Close to the beach.Within a 5-minute walk of this Cowes vacation home, you'll find Phillip Island Coastal Reserve and Cowes Beach. Phillip Island Ferry Dock and Silverleaves Beach are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit - 9 min drive - 7.6 km
Phillip Island Wildlife Park - 10 min drive - 3.8 km
Getting around
Baxter Station - 73 min drive
Avalon Airport (AVV) - 142 min drive
Restaurants
Pino's Trattoria
G’day Tiger - 12 min walk
Cafe Lugano - 12 min walk
Cowes Curry Club - 11 min walk
Kristo's Charcoal Rotisserie & Salad Bar - 13 min walk
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Penguins on Church -800m to Main Street, 120m to beach, 1km to boat ramp
Forget the car. A leisurely 10min stroll takes you to Cowes Main Street and in less than 5 mins you are at one of the quieter Cowes beaches. This house is perfect for a family get together. The large kitchen living area opens up onto an undercover deck via a bifold door. A seperate games room and large back yard with lawn games keep the kids young and old entertained. A fully secure backyard in case you wish to bring pets although council rules legislate that a maximum of 2 dogs can be on the property. Pets to remain outdoors, but please advise us in your enquiry if you wish to bring pets. There is a ramp leading to the front door for easy access for roller suitcases and prams. Although the front door is extra wide, bedroom and bathroom doorways are your avarage width
NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLIES- Family groups or groups with tenants over 26 y/o only.
12 people can sleep comfortably Bedroom 1- Queen bed Bedroom 2- Queenbed Bedroom 3- king bed Bedroom 4- tri bunk, double on the bottom, single bed on top Bedroom 5- 2 x long single beds and king single loft bed.
Doona, doona cover and pillows supplied. Please bring top & bottom sheets, pillow case, towels and tea towels otherwise linen and towels can be supplied at $20 per person.
High chair & baby bath available. Please let us know if you would like these put out.
Rental registration requirements we must mention noise or music being played must be reduced to an inaudible level outside the property by 10 pm, or risk being removed from the premises.
A 'NO EXTREME PARTY POLICY' IS IN PLACE, Police and/or nuisance call outs will not be tolerated and will result in immediate removal of the occupants.
Property manager
Margaret Browne
Languages
English
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Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Fire extinguisher
General
Garden
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Pets
Pets are welcome
Only dogs are allowed
Maximum 2 pets
Service animals are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector in each accommodation.
Penguins on Church -800m to Main Street, 120m to beach, 1km to boat ramp Reviews
Reviews
10
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 82 out of 89 reviews
10 - Excellent
82
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 89 reviews
8 - Good
5
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 89 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 89 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 89 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
9.6/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Rebecca C.
Aug 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Rebecca C.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Michelle W.
Aug 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Michelle W.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Wendy Elisa L.
Aug 6, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Despite a delay to our check in due cleaners being late we had a great time at Penguin on Church. Margaret is a great host, she responded quickly to messages and offered late checkout to compensate for delayed check-in. All facilities were good and location is great. Would stay again.
Wendy Elisa L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Phuong L.
Jun 12, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Clean space and great communication from host. Place is close to attractions and shops (walking distance). House has everything you need and even a back games room for the kids.
Phuong L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
8/10 Good
Rebecca A.
Jun 12, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, tidy, close to amenities and Margaret was contactable
Rebecca A.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Kylie W.
May 25, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Girls Weekend Away
A great property, close to town with everything we could have wanted. Perfect accomodation for a Girls weekend away! Communication was great and always prompt.Thank you!
Kylie W.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Liam T.
May 17, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Phillip island
Had a great time Thankyou for having us
Liam T.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Robyn B.
Apr 21, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great location, excellent for family stay including our dog
We all enjoyed the property and its offerings.Comfortable and homely, great layout.Wish we could have stayed a little longer.
Robyn B.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Michael C.
Mar 31, 2025
Michael
Wonderful facilities and close to the beach
Michael C.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Nicole N.
Mar 30, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely getaway.
Excellent property. Clean, spacious, comfortable. Has everything you need for a fun getaway with friends and family.
Nicole N.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Cathy V.
