Phillip Island School Tours – Where Wildlife Wonders Meet Coastal Adventure

The Nobbies Centre is a eco-tourism destination on Phillip Island’s western tip, offering stunning clifftop boardwalks, dramatic coastal scenery and the blowhole.  Located on the Summerland Peninsula, it features an educational center, a café, and the interactive Antarctic Journey experience. It is renowned for views of Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony.

There is no cost to entering the Centre or walking the boardwalks however the Antarctic Journey does incur a cost.

Seal Rock

Seal Rock, located approximately 2kms from the Nobbies, is best viewed through their coin operated binoculars or the interactive cameras located inside the Centre (also a cost for use).   Seal Rock is home to around 20,000 to 30,000 fur seals, the largest colony of in Australia.   During breeding seasons, up to 3,000 seals can be seen on the rock, at one time.

Antartic Journey

The Antarctic Journey is an immersive, interactive and educational experience developed in partnership with WWF-Australia.  It offers a virtual Antarctic experience featuring high-tech exhibits, a “Lab” with hands-on activities, and a “Chill Zone” that explores the frozen continent’s marine life and ecosystem.

The attraction educates visitors on the importance of protecting the Antarctic ecosystem, the Southern Ocean, and marine life:

• Virtual World: Use augmented reality to “stand” on an ice floe, virtually pat a seal, or interact with whales and penguins.
• The Lab & Chill Zone: Features hands-on activities like identifying sea creatures via microscopes, listening to animal calls, and testing your thermal image against an Emperor penguin.
• The “Feel the Freeze” Zone: Experience the extreme temperatures of Antarctica to understand the harsh conditions wildlife face.

Phillip Island is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. You can experience the magic of watching these amazing seabirds waddle home from the ocean to their burrows any night of the year from the viewing platforms and boardwalks at Penguin Parade Visitor Centre.  Times vary on the time of year you visit.

Although people are asked to remain seated when the Little Penguins leave the water and make their way up the beach, sometimes this does not happen!  Don’t despair, as you are walking back to the Visitors Centre, along the raised boardwalks, you will see the Little Penguins passing underneath the boardwalks, as they make their way back to their burrows and you will definitely hear them, as they can get quite loud when they make it home.

A full-grown Little Penguin on Phillip Island typically stands about 30-45cm tall.  Known as the world’s smallest penguin species, these birds weigh roughly 1 kilogram to 1.2 kg on average, sometimes described as being only slightly bigger than a bowling pin and always described as incredibly cute!

A visit to Churchill Island Heritage Farm, calms the mind, with wide-open spaces to wander and fresh air to breathe.  Explore the historical grounds and farming activities, walk the bay trails soaking in the tranquil scenery and enjoying the bird watching huts.

They offer a number of activities, that can be enjoyed as part of your entry fee:-

• Blacksmithing
• Cow milking
• Sheep shearing
• Working dogs
• Whip cracking

As well as activities that need to be booked in and are an extra cost:-

Highland Cattle Experience

Step aboard a tractor-drawn wagon for a scenic ride through the paddocks of Churchill Island. Meet our iconic Highland cattle up close, feed them and hear their fascinating story. Along the way, take in the stunning coastal views and heritage landmarks. This family-friendly tour combines nature, history, and unforgettable animal encounters for a truly memorable farm experience.

Bandicoot Discovery Tour (Night)

Discover the fascinating lives of endangered Eastern barred bandicoots on an exclusive guided spotlight walk. Begin your adventure at sunset and explore the picturesque gardens of Churchill Island, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to observe these elusive creatures in their natural habitat. Learn about their behaviours, interactions, and the conservation efforts in place to protect them. This memorable experience offers a rare glimpse into the world of Australia’s most intriguing nocturnal animals.

The San Remo Fishermans Co-op feed the pelicans daily at 12 noon, on the foreshore next to the San Remo Pier.  Like most Australians who choose to live by the coastline and love their fresh seafood, the wild Pelicans of San Remo Pier are no different.   They love their fresh seafood too!

The Australian Pelican is unique in that it is almost entirely white, with just a bit of colour on the end of its wings and has the longest bill in the bird world.  And, don’t they put those incredibly lengthy bills to good use to snap up all the food, and impress their prospective mates.

The purpose of the free daily Pelican Feeding at 12 pm is not only to give these hungry birds a feed and entertain the crowd but also to help educate the public in regards to the Pelicans, their diet, lifestyle and how we can improve conservation and environmental efforts to protect these Australian icons and similar species.   The wild Pelican numbers in San Remo can vary between 5 – 35 birds.

Take time to walk the San Remo Pier jetties after the feeding, you may find a large Stingray family that can often be seen gliding through the water.   They enjoy the seafood as well and can be seen in the water around the pelicans, in hope getting a little treat or two.

After watching the Pelican Feeding, be sure to have a wander along the San Remo Pier jetties where you can find a large Stringray family that can often be seen gliding through the water that this vantage point.

