Phillip Island is home to some of Victoria's most popular wildlife experiences. Enjoy watching hundreds of Little Penguins returning to their burrows at the famous Penguin Parade, come face-to-face with koalas dozing in their treetop homes at the Koala Conservation Centre or cruise past Australia's largest colony of fur seals.
During the warmer months, the island also offers plenty of opportunities to test the water with sheltered bay beaches on the northern side of the island and wild surf beaches on the south coast.
San Remo is the gateway to Phillip Island and an important fishing port. Drop into the popular local fishing co-op to pick up a fresh lobster and feed the pelicans or charter a fishing boat and try casting a line yourself.
The first town on the island is the small fishing village of Newhaven – a popular place for fishing from the pier, surfing one of the best surf beaches in Victoria, walking along the beautiful Cape Woolamai or exploring nearby historic Churchill Island.
On the south-east tip of the island is the quiet village of Rhyll. Wander through the Koala Conservation Centre to see koalas at close range or view birds as you walk through the famous wetlands at Rhyll Inlet.
Cowes is the main commercial centre on Phillip Island and has a wealth of charming cafes and restaurants for visitors to enjoy. Enjoy the nightly Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park or take a wildlife cruise to the large fur seal colony on Seal Rocks.
Penguins on Phillip Island
Phillip Island is home to a large colony of little penguins that make an appearance on Summerland Beach each day at dusk. This race up the beach from the ocean to the safety of their burrows has become known as the popular Penguin Parade.
You can watch the parade from the viewing stands and observation boardwalks at Phillip Island Nature Park. Built to protect the penguin’s habitat, these viewing areas also ensure that the 500,000 visitors that attend the event each year all get a good look at the penguins.
Approximately 26,000 little penguins live in the waters around Phillip Island, 4,500 of which have their burrows around Summerland Beach on the far south-western point of the Island. The little penguins are native to Australia and are the smallest of their species, standing at a mere 33 centimetres. They return to their burrows each evening to rest or, in the breeding season from August to March, to feed their young. They leave their burrows again about an hour before sunrise and spend the day in the sea swimming up to 100 kilometres to catch their daily ration of fish.
You can see the penguins every day of the year and it is advisable to bring warm clothing, as nights can be cold and the weather unpredictable. There are a number of tour operators that offer packages to the penguin parade during summer school holidays and Easter school holidays. It is essential to pre-book your tickets and tours.
The Penguin Parade Visitor Centre at Phillip Island Nature Park also provides interactive computer displays, a live demonstration of penguin life in the burrow and a simulated demonstration of life at sea.
