Accessible Travel in Bass Coast
Explore iconic beaches, discover coastal villages, immerse yourself in nature and enjoy unique wildlife encounters. With Bass Coast and Phillip Island's growing range of accessible experiences, visitors of all ages and abilities can discover what makes this region so special.
Leading attractions such as the Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Reserve, Churchill Island and Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling support visitors with diverse needs through accessible infrastructure, sensory-inclusive initiatives, trained staff and thoughtful visitor experiences. Many attractions also provide detailed accessibility information covering mobility access, facilities and sensory supports, while accessible beaches and all-terrain mobility equipment help more people enjoy Bass Coast's spectacular coastline.
Whether you're planning a day trip, family holiday or longer stay, this page brings together key travel information, accessibility resources and local inspiration to help you plan your Bass Coast and Phillip Island visit.
Accessible Visitor Services
The Visitor Information Centres at Phillip Island and Inverloch play an important role in helping travellers of all abilities enjoy authentic local experiences and make the most of their visit.
The Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre at Newhaven offers step-free access, accessible amenities, sensory-friendly facilities and mobility equipment hire services.
The Inverloch Visitor Information Centre provides accessible amenities and mobility equipment hire services, helping visitors access beaches, trails and other local experiences with confidence.
If you're planning ahead and would like personalised advice, our friendly team can help with accessibility information, mobility equipment hire, accessible attractions, beaches, accommodation and local experiences.
Contact our Visitor Services team:
- Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre, Newhaven: 1300 366 422
- Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Inverloch Visitor Information Centre: 1300 762 433
- Email:
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Accessible Beaches & Coastal Experiences
With more than 180 kilometres of spectacular coastline, beaches are one of Bass Coast's most loved attractions.
While our coastline includes natural environments such as dunes, cliffs and changing beach conditions, we continue to improve accessibility through upgraded infrastructure, beach access points and specialised mobility equipment.
To help visitors plan their trip with confidence, Bass Coast has identified some of the region's most accessible beaches and coastal locations, highlighting information such as beach access points, accessible parking, public amenities, mobility equipment and Changing Places facilities before you arrive.
Beach Mobility Equipment
Free beach mobility equipment is available year-round to help more people experience Bass Coast's beaches and foreshore environments.
Mobi-Chair® floating beach wheelchairs, supplied with portable beach access matting, are available from:
- Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre, Newhaven
- Berninneit Cultural & Community Centre, Cowes
These Water Wheelchairs offer users an opportunity to experience being submerged in water and comfortably navigate the shoreline.
Hippocampe all-terrain wheelchairs, designed for use on beaches, trails and uneven terrain, are available from:
- Inverloch Visitor Information Centre
These all-terrain wheelchairs help create a smoother transition from pathways and foreshore areas to the beach, allowing more visitors to enjoy Bass Coast's coastal experiences with confidence.
Beach Walker Rollators, designed to be used on all terrains and beaches and support in navigating challenging soft sand, mud, grass and gravel.
- Grantville Transaction Centre, Grantville
- Wonthaggi Civic Centre, Wonthaggi
Please visit our Access for All site here Access for All | Bass Coast Shire to explore Changing Places Locations, Hire Forms for Accessible Equipment and updates or relevant information.
Explore Accessible Beaches in Bass Coast
From the surf beaches of Phillip Island to the calmer bay beaches of San Remo, Coronet Bay and Cape Paterson, Bass Coast offers a range of coastal experiences for visitors of all abilities.
Working alongside Accessible Beaches Australia, our Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee and local accessibility advocates, we've identified some of Bass Coast's most accessible beaches and coastal locations. Discover information on beach access, parking, accessible amenities, mobility equipment, Changing Places facilities and nearby visitor services to help you choose the beach that's right for you before you visit.
Explore Accessible Beaches in Bass Coast (LINK)
Discover Phillip Island's Wildlife Attractions
Some of Bass Coast's most iconic experiences are also among its most accessible.
Penguin Parade
Watching the world's largest Little Penguin colony return ashore at sunset is one of Australia's most iconic wildlife experiences, and one of Bass Coast's leading accessible visitor attractions.
The Penguin Parade has been designed to support visitors with a wide range of access requirements, combining accessible infrastructure, sensory-inclusive initiatives and multiple viewing options to help more people experience this remarkable natural event.
Accessible features include:
- The all-access Shearwater Boardwalk, providing an accessible connection between the Visitor Centre and viewing areas.
- Underground Viewing, offering a climate-controlled indoor experience with eye-level views of penguins as they make their way to shore.
- Accessible viewing areas throughout the Penguin Parade precinct, including wheelchair-accessible seating.
- A Changing Places facility within the Visitor Centre precinct.
- Sensory-inclusive supports including sensory bags, weighted lap pads and designated quiet spaces.
- Staff trained through the KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Program.
Visitors can also access a comprehensive Accessibility Guide detailing pathways, gradients, viewing areas, amenities, parking and sensory supports prior to their visit.
View the Penguin Parade Accessibility Guide - https://www.penguins.org.au/assets/Accessibility/PP/PP_Accessibility-Guide.pdf
Koala Conservation Reserve
The Koala Conservation Reserve provides one of the region's most accessible nature experiences.
Visitors can stroll wheelchair-accessible treetop boardwalks through native woodland and enjoy close-up views of koalas in their natural habitat. Accessible parking, ramp access to the Visitor Centre, wide pathways and boardwalks make it easier to explore the reserve at your own pace.
The reserve is also a certified sensory-inclusive site, offering sensory bags equipped with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools and communication cards, as well as designated quiet areas throughout the Koala Conservation Reserve Visitor Centre.
