Your Choice of Journeys
Stay Longer, Explore Further – the best new way to experience Phillip Island.
The Phillip Island Explorer offers daily & direct Melbourne Transfers and a flexible Hop-on Hop-off bus, giving car-free & sustainable access to explore all of Phillip Island.
Special Transfer Service – 12th July
Join us for a special night out at Churchill Island for the Whiskey, Wine, and Whales – A Candlelight Quartet by the Sea.
Pickups starting at 4.00pm and 7.00pm from Phillip Island Hubs.
Bus Transfer Tickets must be pre-booked.
Show Tickets can be booked through the Nature Parks Website

How it Works
The Phillip Island Explorer allows visitors to Phillip Island to slow down, and explore things their way.
You can choose to use all for your entire journey – or just pick what will work best for you!
Download our 2025/26 Phillip Island Explorer Flyer

Things To Do in Phillip Island
Why Phillip Island Explorer
We pride ourselves on creating transformative and unforgettable locally inspired experiences through authentic social and sustainable travel, infused with a playful touch of luxury.

Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer service provides a direct connection between Melbourne and Phillip Island, delivering you comfortably to your chosen drop-off point. While it is not a guided sightseeing tour, our friendly team is always available to offer helpful information along the way. Once on the island, you can combine your transfer with the Island Explorer Hop-On-Hop-Off service to enjoy flexible sightseeing throughout the day.
Yes! The Island Explorer Hop-On-Hop-Off service is designed to give you flexible, all-day access to multiple locations and attractions across Phillip Island.
When you book, you’ll select your starting hub and nominate up to 5 locations you’d like to visit throughout the day. This allows you to create your own personalised itinerary, visiting as many or as few stops as you wish (up to 5 total).
The service operates throughout the day on a pre-scheduled basis, giving you plenty of time at each stop to explore attractions, enjoy local experiences, and take in the scenery — all while knowing your seat is secured for each leg of your journey. At the end of the day, we’ll return you back to your original starting point.
Yes — our transfer service includes hotel pickup and return from most major accommodation providers in both Melbourne and Phillip Island. At the time of booking, you’ll be able to select your pickup location or provide your hotel details, and we’ll confirm your exact pickup time. This door-to-door service makes getting to and from Phillip Island easy and hassle-free.
Please note: hotel pickup is available for the transfer service only. The Hop-On-Hop-Off Island Explorer operates from designated pickup hubs across Phillip Island.
Our buses are not wheelchair accessible. However, we are able to accommodate guests using walkers or mobility aids, and our team is happy to assist passengers with boarding and exiting the bus where required. If you have any specific mobility concerns, please contact us in advance so we can best assist with your needs.
Because the Island Explorer runs on a pre-booked, scheduled basis, it’s important to be at your nominated pickup points on time. If you miss one of your scheduled pickups during the day, we’ll do our best to accommodate you on the next available run, subject to capacity. If you miss the final return service, alternative transport may be required at your own expense.
Yes — many guests arriving from Melbourne book both the transfer and the Island Explorer Hop-On-Hop-Off service together. This allows you to travel directly to Phillip Island and then enjoy flexible sightseeing once you arrive, all with the convenience of coordinated scheduling and guaranteed transport throughout the day.
All guests must pre-book their Island Explorer Hop on Hop off day pass in advance. At the time of booking, you’ll select your preferred starting hub and nominate any additional locations you’d like to visit throughout the day.
Each guest can visit up to 5 different locations during their Island Explorer experience — or simply choose fewer stops if they prefer a more relaxed pace. At the end of the day (or even after just one location), we’ll return you to your original starting location. This approach ensures smooth scheduling, guaranteed seating, and a relaxed, fully coordinated experience throughout the day.
All seats must be pre-booked in advance. We do not accept walk-up bookings on the day. This ensures we can manage capacity, guarantee seating for all passengers, and deliver a smooth experience for every guest.
This applies to both the Transfer Service and Hop on Hop off Bus
No — the Hop-On-Hop-Off Island Explorer service provides transportation only and does not include entry fees or tickets to the attractions themselves. Guests are free to choose which attractions they wish to visit and can purchase admission directly at each location or pre-book tickets where available. This allows you full flexibility to customise your day based on your interests.
No — your Hop-On-Hop-Off Island Explorer ticket does not include access to the Penguin Parade. The Penguin Parade operates as a separate evening event and requires its own dedicated ticket and transfer. If you would like to include the Penguin Parade as part of your visit, you will need to book our Penguin Parade transfer service in addition to your Hop-On-Hop-Off day pass.