31 things to do on Phillip Island with kids

It’s famous for its little penguins, but there’s plenty more to see things to do on family favourite Phillip Island.

There are so many fun things to do on Phillip Island with kids. Enjoy spectacular scenery, breathtaking natural beauty and outdoor activities for all the family, there are lots of free activities on offer. Phillip Island and the Bass Coast are nature lover’s paradises and provide the ultimate destination for an unforgettable family holiday.

Phillip Island is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. It’s easy to get to the island with a bridge at Sam Remo. The beauty of this coastal wilderness will take your breath away. Think sandy beaches, fresh seafood and quality family time. Here are some of Phillip Island’s best attractions.

Millowl is the Bunurong name for Phillip Island. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Watch the penguin parade

Phillip Island is home to the largest fairy penguin colony in the world. The Penguin Parade’s raised boardwalks, platforms and underground viewing allow you to watch the adorable seabirds as they return to their home on Summerland Beach at sunset. As per their name, they are the world’s smallest penguin and there are more than 40,000 on the island. Watch hundreds of little penguins emerge from the sea and make across the beach to their sand dune burrows. The penguins advance in a platoon, waddling awkwardly like a bunch of drunken sailors.

When: At sunset, around 9pm in summer and 6pm in winter.

Where: 1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands, Victoria 3922

Cost: Starting from $27.25 for adults and $13.5 for children

The award-winning Penguin Parade Visitor Centre enhances the experience with an audio-visual display, simulated underwater environment and interactive games for kids. Grab a 4 Parks Pass for entry to the Penguin Parade, open-dated entry to the Koala Conservation Reserve, Churchill Island and the Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Centre.

Wave to a fur seal on a wildlife cruise

Experience the wild beauty of Phillip Island by boat.

Wildlife Coast Cruises has a two-hour coastal wildlife cruise with an up-close encounter with Australia’s largest fur seal colony.

The boat drifts within metres of thousands of seals giving visitors a close-up view of the fur seals in their natural environment. Children will be captivated by the naturally playful and inquisitive animals as they approach the boat. Along the way, families will be enthralled by the beautiful coastline and will also learn the history of Phillip Island’s western shoreline.

Cost: $88 for adults and $61.6 for children. Under 3’s travel free

The Nobbies Centre

The Nobbies Centre is a museum home to an interactive Antarctic Journey. The Antarctic journey starts with a projection of your own thermal image, then kids can sit on a makeshift iceberg, work in the Antarctic research lab, experience the sights and sounds of Antarctic wildlife and finally an augmented reality experience where you stand on an ice floe and spot wildlife.

Kids can also hear stories of conservation and climate resilience at the centre.

Cost: Free entry to the interpretive display on penguin conservation. The Antarctic Journey is $13.50 for adults and $6.75 for children.

Where: 1320 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922

The Nobbies boardwalks

Take in views of ‘the Nobbies’ and Seal Rocks from the Nobbies spectacular clifftop boardwalks. The Nobbies, a wave-battered promontory at the western tip of the island have a strip of cobblestone rocks that jut out of the water. Direct your eyes to Seal Rocks though, as they are home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony.

The Nobbies attracts plenty of other wildlife including penguins that nest under the boardwalks. Visit during a big southern swell to see the explosive blowhole in action.

Visit on a day when the Southern Ocean is tempestuous and walk to the cliff-top boardwalk for an action-packed water show at the Blowhole.

Cost: Free

Where: 1320 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922

Paddle through an ocean cave

Drift in and out of hidden caves and marvel at towering granite cliffs on a Cape Woolamai Coastal Tour by Pioneer Kayaking.

The three-hour tour stops at some of the island’s most secluded beaches. There are no age restrictions for children as the kayaks are doubles so parents can compensate for small arms on the paddle.

Cost: $80 per person.

Phillip Island Go Kart track

Play at being a racing car driver on the Phillip Island Go Kart track. The track is a replica of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Zoom around the 750-metre outdoor course with the Bass Strait as your backdrop.

Cost: Starting from $35 per person

Jet boating

Go on an action-packed adventure on a jet boat around Phillips Island’s coastline with ThunderCat Tours. Speeding around Phillip Island is a jet boat is a great way to cool down over summer.

