1. Swell beaches
Wave hello to some of the best surfing in the country. Declared Victoria's first National Surfing Reserve for its quality breaks and pristine environment, Phillip Island has four prime surf sites along its coast: Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland and Cat Bay.
2. Whale watching
From late May through to September, the cooler weather brings migrating whales to the coastline of Phillip Island. Celebrate the beauty of these majestic creatures at the annual Island Whale Festival in mid-July. The festival weekend features whale cruises, presentations, pop-up art shows, film screenings and more.
Image: Phillip Island whale watching
3. Destination dining
Freshly-caught seafood and locally-sourced produce are served up with spectacular views at Phillip Island's dining hot spots. While away the afternoon with fine wines and delicious pizzas at Phillip Island Winery or snag a waterfront table at Beach HQ Restaurant & Bar in Cowes for relaxed beachfront dining.
4. Cute suits
Fact: the collective noun for little penguins on land is a 'waddle'. And they waddle in seriously cute suits. Pay a visit to the Penguin Parade to watch them surface from a day's fishing and waddle up the beach to their burrows in the sand dunes. For a face-to-face sticky beak, book a spot in the underground viewing bunker.
Image: Phillip Island Penguin Parade
5. On the rocks
Some 35,000 seals make their home off the coast of Phillip Island at Seal Rocks, Australia's largest fur seal colony. Venture out on a boat cruise with Wild Oceans Eco Boat Adventures or Wildlife Coast Cruises to see the seals fish from the rocks, taking in the rugged coastline along the way.
6. Holiday catch ups
Angling for a fishing holiday? This is your island. Join the locals and snap up an excellent catch from the jetties at Cowes, Newhaven, Rhyll and San Remo. If you happen to return empty handed, stop by San Remo Fishing Co-operative to buy seafood straight off the boat. They also do the best fish and chips in town.
Image: San Remo Fishermans Co-Op
7. A-maze-ing family fun
This little island is big on family fun. Let the kids channel their inner Charlie at Pannys Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and burn off the sugar rush among the mazes, mini-golf and mysterious caves at A Maze'N Things, Phillip Island's award-winning theme park.
8. Churchill Island
For a two-fold island experience, venture over to Churchill Island. History buffs, this is your dream island home. The site of the first farm in Victoria, this is the place to delve into pioneering history and nineteenth-century farming techniques. Watch whip cracking, sheep shearing and working dogs doing the hard yards.
Image: Clydesdale-driven wagon ride on Churchill Island
9. Circuit breakers
Torque about motorsports: the famed Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit plays host each year to the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (October), World Superbike Championships (February) and the V8 Supercars (April). And any time of year, you can satisfy your need for speed on the go-kart track – a scale replica of the actual circuit – at the Grand Prix Circuit Visitor Centre.
10. Island grooves
Cats, the Phillip Island Jazz Festival is the toe-tapping-est way to get into the island groove. Every November, local and touring jazz bands bring three days of swing, gypsy and trad sounds to Cowes. The island tunes don't stop when the festival ends: live bands and solo acts can be found adding beats to sunny afternoon sessions and late-night revelry at venues all over the island.
