From May to October, you can spot whales along the coastline of Phillip Island and Bass Coast on the Whale Discovery Trail. Take a walk, ride or drive along the discovery trail to spot whales and learn about the natural environment.
7:00pm-9:40pm
Dive deep into the world beneath the waves, where up-close encounters with curious marine creatures come to life on the big screen
Screening Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd & Sunday 5th July 2026
Cost: Adult 16+ $28, Concession $23
6pm - 8pm
Be guided by the in house artists at Clay & Co Studio to create your very own ocean inspired creation while sipping on bubbles!
Where: Clay & Co Studio, 4 Shorland Way Cowes
Cost: $85pp inc all materials and glass of bubbles - bookings required
2pm - 2.45pm
A short film & panel conversation exploring kelp ecosystems & sustainable seaweed farming within the UNESCO-listed Western Port Biosphere Reserve.
Where: Festival Hub - Theatre
Cost: Included in Festival Experience Pass - Drop in
1pm - 1.45pm
The sea cliffs of the surf coast of Victoria tell the story of the oldest whales in all of Australia; among them, the tiny ancestors of the largest animals of all time.
Where: Festival Hub - Theatre - drop in
Cost: Included in Festival Experience Pass
12pm - 12.45pm
Orca populations across the Indo-Pacific have highly variable characteristics but remain largely unknown, collaboration can help us shed light on these apex predators.
Where: Festival Hub - Theatre - drop in
Cost: Included in Festival Experience Pass
11.30am - 1.30pm; 2.30pm -4.30pm
Hear about the whales of Victoria and how to spot them from local researchers followed by a guided whale-spotting experience, kids' activities featuring real whale bones, sounds, and games, and an opportunity to talk all things marine with our team.
Where: Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Cost: $17 per adult, $12 per child (under 15)
Bookings Required (opening soon)
11am - 2pm
Come and join us for range of whale crafts to celebrate the Whale Festival.
Presented by: Myli Libraries
Cost: Free - drop in
Where: Phillip Island Library, Berninneit
11.00am - 11.30am ; 12.00pm - 12.30pm
Let the roaming constellation whale & beautiful music composed by Timothy Coghill transport you from the vibrant rock pools at our doorstep to the vast expanse of the universe.
Where: Festival Hub - grounds
Cost: Free
9am - 10am
Rug up and join us on the intertidal platform at San Remo as we search for and photograph Sea Slugs.
Where: San Remo -(meet at carpark near bridge)
Cost: Free - bookings required
10am - 11.30am
This is David Attenborough’s greatest message of hope - revealing 100 years of incredible ocean discovery and why there’s nowhere more important for a life on Earth than the ocean.
Run time: 1 hour 25 mins - Rating: PG
Included in Festival Hub Pass - first come first seated
Where: Berninneit Cultural Centre - Theatre
9.30am - 10.30am
Join our panel of experts with decades of experience both within Australia and overseas for a discussion on how, when and where opportunities exist for a career in marine science. Not academically minded? No problem, we have solutions for you too!
Where: Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Cost: Free - Bookings Recommended
10am - 3pm
Local artist studio with handcrafted whales available for viewing and purchase or book a mosaics workshop.
Sat 4 & Sun 5 July
Location: 8 Mountainview Avenue, Ventnor
Saturday 10am - 10.45am
Sunday 11am - 11.45am
Join a wildlife photographer & author to discover how your photos can help researchers track endangered Southern Right Whales, while enjoying spectacular imagery of these remarkable whales
Where: Berninneit - Co working space (upstairs)
Cost: $10 (+ booking fee) - donated to Southern Right Whale research
Friday 1pm - 1.45pm
SOLD OUT - Sunday 2pm - 2.45pm
Meet people working in marine science, research and conservation, and discover the real-world pathways that can lead to a career caring for our oceans.
Cost: Free - booking required
Location: Festival Hub - Co working space (upstairs)
Friday 12pm-12.45pm
Saturday 10am-10.45am
Sunday 3pm-3.45pm
Drop in and see some of your favourite ABC Kids programs on the big screen!
