Phillip Island Nature Parks is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the southern coast of Australia on the uninhabited island of the same name. Phillip Island Natural Park is located an hour and a half south of Melbourne and is protected by the State Government. Most of the park's attractions are natural: capes and rocks, forests and other areas with vegetation, as well as water bodies. Every year, the nature park on Phillip Island is visited by a huge number of tourists from all over the world to get acquainted with rare elements of flora and fauna and just have a pleasant time in the lap of nature.
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| Phillip Island Australia |
Opening hours and prices at Phillip Island Park
Phillip Island Nature Park is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, however some parts and excursion locations operate on a different schedule.
The Nobbies Center is open from 10:00 to 20:00 in the summer, until 17:00 in the fall, until 16:00 in the winter and until 18:00 in the spring.
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| Phillip Island Australia |
The cost of visiting the park directly depends on the chosen program and excursion, on the expected number of visitors. The minimum ticket price is $ 27.25, it is possible to purchase a ticket for a group of 2 to 15 people. You should buy tickets or book a tour of the park on the official website of Phillip Island, or using GetYourGuide and Tiqets:
History
Phillip Island was volcanically composed of basalt tuff lava. The period of its origin dates back to the Miocene era. Phillip Island got its name in 1788 in honor of the first governor of New South Wales.
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| Phillip Island Australia |
The brightest periods of the island's existence are associated with the 19th century, when large quantities of livestock were brought here for the needs of the Norfolk prison. As a result of his extended stay on the island, virtually all vegetation on Phillip's territory disappeared. The island itself has acquired a reddish-brown color - this is perfectly visible from the Norfolk side. By 1988, livestock had completely disappeared from the island and was re-populated with vegetation. Phillip Island has been operating as a natural park from 1996 to the present.
Phillip Island is about 2 sq km. From west to east, the size of the island along the coast is also just over two kilometers, from north to south - 1.9 km.
Flora and fauna of Phillip Island
In total, there are more than 80 plant species here. Many of them are recognized as completely extinct: for example, Streblorisa is beautiful - a plant often grown in European greenhouses of the 19th century. The list of unique landscape features of the park includes the volcanic Pyramid Rock, Cape Wulamai with its golden and clean beaches, and Rill Bay. The sight of tourists is always attracted by the large-scale mango thickets and wild coastlines. Another famous natural attraction in Phillip Island Nature Park is the Oswin Roberts Valley, which is made up of eucalyptus forests.
Phillip Island is home to the only freshwater lake. It is home to swans and wading birds. The lake is a cultural monument of one of the local Aboriginal tribes, which is why it gained additional fame. According to tourists, it looks really mesmerizing.
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| Phillip Island Australia |
Fauna is more varied in the Phillip Island Nature Park. The island is home to at least 12 species of seabirds, including the red-tailed phaeton, the Australian gannet, the black tern and many others. Animals quite familiar to Australia live here - kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and wombats. With the help of a telescope installed in the Nobbies Center on Phillip Island, you can observe the largest colony of Cape fur seals on the mainland - their number is about 20 thousand individuals.
A peculiar feature of Phillip Island and its natural park is the so-called parade of penguins, which takes place here every day at sunset. In the evenings, hundreds of little penguins literally "emerge" from the ocean and go to their nests located in the bushes of Summerland Beach. It is thanks to this "event" that the Phillip Island Natural Park is widely known for tourism.
Excursions in the park
Phillip Island, Australia - There are several types of excursions available to visit the natural park. It can be walks with a full view of the island, or just an introduction to the "penguin show". In 2021, 5 types of visits are available for visitors:
- Sand sculptures;
- Antarctic Journey;
- Koala Sanctuary;
- Churchill Island;
- Boat Adventure.
Some excursions include several elements of the program at once, but this type of rest can take a whole day, since each of the components of the park is very large-scale. All details can be found on the official website of the natural park on Phillip Island or directly on site, at the park administration.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to the natural areas of Phillip Island. Since public transport is limited on the island, the organizers advise that you travel by car. Phillip Island is 1.5 hours' drive from Melbourne. Free parking is available.
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| Phillip Island Australia |
You can also get from Melbourne by bus operator V-Line from the Southern Cross Station. The schedule for this route can be found on the official website of the transfer company. The organizers clarify that the arrival time of V-Line on the territory of the island differs from the "Penguin Parade" schedule, and at the end of this show it will not be possible to return by bus either. In addition, you can get around the island by taxi.