A Penguin A Day, Keeps the Doctor Away

My better half Ryan and I recently reached our first year anniversary- nawww! It was a bloody big milestone that this poor lad had braved my presence for a year, so of course we had to celebrate. And we chose to go glamping. Which, if you haven't already guessed, puts the 'glam' into camping. I for one cannot forego electronic devices to do the regular camping thing, so it just had to be glamping. And boy, did Serena from Phillip Island Glamping deliver, providing the most perfect setup, better than I ever could have imagined!

We had an extremely spacious bell tent, right on the edge of the beachfront at Cowes Caravan Park. It was completely decked out with all the essentials: a big, comfy double mattress with warm bedding, a bedside lamp, a heater, kettle with tea, coffee and milk, cooking utensils, radio, the perfect cheeseboard for our wining and dining and some handy pamphlets and info on the area.

The pitter-patter of the rain cascading down the tent, the soft lapping of the waves. This was as one with nature as I will ever get. We weren't even perturbed by the incredibly loud laughter of the cockatoos in the early hours of the morning. No, that wake up call allowed us to witness the sunrise for the first time ever (from the warmth of our tent of course).

We had the perfect set-up to explore all that Phillip Island had to offer (or in Paige-speak, the perfect set-up to see as many cute little penguins as possible). We were traditional tourists at The Nobbies, smashed out a gruelling round of Mini Golf at A Maze N Things, snuggled up close and personal with the pengis at the Penguin Parade and enjoyed a scenic stroll at Churchill Island Heritage Farm.

But, what about the food?

• MadCowes Cafe & Foodstore: It seems Phillip Island sure know how to brunch right! This buzzing little cafe located on the Esplanade provides a fantastic view of the sea. We both ordered the Deluxe Breakfast Roll: Egg, bacon, tomato, a hash brown, cheese and chipotle hollandaise all encased within a soft, warm brioche bun. All the elements combined perfectly! For once a breakfast roll that wasn't too runny or too chunky, it was just right. It was also great to see that they stocked the T2 Melbourne Breakfast, I cannot get enough of that hint of vanilla which permeates the tea and just gives it that little bit extra! You can check out their menu here.

• Cheeky Goose Cafe: The Cheeky Goose Cafe deals out an honest, hearty breakfast. They have some really funky additions to their menu, including the Mexican-Style Breakfast Hash and an inventive combo of Smoked Salmon and Sweet Potato, but I couldn't go past the Island Breakfast: Two eggs, house-made hash brown, bacon, thyme-roasted tomatoes (which I was able to swap out for some smashed avo), spinach and mushroom. A whopper of a big breakfast with a hell of a lot of flavour.  Ryan went for the Breakfast Sliders, which included quail egg, leg ham and tomato on toasted brioche rolls with a smokey chipotle hollandaise. Can't say no to a good set of brekkie burgers!

• Hotel Phillip Island: I'll be honest. The dinner situation within Phillip Island didn't seem that appealing.  So we decided to play it safe and go with your classic pub meal at Hotel Phillip Island on the Esplanade. The dining space itself was separated from the bar area, which made it that little bit more family-friendly and to top it off service was super friendly and efficient. It might seem a little pricey, but the meals are absolutely whopper. I went for the lamb burger, a lean lamb mince patty in a brioche bun with whipped feta, onion rings, lettuce and tomato and served with a nice basket of chips on the side. I've had problems in the past with lamb burgers where the patty has been too dry, but this was deliciously succulent and the whipped feta was a nice Greek-inspired touch which smoothly blended with the flavour of the lamb. Ryan went for the chicken parmigiana, which wasn't soggy at all considering the amount of sauce and cheese on that thing! You can check out the menu here. (P.S the lighting sadly doesn't do the meal justice).

We couldn't have asked for a better weekend away (and if I have my way, we will definitely be returning to the glamping way of life again). 🙊🙊