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The ultimate guide on how to get to Phillip Island from Melbourne

Melbourne to Phillip Island: Best way to get here

Situated about 125 km south-southeast of Melbourne, Phillip Island is part of the Bass Coast Shire. The Phillip Island Bridge connects the island to the mainland town of San Remo. It takes a little less than 2 hours to reach Phillip Island from Melbourne’s central business district, making it a popular day tour destination for both locals and tourists. The island is well-connected with Melbourne via buses, trains, ferries and roads.

Where is Phillip Island located?

phillip island map

Address: Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. Find on maps

Phillip Island is just shy of 2 hours and about 125 km from Victoria’s Melbourne. It falls on the south-southeast of Melbourne and is connected to the mainland via a bridge that is on the east side of the island.

It has many popular spots — the Penguin Parade park, the Koala Conservation Reserve, The Nobbies Centre and more.

Download Phillip Island map

Getting to Phillip Island

Coach transfer service at Tirana airport for tourists heading to Adventure Waterpark Desaru.

By bus

V/Line coach buses leave from Melbourne daily and have various stops along the route — Grantville, Corinella, Bass, San Remo, Newhaven and Cowes. Take the bus from Southern Cross Station and you’ll reach Phillip Island in about 3 hours and a bus change at Koo Wee Rup. There is also a local bus service that runs from Cowes to Anderson to Wonthaggi with stops on the way at Phillip Island.

Woman on ferry crossing Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul, gazing at sea.

By ferry

To get to Phillip Island via ferry, you need to first reach Stony Point. From here you can catch the passenger ferry to Cowes, Phillip Island. It takes about 45 minutes on the sea. The Western Port Passenger Ferry Service runs between three points — Stony Point, Tankerton and Cowes.

SeaWorld Orlando entrance with a woman driving a car in the foreground.

By car

From Melbourne CBD, get onto the Monash Freeway (M1) and turn into the South Gippsland Highway (M420) via the Cranbourne exit. Drive along the Bass Highway (A420), go through Grantville and Bass, and then take the Phillip Island Road (B420) to San Remo. Here, you can take the Phillip Island Bridge, which will lead you to Phillip Island in about 2 hours.

Best way to get to Phillip Island

Wondering how to get to Phillip Island from Melbourne most efficiently? The best way is to take a car. It takes about 2 hours and is a direct route. There is plenty of parking on the island, so even taking a personal car is fine. However, keep in mind that weekends and school holidays can create considerable traffic.

Getting to Phillip Island Nature Parks

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By Car
Best For: Saving time, Sightseeing
Travel time: It takes 20 minutes to reach Penguin Parade from Phillip Island bridge.
From the Phillip Island Bridge, take the Phillip Island Rd/B420 and then the Back Beach Rd/C478 to reach Penguin Parade. Alternatively, you can also take the Phillip Island Rd/B420 and the Ventnor Rd/C473, but this is a slightly longer route.

On Foot
Best For: Budget travel, Sightseeing
Travel time: It takes about 4 hr 34 mins to walk from Phillip Island Bridge to the Penguin Parade.
The fastest route is to walk along the Phillip Island Rd/B420 and the Back Beach Rd/C478.

Visitors at Koala Conservation Reserve entrance, Phillip Island, Australia.

By Car
Best For: Sightseeing, Saving time, Direct Route
Travel time: It takes about 13 minutes to reach the Koala Conservation Reserve from the Phillip Island Bridge.
Take the Phillip Island Rd/B420 from the Phillip Island Bridge and go straight to the Koala Conservation Reserve.

On Foot
Best For: Budget travel, Sightseeing
Travel time: It takes about 2 hr 24 mins to walk from Phillip Island Bridge to the Koala Conservation Reserve.
Walk along the Phillip Island Rd/B420 and you’ll reach the Reserve. It is about 10.5 km away from the bridge.

Visitors interacting with farm animals at Churchill Island, Melbourne, Australia.

By Car
Best For: Fastest route, Sightseeing
Travel time: It takes about 9 minutes to drive from the Phillip Island Bridge to Churchill Island.
You can drive to Churchill Island from the Phillip Island Bridge by taking Phillip Island Rd/B420 and then crossing onto Churchill Island via Samuel Amess Dr.

On Foot
Best For: Budget travel, Sightseeing, Hiking
Travel time: It takes about 1 hour to walk from Phillip Island Bridge to Churchill Island.
Take the Phillip Island Rd/B420 and then the Samuel Amess Dr to reach Churchill Island on foot.

Getting around Phillip Island 

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Public transport on Phillip Island is limited. However, there are some private services that you can use to get around Phillip Island. The South Coast & Phillip Island bus service is available from Wonthaggi to Cowes every day. Taxis are available but we suggest that you save money by renting a car or a bike. There are plenty of electric charging ports available on the island to charge EVs as well.

Best way to get around Phillip Island:

The best way to get around Phillip Island is to rent a car or a bike. You’ll find heaps of parking spacing all over the island, including accessible parking spots.

FAQs about how to get to Phillip Island from Melbourne

Which is the cheapest way to get to Phillip Island?

The cheapest way to get to Phillip Island is to take a bus from Melbourne. It takes longer than a car but the tickets are less expensive than a car rental.

Can I park at Phillip Island?

Yes, Phillip Island has a number of parking spaces throughout the island, including the nature park complexes.

Is there accessible parking available on Phillip Island?

There are several wheelchair-friendly parking lots in Phillip Island, especially concentrated in Cowes. Most of the Phillip Island Nature Parks, too, have accessible parking lots.

Which major city is closest to Phillip Island?

Melbourne is the closest major city to Phillip Island. However, the closest mainland city to Phillip Island is San Remo.

Where are some of the parking spaces in Phillip Island?

Parking is well-spread all over the island. Some of the parking lots in Phillip Island are Kitty Miller Bay - Car Park, Sunderland Bay Car Park and Eastside JDM parking.

Can I drive back to Melbourne after a day in Phillip Island?

Phillip Island is about a 2-hour drive so it’s possible to drive back the same day that you arrived. But, it is recommended that you spend the night not only because there are a ton of things to explore but also because the drive back at night can be risky if you do not have adequate practice doing so. There are very few street lights and it only gets brighter much closer to Melbourne.

Are there any petrol pumps at Phillip Island?

Yes, Phillip Island has a number of petrol pumps, especially in the Cowes area. Some of them are BP Truckstop, EG Ampol Cowes, and Mobil Cowes.

Are there any ferries from Melbourne to Phillip Island?

Western Port Passenger Ferry Service can get you from Stony Point Jetty to Cowes, Phillip Island. This is the only ferry route close to Melbourne.

How to get to Phillip Island from Melbourne?

You can take a bus or a car from Melbourne to Phillip Island. Otherwise, you can also take the ferry from Stony Point and reach Cowes via the sea route.