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Want to get out of the city and up close and personal with some of the country’s cutest animals? Come to Cowes! Just a two hour drive from Melbourne, Cowes is the main town on Phillip Island. Our great range of Cowes hotels and accommodation offer a perfect base to explore this wonderful place.

Philip Island is most well-known for the Penguin Parade, held nightly at the Summerland Peninsula on the Western side of the Island. Phillip Island is home to one of the largest penguin colonies in Australia. Every night at sunset these little creatures return home from the ocean and make the trek up the beach to their burrows.

If you can handle more cuteness head to the Koala Conservation Centre where you can see koalas up close in their natural habitat. The Koala Conservation Centre features treetop boardwalks with close viewing areas to get a good look at these cute creatures in their eucalypt homes. Or if you’d rather head out to sea than for more wildlife watching, you can also head on a seal watching cruises to take you within meters of Australia’s largest Fur seal colonies on the aptly named Seal Rocks off the Coast of Philip Island.

Phillip Island is also home to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Several major events are held year throughout the year including the Motor Cycle Grand Prix, Superbike World Championship and V8 Supercars Championship.

There’s no shortage of places eat in Cowes. Head to one of the many restaurants and cafes along the esplanade or grab some take away fish and chips to devour by the beach. Fancy a spot of shopping by the seaside? The famers markets are held on the fourth Sunday of every month on Churchill Island where you can buy a variety of locally grown produce and handmade wares. The Cowes Craft Markets are held every second Saturday at St Phillips Church for one-off, handmade designs. So pack your bag and grab your besties in time for a weekend away – and don’t forget your Cowes accommodation!