A weekend getaway to Phillip Island

We visited Phillip Island to celebrate Ben’s birthday. This was my third visit and Ben’s fifth, but no matter how many times we go, we never get tired of seeing the penguins – they’re just too cute! Plus, they look different every season. This time, they were in their moulting season, which is a tough period for them.

Phillip Island is about a two-hour drive from our place, but, as usual, we took our time, stopping at a few spots along the way.

We made a stop at San Remo, a charming fishing village in Victoria, Australia. The town was very crowded that day because of a swimming event. We came across a market where I ended up buying a pair of slippers for $40.

Originally, we planned to have lunch at San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Op like last time, but it was too crowded. So instead, we decided to have fish and chips at Beand San Remo which was more relaxing.

We stayed for a night at The Waves Apartment in Cowes since it would be too dark to drive back after seeing the penguins. The apartment was comfortable, with a lovely sea view, and the entire check-in and check-out process was completely contactless.

After checking in, we had some time before the penguins come out, so we took the opportunity to explore Cowes, a lovely coastal town in Victoria. We really enjoyed its laid-back atmosphere and relaxing vibe.

We booked the Penguin Plus tickets through the official Penguin Parade website a month in advance since they’re very popular. The last time we visited, about four years ago, tickets were $60 per person, and now they’ve gone up to $80. The rising cost of living is real!

Since it was moulting season, the penguins looked quite different. Their new feathers were pushing out the old ones, and they had almost doubled in weight. Normally, they weigh around 1–2 kg, but during this time, they reach 2–3 kg to sustain themselves while they’re unable to feed at sea. I told Ben they looked so pitiful as they are fat and losing hairs at the same time! 😂

We are not allowed to take photos at night since penguins are sensitive to camera flashes. However, it’s fine to take photos if we spot a penguin before dark. Luckily, a few penguins appeared early, so I managed to snap a picture. The rest of the penguins finally started emerging from the sea around 8.30pm.

Overall, it was a short but relaxing trip. We absolutely love seeing the penguins, and the great food along the way made it even better. We wouldn’t mind visiting this place again and again!