Download the Koala Conservation Reserve Accessibility Guide - https://www.penguins.org.au/assets/Koala-CR/Koala-Conservation-Reserve-Accessibility-Guide-2026.docx
Churchill Island
Churchill Island combines heritage, farming and coastal scenery in a unique island setting. While some historic buildings present accessibility challenges, accessible pathways, alternative entrances and accessible viewing areas help ensure more visitors can experience this significant heritage attraction.
Download the Churchill Island Accessibility Guide - https://www.penguins.org.au/assets/Accessibility/Churchill-Island-Accessibility-Guide-2024.docx
Maru Koala & Animal Park
Get up close to some of Australia's most iconic wildlife at Maru Koala & Animal Park. Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, meet koalas, quokkas, wombats, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and reptiles, and enjoy interactive keeper talks and wildlife presentations throughout the day. Visitors can also experience traditional Australian farming culture through Maru's popular sheep shearing demonstrations and special animal encounters. Maru also operates a wildlife shelter, supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of native wildlife.
Maru partners with Access Ability Australia to provide a detailed Access Key and Sensory Guide, helping visitors understand the site's facilities, pathways, animal encounters and accessibility features before they arrive. Customised close encounters are available for visitors with additional needs, and Assistance Animals, Companion Card holders and Australian Pension Card holders are welcome.
View Maru's Accessibility Information and Access Key - Accessibility and Wheelchair availability | Maru Koala and Animal Park
Accessible Family Fun & Entertainment
Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling
Looking for an indoor activity everyone can enjoy? At Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling, accessibility, equity and inclusion are at the heart of the visitor experience. The venue has been designed to create a welcoming environment where people of all ages and abilities can participate with confidence and enjoy time together.
The centre features step-free access, automatic entry doors, accessible amenities, wide pathways, moveable seating and a wheelchair-friendly layout throughout the bowling lanes, Laser Zone and arcade.
Visitors can enjoy a range of adaptive bowling equipment, including bowling ramps, lightweight bowling balls, retractable-handle bowling balls and automatic bumpers, allowing the experience to be tailored to individual needs and abilities. Companion Card holders are welcome, with carers admitted free or able to participate alongside the cardholder at the discounted client rate.
Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling is recognised through VTIC's Quality Tourism Framework, including Accessible Tourism accreditation, reflecting its commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive experiences for all visitors.
Keep an eye out for Bowlopolis, the venue's annual inclusive bowling program, which has been bringing people together from across Bass Coast and South Gippsland since 2012. Built around participation, friendship, confidence and fun, Bowlopolis welcomes bowlers of all abilities from across the region and was recognised by Disability Sport & Recreation Victoria with the 2026 Regional Initiative of the Year Award.
Learn more about accessibility at Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling & Entertainment Centre Accessibility — Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling
Accessible Accommodation on the Bass Coast and Phillip Island
Whether you're planning a family getaway, weekend escape or longer coastal holiday, Bass Coast offers a range of accommodation options designed to make travel more accessible and enjoyable.
Through Accessible Accommodation, visitors can access independently verified information on accessible stays across Phillip Island and Bass Coast, helping you choose accommodation with confidence before you book.
Featured properties include independently verified accessible stays in Cowes, Rhyll and Inverloch, with detailed information available on wheelchair access, bathroom facilities, bedroom layouts and other accessibility features.
Find Accessible Accommodation - Phillip Island & Bass Coast | VIC | Accessible Accommodation
Accessible Amenities & Public Facilities
Visitors can find accessible public toilets, Changing Places facilities and other amenities across Bass Coast and Phillip Island using the National Public Toilet Map, available online, via the free mobile app or by calling 1800 990 646.
Changing Places Facilities
Changing Places are larger accessible bathroom facilities designed for people with high support needs. Across Bass Coast and Phillip Island, Changing Places facilities are located at:
- Cowes Transit Centre
- Phillip Island Health Hub, Cowes
- Smiths Beach
- Apex Park, Wonthaggi
- Guide Park, Wonthaggi
- Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, Summerlands
Changing Places facilities are accessed using a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK).
For information about MLAK eligibility or obtaining a key, visit the Master Locksmiths Association MLAK website.
For more information on Changing Places facilities, accessible amenities and accessibility resources across the region, visit Access for All Bass Coast.
Audio Guides & Accessible Storytelling
Not every experience can be physically accessible, particularly within natural coastal environments and sensitive conservation areas. That's why Bass Coast partners with Vacayit to provide audio-first visitor experiences designed specifically for people who are blind or have low vision.
Available experiences include:
- Inverloch
- George Bass Coastal Walk
- Summerlands Peninsula
- National Surfing Reserve
- Following the lines: A story of Bass Coast Country
- Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre
These immersive audio guides include detailed sensory descriptions, accessibility considerations, terrain information, facility locations and practical travel advice, helping visitors connect more deeply with the landscapes, wildlife and stories of Bass Coast.
Explore Bass Coast Audio Guides - Bass Coast Audio Guides and Accessibility Information — Vacayit
Additionally, KultureCity Sensory kits are available at Wonthaggi Customer Service, Inverloch Visitor Information Centre, Newhaven Visitor Information Centre, Berninneit and the Union Theatre.
Plan With Confidence
Bass Coast is continually improving accessibility across beaches, public spaces, attractions and visitor services.
We encourage visitors to explore the resources above and contact venues directly if they have specific access requirements.
With accessible wildlife experiences, coastal adventures, visitor services and mobility equipment available throughout the region, there's never been a better time to discover Bass Coast.
For more information about planning an accessible holiday in Bass Coast please contact our Visitor Information Centre on 1300 366 422 or by