My family and I love traveling and exploring new destinations. Sometimes I share tips and advice for visiting locations close to home and other times I like to talk about vacation destinations. As summer is on the way, today I thought I would share some tips and advice for planning a family trip to Phillip Island in Australia.

Located just under two hours from the metropolitan city of Melbourne, Phillip Island has a lot to offer any visitor. Renowned for its beautiful scenery, wildlife, and its racing track, it doesn’t lack things to see and do. For families, this is a fantastic vacation spot as it has lots of activities to choose from. As well as lots of accommodation that's child-friendly. 

Just like with any family trip, a lot of planning needs to go into your visit to Phillip Island if you want to ensure that it’s a success. For all the best tips and advice, keep reading.

Book your plane tickets and transfers

The first thing that you need to do, as with any trip, is book your plane tickets and transfers. You’ll need to book your flights to one of Melbourne's airports - Avalon Airport and Tullamarine Airport. The one that’s closest to Phillip Island is Tullamarine, but not by much so either airport will do. (Look for the place the offers the cheapest flights!)

As the transfer times to Phillip Island are two hours or more, it’s best to opt for a private transfer. Else, you’ll spend hours going from hotel to hotel for drop offs - with kids in tow this is a recipe for disaster. Private transfers don’t have to be expensive, as long as you book them in advance, that is.

Choose where to stay

Although somewhat small, this exciting island has lots of accommodation options on offer. From luxe hotels to self-catered lodges, there’s plenty of choice. With kids in tow, a resort is probably your best bet, as that way there will be lots to keep them occupied.

There are lots of resorts to choose from, but Silverwater Resort is one of the best options. This is because it has comfortable accommodation, a pool, on-site dining, and lots more. To find the best place for you and your family, have a browse on Tripadvisor.

Plan your itinerary

The next step is to start planning your itinerary. To do this, you’ll need to take the time to research the local area. There’s plenty to see and do on Phillip Island, from museums and wildlife activities to racing and watersports. There’s also the local area to explore, and not forgetting the city of Melbourne. 

Of course, out of everything on Phillip Island, the penguins are the most popular attraction. Every evening at sunset, hordes of penguins walk up the beach from the sea to their nests in a parade. If you opt to go on a Phillip Island Penguin Tour, you can get up close and personal with the penguins. You’ll also be able to ask lots of questions and find out all about them.  

Once you know what you want to see and do, you can then create your itinerary for while you’re away. Don’t try to fit too much into each day, else you won’t enjoy your time. If you can’t see and do everything, you can always visit again. 

For a family vacation, Phillip Island is the perfect place. Hopefully, the tips above will help you to plan a fantastic trip to this iconic island.