Phillip Island Profile
Holiday Ideas and Articles about
Phillip Island
We have a wide selection of accommodation in Phillip Island listed below, as well as
local information about Phillip Island to help you choose the best accommodation.
Our accommodation options include Self Catering Apartments in Phillip Island, Holiday
Homes in Phillip Island, Short Term Rental Properties in Phillip Island. These furnished properties
in Phillip Island are Self Contained and available for Temporary Accommodation or some
Phillip Island apartments and homes are available for Long Term Rental.
Learn about the History of Phillip Island
Things to do in Phillip Island
Phillip Island has an endless array of exciting activities. There are 26 beaches from the calm shores of Westernport at Cowes, Ventnor and Silverleaves to the more surfer friendly breaks at Red Rocks, Summerland Beach and Flynns Beach.
There are great bushwalking trails on the island including the trek to Cape Woolamai and the Swan Lake Walk. There is an elevated boardwalk through the mangroves at the Rhyll Inlet and
a trip to Seal Rocks and Berrys Beach on the island's southern coast is also a must.
A trip to Phillip Island would not be complete without seeing the Penguin Parade, the nightly returning of the fairy penguins to the beach. Summerland Beach is the best place to watch this magical experience.
History of Phillip Island
Phillip Island was first sighted by Europeans when George Bass sailed into Westernport in 1798. For much of the 1800s, the island was occupied by a small number of farmers and fishermen. It was not until the early 1900s that the island's population grew and larger towns such as Cowes and Rhyll became well established. Following the construction of the motor racing circuit and improved road links, the island became more popular with day-trip and holiday visitors, and became a major tourism centre following the completion of the bridge linking Phillip Island to the Mornington Peninsula.
Landmark in Phillip Island
Phillip Island is commonly associated with penguins and the Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach is a major tourist attraction. Located on the island's south western coastline, Summerland Beach features viewing stands and guided tours from rangers and is one of the best spots in the world to observe these loveable animals.
Phillip Island is also well known for its motor racing circuit. First constructed in 1928 and rebuilt in 1956, the track has hosted a number of international motor sport events and draws enthusiasts from all over the world. In between races, the complex houses a museum, offers tours of the track and the chance to be photographed on the winner's podium.
Shopping in Phillip Island
Cowes is the commercial centre of Phillip Island and contains a supermarket and a good selection of speciality stores. Other smaller shopping strips can be found in Newhaven, San Remo and Rhyll. Wonthaggi has the largest shopping area on the mainland and contains supermarkets, banks, green grocers and newsagencies.
Restaurants & Cafes in Phillip Island
Dining in Phillip Island means cheerful, casual fare with a heavy emphasis on local produce and seafood. Cowes contains the largest dining precinct on the island, with a number of eateries clustered around The Esplanade and Thompson Avenue. More restaurants and cafes are to be found in Silverleaves, Rhyll, Cape Woolamai and San Remo. Picnics and barbeques, especially on Churchill Island or along the foreshore at Newhaven and Rhyll, are a popular option.
Sports & Fitness in Phillip Island
Water sports are especially popular in the Phillip Island region, and with 26 beaches, the island has something for everyone. Swimming, surfing, sailing, fishing and diving are all well practised activities, whether along the northern coastline which fronts the calm waters of Westernport, or along the more rugged southern coastline which fronts Bass Strait and lures surfers and bodyboarders to breaks at Smiths Beach, Sunderland Bay and Surf Beach. On land, there are tennis courts, bowling greens, hiking trails, a gym and an eighteen hole golf course.
Transport in Phillip Island
Phillip Island is a two hour drive south of Melbourne along the South Gippsland and Bass Highways. V-Line coach services operate daily between Melbourne and Phillip Island stopping at San Remo, Newhaven and Cowes. A ferry service connects Cowes with French Island.
Real Estate & Design in Phillip Island
The Phillip Island region is a much loved holiday destination on the southern coast of Victoria. Home to a number of delightful holiday towns including Cowes, Rhyll, Ventnor, Cape Woolamai and Newhaven, the island boasts stunning coastal scenery
and long, secluded sandy beaches.
The Phillip Island region is an ideal holiday destination for a long term or short getaway. We have an excellent selection of holiday accommodation available in Phillip Island, from quaint cottages overlooking Westernport to well appointed holiday homes along the island's ocean coastline.
Schools, Institutions, Hospitals in Phillip Island
There are primary schools in Cowes, Newhaven and San Remo. Newhaven College is the only secondary school on the island, however Wonthaggi Secondary College also draws students from Phillip Island. The Warley Hospital in Cowes and Wonthaggi District Hospital are the two major health care facilities of the region.