Located less than 2 hours south of Melbourne, Phillip Island is a perfect destination to relax for a couple of days.
Phillip Island has everything for the backpacker looking for things to do or for the working holiday makers quick get away! Beautiful beaches, nature walks, local fauna and sightseeing, helicopter flights. Here’s a list for you of some of the best things to do on Phillip Island for an amazing weekend!
4. Soak up the nature
Like the rest of Australia, Phillip Island has many National Parks and offers a lot of different beautiful nature walks. There’s various opportunities to can spot koalas, wildlife, amazing nature and the ruggerred coastline.
The Nobbies Centre
We walked around the western tip of Phillip Island near the Nobbies Centre, which gives a great view over the Nobbies. The boardwalk allows you to stroll in through beautiful seabirds gardens, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll see plenty of cute and fluffy chicks (from August to March, so most of the year!). The coastline is absolutely amazing, with strong waves smashing into the eroded cliffs.
3. Meet the local fauna of Phillip Island
Phillip Island is home for a lot of local species, such as wallabies, koalas, seals, penguins… You can spot all these animals if you know where to go! Sometimes you also need a bit of luck, and you can meet them on the side of the road, or even crossing the road just under your eyes!
The Penguin parade
Are you ready for one of the cutest thing you’ll do in Australia? Then welcome to the Penguin Parade by the Nobbies Centre. Every night, when the sun goes down, these little creatures go back home and come out of the sea, run across the beach and reach their nests. You can then follow them on the boardwalks and approach them! You’ll see how small they are! You can witness this daily event, all year round, for $23.80.
The Seal Cruise
This 2-hour cruise will make you come closer to Seal Rocks, the biggest seal colony in the whole country! During our tour, there were more than 17000 of them! I wouldn’t recommend this trip for anyone who is seasick though, because the waters are not quiet at all, and even I was feeling sick for most of the trip! But if you feel like you can do it, it will cost you $75.
2. Relax on the beautiful beaches
The island is of course surrounded by beaches, and some of them are really worth the trip!
Surf Beach
This huge beach was completely empty when we went there (in the middle of summer!) apart from a few surfers further on our left. This is a really long beach with strong waves and currents, and it’s even forbidden to swim! Honestly, I wouldn’t even try to get in there, even as a good swimmer.
Cape Woolamai
Cape Woolamai is also a popular spot for local surfers. The sunset at Cape Woolamai is so beautiful you will be transported in another world for a few minutes. Just relax and admire the view. A backpacker’s dream.
1. Helicopter Ride – Caviar for Backpackers & Working Holiday Makers
To complete this amazing trip on Phillip Island, you really should consider flying over the island. You can only appreciate it fully if you see it from above. The contrasts between land and water, the different shades of blue, make the experience is absolutely unforgettable. I flew twice, in winter and in summer, and it was every time a wonderful feeling! The island is so beautiful! For $80, you can enjoy a 10 to 15 minutes trip, and it’s definitely worth it! If you’re not sure how to organise a Phillip Island day tour contact a travel agent or get on google!
I think I’ve really fallen in love with the island. I’ve been there three times, and I surely plan to visit it again during my working holiday: there’s always something to discover!
