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Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
An educational centre on the island's south-west tip, documenting its flora, fauna and natural rock formations. Visitors can stroll along the windswept boardwalk and potentially see penguins and the gull rookeries for free. Seal Rocks are home to Australia's largest fur seal colony, but at 1.5 km off the coast, can be difficult to see with the naked eye. Instead, there are pay-to-use binoculars or boat tours can be arranged in Cowes. If nothing else, there are spectacular views of coastal scenery.
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The island's most popular attraction, the Penguin Parade allows visitors to see dozens of little fairy penguins waddle up from the sea to their nests at sunset. Penguin arrival times vary throughout the year, from about 5:15PM in June to 8:45PM in January; estimated time can be checked on the website. Viewing areas are outdoors, unprotected from rain and wind, and photographs are not allowed after dark. Try to arrive early before the tour buses to get a good seat! There are a variety of more expensive ticket options which offer seats with a better view, enclosed viewing, small group up-close encounters on a private beach, accompaniment by a park ranger, among others. You can also walk around the visitor centre and boardwalks during the day before the parade begins.
A number of indoor and outdoor family activities, including a hall of illusions, mini-golf, adventure ropes course and the famous maze, which takes an average of 45 minutes to complete. Popular with kids and young families.
Two tree-top boardwalks allow visitors to observe koalas up-close in their natural habitat in the gum trees. The centre also has a scenic stroll through Australian bushland, where there is the possibility of seeing wallabies, echidnas and other wildlife. A visitor centre and park rangers provide information on the koalas, their habitat and the conservation effort, while there is also a small gift shop and café.
The not-for-profit nature parks organisation operates two boat tours to the Seal Rocks area from Cowes Jetty (and sometimes Rhyll Jetty, depending on operational requirements). The EcoBoat Express takes one hour, visiting Seal Rocks, the Nobbies and the surfing hotspot, Cat Bay; the tour operates daily year-round, with 2-3 departures in the busier Summer months. The EcoBoat Adventure runs for an hour and a half, visiting Seal Rocks, the Nobbies, Cat Bay, the Blowhole and a viewing of the Summerland Peninsula cliffs; it operates only in busier months at 3PM daily. Free Wi-Fi is available on-board. Participants must be at least 4 years old and 100cm tall.
Phillip Island's most popular winery is set in a beautiful landscape overlooking the Rhyll foreshore. Wine tasting available for $5, which is refunded on purchasing a bottle. Wine can be purchased by the bottle or glass, and snack food is also available. Occasionally holds live music days for the public.