Located on the western end of Phillip Island, the centre offers visitors a chance to explore the region's natural beauty through displays and exhibits. Situated on a cliff, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including those dedicated to conservation and eco-tourism projects.
In addition to seeing penguins during Phillip Island Penguin Tours, you can also visit the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, which promises an educational experience where you can learn about penguins, their behaviour and history.
Visit The Nobbies on Phillip Island
Located just one kilometre from the city centre, Seal Rocks is a collection of rocks that houses the country's largest colony of fur seals.
The boardwalks along the headland offer views of the sea and natural seabirds. Phillip Island is an excellent place for wildlife watching on land and sea. After visiting the Nobbies and seeing the Australian Fur Seals, you can try whale watching or spot migratory birds.
What are the Nobbies?
The Nobbies is a significant site for Australia's largest colony of Fur Seals. These cobblestone rocks protruding from the water are a striking landform connected to the Phillip Island coastline. Visitors can walk along the boardwalk at the Nobbies Visitor Centre to reach the lookout and may spot penguins nesting underneath.
Australian Fur Seals
The seals at Seal Rocks are the most enormous fur seals in the world, with brown hair covering their bodies. They prefer rocky coastlines and use their front flippers to move on land. Australian Fur Seals are skilled hunters, eating bony fish, squid, and octopus. Males are more prominent with a dark mane. The population declined in the 1800s due to hunting but has increased thanks to conservation efforts.
Things to do at The Nobbies and nearby
Stroll the Boardwalk
The boardwalk on Phillip Island allows visitors to appreciate the picturesque scenery of the rugged coastline. Lookout points along the way offer a chance to view iconic natural landmarks in the area.
See the Blowhole
The blowhole is a sea cave that produces large waves during southern swells, making it an impressive natural attraction worth visiting if you are in the vicinity.
Visit the Seabird Gardens
During spring, the Sea Bird Gardens display a variety of colourful flowers for visitors to admire.
Learn about the area nearby
The educational signage in the area provides information about the history, cultural heritage, and wildlife of Nobbies.
Wildlife Watching
At the Nobbies, you can see wildlife, including Silver Gulls, Little Penguins, and Australia's largest seal colony. Birdwatching, with pelicans and mutton bird sightings, is popular in Phillip Island and the Bass Coast. Churchill Island, connected to Phillip Island by a bridge, is a heritage farm with horses, cattle dogs, sheep, and Highland cattle.
Antarctic Journey
The Nobbies Centre now offers the Antarctic Journey, a multimedia experience with interactive activities and displays for all ages. Visitors can enter the chill zone, view their thermal image, and sit on a makeshift iceberg. Explore the research lab and listen to whale and seal sounds at the sound station. Finally, in the last exhibit, experience a multimedia journey through Antarctica's animal life.
See the penguins' parade
Summerland Beach is located just 5 minutes down the road from Phillip Island. It is known for the nightly Penguin Parade, where Little Penguins come ashore to nest and breed. Phillip Island is home to around 32,000 fairy penguins, most of whom spend 80% of their lives at sea collecting food. Australia is home to over one million penguins across several states.