Wondering what to do when you get down to Phillip Island?
Well, good news. There are tonnes of activities to do and places to visit all over the island.
Whether you’re bringing the whole family down or you’re a couple looking to get away from it all, there really is something for everyone here.
Being only a short drive from Melbourne, it really is no wonder the area has been one of Victoria’s biggest holiday destinations for years.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at the perfect Phillip Island itinerary to give you a week’s worth of awesome activity ideas.
Table of Contents
How Many Days Do You Need on Phillip Island?
There’s so much to do on Phillip Island, which being a relatively small area, is surprising to some.
There are no set amount of days you need on Phillip Island as you could spend weeks upon weeks relaxing and site seeing.
However, for this post, I have condensed it down to the very best the Island has to offer, providing you with the fullest week of activities and sites possible.
How To Get To Phillip Island From Melbourne
Phillip Island is 140km’s and only a 1.5-hour – 2-hour drive from Melbourne’s city centre.
There are also tour coaches that run directly from Melbourne.
Unfortunately, there are no direct public buses from Melbourne to Phillip Island. However, you can travel via Dandenong to Cowes (Phillip Island).
Day 1 - Hike The Spectacular Woolamai Cape Walk
When you first arrive on the Island, you will soon reach Cape Woolamai.
A long stretch of golden sand on one of Phillip Island’s best beaches starts the famous Cape Walk.
Park at the second car park and head along the beach, before taking the stairs up to the headland. On a clear day, the walk is stunning. With views of the amazing Pinnacles rock formation.
Looking back across the island, you’ll have spectacular views across Cape Woolamai and the surrounding ocean.
The basic walk is around 4.4kms, a there and back route, with the option to take longer tracks.
Upon heading back to the rest of the island, be sure to grab a coffee and toastie from Burnt Toast. After a long walk, you’ve got to those calories back up, right?
Day 2 - Explore Churchill Island
An island, off the island, and perhaps the most peaceful escape you’ll find anywhere.
With beautiful views across the Bay to French island, you can take a leisurely stroll around the trails or roam around historic grounds while checking out some awesome farming activities.
A great place to relax for adults on the surrounding grounds and a fantastic place for kids to see farm animals up close and take part in fun farming activities.
After exploring Churchill Island for a few hours, stop by Newhaven for a coffee and a bite to eat.
Day 3 - Race Around The Grand Prix Circuit Go-Karts
You can’t visit Phillip island without checking out the Grand Prix Circuit.
If you come on the right day, you can see racing cars and motorbikes speed around the main track or you can take a Go-Kart around the replica circuit.
A super fun thing to do with a group of friends or family.
A short drive down the road, you’ll find Pyramid Rock, an amazing rock formation with amazing views back towards Woolamai.
A great spot for a picnic when the suns out.
Day 4 - Phillip Island Nature Park
Phillip Island Nature Park is possibly one of the best activities the Island has to offer.
Giving you the chance to get up close and personal with some native Australian wildlife as well as the opportunity to feed Wallabies and Kangaroos.
You can also check out the cute Koala Centre, see critters like spiders and snakes, Tasmanian devils and even Dingos!
Just be sure to watch out for the Emus, that also roam around the Kangaroo park, they’re not scared and may try to steal your food.
After checking out the nature parks, head into Cowes and check out some of the many cafes, restaurants and shops.
Day 5 - Drive The Nobbies & Watch the Penguins Come In at Penguin Parade
The Nobbies at the island western end, is a wild, exposed section of the coast, home to the Antarctic Centre where you can learn about Antarctic wildlife and how we as humans can protect it.
It also offers an awesome driving track along the cliffs.
If you go at dusk, you’ll see Wallabies roaming their natural habitat whilst also taking in amazing views of the coast, with rough seas smashing into the cliffs below.
The end of the driving track leads you down to Penguin Parade (Summerlands Beach) where you can watch the penguins come in for the night.
Penguin Parade is one of the island’s most famous and popular attractions, just be sure to book tickets in advance.
Day 6 - Take a Surf Lesson at Smiths Beach
Phillip Island is one of Australia’s best-surfing destinations and there’s no better place to learn than on on Smiths beach.
Situated at the heart of the island, Smiths offers beginner-friendly waves and often has significantly smaller waves than most other beaches.
Go and see the guys at Island Surfboards & Surf School and you’ll be able to either hire equipment or have a lesson with an instructor.
Day 7 - Take an Island Heli Tour
One of the best and most spectacular things to do on Phillip Island is taking a scenic helicopter tour over the whole island.
The tours offer amazing birds-eye views of the whole island and it’s truly an unforgettable experience.
Phillip Island Helicopter Tours offer tours across Phillip Island aswell as The Mornington Peninsula.
Phillip Island Attractions Map
Yes, you can do a day trip to Phillip Island easily from Melbourne. However, you won’t be able to experience everything the area has to offer.
There is no ‘best time to visit Phillip Island but summer is most popular and offers the best weather. That said, you can still luck into some beautiful days in the middle of winter.
There are some awesome free activities on Phillip Island. Including; Woolamai Cape Walk, The Nobbies and surrounding beaches.
You can walk around Phillip island although, the island is probably a lot larger than you think. So, it would be way better to go on specific walks rather than the whole island.
Phillip Island is known most famously for its Grand Prix Circuit and Penguin Parade. However, the island has a lot more to offer in terms of beaches, beautiful nature and spectacular views.