Discovering Phillip Island: Hiking, Wildlife & Penguins!

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Discovering Phillip Island: Hiking, Wildlife & Penguins!

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phillip-island-discovering

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Phillip Island is for Australians what a cozy peninsula is for us: it’s full of wildlife (penguins & wallabies) and stunning nature. Read more!

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After spending a few days in Melbourne it was time for a new destination in our Australian road trip adventure: Phillip Island! This island is just an hour and a half drive from Melbourne and for the locals in this region it’s what the Wadden Islands are for us Dutch people. With our camper we drove full of expectation over the bridge to this island, ready for plenty of beautiful nature, cute animals and as the icing on the cake: the famous Penguin Parade!

It’s an island, but Phillip Island is easy to reach. You simply drive over a bridge that connects the island to the mainland. This makes it a perfect day trip from Melbourne or, as in our case, a lovely stop during a road trip through Victoria. I’ll take you along with what there is to do on Phillip Island.

Cape Woolamai: Hiking along breathtaking coasts

We started in the morning at Cape Woolamai for our first real activity on the island: an 8 kilometer long hike along the beautiful coastline. We parked at Anzacs Beach Parking, where different walking routes start.

The route we chose took us along impressive cliffs, beautiful rock formations and constant ocean views. The path wound through a varied landscape of grasslands, dunes and forests. The absolute highlight? The at least 30 wallabies we spotted along the way! These little kangaroos were hopping everywhere between the bushes and seemed hardly impressed by our presence. It’s super fun that in such a short time you constantly see so much wildlife. There were also lots of birds on the route!

The best thing about this hike is that you’re almost completely alone. Unlike some tourist hotspots, here you mainly encounter locals doing their daily rounds. The route is well marked, after all you’re walking on a point of the island. You can hardly go wrong.

Because the weather was a bit cooler, the hike was perfect to do. Note: there is hardly any shade along the way, so on a sunny day sunscreen, a hat and enough water are a must!

A relaxing afternoon and chocolate tasting

After the hike we ended up on a beautiful stretch of beach and the sun was now shining fully. It seemed like the perfect moment to relax a bit. We first did some shopping for later in the day and then decided to pay a visit to Panny’s Chocolate Factory.

This chocolate factory is just a few minutes drive from the access bridge and offers more than 190 different kinds of sweet treats! There’s even a 2 meter high chocolate statue of Michelangelo’s David and a miniature chocolate village complete with working trains.

The Nobbies: Breathtaking views

In the late afternoon we drove to the westernmost point of Phillip Island: Point Grant, better known as The Nobbies. Via a nicely laid out walking path we could admire the remains of the volcanic landscape that has slowly been eroded by the endless waves of the sea. By the way, it was very crowded with tourists here. We weren’t the only ones who thought of going here around sunset and then heading to the Penguin Parade.

The views here are spectacular. With the rugged cliffs and the wild ocean crashing against them. The walking paths are well laid out and there are various viewpoints where you can stop for a moment to take photos or just enjoy the view. But also keep a good eye out, because penguins live here too. These were hiding under the walkway when we were there. The best tip is to follow the cameras of others.

On the way to The Nobbies we saw dozens (if not hundreds!) of wallabies again and a large goose species along the road. So much fun to see, but at the same time also a bit exciting because they don’t always get off the road quickly enough. So you have to drive extra carefully here, especially around sunset when these animals are most active.

The grand finale: The Penguin Parade!

After a day full of impressions it was around half past six time to drive to the most famous attraction of Phillip Island for what might just be the highlight of our visit: the Penguin Parade! The parking lot is already enormous by Australian standards. Tour buses are parked next to each other and there is a huge hall where you enter.

We had booked Plus tickets in advance, which meant we sat on a special tribune with fewer people and a better view. The visitor center is modern and informative, with lots to learn about these special animals before the parade begins. Tip: arrive on time though. Despite our Plus tickets we had to queue a bit at the back of the tribune… we could have had nicer spots.

At sunset the spectacle began. The world’s smallest penguins (Fairy Penguins) then return from their day of fishing at sea to their nests in the dunes. In groups they emerged from the waves, waiting a moment until the coast was clear, then crossing the beach in a cute waddling parade.

Yes, it’s quite a commercial affair with the big tribune and visitor center, but the moment you see that first group of penguins coming out of the waves makes everything alright. Some penguins passed just a meter away from us! After the wave of penguins we followed the boardwalk route along their nests, where we heard the parents calling their young and saw pairs crawling together into their nest holes. You can see them all again then.

If you don’t take the Plus tribune? Then you only see the large groups of penguins on the way back in the dark. There was also Chinese commentary coming through the speakers at that tribune when we were there. I would spend that little extra bit on it.

Note: photography is not allowed after sunset to not disturb the animals. Although there were plenty of people who took a photo anyway. As long as you respect the animals I say.

Tip: dress warmly or bring layers in a backpack. Even in summer it can cool down on the coast in the evening, and you sit fairly still for a long time. You can bring your own food and drinks. No one minded that we had a backpack with us.

Overnighting on the island

After the Penguin Parade we drove back to our overnight spot for that night: Amarok Holiday Park. This campground is centrally located on the island and offers comfortable spots for campers and caravans.

The park has the necessary facilities, but is a bit outdated. Big advantage: it’s a short drive from the main attractions.

What else is there to do on Phillip Island?

Phillip Island offers much more than what we could see in one day:

• Explore beaches: The island has various beautiful beaches like Cowes Beach, Kitty Miller Bay and Woolamai Beach.
• Koala Conservation Reserve: here you can meet koalas!
• Churchill Island Heritage Farm: A historic farm where you can see what early farming life on the island looked like.
• Phillip Island Circuit: For racing fans a visit to this famous circuit is a must. The Australian MotoGP is held here among others.
• Wine tastings: There are various vineyards on the island you can visit for a tasting of local wines.
• Kayaking and boat trips: Explore the coastline from the water and maybe spot dolphins or seals.

Practical tips for Phillip Island:

• Accessibility: The island is easy to reach by car via the bridge at San Remo, about 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne.
• Penguin Parade tickets: Book these well in advance, especially in peak season. The Plus tickets are more expensive but offer a better experience with less crowds. It’s commercial, but still a unique experience with 100% guarantee of spotting penguins.
• Driving at sunset: Be extra careful driving during twilight because of the many wallabies and other animals that become active.

Was Phillip Island worth it? Absolutely! The combination of beautiful nature, special animals and the spectacular Penguin Parade makes this a super fun stop for your Roadtrip. Whether you have one day like us, or can stay multiple days, this island has something for everyone. Have fun on Phillip Island!