Phillip Island Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

Base yourself at Cowes, Phillip Island’s main settlement and a great place to enjoy fishing, water sports, and the local wildlife.

Go swimming at sheltered Cowes beach, have a picnic on the foreshore or dine out in one of the restaurants along the esplanade. Take a charter boat out to see the seals at Seal Rocks or visit the koalas on French Island. Watch the Little Penguins in the Penguin Parade come ashore at sunset at nearby Summerland Beach.

Cowes was originally named Mussel Rocks and was the main point of arrival by ferry from the mainland before the bridge linking San Remo and Newhaven was opened. Early visitors arrived by steamboat, stayed in one of the many grand guesthouses along the seafront and travelled around the island on horseback to enjoy the many natural wonders.

A variety of accommodation is available alongside a multitude of restaurants, shops and nearby attractions. The town also has boat-launching facilities, boat hire, cruise vessels and a jetty from which the ferry to Stony Point arrives and departs. Cowes has beautiful beaches with fine sand that face north onto Western Port, and views of French Island and the Mornington Peninsula.

The island changes gear as the action heats up for the World Superbike Championships in April and the Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix each October. The Churchill Island Working Horse Festival in March is a popular event for families.

With a population of about 4,000, Cowes is 140 kilometres from Melbourne. Travel along the South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne, taking the Bass Highway before turning off to San Remo, where a bridge connects you to Phillip Island. You can also reach Cowes by passenger ferry from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula.

San Remo is the gateway to Phillip Island on the eastern entrance of Western Port. It is a significant ocean and bay fishing port and a popular feeding spot for flocks of friendly pelicans.

San Remo was settled in 1840 when the deep water port at Griffiths Point was used to export local products such as wattlebark, farm produce and cattle. The township that grew up along the port became a popular tourist spot and in 1888 was renamed San Remo after the town on the Italian Riviera. Visitors these days can enjoy ocean fishing and boat charters that leave from the jetty. The San Remo Fisherman’s Cooperative is the leading supplier of fresh fish for the region.

San Remo offers diverse accommodation options, from caravan parks to motels. Tennis, squash and bowling greens are available and there is a safe sheltered beach and an excellent surf beach in town. Pelicans congregate around the barbecues and playgrounds on the foreshore daily at 11.30am for the feeding frenzy.

Take in San Remo’s scenery and historic landmarks on foot. The George Bass Coastal Walk begins at the southern end of Punchbowl Road and is a scenic six kilometre walk (one way) to Kilcunda. Wander along the foreshore ramble to Bore Beach where the historic coal bore can be seen and on to Shelly Beach, Griffiths Point and Quarry Rocks, where stone was quarried around 1870 to build business chambers in Melbourne.

San Remo is located 125 kilometres south-east of Melbourne or about 90 minutes' drive. Travel along the South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne, taking the Bass Highway before turning off to San Remo.