The best camping and glamping on Phillip Island

Chloe CannBy Chloe Cann
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There’s a plethora of different camping and glamping options on Phillip Island – here we explore some of the Bass Coast isle’s best.

Family favourite Phillip Island has long lured holidaymakers to its shores with the promise of sea, sand, surf and (sometimes) sun. Plot your escape to this summer playground with our guide to the best Phillip Island camping and glamping spots, most of which are pet-friendly outside of peak season to boot.

The Sheltered Glamping Co

an aerial view of The Sheltered Glamping Co, Phillip Island
Stay in an elevated tent surrounded by epic scenery. (Image: The Sheltered Glamping Co)

You won’t be left wanting with a stay at one of The Sheltered Glamping Co’s souped-up tents. The eco-conscious operator’s canvas bell tents come equipped with queen-sized beds, lighting, a heater, speakers, USB ports, power points, a kettle and a range of teas and coffee, plus access to a private outdoor heated shower and composting toilet, and a communal day tent.

Or you can opt for its super spacious, fully furnished safari tent, known as Emperor, home to a wood-fired hot tub that sits under the stars, an indoor wood-burning fireplace, a four-poster queen-sized bed and a king-sized bed hidden in a nook; it also has a fully equipped kitchen and Weber barbecue. Pitched on a tranquil and remote pocket of the island, you’ll find wallabies and echidnas roaming freely in these parts.

Address: Ventnor

NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park

scenic sea views from a tent at NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park
Soak up seaside serenity at NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park. (Image: Supplied)

Not only is this NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park situated just metres from the sea – with some of its powered camping sites located right on the waterfront – but it’s also only a 15-minute walk from the thick of the action in Cowes.

The pet- and family-friendly park is known to keep its facilities immaculately clean, and it has a few to offer: from a kid’s playground to a communal wood-fired pizza oven and fire pit, a barbecue area, a recreation room with arcade games and a TV, and even a herb garden that guests can use.

Glamping is also on offer here. The park’s handful of safari tents are just steps from Cowes Beach, delivering unobstructed sea views. And there’s perhaps no spot better to enjoy them from than the solitude of your own private, partially sheltered outdoor clawfoot bathtub. Other features include an electric fireplace, an en suite bathroom, and an outdoor deck with a barbecue.

Address: 164 Church St, Cowes

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island

an aerial beach view of BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island
BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island offers direct beach access. (Image: Supplied)

Located at the far western edge of the isle, just minutes from the bridge that connects Phillip Island with the mainland, and adjacent to the sprawling bushland of the Phillip Island Coastal Reserve, this Ingenia Holidays park is great for those who want to get away from it all. There’s also direct access to one of Phillip Island’s many beaches. If you’re craving a bit more civilisation, the shops, cafes and restaurants of Newhaven lie just 500 metres away; or you can walk across the bridge itself, to spend the morning or evening exploring the bigger mainland town of San Remo.

In terms of facilities, you’ll find all the usual suspects here: an adventure playground, a basketball ring, a games room, a TV and recreation room, a modern camp kitchen and undercover electric barbecues. But over and above that, the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Phillip Island also provides a seasonal outdoor cinema, a jumping pillow, and pedal cars for hire.

Address: 24 Old Bridge Dr, Newhaven

Amaroo Park Phillip Island

The holiday park located perhaps the closest to Cowes, just two blocks from the main street, Amaroo is in a prime position for those who like to be slap-bang in the centre of things. Unlike many of the other holiday parks on the island, this one boasts its own solar-heated saltwater outdoor pool, surrounded by chairs and loungers. A quiet site, with fewer facilities catering directly to kids than other parks, Amaroo is arguably aimed more at couples and friends, or those with older children rather than little ones.

Address: 97 Church St, Cowes

Anchor Belle

an aerial view of Anchor Belle, Phillip Island camping spot
Anchor Belle is just a 100-metre stroll from the beach.

Located just on the edge of Cowes, and only 100 metres from the beach, family-owned and operated Anchor Belle ticks a lot of boxes and proves a big hit with kids: there’s an indoor heated swimming pool that’s perfect for Victoria’s unpredictable weather, plus a jumping cushion, a multi-purpose ball court, a playground, a recreation room, and a games room. Adults, meanwhile, will love the gas pizza oven, the park’s two hectares of greenery and bushland, the shady grassed sites, the accommodating and amiable staff, the clean facilities, and the good water pressure in the showers.

Address: 272 Church St, Cowes

Discover the best things to do on Phillip Island

Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
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Discover the Yarra Valley town made for slow weekends

    Kellie FloydBy Kellie Floyd
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    Once a service town for gold miners, Healesville has evolved into a destination brimming with character.

    If you trace your finger to the heart of the Yarra Valley on a map, you’ll land on Healesville – a charming little town framed by towering gums and rolling hills. Its main street is lined with cosy cafes, a bookshop, silversmiths, boutiques and a providore stacked with artisan breads and cured meats. In other words, all the essentials for a leisurely weekend. Just beyond the shops, parklands invite picnics, bush trails suggest a wander, along with an old tourist railway, distilleries and award-winning vineyards. Originally a service centre for the goldfields, the railway soon brought visitors seeking fresh mountain air. Today, it’s the kind of place that rewards a slow stroll.

    Staying in Healesville

    the lounge in one of the cosy villas at Healesvillas
    Inside one of the cosy villas.

    If sweeping mountain views are part of your accommodation prerequisite, Healesvillas are two architecturally designed villas sleeping six guests, complete with landscaped al fresco areas and a fire pit. Wander into town to visit Cheesemonger Sophie to help craft the perfect platter, and Barrique Wine Store for a local red, before returning to soak up the views.

    Dining out in Healesville

    small plates at No. 7 Healesville
    No.7 offers small plates and tasting menus centred on seasonal produce. (Image: Ben Frazer)

    For breakfast, head to My Little Kitchen Cafe , a cheerful spot on the main street known for its strong coffee and warm hospitality. Herd is a low-lit spot with serious style, serving up modern comfort food, or to sit beside wine barrels and underneath chandeliers head to No. 7 Healesville , a wine bar and restaurant in a converted warehouse.

    Drinking in Healesville

    a cocktail at Four Pillars Gin Distillery
    Enjoy a cocktail at renowned Four Pillars Gin Distillery. (Image: LVDI)

    Take a tour or sip your way through a tasting paddle at one of Australia’s most famous gin distilleries, Four Pillars Gin . If visiting a boutique winery is on the list, Boat O’Craigo wines has sweeping views over the vineyards to the hills beyond. The newest addition to the local drinking scene, Zoncello Yarra Valley serves a must-try Limoncello Spritz.

    the Boat O’Craigo winery
    Boutique winery Boat O’Craigo. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

    Healesville highlights

    If you’re after a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery, Silvermist Studio designs beautifully unique pieces. Lifestyle store Morris et al is filled with women’s fashion and homewares, and because everyone deserves a good book, Verso Books is a cosy independent bookshop with carefully chosen titles.

    Head to Healesville Sanctuary to get up close to some of Australia’s wildlife. If the weather is on your side, pack a picnic and head to Maroondah Reservoir Park to climb the steep dam wall, where kids and adults alike can’t resist testing out the booming echo. And if you feel like stepping back in time, board a vintage train at the Yarra Valley Railway .

    the Puffing Billy Railway
    Step back in time at the Puffing Billy Railway. (Image: Visit Victoria)