we chose to stand at the back of the auditorium; so we had the freedom to move in the direction the Penguins were moving in.
• NO PHOTOGRAPHY; After dark, there is to be no photography of the Penguins; this is for their safety please ensure you respect this. You can download photos from Phillip Island Natures Parks website for that adorable shot.

2. Koala Conservation Reserve

Look up there, high in the trees….it’s a bird…no it’s a plane…it’s an adorable Koala fast asleep in their natural habitat. The Koala Conservation Reserve is one of the top things to see in Phillip Island. The reserve gives you a unique opportunity to calmly stroll over an elevated boardwalk and see the Koala’s naturally in the trees. The Reserve is home to 30 – 40 wild Koalas which is 45% of Phillip Islands Koala Population. You can see these fluffy fellows in zoo’s; however, the boardwalk was a really nice way to spot the Koalas in their natural habitat.

Address: 1810 Philip Island Tourist Road, Cowes, Victoria 3922 Opening Hours: Open every day 10am – 5pm and 6pm in Summer

Tickets: Koala Conservation Reserve – Phillip Island Nature Parks (penguins.org.au)

Adult: $13.50      Child (4-15): $6.75     Family 2 Adults & 2 Children: $33.75

3. Forrest Caves

Who does not love the mystery and excitement of exploring caves? The Forrest Caves in Newhaven is an incredible sight. Appearing in the distance you will see large dramatic shaped rocks; at first glance, it seems like the caves are a little understated; however, you can only reveal they’re true beauty on LOW tide.

Head down into the first rock pool formation; through the arch and to the left you will come across the ancient Forrest Caves. These caves have been carved into their current state over thousands of years and stand proud for picturesque photos.

Please note; The caves are only accessible during LOW tide; please ensure you check the tide times as it can become extremely dangerous.

4. The Nobbies

The Nobbies is one of the surreal rugged rock formations that make up the stunning Phillip Island Coastline. An abundance of wildlife; colonies and magnificent views from the edge of Phillip Island. Take a stroll along the Boardwalk as it offers incredible coastal views, lookouts, and flourishing wildlife. Perched on top of the cliff is the Nobbies Centre; inside you can visit the Antarctic Adventure (included in the 4-pass ticket). An interactive centre for all ages to explain the long and tedious journey from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In front of the Nobbies Centre is a beautiful island known as Seal Rocks not only is it stunning; but it is also home to the largest colony of fur Seals in Australia.

5. Phillip Island Beaches

One of the very top things to do in Phillip Island is to unwind from the stresses of life at the beach. Phillip Island is an incredible combination between modern-day living, farming, conservation, and coastline. Stretched far into the distance; soft white sand; framed on one side by rugged cliffs and the other side by the majestic ocean. Phillip Island has heaps of beach locations that all offer a unique picturesque view.  Famous for surfing, why not take the plunge (pun intended) and take a surf lesson.

6. Pyramid Rock

The name itself gives this one away, yep you guessed it. A rock in the shape of a Pyramid. Head towards the Penguin Parade turn left down Pyramid Rock Road. Travel 3km down the gravel road, at the end there is parking. About 700m from the car park to the first lookout which is not too strenuous; the lookout offers of the western tip of Phillip Island. If you choose to continue further down the boardwalk to get a closer look at Pyramid Rock.

7. Grand Prix Circuit

The 4.445km world-famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, bringing the thrill of motorsports to Australia since 1928. Whether it be the Motorcycle GP or the V8 Supercars; the roar of the engine Ecco’s loud into the crowd, the track backdropped by the gorgeous coastline and the Bass Strait. Check out; Phillip Island Circuit for the calendar of race dates. Even if you visit the track not on a race day it is quite an amazing experience.

The visitor centre is open daily, here you can take a walk through the History of Motorsport. This display is a fantastic timeline; of the inspirational story of how the racing began on Phillip Island and why it is so important to Australia.

Get a view of the track

Take a walk trackside and get to see about 70% of the circuit; this is amazing even if there is nothing racing. To see the corners and the design of the track is incredible. Be sure to stop in and see; Robbo the track Cockatoo, he is 85 years old and used to belong to a driver. He is quite cheeky, loves a chat and dances to music.

Do you have a need for speed? You could have the opportunity to get behind the wheel and do a hot lap around the circuit; however, if you want something for the whole family; head to the Go Kart Track, it is a 750m replica of the original circuit. Lap times are recorded; race to get your spot on the podium, and be number 1 of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Track (Go-Karts)

Pricing and Tickets

Due to COVID, you must pre-book your experience so get it quick. 1 x 10 min Session is $35 per person; 2 x 10 min Sessions is $60 per person or you can contact the Go-karts for a group price. Pricing – Go-Karts (phillipislandgokarts.com.au)

8. Phillip Island Chocolate Factory

Address: 930 Phillip Island Rd, Newhaven VIC 3925 Website: Phillip Island Chocolate factory | Chocolate shop Melbourne

A waterfall of over 400kg of Chocolate flowing every 3 mins; who would not want to see that. The Phillip Island Chocolate factory took me by surprise; I was not sure what to expect but this was a fun and exciting experience for us all. On entry, you are given your chocolate ticket (Your first taste of Chocolate). The tour makes its way through some extremely unique displays and interactive activities. Each room was different and yet it was all done with chocolate (go figure)

We were given a voucher with 10 tokens on it; to play the arcade-style games in the middle of the factory, it was random but lots of fun. Every corner you turned there was someone waiting to hand you samples of chocolate. Towards the end of the factory, there is a photo booth style room, these photos are free. Push the button on the wall it takes the photo; you can see it on the TV and email it to yourself.

Unfortunately, due to COVID, there were a few interactive chocolate making experiences that were not available for safety reasons. The self-guided tour finishes in the gift shop where you can try more samples of the delicious chocolate. The goods in the store are a little expensive; however, you pay for quality and the chocolate is totally worth it.

Tickets

Being Covid times most things must be booked online prior to arrival; we pre-booked our Chocolate Factory tickets. We were able to skip past a HUGE line which was a bonus. Phillip Island Chocolate Factory Pty Ltd – Checkout (bookingboss.com) Adults: $17.00 Child (4-15) $11.00 Family: 2 Adults & 2 Children $50.00

Where to stay on Phillip Island

During the holiday season; the population of Phillip island increases by 300%. Most of those tourists flock to Cowes as there are heaps of accommodation choices. Cowes is the main town on Phillip Island; home to a beautiful long boulevard stretching to the beach lined; with café’s, restaurants, boutique shops and one delicious Italian Gelato Shop. Cowes is beautiful but it is busy; take a walk, have a coffee and spend a leisurely day there but if you can, stay somewhere else.

Rhyll is about a 10min drive from cows and is absolutely beautiful. Much quieter and out of the hustle and bustle of Cows, plenty of nature walks, boardwalks, amazing beaches and Rhyll jetty for all of those water sports.

Jump on Expedia or booking.com they often have some great deals for Phillip island hotels/motels. Airbnb is fantastic for the whole house and unique stays.