Fish’n’chips from the San Remo Fishermans Co-op maybe a delicious lunch option – make sure you let us know, so we can pre-order and pay.

A Maze‘N Things is an exciting world of illusions, puzzles, mazes and mini golf that offers hours of fun, magic and adventure.  Whatever you decide to do, we know you’ll be laughing all the way!

Puzzle Island

Embark on a mind-bending journey at this adventure park! Encounter pioneering escapades that boggle the mind, shrink in the Shrinking Room, defy gravity in the Gravity Room, navigate the labyrinth of the mirror maze, soar across Phillip Island on boogie boards, unearth Pirate McGuffie’s hidden trove, and plunge down the exhilarating LookOut Slide!

Giant Maze

With over two kilometres of passageways, the Giant Maze is a bewildering labyrinth of confusing turns, devious twists and frustrating dead ends. You can spend hours trying to get out of this maze, but you will have a great time trying! Be sure to find all four flags along the way.

Skytrail

If you are a bit more daring, challenge yourself with SkyTrail, the 10-metre high ropes course adventure with over 30 varying obstacles. Their unique harness and tracking system allows you to choose your challenge level of outdoor fun.

Magic Manor

Discover the enchantment of Magic Manor, a realm where wonder blooms and smiles abound. Experience the extraordinary: vanish into the Disappearing Room, explore the enigmatic Mysterious Cave, and behold a spellbinding holographic magic show featuring world-class magicians. Prepare to be amazed like never before!

Parky’s Mini Golf

With constantly-changing levels and landscapes, Parky’s Mini Golf will entertain both beginners to experienced golfers. The holes are challenging, but sometimes luck is what you really need. Compete using our scorecards, or just play for the fun of it!

Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate is ideal for school groups of all ages to visit and combine a learning experience with a whole lot of fun. Starting with the manufacturing process, students will gain a real and practical understanding of a total product life cycle.

Museum

In the Pannys Amazing World of Chocolate Museum, students (and teachers) will learn about cocoa harvesting, how chocolate is made and their vital ingredients. Other viewings include the Statue of David (made from chocolate), mural of Dame Edna consisting of 12,000 chocolate pieces, and the chocolate village where even the buildings are made of chocolate. You also get to counterbalance a 1 tonne chocolate block and test your chocolate knowledge.  Students will enjoy the challenge of testing their knowledge of chocolate. The Chocolate Fall made from 400 litres of chocolate is on display as well. Our chocolatiers will be here making chocolate as you enjoy your time in “Pannys Amazing World of Chocolate”.

Make sure students bring along some extra cash (currently $2.00 per bar) to make and design their own chocolate – it’s delicious fun!

Retail Shop

You can’t go to Pannys without visiting their factory direct retail store.   Their direct retail store sells every delicious item plus a little bit more from elsewhere. Because their extensive range is made on site you can be confident that it reaches you in perfect condition. They make individual chocolate bars, chocolate blocks for sharing, cream filled chocolates, nut clusters, sweetly filled truffles, frogs, penguins, koalas, dolphins and a vast range of gift packs for every occasion. Plus, not to mention our huge range of amazingly decorated shoes…which are a huge hit.   Who would have thought eating a shoe, would be so delicious!

Maru Koala & Animal Park is located in Grantville and a great place to stop on the way to camp or on the way home.  The park includes a small animal park where you can meet and interact with many of the animals, a mini-golf course, souvenir and retail area and the Homestead Bistro and cafe. After you’ve met the wildlife and putted your way to victory it’s time to eat some delicious breakfast or lunch at the Homestead Bistro with a full dining menu or light snacks prepared by our talented chefs. Cool down with a refreshing ice-cream, milkshake or iced drink from our Ice Bar.

Animal Park Tour

A fully guided tour of the Animal Park operated by one of their experienced keepers who will give short talks and information about the animals.

• Observe wombats, emus, koalas, dingoes and more
• Enjoy opportunites to hand feed and pat the kangaroos and wallabies
• Meet and pat stock animals, and talk to the parrots

Their park focuses on encouraging guests of all ages to have close and personal encounters with the animals that include patting and hand feeding. These special experiences enable them to more effectively educate our guests about the animals and their conservation.

At Maru they aim to give visitors the opportunity to really interact with the animals, including koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, dingoes, emus, parrots, wombats, crocodile, stock animals and more.  Join their park keepers at regular talks and presentations.   View the koalas from the raised boardwalk or go inside their enclosure with the keepers.

Pirate Pete’s Mini Golf

Test your putting mini golf skills at Pirate Pete’s Mini-Golf, where you escape into another world as you encounter life-size pirate figures including Captain Jack Sparrow! There are eighteen holes of fun that navigate you through different Australian landscapes from beach to bush to outback.

Lunch Options

After you’ve met the wildlife or maybe putted your way to victory, you can either eat your packed lunches or you have the option of pre-ordering lunch from the Homestead Bistro located at the park.   If it’s a warm day maybe an ice-cream, milkshake or iced drink from their Ice Bar might help to cool everyone down.