Phillip Island is located about 140km away from Melbourne. Named after Governor Arthur Phillip, Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia, forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Western Port Bay. The island has 97km of coastline, and is part of the Bass Coast Shire. A 640 meter concrete bridge connects the mainland town San Remo with the island town Newhaven. In the 2001 the island's permanent population was 7071. During the summer, the population swells to 40,000. 60 percent of the island is farmland devoted to grazing of sheep and cattle.
The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park, in which Little Penguins come ashore in groups, attracts visitors from all over the world, who come to see one of the few areas where this species of penguin can be seen. Another popular tourist attraction is the Seal Rocks, which host the largest colony of fur seals in Australia. The island is recognized as having some of the most consistently reliable and varied surf conditions in the country.