How to Get to Phillip Island with a Rental Car

Phillip Island is one of Australia's most popular holiday destinations. Located in Victoria, this island paradise is about 120 kilometers from Melbourne. The island is best known for its famous resident penguins, which attract visitors from around the world. However, the island has plenty of fantastic coastal scenery for you to explore while you wait for the penguins to return home.

Make sure you book your tickets for Phillip Island Nature Parks to see the nightly parade of little penguins appearing from the sea and waddling around the island beach. Visit the Penguin Foundation and join the thousands of people devoted to the protection of little penguins of Phillip Island.

Getting to Phillip Island in a Rental Car

The good news is - Phillip Island is easily accessible by road. You can rent a car with Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar or Thrifty and travel to the island from Melbourne.

The journey from Melbourne to Phillip Island is over 75 kilometres. You can take the Monash Freeway (M1) to the Cranbourne exit, where you will turn into the South Gippsland Highway (M420). Just follow the Bass Highway (A420), through Grantville and Bass, then onto the Phillip Island Road (B420) to San Remo, over the bridge onto Phillip Island.

Getting Around the Island

All of Phillip Island's main attractions are accessible via sealed roads. From the main bridge, Phillip Island Road will lead visitors to the island's largest town - Cowes. Ventnor Road leads on to the Nobbies and the famous Penguin Parade. Take Back Beach Road if you want to access some of the southern beaches.

Phillip Island Top 3

	Penguin Parade: Phillip Island is famous around the world for it's local population of penguins. There are more than 30,000 living on the island, and every evening visitors can watch them cross the beach back to their burrows.

	Bruny Island Wine: You'll find the island's most spectacular coastal scenery at the Nobbies. Follow the boardwalks that overlook the rocky coast and stop by the Nobbies Centre to learn more about the area.

	Wildlife: Accessible at low tide, get up close to these picturesque caves along the beach. To reach the caves it is just a short walk along the beach.

Important Information:

To reach Phillip Island . . .

All major car rental companies will allow you to take your rental car across the bridge at San Remo to Phillip Island. Once on the island, you must stay on sealed roads. There is plenty of parking available at popular attractions like the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade.