We were a bit worried when we settled into the Phillip Island YHA Hostel and noticed the signs in the hallway saying “No Alcohol”.
“What? No alcohol, in an Australian hostel? What’s going on? We’re not here to party but we’d like a glass of wine and a beer with our dinner”.
Turns out, a few quiet drinks were allowed in the dining and common room area, they forgot to remove the sign.
By the end of our three-day stay on Phillip Island I was happy about the rule. The Phillip Island YHA Hostel is clean, quiet, and respectable. It’s the perfect place on Phillip Island for families to stay.
The girls loved it. They had table tennis and mini snooker to play, and they made friends with several children from Europe and Korea. This is one of the great benefits for staying in a hostel with kids.
The Phillip Island YHA is modern and has a beautiful, big kitchen. There was lots of space for all guests to be cooking at once and a great area to facilitate conversations with strangers and a nice balcony with views.
The bedrooms were unusually large for a YHA. We enjoyed the space as we tend to spread our things out a bit, and it gave the girls a bit of extra play space. We slept in a family room with a queen and bunk bed.
Our kids also enjoyed the TV room and the cafe downstairs was a hit with their various cakes, muffins and good coffee.
The Phillip Island YHA is located in Newhaven, which is in the south-east corner of Phillip Island just as you come over the bridge. It is close to the surfing beaches of Cape Woolamai and many of the local attractions.
The main town of Cowes Beach is a 15-minute drive.
Cowes Beach
The Nobbies and the Penguin Parade is a 20-minute drive.
The Nobbies
Should you wish to ramp up the party, a short 10-minute walk over the bridge are a couple of pubs in San Remo.
The YHA also organizes many Phillip Island tours, which offers more than just the very cute fairy penguins parading at night.
The Facts
Website: To make a booking visit here.
Tripadvisor: You can also get more information and reviews at TripAdvisor
Getting to Phillip Island YHA
Phillip Island is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. Take the Monash Hwy (M1) to Cranbourne exit, then South Gippsland Hwy (M420) to Bass Hwy (A420). Follow to San Remo.
The hostel is located just across the bridge onto Phillip Island in Newhaven at The Big Wave complex on the left.
V/Line buses – depart from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to Phillip Island frequently each day. The hostel is located 10 metres from the bus stop at Newhaven Service Station.
Click to read more getaways from Melbourne
We stayed at Phillip Island as part of our Partnership with YHA Australia
