Things to Do on Phillip Island

The Nobbies on Phillip Island

Phillip Island has more to offer visitors than cute, little fairy penguins! Read on for a themed list of things to see and do around the island.

Nature & Wildlife

Many people make the trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island just to see the fairy penguin parade but there are plenty more wildlife encounters to be had on the island. Such encounters include fur seals at ‘The Nobbies’, koalas in the wild and in sanctuaries, and the pelicans that land en mass for their lunchtime feed at San Remo.

Food & Wine

Phillip Island is renowned for its fresh seafood and locally grown produce. At San Remo’s Fisherman Cooperative you can buy seafood straight off the boat and even catch a fish or two of your own at the Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker farm. Don’t miss the great local produce on sale at the farmers’ market on Churchill Island (held on the fourth Saturday of every month).

Outdoor Activities

Phillip Island’s beaches, nature parks, cliff tops and surf make it an ideal adventure playground for just about everyone. Fishing, surfing and swimming are the most popular activities here as well as nature walks, cycling and sailing. Hire a bike and you can explore the whole island in just two days!

Motor Sports

For all motor sport fans, Phillip Island in synonymous with motorbike racing. The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) and the World Superbike Championships are held here at the famous Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. The Phillip Island Circuit Visitors Centre has all the information on the Island’s racing history and panoramic views of the track.  You can even opt to do a few laps of the circuit yourself!

Spa & Wellbeing

Pampering on the Island used to mean curling up in front of a fire with a hot chocolate or a glass of red wine but these days there are two spas (in Cowes and Newhaven) to kneed out the stresses and strains of daily life.

History & Heritage

Phillip Island was the site of Victoria’s first European settlement in the late 1700s. You can still see the original homestead and a traditional herb and flower garden on Churchill Island.

- Emma McMahon

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