Phillip Island

Phillip Island is small island in Western Port Bay not to far a drive from Melbourne. There are two major attraction for this little island. For the nature lover it is the fairy penguins that amble onto the beach at sunset. These little penguins go out to feed all day then come back to shore to sleep. There is seating for the wildlife show that is well attended by tourists. The second attraction is the Australian Motor Grand Prix held in october where super bikes do cuircits of the Phillip Island Track.

See

• 

  Fairy Penguins

  Penguin Parade, Summerland Beach (near the south western end of the island), [www.penguins.org.au]. At sunset the little penguins walk up from the sea to their nests. Adult $13, child $6.50, family $32.50.

• The Nobbies and Seal Rocks (near the southwestern end of the island, past the Penguin Parade). From the boardwalks here you can see penguins for free, as well as gull rookeries. You might even see a snake in the grass. The Seal Rocks are too far away to see much of the seals with the naked eye but you can look through the pay binoculars. If nothing else, there are the views of coastal scenery.

• Koala Conservation Centre, Phillip Island Rd.

• A Maze’N Things (mini golf, a giant maze, and a ‘hall of illusions’)

• Vietnam Veterans Museum, 5 Churchill Road South, Newhaven 03 5956 6400 vvmuseum@nex.net.au, fax 03 5956 6406), [vietnamvetsmuseum.org]. M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su 10AM-5PM. Dedicated to preserving and exhibiting memorabilia from Australia’s longest war. It is run by volunteers and does not have the quality of presentation of a big museum. There are over 5000 items though and there are videos playing. Go out the back to see the tank, helicopter, howitzer and vehicles. Entry by donation.

• Churchill Island, Is a historic property, with an old farm and animals (great fun for kids.) It also has a cafe and giftshop. Admission is $10 for adults, 5 for kids.

To Do

• Cape Woolamai. There are several loops of walking tracks of various lengths. Doing all the walks might take up to 3 hours. Most of the cape is a huge mutton-bird or shearwater colony and the birds’ burrows are everywhere. There are few trees in much of the area but there is a section of regenerating bush. The first part of the walks is along the beach, starting near the lifesaving club.

• Beaches. There are a large number of beaches (both sheltered beaches on the inland side and surf beaches on the ocean side of the island)

• Scuba Diving. Phillip Island is home to some of the most spectacular scuba diving destinations in Victoria.

• Phillip Island Helicopters, 03 5956 7316, [phillipislandhelicopters.com]. Take a helicopter flight and see this fantastic Island from one of our new helicopters.

Accommodation

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