The Top Family Activities and Playgrounds in the Bass Coast Shire Council Region
The Bass Coast Shire council region is located almost two hours drive south east from Melbourne and includes the towns of Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Cape Paterson, Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Corinella, Coronet Bay, Bass, Kilcunda, San Remo and Phillip Island.
The region has wonderful wildlife attractions, especially on Phillip Island. The Penguin Parade is an iconic experience and is Australia's most popular natural wildlife attraction. Each night at sunset, the Little Penguins, emerge from the sea and waddle ashore to their sand dune burrows under the gaze of fawning visitors.
Come 'face-to-face' with koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Centre , see Australian animals on display at Phillip Island Wildlife Park hand feed and pat animals at Maru Koala and Animal Park or take a peek under the boardwalk at The Nobbies where you might find a penguin.
There plenty of other non-wildlife attractions including:
A Maze 'N Things which has a huge maze, maxi-golf, illusion rooms and puzzle island
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory which has chocolate interactive exhibits and samples
A map of the region is:
The best playgrounds in this area are:
Wonthaggi
Guide Park Playground, Wonthaggi
Set in a huge sea of sand is a mine themed tower with a big, twisting tunnel slide. Around the tower is sand play equipment, large elevated sandpit with a water pump and channel with two frogs zenning on the side. Also lots more play equipment including water play area, in-ground trampoline, lots of swings, dual flying fox and toddler area. There is a shelter with three tables and BBQs, water tap, seats and toilets.
Cowes
Erehwon Point Playground, Cowes
Wooden structure with spiral slide, scrambling wall, fireman's pole, ladder, inclined rope bridge, inclined balance beam, balance beam with obstacles, monkey bars, curved slide, shop front and steps. There is a separate area with a steering wheel panel, height check board and metal pipes (missing clanger). Also a huge pipe balance see-saw, yacht springer, little rocker, two person pommel bounce, two whale springers, three swings and big stand-on carousel.
Shelters with BBQs, shaded and unshaded tables, unshaded seats, little exercise station and water tap. Minimal grassy area and nice views over the water. There are wooden steps down to the beach.
San Remo
Richard Grayden Park Playground, San Remo
Located on the San Remo foreshore near the bridge to Phillip Island. Colourful pirate ship shaped structure with lots of educational panels, curved slide, large climbing frame, climbing net, climbing rope, monkey bars and flying fox. Smaller structure with small slide, tunnel, cubby and steps. Two springers, family sized see-saw, two stand-on spinners, unusual climbing frame and swings.
Shelter with BBQs and tables. Near water and road so need to be vigilant. Seats with and without shade.
The best skate parks in the region are Wonthaggi Skatepark (Concrete park which has a kidney shaped deep bowl, a street section with rails, boxes and ledges and some banks and quarters at one end) and Cowes Skatepark (Great street course).
There are other skateparks at Inverloch, Newhaven,Kilcunda, Inverloch, Grantville and Corinella
There is a BMX track at Coronet Bay (fifteen jumps of various sizes and three banked turns) and Inverloch (twisting gravel track with a concrete starting ramp, lots of big berms and a few jumps of various sizes and difficulty).
Reviews of all playgrounds, skate parks and BMX Tracks in the Bass Coast Shire council region are here:
Cape Paterson
- Cape Paterson Ocean Pool (Rocky swimming pool filled with seawater which is replenished by the tides.)
