PHILLIP ISLAND

Temptation island

Home of the famous Penguin Parade, Phillip Island boasts breathtaking natural beauty and attractions for everyone, from nature-lovers to adventurers

This little island off Victoria’s southern coast gives visitors the chance to see incredible Australian wildlife amongst spectacular landscapes, along with cool climate wines, fresh organic produce, eco-tours and high adrenaline adventures.

EAT & DRINK Well known as a land of dairy farmers, beef producers, cheese makers, fishermen and artisans of all types, the South Gippsland region also boasts wineries and vineyards, and is recognised as a premium producer of cool-climate wine varietals, particularly traditional Burgundian varieties of pinot noir and chardonnay. Its cool-maritime climate is reflected in elegantly structured wines with intense aromatics. Get on the South Gippsland Wine Trail and immerse yourself in the stunning vistas, colourful characters and lovingly crafted wines it has to offer. From the wild coastline of Phillip Island to the unsurpassed natural beauty of Wilsons Promontory National Park, South Gippsland and its produce will awaken your senses.

Situated on the Esplanade in Cowes, MadCowes Café & Foodstore is fully licensed with great food and spectacular views (madcowescafe. com.au). Wet your whistle at Rusty Water Brewery Restaurant & Bar, a family-run restaurant serving seasfood and Modern Australian cuisine, as well as Phillip Island’s only handcrafted ales (rustywaterbrewery. com.au). For a little Italian flavor, head to Pino’s Trattoria, (pinostrattoria.com.au), or tuck into cafe classics at Cheeky Goose Café (cheekygoosecafe.com.au).

SEE & DO Take part in ecotourism experiences across four major parks, from an immersive Antarctic Journey to witnessing the nightly Penguin Parade or visiting Australian Fur Seals on an

EcoBoat tour (penguins.org.au). Try your hand at catching rainbow trout, or foraging for native foods at Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm (rhylltroutandbushtucker.com.au). The kids will love the Willy Wonka vibe at Pannys Phillip Island Chocolate Factory (930 Phillip Island Road, Newhaven) and the amusements at A Maze’N Things (amazenthings.com.au), while revheads will revel in the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Visitor Centre (phillipislandcircuit.com.au). DV

For more information and to plan your trip, go to visitphillipisland.com

FROM LEFT CLOCKWISE: View of the coastline at Nobbies Centre in Phillip Island; The Pinnacles at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island; Penguin Parade viewing platform; WWF Antarctic Journey

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nature

Easily accessible from Melbourne, Phillip Island is the perfect family getaway where you can watch seals at play and visit the famous fairy penguins

Phillip Island is a natural wonderland, located an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne. Known around the world as home of the little penguins and the most spectacular Grand Prix Circuit on the planet, the Island offers the chance to be immersed in nature, to relax and unwind, enjoy fine local produce, explore beautiful scenery, experience the thrill of world class surf beaches and get up close and personal with native wildlife.

Visitors are drawn to the abundant beauty of Phillip Island’s coastline. Lines of waves break eternally upon the long, sandy white beaches of the surfing reserve and idyllic peaceful bays are perfect for swimming and fishing. While riding a bike or taking a hike along the coastal trails, you will feel transformed by the fresh ocean air. Families return again and again to enjoy time together and being close to nature.

Playful seals are a sight to behold as they wrestle under the water and lounge around at Seal Rocks. You can witness their antics on a Seal Rocks Cruise departing from Cowes. Behold the antics of the resident pelicans as they are fed daily by the San Remo Fishermans Co-operative at the San Remo Jetty. Then indulge in the freshest of seafood fare or a bistro lunch at the local pubs. From May to October migrating whales can be spotted across the Island coastline. With the development of the Bass Coast Whale Trail you can now discover viewing opportunities to see these majestic creatures as they migrate to warmer waters and then return south. Information signage is now available in ten locations from Cowes across the Island, San Remo and down the Bass Coast to Inverloch. The trail leads you to a range of coastal viewing points where interpretive signage provides an insight into the majesty and mystery of whales and their behaviours.

The sleepy koalas dozing in the trees at the koala sanctuary, the friendly animals of the heritage farm and the hungry pelicans at San Remo always evoke a smile, and of course, the parading penguins are cute as can be as they take their nightly sunset waddle up the beach. Top all that off with more holiday fun – driving the go-karts at the Grand Prix track (phillipislandcircuit.com.au), losing yourself in a giant maze (amazenthings.com.au), up in the sky on the high ropes course (phillipislandskytrail.com.au), or in the wonderfully delicious world of the chocolate factory (phillipislandchocolatefactory.com.au).

Adventure seekers can get amongst the waves on a surfboard, kayak or cruise boat and soak in the beauty of the rugged coastline and rock formations from a different view. And of course snorkelling and scuba diving, boating, sailing, wind and kite surfing are enjoyed on the water too. Those who can’t get enough action and excitement can take an adrenaline-fuelled triple Hot Lap lightning ride around the Grand Prix circuit or fly high above the Island on a helicopter adventure (phillipislandhelicopters.com.au).

If all you desire is to take it easy, there’s plenty of opportunities for that too. Enjoy an afternoon wine tasting and cheese platter in a picture perfect setting

Lines of waves break eternally upon the long, sandy white beaches of the surfing reserve and idyllic peaceful bays are perfect for swimming and fishing

at one of the island’s award-winning wineries. Let yourself off dinner duty and instead dine out at one of the many lovely restaurants serving local produce and fresh seafood. If craft brewing is your thing, visit the local brewers in Cowes and partake in an Islandinspired ale. Take home a taste of all the best the region has to offer at one of the local farmers markets, or shop up a storm on the main streets of Cowes and San Remo, where you can find clothing boutiques, homewares and souvenirs to take home. DV

Getting there

Phillip Island is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne along the Monash Freeway (M1) and South Gippsland Highway (M420). You can also opt for a V/Line coach from Melbourne (ptv.vic.gov.au), or take the Western Port Passenger Ferry between Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula, Tankerton on French Island and Cowes on Phillip Island (westernportferries.com.au).