Phillip Island

Travel Guide

Phillip Island featuring rocky coastline
Phillip Island which includes surfing as well as a small group of people
Phillip Island showing a sandy beach as well as a small group of people
Pyramid Rock which includes rocky coastline
Phillip Island featuring a beach

Enjoy a getaway at this southern Victorian island, known for its great surf breaks, sheltered bays, international motorsports events and adorable penguins.

Phillip Island is an exciting seaside destination at the mouth of Western Port Bay in southern Victoria. Share long stretches of sandy beaches with tiny penguins and other wildlife, surf on the Bass Strait breaks, visit leafy conservation areas and wetlands and get your motor running at Australia’s original Grand Prix circuit.

Explore Phillip Island’s diverse mix of rugged southern coastline and sheltered Western Port Bay beaches. Hit the surf or swim in the shallows at Woolamai Beach, a lifeguard-patrolled beach on the island’s south coast. Learn to surf on the safe breaks at Smiths Beach. Head north to enjoy Ventnor Beach, Anchorage Beach and Red Rock Beach, with beautiful Mornington Peninsula views. Visit family-friendly Cowes Beach for a shallow high tide, jetty facilities and lifeguard patrol.

Summerland Beach is a popular destination for surfers, swimmers and penguins alike. Visit at sunset to see the Penguin Parade, a special viewing of the little penguins waddling up from the shore to their nests. See the penguins for free from the boardwalks at The Nobbies and Seal Rocks nearby.

Don’t miss Phillip Island Wildlife Park to see free-roaming kangaroos in an idyllic natural setting. Cape Woolamai State Faunal Reserve is a scenic peninsula park with beautiful native vegetation. Spot koalas lounging in tall eucalypts, from the treetop boardwalks of the Koala Conservation Centre. Nearby Churchill Island has a heritage farmstead, lush wetlands and an ancient Bunurong Aboriginal cultural site.

Visit the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit during one of the international car and motorbike racing championships to see some of the world’s fastest drivers in action. Take a guided circuit tour, visit the History of Motorsport Display or do a few laps of the mini circuit in a go-kart.

Phillip Island is 138.8 kilometres (86.2 miles) from Melbourne, Victoria’s capital city. A bridge connects the island to mainland Victoria. Reach the island by car or bus from nearby major cities. Ferries connect Phillip Island to Stony Point and French Island.

Seahorse Motel
Seahorse Motel
3.5 out of 5
29-31 Chapel Street, Cowes, VIC
The price is ¥12,069 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
¥12,069
¥13,276 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star motel in Cowes. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (911 reviews)
"Very homely and welcoming, clean and tidy. Easy quick access to main hub. Very nice surrounds."

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Seahorse Motel
North Pier Hotel
North Pier Hotel
3 out of 5
5 The Esplanade, Cowes, VIC
The price is ¥9,483 per night from Jul 18 to Jul 19
¥9,483
¥10,431 total
Jul 18 - Jul 19
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Cowes. Enjoy free parking, a beach locale, and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Loved the beautiful views, clean room"

Reviewed on Jul 5, 2025

North Pier Hotel
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island
4 out of 5
2128 Phillip Island Road, Cowes, VIC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥19,929 per night from Jul 31 to Aug 1
¥19,929
¥21,922 total
Jul 31 - Aug 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly resort in Cowes. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,002 reviews)
"The staff were friendly, helpful and professional. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa and it was spacious, clean and had everything we needed including a kitchen, lounge room, toilet separate to the bathroom, washer and dryer. It was perfect for my partner and I, and our two kids. There was plenty of ..."

Reviewed on Jul 7, 2025

Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Waves Apartments
The Waves Apartments
4.5 out of 5
1 The Esplanade, Cowes, VIC
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Cowes. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Silverleaves Beach and Phillip Island ...
9/10 Wonderful! (686 reviews)
"Very easy to check in and check out. Apartment was clean, bed comfy, amenities great."

Reviewed on Jun 29, 2025

The Waves Apartments
Seascape Escape
Seascape Escape
Cowes
Stay at this vacation home in Cowes. Enjoy laundry facilities, patios, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Penguin Parade and Cowes Beach are located ...
7.6/10 Good! (24 reviews)
Cosy small house
"The house was nice and cosy and a great location, however the mattresses were quiet poor and should be upgraded and the outside was abit of a mess and their was a dead cat right near the verandah"

Reviewed on Apr 13, 2025

Seascape Escape
Hilltop Apartments Phillip Island - Adults Only
Hilltop Apartments Phillip Island - Adults Only
4 out of 5
124-128 Red Rocks Road, Cowes, VIC
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Cowes. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Penguin Parade and Ventnor Bushland Reserve are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (286 reviews)
"We loved staying here. The apartment was was just outside Cowes to be away from any traffic noise but close enough that getting to the town took a few minutes by car. The position felt idyllic with wallabies, geese and purple hens moving through the adjoining paddock. Easy access to everything, including ..."

Reviewed on Jun 23, 2025

Hilltop Apartments Phillip Island - Adults Only
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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