The Drift Jet Boat Tour

Ocean Adventures’ The Drift Jet Boat Tour is both adrenaline-pumping and scenic.

The 35-minute tour takes you past the granite cliff coast of Cape Woolamai. The captain will tell you about the environment and throw in a few 360’s and drift across the water.

Thundercat Ride

The Thundercat goes faster than the drift and is better in choppier weather. The 30-minute tour will take you into a sea cave, weather permitting.

Cost: $79 for adults and $59 for children under 16. $239 for a family of four

Restrictions: Kids must be at least 110cm tall to ride

Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve

The Koala Conservation Reserve has treetop boardwalks to get you to eye level with the koalas.

There are two boardwalks; The Tree Top Koala Boardwalk and the Tree Top Woodland Boardwalk that both take 20-minutes.

Kids will have so much fun spotting koalas and learning about koala conservation with the interactive displays.

Walk through the woodlands to spot echidna, wallabies and birds. The woodlands make up six hectares of bushland on Phillip Island.

Cost: $13.50 for adults and $6.75 for children. Buy a 4 Parks Pass to save.

Open: 10am – 4:30pm. Last entry is 3:30pm.

A Maze’N Things

Visit the A Maze’N Things park for hours of magic and adventure. The madcap theme park is a fun parlour, magic show, maze and illusionists’ den all rolled into one. Kids will have a blast pulling rabbits out of hats and serving their siblings’ heads on a platter.

Puzzle Island has a shrinking room that will distort your perception of size and a mirror maze that you won’t be able to tell who is real and who is a mirror.

Spark your curiosity in Magic Manor, a world-class experience with amazing interactive displays, astonishing illusions, a flying chandelier, time machine, magic rabbits and lots more.

The outdoor maze has over two kilometres of possible routes and dead ends.

Cost: $39 for adults, $26 children, kids under 3 are free

Open: 10am-5pm

Mini golf cost: $18 adults, $14 children, kids under 3 are free

Feed the pelicans

Stop off in San Remo before you cross over the bridge to Phillip Island or on your way off the island. The the Fisherman’s Co-Op has been putting on a daily pelican-feeding display for almost 40 years. The pelicans are fed daily at 12 noon on the foreshore near the jetty.

Many silver gulls also flock to the jetty to try and get a free feed, along with the family of giant stingrays that live under the jetty and often come out to feed on the scraps. There are barbecues, playgrounds and a great fish and chip shop nearby with bay views.

When: 12pm daily

Where: Marine Parade San Remo, VIC

Phillip Island Wildlife Park

The best thing to do at Phillip Island Wildlife Park is hand-feed the kangaroos and wallabies. The kangaroos roam around the whole 60-acre park.

Kids will also love looking for over 100 different Australian animals that live at the park. There are emus, cassowaries, bats, owls, wombats, lizards and more.

Cost: $19 for adults and $9 for children. Under 3’s free

Open: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am – 5pm. Last entry at 4pm

Churchill Island

Churchill Island is a 50-hectare island connected to Phillip Island by an overpass. It is a heritage-listed farm offering a fascinating glimpse at the lives of the early settlers, as well as furry fun in the hands-on animal nursery.

It was the first site of European settlement in Victoria but now home to a working farm. The historic homestead dates back to 1872.

Guides will show kids traditional Aussie farming techniques like cow milking, sheep shearing, whip cracking and working dogs. Kids can see the highland cattle, Clydesdale horses, ducks, sheep, chickens and peacocks all living on the farm.

Families can explore the heritage farm buildings and European gardens or spend time on one of the walking tracks. Pack a picnic or have lunch at the cafe.

Cost: $13.50 for adults and $6.75 for children. Buy a 4 Parks Pass to save.

Open: 10am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday. 9am – 4:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Last entry is 3:30pm.

Churchill Island Farmers Market

Drive over to Churchill Island Farmers Market to walk among 40 stalls selling local produce. Support famers selling fruit and vegetable that are grown in the Gippsland region.

When: The fourth Saturday of each month 8am to 1pm.

Phillip Island Chocolate Factory

Phillip Island Chocolate Factory has a Tour, retail shop and cafe. The tour is called Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate.

Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate celebrates all things chocolate and cocoa beans. It has interactive exhibitions, the worlds largest chocolate waterfall, vintage advertisements and an animatronic celebration of the making of chocolate that follows Panny and his family for the day. Kids will love the chocolate-making device where they can create their own chocolate masterpiece that travels along a conveyor belt to them, ready to eat.

An extensive section of chocolate treats can be tried at Panny’s Chocolate Café and Shop.

Cost: $18 for adults and $12 for children aged 4-15, children under 4 free with a paying adult.

Surfing

Phillip Island is known for its big swells but it is still possible to find a good beginner wave. Smiths Beach (patrolled in summer) and Summerland Beach are two sheltered beaches that have smaller waves for kids. To see the best of nature’s artwork, head down at sunset, when the sky is painted in orange and purple hues.

For bigger waves, Cape Woolamai is one of the most famous surf beaches in Australia and is patrolled in summer. The pounding surf beach is also home to half a million short-tailed shearwater birds.

Island Surf School

Children can learn to surf at Smiths Beach in some of the most beginner-friendly waves in Victoria. Island Surfboard’s Surf School is one of the most established surf schools in the country and is home to the ultimate learning environment. Lessons cater to surfers of all levels and all gear is provided. Kids are sure to enjoy the ride.

Cost: $70 per lesson

Go to the beach

Phillip Island’s coastlines are epic, ranging from the calm sandy beaches on the northern side to the foaming surf breaks and windswept cliffs in the south.

Phillip Islands has 26 beaches with absolutely beautiful scenery. The best beaches for kids are Smiths Beach, Kitty Miller Bay and Cowes Beach. They are protected and patrolled at certain times of the year. Smiths Beach is a great one to visit to explore the rock pools that are revealed at low tide.

Scuba diving

There are 18 fantastic dive sites around Phillip Island, including four wreck dives. There is a high chance that a penguin or seal will swim by while you are diving, especially at Seal Rocks. Other sea creatures you might see are crayfish, kingfish, abalone and leopard sharks.

Ocean Adventures offers a PADI discover dive course from $199.

See Phillip Island by helicopter

See the island from the air with Phillip Island Helicopters, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience with the whole family.

You will pass over landmarks like Cape Woolamai, Seal Rocks, the Australian Grand Prix track and Summerland Bay.

Explore Cowes

Cowes is the main town on Phillip Island. The island’s tourist hub has a long sweep of golden sand fringed by a grassy foreshore. Thompson Avenue is the bustling main street that takes you into Cowes and ends at Cowes Beach. The street is lined with 100-year-old Golden Cypress trees. The laid-back coastal town is a central spot to base your crew. You’ll love the walking and cycling trails, abundance of nature and wildlife and surf beaches nearby.

In the town square are the Harmony Bells, recently recuperated from thieves. Now they’ve been returned kids can ring the four bells to their heart’s content. The Cheeky Goose cafe has great food for kids and live entertainment.

The beachfront has a riding and walking track and the vivid Red Rock Beach with great rock pools to explore.

Fishing

There are many places to fish on Phillip Island that will bring in a catch for little fishermen and fisherwomen. The family will love catching their own seafood and cooking up a whole fresh-caught fish.

You can fish off jetties, beaches and off boats, just make sure you buy a recreational fishing licence.

Cast out a line or lower a hand rod off of the jetties at Cowes, Newhaven, Rhyll and San Remo. You could reel in flathead, snapper, whiting, salmon, shark and squid.

Charter fishing expeditions leave from San Remo and Rhyll and boats can be hired from Rhyll and Cowes.

Cape Woolamai Walk

Visit Cape Woolamai to walk along the beach, up to cliff tops, see the Pinnacles and spectacular coastal scenery and reach Phillip Island’s highest point; The Beacon.

The Pinnacles are a group of towering pink granite rocks that trail into the ocean. They can best be viewed from the Pinnacles lookout.

There’s plenty of wildlife around with a huge colony of Short-tailed Shearwaters and Wallabies living near by.

There are three walks that can be done at Cape Woolamai: The Pinnacles Walk, which is 4.5 kilometres return and approximately 1.5 hours. Old Granite Quarry Walk is 6 kilometres return and approximately a 2-hour walk. Cape Woolamai Beacon Walk is 6.6 kilometres return and approximately a 2.5-hour walk. All three walks start from the Cape Woolamai Beach Car Park.

