Phillip Island Info
Introduction
Located off the southeast coast of Victoria state, Phillip Island is one of Australia’s greatest treasures. Only two hours from Melbourne by car (a bridge joins it to the mainland), the island feels like another world. Surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and clear waters, it is the ideal spot for a sunny retreat. Enjoy world class scuba diving and other water sports, watch the famous Little Penguins parade on the beach, discover the rich marine life and exciting nature park, or catch a motorcycle race at the famous circuit. With great accommodations and so many appealing attractions, this is one island fully equipped as a vacation paradise.
Visiting Phillip Island
Rent a car and get out of the bustle of Melbourne for a relaxing escape to Phillip Island. You can rent a private house or stay at a charming bed and breakfast. There is also a park for caravans or camping. Once you are settled in, get out and enjoy the sun and surf. The island has some of the best scuba diving grounds in Victoria. Take a class to get certified, or stick with a snorkel mask. The inland side of the island has calm waters that are ideal for swimming, while the ocean side is blessed with wicked surfing swells. Even if you are just there to lie on the sand and get a tan, the beaches are a welcome attraction for all visitors.
The Phillip Island Nature Park will be also be a major part of any trip to the island. Although run by the government, the park funds itself through admissions fees and donations, and devotes this money to the upkeep of the park and conservation and education of the native habitat and wildlife. The park includes many different features, including Churchill Island where kids will enjoy discovering a working farm. They also have the Koala Conservation Center, where you can view koalas leading their normal, natural lives. A large nature park includes a great deal of other wildlife, and you can hand feed the wallabies.
The most famous, most exciting, and most endearing part of the Wildlife Park is the daily Penguin Parade. The Penguin Parade happens at dusk when flocks of adorable little tuxedoed birds, also sometimes called Fairy Penguins for their stature or Blue Penguins for their light color, make their way from the water to their burrows further up on shore. Their space is protected so you can’t get too close, but admission to the park includes excellent places to watch this comically serious ritual. Other places around the island, on land or by boat, also offer penguin viewing, and keep your eye out for fur seals and pelicans as well.
History and Points of Interest of Phillip Island
Aside from being world-renowned for its wildlife and nature activities, you might be surprised to learn that a major part of the history of Phillip Island is devoted to auto racing. The island had very little early history of settlement, and by 1870 there were still fewer than 200 intrepid residents calling it home, but when a bridge was eventually built the island slowly received more people, and it was deemed a prime place for auto racing. The Australian Grand Prix started on a track on the island in 1928, and continued to be held there until the mid 30s, when it started rotating through different states, finally settling in Melbourne. Even after the Grand Prix left the island, racing continued to hold a major place in the island’s culture.
A new circuit was constructed in 1951, but due to transportation limitations (the bridge between the island and mainland couldn’t handle the heavy equipment), it was difficult to maintain the track and it fell into disuse for a time. All this was revived in the 80s, and today the track remains a major motorcycle racing venue. In addition to hosting an international version of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, it is one of the venues for the Superbike World Championship, an exciting global motorcycle racing event. In 2009 the event will be held at the end of February through the beginning of March. If you can’t make it this year, remember to check back for next year’s schedule. Phillip Island generally has a pleasantly slow pace of life, but it has its fast side, too!