Date: 1-4th December 2021
Travelled: 155 kms from Port Albert to Phillip Island, Victoria.
Visited: Phillip Island.
Stayed: Beach Caravan Park, $39, the usual services. S38.45129, E145.22957
Budget: 16 days @ $0 per day.
Leaving Port Albert we set the GPS for Phillip Island. We had been tossing around a stay on Wilsonโs Promontory but the logistics of staying in the park and walking to the lighthouse would take more thought than we have time for this trip.
Itโs a longer drive than we have done for a week or so but looking at the map and reviewing our data-base we couldnโt find anywhere particularly interesting at the right price in between.
Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
Soon enough we drive onto the bridge crossing the Narrow to Phillip Island. Our first stop the tourist information centre, where we get the good oil on Phillip Island activities.
We drive on to Cowes, the Islands main town to the Beach Caravan Park. We jag a nice spot near the heated pool only a short walk to beach. We have organised a hire car for our visit to the Island so we can get around as we please and leave the Jayco at rest.
After settling in having some lunch and a little rest, we pick up the car, and go off exploring. Our first stop Swan Lake (not the ballet). Swan Lake is a large nature reserve in the south-west of the island called Summerlands.
The reserve has a long series of boardwalks and hides providing some great views of the lake and wild life. 
From Swan Lake we drive a few kms to the end of the peninsula to view The Nobbies. Once again there is an extensive series of boardwalks providing access around Point Grant and the Blow Hole. The weathered black stone coastline and Nobbies views are spectacular. The mist sweeps across the Summerlands and the temperature drops perhaps 10 degrees in a few minutes.
Looking to the east. 
The Blowholes not working today. 
The Nobbies in the distance 
Well thatโs The Nobbies done but weโll be back to Summerlands again this evening for the penguins. As is our practice we went for cheapest tickets for the Penguin Parade having to show our cards for the pensioner discount.
The evening looked bright enough, but no sooner had we left Cowes it was suddenly raining. It continued raining all the way to Summerlands and continued for another 15 minutes as we sat in the car. The rain eventually stopped and we make our way down to the viewing area.
40 minutes later as darkness descends we see our first penguins. Despite the cold we enjoyed the spectacle, particularly later watching from the boardwalks.
Cute little things. 
The only lighting is from the pathway. 
Big crowd as you can see.
We wake to a bright sunny morning, giving us hope of a nice day. Coffee and breakfast, we are on our way to Cape Woolamai, the far south eastern peninsula of Phillip Island. The plan being to walk the trails that loop the State Fauna Reserve.
The Loop 
Starts with 500m of beach 
Then a couple of hundred stairs 
Then the views start 
The Pinnacles
The Sea Caves are next 
Waiting for Pam to catch up. 
Another viewing point. 
Looking across to the Narrows 
Another view as we walk down to The Old Quarry. 
Hardest part of the walk, 1500m of very soft sand.
We return to the car after completing just over 8 kms but the steep climbs and deep sand make it seem much further.
Needless to say it was going to be on a low energy afternoon, chatting to the tuggers next door, going for a walk to the shops and a takeaway at the noodle bar up the street.
Next morning the weather has changed again, it overcast and a little drizzly, so we make a late start for Ventnor on the southern side of the Island. There are a few kms of gravel road to negotiate before we reach Pyramid Rock Lookout. From here our map says we can follow a series of boardwalks and trails to Berryโs Beach. The 5 km walk provides some excellent views of the coastline and some modern designer homes.
Best of all are the black wallabies that pop up here and there as we walk.
Views to the east. 
Views to the west, obviously catch the south-westerly swells. 
Pyramid Rock
Our next stop is the National Vietnam Veteranโs Museum which is situated near the airport at Cape Woolamai. The museum has a very information 3D theatre and some very interesting displays.
An RAAF Caribou, spent my youth in Richmond listening to the roar of Pratt & Whitneys.
Someoneโs good with a chainsaw. Wandering around Rhyll we find this memorial apparently carved from a storm damaged cyprus-pine.
Our last stop (promise) is Churchill Island. There is an old heritage cottage and museum but itโs closed for a wedding. We really came to do the walk which is a little less than 5 kms around the island. The weather is closing in once again so itโs a quick walk and where happy to get back to the car.
So that was our stay in Phillip Island which we can highly recommend, but you do need a car.
Michael + Pam
