It was through friends that I first heard about Phillip Island; their rave reviews excited me, and so I made a promise to myself to visit as soon as possible.

Being a newbie in Melbourne, I’m always on the lookout to discover as many beautiful places as possible – perhaps to find something to remind me of the homeland I left behind, or something completely different and captivating, to amaze me and take my nostalgia away through the formation of new memories.

So one morning with my camera in hand, I embarked on an adventure down the coast, and all I can say is that my friends were right.

Located just 90 minutes out of Melbourne, the Victorian island features spectacular coastal scenery and plenty of Australian wildlife.

With the sun shining its light on all the right places, the colours of nature welcome you to discover every single inch.

Don’t be surprised if you see wallabies walking beside you without a flinch. They’re not threatened by you; to them you are merely another aspect to their habitat, a new and interesting addition to their world. If anything, they’ll wonder what kind of animal you are, and try to befriend you.

One-and-a-half kilometres offshore from The Nobbies is Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest Australian fur seal colony.

This area offers spectacular coastal views along Phillip Island’s rugged south coast, so be sure to take your time while walking through to enjoy the view.

See the awesome blowhole, a spectacular sea cave that thunders during big southern swells, or learn about the local area by taking a moment to read the signage.

Silver gulls nest here and chicks can be seen during spring and early summer, while little penguins are often resting between seasonal and daily duties and can be seen from boardwalks and lookout points set among natural sea bird gardens.

Once you’ve done all that, it’s always a good idea to take a walk to the pier, where people are sure to greet you with a sincere smile, as though you have crossed paths with an old friend – they might even stop what they’re doing and have a quick chat.

“I love my job, I love this place and we want to make it even better,” a friendly local told me before taking a puff of his cigarette. He went on to tell me some of his personal story, about his life and what led him to become a worker at the Phillip Island dock.

Inspired by our unexpected conversation, as a photographer, I couldn’t help but ask to take his photo, for which he was more than happy. A few images and two cigarettes later, we said our goodbyes and he continued on with his work, as I too continued on my way.

With my favourite music sounding through my headphones, I laid down and let my body touch the moist sand and feel the energy of the island. I heard the waves coming from the end of the horizon mixed in with the voices of the surfers, carried to my ears by the wind.

It honestly feels as though you are on the edge of the world, away from the fast rhythms of the city and anxieties of life. You are overcome with the feeling that you are becoming a part of this unique, alluring place, and that for those few hours, you actually belong there, as does the bark of a tree, a grain of sand, or the wind blowing through the leaves; a missing piece of this scenery.

This weekend, if you have yet to fulfil your own promise to explore Phillip Island, I encourage you to do so. The ideal location to venture alone, or with friends and family, you’re sure to return to the city refreshed and with an enlightened perspective.