The Bass Coast is Victoria’s Most Underrated Coastline

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Bunurong people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

The Bass Coast has far more going for it than just summer beach days. It’s a unique part of the Victorian coastline that lends itself to a variety of surfing conditions to suit all ability levels, walking trails that take in spectacular views of the surrounding coastline, and colonies of wildlife such as penguins and koalas with some of the highest numbers around.

It features the unique Phillip Island, gorgeous Inverloch, and under-the-radar Kilcunda, but always has something new worth making the trip for. If it’s waves you’re after, don’t miss the Bunurong Coastal Drive – 14km of enviable and surfable coastline from Cape Paterson to Inverloch.

Read more: Phillip Island is a Coastal Antidote to City Life

Victoria’s Only National Surfing Reserve

There are only 21 National Surfing Reserves in Australia, and Phillip Island lays claim to the only one in Victoria. To me, it’s one of the most underrated surf regions along the Southern Coast.

The Phillip Island National Surfing Reserve is made up of Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland, and my personal favourite, Cat Bay. Due to the vast spaces on Phillip Island, 101km² to be precise, there’s a wide variety of waves to suit everyone from shortboarders, longboarders, beginners, and SUP riders.

Most surf regions around the world have ‘off seasons’ and ‘on seasons’, but not Phillip Island – it’s almost always on. Due to the geography of the land and exposure to the Southern Ocean and Bass Strait, the quality, variety, and consistency of waves on Phillip Island is right up there with other well-known surfing regions in Australia.

While most minds associate surfing in Victoria with Bells Beach, not even the Surf Coast can claim national reserve status.

Apart from providing quality waves and endless fun, the beaches on Phillip Island are super scenic, featuring iconic boardwalks, red cliffs, vegetated sand dunes, and rocky headlands. And don’t miss sunset at Cape Woolamai or Cat Bay!

Surf’s Up on the Bass Coast

Good surfing regions naturally attract good surfers and great surf competitions, and Phillip Island is no exception, with both the Rip Curl GromSearch and Australian SUP titles being held in the local area this year.

The Rip Curl GromSearch is a national comp bringing the best groms from around the country to compete for ranking points and the title of best young surfers in the country.

I recently had the privilege of attending the GromSearch comp and it was buzzing with young shredders giving it their all in order to outscore their opponents and progress to the next round.

Naturally with competition there’s disappointment and even heartbreak, but generally there was a positive, welcoming spirit amongst all the competitors, despite their eagerness to win.

The talent level at these events is incredibly high and it’s amazing watching the groms laying into turns and taking to the air. The stoke was real and these groms make you want to pick up a surfboard and get out there yourself!

If it’s your first time attending a surf event, I recommend making a weekend of it, as these events are held in close proximity to great breaks and beautiful walking trails. The format of surf comps is very different to team sports, so take your time and enjoy the action.

If you can’t wait for next year’s surf comp, the Australian SUP Titles are coming up on Phillip Island from the 22nd-26th of October.

You may have cruised along in calm, idyllic waters on a SUP yourself, but the SUP Titles have a very different energy, with a range of disciplines that see competitors either racing or surfing, SUP style. Let’s just say endurance and adrenaline are high!

This year’s categories are:

• SUP Surfing
• SUP and Prone Technical Racing (between 4-8km of several laps in and out through the surf)
• SUP and Prone Marathon Racing (15-20km)

The Australian SUP Titles will be held on Phillip Island for the next two years so there are plenty of chances to check it out.

Encounter Wildlife on Bass Coast Islands

Bass Coast is home to many different types of wildlife, as well as Victoria’s largest island – I know what you’re thinking, and no it’s not Phillip Island.

French Island and one of Australia’s most iconic animals come together to create a sanctuary for koalas. Koalas were introduced to the island in the 1800s and have since thrived, with an estimated population of 5,000-7,000.

Photo by Visit Vic

I can vouch for how cool it is seeing an abundance of koalas dozing away in the trees when earlier this year I made the short 15-minute ferry trip out to French Island.

With a group of friends, we bikepacked and rode around the island, engaging in our favourite pastime of koala spotting, before setting up camp at Fairhaven Campground.

Back over on Phillip Island, the area’s renowned for its Penguin Parade, which is located in Summerlands on Ventnor Road.

The Penguin Parade is a major attraction in the area with a colony of over 40,000 Little penguins. Little penguins are one of the cutest ocean creatures and it’s quite a sight to witness thousands of penguins waddle in from the ocean and into their burrows as the sun fades away.

For a truly immersive wildlife experience, why not cycle around French Island, koala spotting by day and then head to the Penguin Parade to see thousands of Little Penguins by night?

Phillip Island is also home to the Island Whale Festival, which occurs during the annual migration of whales heading north to mate and calve.

Between May and September, Humpback whales and Southern Right whales hug and meander through the Victorian coastline before they can be seen in other states such as NSW and QLD.

The window is long gone for this year, but brace yourself for next year’s festival which runs from the 11th-13th of July 2025.

Hit the Trails

There are too many great trails around Bass Coast to name and many come with a little exploration. Ones not to be missed include:

• Bass Coast Rail Trail – between Wonthaggi and Woolamai, stop in at one of Kilcunda’s quaint cafes for lunch
• Berrys Beach to Pyramid Rock loop – for views of the stunning coastline and the chance to see whales during migration season
• Pinnacles Lookout in Cape Woolamai – do this hike at sunset during the Shearwater migration, with thousands of these birds circling the sky before coming into their nests
• Join the peloton and ride the 28km out and back to The Nobbies from Cowes
• George Bass Coastal Walk – iconic views and whale spotting between Kilcunda and Punchbowl

Photo by Visit Vic

Between the surf, sand, and sweet wildlife encounters, the Bass Coast is a haven for adventure and connecting with nature all year round.

Make sure to check out Bass Coast to stay up to date with your favourite events and see what’s on when you visit.

Don’t forget to pack your boards, bikes, and binoculars – I’m sure you’ll have a blast in the Bass.