PHILLIP ISLAND (VICTORIA)

Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, 'Phillip Island' in Victoria, Australia, forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port Bay. The island area is approximately 10,000 hectares and 26 kilometers long and 9 kilometers at its widest^[1]. It has 97km of coastline. A 640 metre concrete bridge connects the mainland town San Remo with the island town Newhaven¹. In the 2001 Census the island's permanent population was 7071^[2]. During the summer, the population swells to 40,000. 60% of the island is farmland devoted to grazing of sheep and cattle.
As part of the Bass Coast Shire, it is mainly a tourist destination visited by 3.5 million people annually¹. The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park, in which Little Penguins come ashore in groups, attracts visitors from all over the world, who come to see one of the few areas where this species of penguin can be seen. Another popular tourist attraction is the Seal Rocks, which host the largest colony of fur seals in Australia (up to 16,000^[3]).
On New Year's Eve the island hosts the Pyramid Rock Festival.
The island is recognised as having some of the most consistently reliable and varied surf conditions in the country. The island has hosted various surf events in the past, such as the Rip Curl Pro in 2005 and the Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival.
Towns on and around the island include:

★ Beachcomber

★ Cape Woolamai

★ Cowes

★ Cowes East

★ Cowes West

★ Newhaven

★ Rhyll

★ San Remo

★ Silverleaves

★ Smith's Beach

★ Summerland

★ Sunderland Bay

★ Sunset Strip

★ Surf Beach

★ Ventnor

★ Wimbledon Heights
See List of localities (Victoria) for other Victorian towns and cities.

Contents

Sharks

Events and festivals

Climate

Motor racing

Notes and references

External links

Sharks

Events and festivals

★ Pyramid Rock Festival

★ World Superbike Championship

★ Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

★ V8 Supercars [1]

★ Churchill Island Working Horse and Pioneer Festival

★ Woolamai Picnic Races

Climate

Phillip Island experiences milder weather than Melbourne and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for February is 24.7°C (76.5°F), while for July it is 13.4°C (56.1°F). The mean annual rainfall is 782.3 millimetres (30.8 in), with June being the wettest month (88.1 mm/3.5 in). The prevailing wind for most of the year is a south-westerly which blows in off Bass Strait.
On the 10th of August 2005, snow was observed on the island^[4]. This was a very unusual event.

Motor racing

See Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Notes and references

1. Phillip Island The Age, Travel Section
2. 2001 Population Statistics Bass Coast Shire Council Website
3. Inter Island FerriesAbout Phillip Island
4. Australian Government Bureau of MeteorologySnow in Victoria

External links

★ Official Phillip Island MySpace Page - The Official Phillip Island MySpace Community where all islanders are welcome.

★ Official Phillip Island Tourism Association site Accommodation and attractions on and around Phillip Island.

★ Phillip Island Tourist Information service Online bookings, maps, calendar, accommodation, educational information

★ Phillip Island Ferry Service

★ Seal Rock Cruises

★ Phillip Island Nature Park Web Site Includes Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Center.

★ Official website of the GP Circuit

★ History of Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Track tour, Streaming Video of race lap, race event contacts

★ Phillip Island Tourism Guide Victoria Australia Tourism information for Phillip Island tourism region including accommodation, attractions, activities, restaurants, cellar doors, events diary and more.

★ Tranquil Artillery - Phillip Islands Finest Hip Hop

★ Skydive Phillip Island Jump over Phillip Island

★ Glen Isla House - Small Luxury Hotel style Country House (AAA 5 Star) - Phillip Island Luxury Accommodation just 100 meters from a pristine sandy beach and close to Little Penguins and Koalas

★ The Castle Villa By The Sea - Phillip Island Luxury Accommodation

★ Holmwood Guesthouse - Award winning Boutique B&B on Phillip Island

★ Phillip Island Restaurants and Accommodation - Phillip Island Restaurants and Accommodation

★ Spa Holiday for two Phillip Island

★ Phillip Island Track Days

★ Phillip Island Hot Laps

★ B&Bs reviewed here