Dalyston
- Mouth of Powlett River (A lovely spot to while away an afternoon. Activities include fishing, canoeing, kayaking, Stand-Up paddle boarding, swimming and sand dune sliding)
- Dalyston Recreation Reserve (Playground and excellent Ninja warrior course)
Grantville
- Maru Koala and Animal Park (Hand feed and pat the kangaroos and wallabies, rare albinos, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian Devils, dingoes, a crocodile and other creatures)
- Pirate Pete's Mini-golf (Set sail for 18 holes of Pirate adventure at Maru Animal Park in Grantville. Putt your way around the Pirate figurines and enter the gold mine under the five meter thunderous waterfall)
Inverloch
- Inverloch Visitor Information Centre (One-stop shop for information, accommodation bookings and ticket sales in the region)
- Bunurong Environment Centre in Inverloch (Range of holiday activities including reef walking, dinosaur discovery and spot-lighting)
- Inverloch Shell Museum (Over 6,000 specimens on display)
- Offshore Surf School based at Inverloch (Surfing lessons)
- Inverloch Charters & Hire Boats (Hire a boat with no boat licence required, also kayaks and Stand Up Paddle boards)
- Screw Creek Townsend Bluff Estuary Walk (An undulating scenic walk over boardwalks, salt marsh and mangroves up to a lookout on Townsend Bluff with gorgeous views over Anderson Inlet)
- Inverloch Foreshore Shared Pathway (5km return path along Inverloch Foreshore which is suitable for walking, jogging or cycling. Passes a number of access points to the foreshore, playground, picnic areas and exercise stations)
- Amazon Shipwreck (The most significant shipwreck on Victoria's coast and the only wooden shipwreck)
- Rocket Shed and Ketch Ripple (Restored Rocket Shed and replica of the ketch Ripple)
Phillip Island
- A Maze 'N Things (Huge maze, maxi-golf, Illusion Rooms, Puzzle Island and Sky Trail)
- Churchill Island Heritage Farm (Step back in time at an historic island farm)
- Koala Conservation Centre (Stroll through this eucalypt woodland and come 'face-to-face' with koalas in their natural habitat)
- National Vietnam Veterans Museum (Collection of around 6000 artefacts)
- Penguin Parade (Experience the wonder of Little Penguins coming ashore after a day's fishing at sea)
- Phillip Island Information Centre (Newhaven) (Provides maps, tickets for all major attractions and itinerary planning)
- Phillip Island Chocolate Factory (See how chocolate is made and view the Statue of David made from chocolate, a mural of Dame Edna consisting of 12,000 chocolate pieces, a Chocolate Fall made from 400 litres of chocolate and the chocolate village where even the buildings are made of chocolate)
- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Go Kart Track (Single and tandem karts)
- Phillip Island Helicopters (Scenic flights over the coastline)
- Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling and Entertainment Centre (Tenpin bowling, laser tag and amusement games)
- Phillip Island Wildlife Park (Home to over 100 different species of Australian animals)
- Grumpy's Crazy Golf (Undercover crazy mini golf in Cowes)
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- The Nobbies (Wander along the boardwalks to the blowhole with a chance to spot penguins and seals)
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- Wildlife Coast Cruises (Cruise to one of Australia's largest wild fur seal island colonies)
- Blue Gum Reserve Disc Golf (A free to play frisbee / disc course located in the Blue Gum Reserve in Cowes)
- Girls on Board (Surfing lessons on Phillip Island for gals and guys)
- Cowes Outdoor Pool (Small pool located at located at the Cowes Primary School)
- Pioneer Kayaking (Explore the natural beauty of the coastline and waterways surrounding Phillip Island with a guided sea kayak tour)
- Clip N Climb Phillip Island (A range of fun climbing walls plus a number of additional experiences including Virtual Reality climbing)
- Laser Strike Phillip Island (Exciting outdoor laser skirmish where the laser skirmish guns shoot harmless beams of infra-red light)
- Island Surfboards Surfschool (Surfing lessons at Smiths Beach on Phillip Island)
- Bimbadeen Phillip Island Farm Tours (Become a farmer for a day and learn about life on a working farm)
- Super Cruzer Hire (Hire an electric bike and tour around Phillip Island)
- Cowes East Heritage Walk (Explore the history of Phillip Island in the Cowes area)
- Cowes West Heritage Walk (Explore the history of Phillip Island in the Cowes area)
- Berninneit Cinema (Part of a complex with library, community centre, cultural centre, visitor information centre and art exhibition space)
- Forrest Caves (Sea caverns formed by the erosion of the cliffs by the waves which can only be reached at low tide)
- Newhaven Historical Walk (3.5km historical walk around historic sites in teh Newhaven area)
- Conservation Hill and Rhyll Inlet Walks (Walks of different lengths through the world-renowned habitat for migratory waders)
- Oswin Roberts Reserve (Last remaining remnant bushland on Phillip Island with a range of wildlife)
- Rhyll Historical Walk/Drive (With over 150 years of European history, the quaint seaside town of Rhyll has an abundance of historic sites and buildings worth discovering on this 3.5km return walking and driving tour)
- Phillip Island Marine (Hire boats holding up to 6 people, option for no boat license)
- Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve (28ha nature and wildlife reserve with interpretive walks, picnic areas and a wetland viewing platform)