Cost: Included in your Festival Experience Pass
Location: Festival Hub - Theatre - drop in
11am - 3pm
Come and see some of the most beautiful, innovative and affordable art and craft works by the local people of the Bass Coast. Show a printed or digital copy of the Phillip Island Gallery whale logo and choose a FREE unique handmade keyring with any purchase. All keyrings have been handmade by members of the Phillip Island Gallery.
Cost: FREE - drop in
Location: Phillip Island Gallery, 119 Settlement Road, Cowes
Friday 11am - 11.45am - 2pm - 2.45pm
Saturday 2pm - 2.45pm
Sunday 10am - 10.45am
Learn from palaeontologists in a fun, hands-on drawing workshop to bring back to life Victoria’s ancient whales and sharks. Ages: 7+
Where: Berninneit - Co working space (upstairs)
Cost: $15 (+ booking fee)
Friday 10.45-11am - 12.45-1.45pm - 3.30 - 4pm
Saturday 10.45-11am - 11.45am-12.45pm - 3.45 - 4pm
Sunday 11.30am-12pm - 1.45-2pm - 2.45-3pm
Be swept away by the sights and sounds of Millowl’s marine life.
Cost: Included in your Festival Experience Pass
Location: Festival Hub - Theatre - drop in
10am - 4pm
Your little ones will love our super cute face painting - choose from whale designs and Phillip Island animals.
Where: Festival Hub, Berninneit
Cost: $10 - $15 each
10am - 4pm
Paint plaster sea creatures, create whale sculptures & make paper crafts.
Where: Little Whale Explorers, Festival Hub
Cost: from $10 - drop in
10am - 4pm
Soak up the festival vibes and enjoy a weekend of live local music!
Proudly supported by Wildlife Coast Cruises
Where: Festival Hub - Free Drop in
10am - 4pm
There is so much fun for the whole family at the Festival Experience Hub this year at the Berninneit cultural centre in Cowes PLUS our new Little Whales Explorer Tent packed with kids activities! Grab your Festival Experience Hub Pass & enjoy the fun!
Daily Pass: $25 (Family – 2 adults + up to 4 children 15 & under) - $10 (single entry 16+)
Weekend Pass: $45 (Family - 2 adults + up to 4 children 15 & under) - $25 (16+)
10am - 4pm
Fun hands-on ceramic, plaster and paper clay painting at the Clay & Co Studio
Where: Clay & Co Studio, 4 Shorland Way, Cowes
Cost: From $10 - drop in
From 8.00am
Enjoy an immersive and unique experience as you step into a cozy wood-fired sauna. Relax with soothing heat and aromatic cedar scent and be transported by beautiful Whale Music.
Thurs 2, Fri 3, Sat 4 & Sun 5 July
Where: Cowes Jetty
Cost: $45 per person. Adults only
Wed 1 - Sun 5 July
Sip on four taster sized beers [150ml], each paired with the story behind the brew.
Open Daily 12-8.30pm
Dine at Pino’s Trattoria around Island Whale Festival and admire a pop-up art installation in their dining spaces featuring limited edition ocean inspired pieces.
8:30am - 12:30pm
A 4-hour cruise that circumnavigates Phillip Island in search of the Humpback and Southern Right whales, visiting Seal Rocks, with regular dolphin and albatross sightings. Includes morning tea and lunch.
Book Tickets
Departs Rhyll Jetty
1pm - 4pm
Set sail on a 3-hour winter dolphin & whale adventure venturing past the sheer cliffs of Cape Woolamai and along Phillip Island’s attractive southern coastline.
Book Tickets
Departs San Remo Jetty
Dr Wally Franklin has studied eastern Australian humpback whales in Hervey Bay for thirty-years. He summarises what has been learnt about the incredible annual humpback whale migration
When: 3:00pm - 3.45pm
Where: Festival Hub - Theatre
Cost: Included in Festival Experience Pass
Dive into the world of Australia’s orcas - our most powerful and mysterious ocean mammals. Discover what we know, what we don’t, and how science, fisheries, and citizen sightings are helping uncover the secrets of these apex predators.
When: 1.30pm - 1.45pm
Where: Festival Hub - Theatre
Cost: Included in Festival Experience Pass
