August 2010 - Q Magazine

q review: PHILLIP ISLAND
A short hour and a half drive south of Melbourne is beautiful
Phillip Island. A tourist mecca of monumental proportions the
Island features accommodation galore, cafes, restaurants,
bars and tourist facilities second to none. I was fortunate to be
invited to sample the hospitality of this area by the region’s peak
tourism body.
It would be remiss of me not to mention that the weather at this time
of year is freezing cold, but equally remiss not to add that heating is a
plenty including ornate fire places everywhere you go.
Our first port of call was Cliff Top Boutique Accommodation (1
Marine Street, Smiths Beach - www.clifftop.com.au) - a stunning
B & B recently taken over by Adam Tinsey and Lucas Bracken. The
house features seven rooms of all different configurations, a common
area complete with open fire place, large comfortable lounges, a huge
dining table, pool table and spectacular views over a stunning beach.
From the moment we arrived we were greeted by our hosts, shown to
our room and made feel extremely welcome.
That eveing we dined at The Foreshore Bar & Restaurant (11
Beach Road, Rhyll) - with rustic interiors and a very extensive menu.
Unfortunately the place was bombarded by an extraordinary surge in
customers and the time between entrees and mains was disappointingly
long. I can not however fault the cuisine or the wine list.
Saturday saw the beginning of our Phillip Island discovery. With our 3 Parks Pass in hand (something I would highly recommend
you purchasing) we commenced with a tour through the Koala Conservation Centre. If you know nothing (or very little) about
Australia’s fauna and flora (or even as a refresher course) this is an excellent way to begin. The centre has an interactive display
about Australian wildlife and the treetop walk is truly educational. Next stop (via the Phillip Island Grand Priz track) was the Nobbies
Centre. This new state of the art facility is Australia’s newest marine
attraction and is the gateway to seeing the Island’s Seal population up
close and personal.
A short drive back toward our accommodation we stopped at The
Phillip Island Vinyard & Winery (414 Berrys Beach Road,
Ventor). Tim O’Brien bought this property only recently and is quickly
transforming it into a first class facility. His staff are very professional
and the tasting is certainly well worth the visit. They also offer travellers
a selection of cheese platters and the like, served in a toasty fire place
heated environment that is both relaxing and highly enjoyable.
Finally, what would a trip to Phillip Island be with a night time visit to see
the Penguin Parade (www.penguins.org.au). Again something one
should rug up for if visiting during winter. Fortunately we were pleasantly
surprised to be treated to a SkyBox VIP pass so didn’t have to endure
the elements - viewing the migration of the Penguins from the warmth of
a fully enclosed viewing box (complete with complimentary tea, coffee,
hot chocolate and some light eats). The commentary is educational and
entertaining and the whole experience is a must do!
I would definitely revisit Phillip Island and highly recommend it to anyone
who wants a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of city life. There
is very little to do in the way of nitelife - but that is part of it’s charm.