- Pyramid Rock - Berrys Beach Walk (6km return walk passes along a gently undulating clifftop track with spectacular coastal views of Phillip Island's southern coastline including Point Grant and The Nobbies)
- Kitty Miller Bay Walk (Lovely coastal views as you walk around the headland and bay. Remains of the SS Speke shipwreck which was the second-largest ship-rigged vessel ever built)
- Swan Lake Walk (Freshwater lake that provides great bird watching and lots of wallabies
San Remo
- George Bass Coastal Walk (A 7km cliff top walk that stretches from the outskirts of San Remo to Kilcunda)
- San Remo Pelican Feeding (Free daily pelican feeding at the San Remo jetty)
- Ocean Adventures Phillip Island (Adventure based boat trips)
- Reel Obsession Fishing Charters (In-shore and off-shore fishing charters)
Wonthaggi
- Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre (One-stop shop for information, accommodation bookings and ticket sales in the region)
- State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi (above ground or underground tours of the black coal mine)
- Bass Coast Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi (Two indoor pools, a 25m lap and recreation pool and a toddlers pool)
- Bass Coast Paintball in Wonthaggi (Adrenaline pumping paintball in 20 acres of open field scenarios and/or bush settings)
- State Coal Mine Central Area Walks (Five walking tracks reveal a different aspect of the central mining area)
- Victorian Desalination Project Ecological Reserve Trails (A number of walks in the 225 hectare ecological reserve surrounding the Desalination Plant. The walks cover natural and restored bushland, wetlands and dunes, and include two viewing decks, a bird hide and picnic area)
Other Locations
- Maccas Farm Pick Your Own Strawberry Field (1km of 'waist high' strawberry rows, brimming with hydroponic strawberries at Glen Forbes)
- Outthere Outdoor Activities (Offer a range of Activities including surfing, body boarding, kayaking, surf kayaking, snorkelling, stingray snorkelling, mountain biking and guided walks)
- Wattle Bank Farm (An immersive farm experience for the whole family with horse-riding experiences at Wattle Bank)
- Bass Coast Paintball (20 acres of paintball with open field scenarios and/or bush setting at West Creek)
Beaches
- Cape Paterson Surf Beach (Cape Paterson, patrolled)
- Cape Paterson Bay Beach (Cape Paterson, patrolled)
- Cowes Main Beaches (Phillip Island, patrolled)
- Cowes West Beaches (Phillip Island)
- Cape Woolamai Safety Beach (Phillip Island)
- Cape Woolamai Surf Beach (Phillip Island, patrolled)
- Silverleaves Beach (Phillip Island)
- Red Rocks Beach (Phillip Island)
- Newhaven Beach (Phillip Island)
- Rhyll Beach (Phillip Island)
- Smiths Beach (Phillip Island, patrolled)
- Summerlands Peninsula Beaches (Phillip Island)
- Sunderland Bay Beach (Phillip Island)
- Surf Beach (Phillip Island)
- Kitty Miller Bay Beach (Phillip Island)
- Berrys Beach (Phillip Island)
- Ventnor Beach (Phillip Island)
- Anderson Inlet Beaches (Inverloch)
- Inverloch Surf Beach (Inverloch, patrolled)
- Kilcunda Beaches (Kilcunda)
Art & Galleries
At Coronet Bay there is the Bronze Yarns Sculpture Trail
The Armistice Mural at Grantville commemorates the brave Army, Navy, Air Force and Nursing personnel who helped in the defence of our Nation during the First World War from 1914 to 1918.
Ceramic Murals in Inverloch highlight aspects of local life and history in the Inverloch region.
Galleries in the region include:
Other Activities
On any given weekend, you will find a market happening in one of the small towns across the Bass Coast region. Find a market and stock up on fresh local produce, homemade presents and products, a wide variety of plants and pre-loved goods.
Bass Coast has a wonderful range of rail trails, bushland and coastal walks offering diverse environments to explore. Key walks and trails include the spectacular George Bass Coastal Walk and the Bass Coast Rail Trail which is Victoria's only coastal rail trail and showcases the region's rich history against stunning coastal views. Our guide to Bass Coast Best Walks and Trails has information on more than 30 walks.
The Bass Coast can be explored with your furry friends and there are more than 17 dog off leash areas. Finding dog friendly activities in the region can be a touch difficult, so check out our Guide to dog-friendly activities at Phillip Island.
The Bass Coast region offers some of the finest temperate diving in the world. The pristine waters of Western Port which surround Phillip Island feature many outstanding scuba diving sites. Our Bass Coast Diving and Snorkelling Guide describes the best places to find sea life and reefs in the region.
Spot whales from the coast, on the water or from the sky during winter-time. May to October is the time when our coastal waters play host to Humpback Whale and Southern Right Whales, some of the ocean's most majestic creatures. Follow the Bass Coast Whale Trail along Bass Coast and Phillip Island.
Bass Coast has a long coast line for shore, surf and rock fishing and some rivers with good fishing. The Bass Coast Fishing Guide has information how how to find the best fishing spots.
Phillip Island and the Bass Coast are a haven for bird watching. The best places to see birds is in the Bass Coast Twitcher Trail Guide.
If photography is your passion, check out our guide to the Best Photographic Spots on the Bass Coast
The Bass Coast abounds with a wide variety of birds. Use our guide Bass Coast Bird Trails to find places to seek out birdlife.
Web Links
→ Phillip Island - Penguins, Mazes, Chocolates, Koalas and playgrounds
→ www.basscoast.vic.gov.au
