Phillip Island Nature Park, Nature park in Victoria, Australia
Phillip Island Nature Park is a protected coastal reserve in Victoria with more than 100 native animal species. The area features varied habitats ranging from sand dunes to coastal zones where kangaroos, koalas, emus, and many birds make their homes.
Established in 1996, the park grew from a local animal refuge into an international research center. Its focus expanded to include intensive study and protection of penguin and seal populations in the surrounding marine waters.
The park honors the heritage of the Bunurong people, who maintained a relationship with this coastal land for thousands of years. Visitors can learn about this indigenous connection through displays and stories shared throughout the grounds.
The park sits about 90 minutes by car from Melbourne and is easily accessible by road. Visitors should bring weather-appropriate clothing since the coastal location can be windy, and warmer months offer the most comfortable visiting conditions.
Each evening at sunset, hundreds of little penguins emerge from the ocean and waddle across the beach to their burrows in the dunes. This daily happening offers a rare look at the nighttime behavior of these seabirds in their home habitat.
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