Bike riding

There are some fantastic cycling tracks on Phillip Island. The Esplanade in Cowes is a great short ride along the beachfront boardwalk. The Cowes to San Remo path takes you right through the centre of Phillip Island.

eBike hire is available on Phillip Island at Super Cruzer Bike Hire, the bikes have fat tires that make them great for riding on the beach.

Visit the library

The Phillip Island Library in Cowes is the perfect place to visit on a rainy day. They have lots of kids books and games.

The library has dedicated story time where volunteers read to children. There’s also have story time online, book readings that you can watch from anywhere.

Where: 89 Thompson Avenue Cowes 3922

Open: 10am every day, closing times vary.

Clip ‘n Climb Phillip Island

Take the kids indoor rock climbing at Clip ‘n Climb Phillip Island. Rock climbing builds strength, confidence, coordination, problem solving and teamwork skills.

There are different colour holds and routes that you can choose to increase the challenge.

Indoor rock climbing is also great for those dreaded rainy days.

Open: 10am-4pm. Friday to Sunday during the school term and Monday to Sunday during school holidays.

Cost: $22 for one hour.

Frisbee Golf

Frisbee Golf is a game where you flick a frisbee into a metal basket.

Phillip Island’s nine-hole course is great exercise, a fun outdoor activity and provides some healthy competition for the family.

The course at Blue Gum Reserve set out over 6.6 hectares of Blue Gum trees and open space.

Cost: Free. Frisbees can be picked up from Cowes Library 89 Thompson Ave, Cowes.

Where: Blue Gum Reserve, 101 Dunsmore Road, Cowes, Victoria.

Rhyll Inlet wetlands walk

Rhyll Inlet is a Ramsar Wetland crisscrossed by boardwalks that are easy on little legs.

This 2.16-kilometre walk through the Rhyll Inlet wetlands can be done in around 45 minutes. The boardwalk meanders through mangroves and mudflats. From the Conservation Hill Observation Tower, you can see across the wetlands and onto surrounding woodland reserves.

It’s a great track for spotting native wildlife. Birdwatchers can spy spoonbills, oystercatchers, egrets and cormorants.

Where: Mcilwraith Rd, Rhyll VIC 3923

Pyramid Rock Lookout

Pyramid Rock is a volcano-like dome thrust out of the sea. Located on the south coast of Phillip Island, Pyramid Rock has two viewing platforms.

2.5-kilometre The Pyramid Rock to Berrys Beach Walk is a relatively flat track with spectacular coastal views.

Forrest Caves

The Forrest Caves sea caves are an easy 2-kilometre walk from the Forrest Caves car park. The dripping cave chambers have been carved out of volcanic ash and accessible only at low tide.

Phillip Island Winery

Family-owned Phillip Island Winery loves catering to its smallest guests – there’s a kids’ menu, fun games and plenty of space to run and play.

The cellar door and restaurant is open from Thursdays to Sundays offering tastings, pizzas and share plates. Live music on the lawn is a highlight for all the family.

Book a table or bring a picnic blanket and find a spot on the 2 hectares of lawn. Doggo’s are welcome here too and even have their own ‘four-legged kids’ menu.

The Grand Prix

The famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit hosts superbike, motorcycle, classic cars, V8’s and formula one racing events.

Check out the calendar to see the upcoming events.

Glamping at Berrys Beach

The Sheltered Glamping Co have a range of glamping tents set up on Berrys Beach.

The Emperor Safari tent is the family-friendly glamping tent on offer. It has off-grid solar power, hot showers, a gas stovetop and kitchenette, Bluetooth speaker and USB chargers. These tents are totally off-grid and the loo is a private composting toilet.

The tent has a four-poster queen bed and a king-size sleeping nook.

Cost: from $350 per night

Accommodation on Phillip Island

Most of the accommodation on Phillip Island is in the main town of Cowes. This is where the hustle and bustle of shops and restaurants are.

If you are after somewhere a bit quieter, BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park in Newhaven is fantastic and has a range of cabins and sites for families at very reasonable prices.

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.

Main image Phillip Island Penguins © Tourism Australia