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An easy daytrip from Melbourne’s thriving urbanism, Phillip Island is a haven for sea-going wildlife. This small island has a population of just under 10,000 people, but it’s home to a huge array of animals, including wallabies, kangaroos, fairy penguins, fur seals, short-tailed shearwaters, Burrunan dolphins and Pacific gulls. If you want to see them in pristine natural habitats while enjoying a temperate climate and great surf conditions, Phillip Island should be your next holiday destination.
The island’s most famous attraction is probably its ‘penguin parade’, where visitors can watch colonies of fairy penguins return from the ocean to their on-shore burrows as the sun sets. Even if you’re not an animal enthusiast, there’s something intrinsically adorable about watching these tiny balls of fluffy feathers waddling en masse out of the ocean.
Terrestrial animals are also plentiful. The Koala Reserve is populated by, yes, koalas, which can be viewed from tree-top boardwalks that allow you to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures; the reserve is also home to wallabies, echidnas and bats, along with a variety of native birds. On nearby Churchill Island, you can experience European farmland culture with a range of activities like wagon rides, whip cracking, sheep shearing and working dog displays. You can also see massive Clydesdale horses and shaggy Highland cattle grazing alongside sheep and a variety of baby animals.
Walking trails are also immensely popular across Phillip Island. Phillip Island Wildlife Park is probably the largest, with boardwalks spanning 60 plus acres. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to encounter kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats and birds, which are free to roam the area at will. Nobbies Centre is another great location; enjoy picturesque views of the coastline while traversing boardwalks that offer seasonal views of seals and penguins.
For those who need a break from the outdoors, island icons like Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, the Grand Prix Circuit and the National Vietnam Veterans Museum are well worth a look. So, if you’re wanting a nature-based holiday with just a sprinkling of attraction-hopping, get out to Phillips Island. We know you’ll love it.
