A week away in summer, to vacate our own home for home-exchange guests. We met this delightful family before we left and, again, on our way back home, when they were travelling to Phillip Island themselves, in a large rental camper.

We rented a holiday cottage in Cowes, the main town on this idyllic island. Phillip Island, 125 km southeast of Melbourne, is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, 1798. It is a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port, connected to the mainland at San Remo, a port and fishing town, by a 640 metre concrete bridge. Phillip Island has idyllic quiet bays and beaches, a dramatic sweeping surf coast, small seaside townships, the largest Cowes, walking paths and boardwalks, nature reserves and many wildlife parks, places to see fur seals and fairy penguins to koalas.

"Time moves a bit slower on Phillip Island, but life is in constant motion. This tiny island sanctuary is busy with seals, migratory whales, koalas and brilliant birdlife. Big with wild coastal surf, sheltered bays and dramatic cliffs." - website

The northern side of the island faces the mainland and has calm peaceful coves and beaches. The southern side, facing the Southern Ocean has magnificent rock-faces, ocean beaches and walking trails.

The one drawback of our week on this lovely island is that we could not go to many places which are designated National Parks and other nature reserves. Wildlife abounds. At the Nobbies there is a huge seated viewing area to watch the fairy penguins return from the sea to their nesting burrows. The extensive boardwalk takes in wonderful views and seagull rookeries, but we could not do this walk, due to having our dog with us,