Phillip Island's Best Family Accommodation
Budget accommodation in Phillip Island for families →
San Remo Hotel Motel
145 Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925
From $126
North Pier Hotel
5 The Esplanade, Cowes VIC 3922
From $124
Quays Motel
37/39 Phillip Island Rd, San Remo VIC 3925
From $126
Phillip Island YHA
The Big Wave Complex, 10-12 Phillip Island Tourist Road, Newhaven, Phillip Island VIC 3925
From $202
NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park
164 Church Street, Cowes, VIC 3922
From $129
Big4 Ingenia Phillip Island Holiday Park
24 Old Bridge Dr, Newhaven VIC 3925
From $94
Anchor Belle Holiday Park
272 Church St, Cowes VIC 3922
From $183
More about family stays on Phillip Island
Phillip Island is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations for families for both weekends away and longer stays. Here’s our round-up of the best family-friendly accommodation for visiting the Penguin Parade, staying in Cowes, Ventnor, Newhaven or Rhyll, or even off-island in the nearby San Remo.
Once you're booked, make the most of your trip with our list of the best things to see and do on Phillip Island, including the best beaches on the island, the Koala Conservation Centre, the heritage farm on Churchill Island, and the sweet Phillip Island Chocolate Factory - and of course, the little penguins!
Phillip Island is just under 2 hours from Melbourne CBD by car – just drive across the toll-free bridge from San Remo into Newhaven. If a ferry is more your style, you can catch a Western Port Ferry from Stony Point; take the Stony Point train from Frankston station. You can also get there by VLine coach from Southern Cross, Frankston, Dandenong, or Cranbourne!
Great places to break up the journey are the Peninsula Hot Springs and the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens.
The main city on Phillip Island is Cowes on the northern coast facing the relatively calmer water north of the island. The other more populous towns are Rhyll, Ventnor, Cape Woolamai, Surf Beach, and Smiths Beach; the latter three facing the usually rough surf of the south of the island.
What's the best family-friendly accommodation on a budget on Phillip Island (and nearby)?
There are several options for staying to visit the best of Phillip Island on a budget – see our list below for the best family-friendly hotels and motels, or read further for cabin options at holiday parks.
While there are many options for staying on the island itself, much of the affordable accommodation gets booked out during peak school holiday seasons, so you may want to consider the neighbouring towns like San Remo – only a 20-minute drive from Cowes.
Worth considering are:
North Pier Hotel
Quays Motel
San Remo Hotel Motel
Phillip Island YHA
The best family-friendly holiday parks, caravan parks and RV parks for Phillip Island
Whether you're after the freedom of bringing your family closer to nature, spending less on accommodation, or parking your shiny caravan for a school holiday stay – Phillip Island has a holiday park for you!
NRMA Phillip Island Holiday Park
Big4 Ingenia Phillip Island Holiday Park
Anchor Belle Holiday Park
A Maze N Things Holiday Park
San Remo Beachfront Holiday Park
Seaview Holiday Park
How to get last minute family accommodation in Phillip Island?
Accommodation in Phillip Island can be hard to come by, especially during the high demand school holiday and public holiday periods. Try these tips to find affordable accommodation just in time.
👶 Travelling with an infant
When travelling with an infant, consider buying a portacot or safely co-sleeping. This can often unlock many more hotel options which may otherwise not work for you.
Travelling with young kids
Similarly, bringing a small inflatable mattress and a sleeping bag can be the difference between locking-in accommodation or missing out.
In either of these scenarios, you may need to:
- list fewer kids when searching accommodation sites online
- make sure the property policy is ok with this; you may need you to get in touch with them
