A captivating destination for nature enthusiasts
Phillip Island offers stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, and an array of unique wildlife experiences, making it the perfect Melbourne day trip idea to escape the city. Phillip Island is the perfect spot to go to when you want to get out of the city and embrace nature! The natural beauty is breathtaking and there are so many experiences that will connect you with the island’s ecosystem and wildlife, fostering a deeper appreciation for conservation efforts and the environment.
What you will find here
In this post about Phillip Island, you’ll find a bit of an itinerary featuring all the things I’ve personally tried and experienced at Phillip Island. I hope this gets you inspired to make the trip yourself! Interested in day trips from Melbourne city but don’t have a car? I got you. Check out Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes. I’m also always writing about Melbourne Victoria travel so make sure you check my posts.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO AT PHILLIP ISLAND?
See the wildlife
No Victoria road trip would be complete without seeing the amazing wildlife in this beautiful part of the country. The most famous is the penguin parade at Summerland Beach but you can see penguins all the way to The Nobbies View Point if you keep your eye out.
Just remember that all wildlife are just that – wild. Keep your distance and do not disturb them. You are a guest in their house, act accordingly. There is strictly no photography around the penguins. Penguins have sensitive eyes and it can frighten or disorientate them.
We spotted a lot of gorgeous animals along the Boulevard which wraps around the end of the coast. We spotted a range of birds and wallabies. If you’re looking to see some koalas, you’ll find them at the Koala Conservation Reserve! To see the penguin parade and the koalas you’ll need to reserve a ticket (the money raised goes to conservation efforts).
Go to the gorgeous beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches that you can go to on Phillip Island that is it hard to pick! When we went, we drove around the edge of the coast so we could go to as many as we could. Here are some of my recommendations:
- Forrest Caves
- Red rocks
- The Colonnades
- Anzacs Beach
- Red Rocks Beach
- Smiths Beach
Enjoy a coastal walk
This is probably my favourite thing to do on Phillip Island as there are some really beautiful walking paths around the coast that will take you through some gorgeous beaches. The Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk at Phillip Island Nature Park is a good start, and if you want more there are plenty of them in Phillip Island Nature Park. My favourite is actually George Bass Coastal Walk which technically isn’t on Phillip Island as it is the coastline before the entrance to the island. But, I still highly recommend it if you are out that way!
Eat delicious vegan food
There are a couple of places that offer vegan options but we went to Island Wholefoods which is a cafe that also sells a range of vegan grocery items. They’re also plastic free! We had the burger and the nachos which were amazing.
VERDICT
Is this Victoria road trip worth it?
In my experience yes. Phillip Island is one of my favourite day trips from Melbourne because it’s easy to get to, perfect year-round, has great vegan food, and is filled with cute little animals! (penguins, wallabies, koalas – you name it!).
Did this article speak to you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you’re on Instagram, you can find me over here: @apicturesquelife so feel free to reach out or use #apicturesquelife and I’d be happy to connect!