The Nobbies, Phillip Island
Western Port and Phillip Island Drive
This drive, to the south-east of Melbourne, takes in the rugged, rocky coastline and wild surf beaches found on the Ocean Side of Mornington Peninsula, the tranquil waters of Western Port and its islands, including Phillip Island on Bass Strait. Wildlife abounds on Phillip Island. The Penguin Parade the nightly trek made by Fairy Penguins from the waters edge to their burrows in the sand dunes is very popular. Not far from the Penguin Parade at the far south-western tip of Phillip Island is Seal Rocks home of a colony of up to 16,000 fur seals. At the other end of the island you can walk down the road and be watched by dozens of koalas sitting in the trees above. The sound you hear, like that of twigs rubbing together, is actually the koalas.Distance: 372 km.
Cape Schanck
Day 1: Leave Melbourne and head to Frankston via Dandenong either via Dandenong Road or Monash Freeway. Take the Mooroorduc Hwy south, turning right at the end of the Hwy into Borneo Rd to Cape Schanck (great views, walking path to waters edge, clambering over the rocks). Follow the coast east to Flinders, Shoreham, Crib Point and Hastings. A variety of tours of French Island leave from Stony Point (Crib Point). Follow the shore of Western Port via Western Port Hwy, then Baxter Tooradin Rd (follow the signs in San Remo or Phillip Isld) to Tooradin. Continue on the South Gippsland Hwy to San Remo and Phillip Island. 230 km
Day 2: There's plenty to do on Phillip Island to warrant at least one night s stay on or around the island. These activities include visiting nature parks; the nightly Penguin Parade (fairy penguins coming shore); koala spotting in the trees above as you drive or walk through the Oswin Roberts Koala Reserve; coastal wildlife observation from land or boat cruises; golf; ocean diving and fishing; fun maze; watch racing at the Phillip Island motor racing circuit (on race days); Churchill Island Heritage Farm. Return to Melbourne via Bass Hwy and South Gippsland Hwy via Cranbourne and Dandenong.
Distance: 142 km
