Nobbies Centre

Nobbies Centre

At the southwesternmost tip of Phillip Island lies a uniquely shaped rocky outcrop known as Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest colony of seals. This is the renowned Nobbies Centre, famous for seal watching. The Nobbies Centre, also widely known as the Marine Education and Research Facility at Seal Rocks, opened in April 1998 and is managed by Phillip Island Nature Parks.

The Nobbies Centre is a well-known attraction in the Melbourne area that combines education and entertainment with sightseeing. Its exhibitions represent the future direction of zoo development. Here, visitors can see one of the largest groups of seals in Australia—approximately 16,000—observed without disturbing their natural behavior. If binoculars still don’t offer a close or satisfying view, the centre also features a large screen that displays footage captured by cameras installed at Seal Rocks.

The Nobbies Centre has three levels. The top level houses the Lady Nelson Restaurant, which not only serves delicious food but also offers great views. The ground floor is the main part of the centre, featuring a “Living Pools” area where visitors can observe marine life around Seal Rocks through four viewing windows; nearby, there is also a replica of the whale chaser boat used by the famous Australian explorer George Bass.

Nobbies Centre

Must-visit reason: See Australia’s largest colony of seals

Continent: Oceania

Country/Region: Australia

State/Province: Victoria

City: Melbourne