Mar 19, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Phillip island short Break
Great place to stay
Cathy V.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Andrew A.
Mar 3, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful family home
We had 10 adults, a nearly 3 year old and a 15 month old in our group. Penguins on Church was perfect for us to come together for a long weekend. There was plenty of space inside and out and we were easily able to park 4 cars in the driveway. Having 3 internal bathrooms to service the 5 bedrooms made the weekend easy to all live with each other, especially as we all prepared for a family wedding on the Saturday. The portable cot was wonderful for the baby - very sturdy, safe and obviously comfortable, as the baby slept well each night. All the beds and accompanying linen were also wonderful. The kitchen has plenty of cutlery, crockery and glassware, cooking implements and all the necessary tools and machines to make self-catering easy. The games room afforded us much fun and there were plenty of books and games for the little ones. The owner was extremely prompt with communication and all instructions for access etc were easy to follow. I can highly recommend Penguins on Church for a wonderful stay on Phillip Island!
Andrew A.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Julie M.
Mar 1, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Family get together.
We all loved this property as it had it all.Beautiful home with great entertaining areas inside and out.Great choice of bedrooms.Car parking good.Location near beach plus town.We were all very comfortable.The children enjoyed the games room.We would have appreciated the supply of linen as some guests were from out of state..It was a bit of a hastle.Margarate was very good with her communication.Many thanksJulie.Loc
Julie M.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
8/10 Good
Rachael M.
Feb 14, 2025
Great spot for a group holiday
Has a great layout for friends/ families holidaying together, and is within walking distance from the main beach and shops. A short drive to key tourist destinations. The yard was well maintained. We were disappointed with the cleanliness of the property; we had to spend a large portion of our first day scrubbing all three bathrooms, cleaning the couch and washing kitchen utensils and plates. Some of the cookware was also really worn out, so we couldn't cook as much as planned.The host's communication was fantastic, however. Would definitely return if the cleaning situation is sorted out. Small bins in the bathrooms would be a convenient addition.
Rachael M.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
christine r.
Jan 9, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Cowes Holiday
The house was spotless and the kitchen had everything we needed. Beautiful outdoor area and back yard. Close to everything. We have booked again for next year.
christine r.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025
10/10 Excellent
Michelle H.
Jan 7, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Penguins on Church highly recommend
Penguins on Church was a well maintained, clean and well appointed rental. It had everything provided for a great stay. It was very clean and we valued the small touches such as bath mats, hand towels, soap and air diffusers. The gardens were lovely and the backyard grass was immaculate. Would definitely stay there again.
Michelle H.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer T.
Dec 27, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Highly recommended familyproperty
Penguins on Church is a pristinely kept home away from home, close to the beach and Cowes centre. Marg provided everything we could possibly need, and more. Thank you for the Christmas tree! Would most definitely stay again.
Jennifer T.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Amelia H.
Dec 24, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Family-friendly
Stayed for 4 nights with my partner, two kids (5 & 2), sister and niece (16). Very well appointed home with 5BR, 2 baths plus ensuite. Good lay out and would suit multiple families. Kitchen was very well equipped with everything you could possibly need and more. Requested bed linen / towels in the week prior to check in and host was very accomodating and replies quickly. Hot outdoor shower in the fully contained and pet friendly backyard a big bonus. Kids enjoyed the entertainment area in the garage. Very short walking distance to beach and Coles. Have already booked for next year.
Amelia H.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Gavin H.
Dec 18, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Highly recommend!
The house is beautiful and immaculately kept. Backyard and games room was perfect for the kids. Proximity to main St shops and the beach made this property the perfect choice for our family vacation. Margaret was super helpful and lovely to deal with. Will always recommend this place and hope to be back one day.
Gavin H.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Sheryl H.
Dec 9, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
60th Birthday friends weekend
Fabulous house.
So spacious
Sheryl H.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer C.
Nov 17, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing set up
We had a great weekend thank you so much for sharing your amazing house with us.
Jennifer C.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Narelle M.
Nov 13, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend of fun!
Disability organization - supporting group of 6 adults on a much-deserved weekend away. Group had an absolute ball and loved staying in a home like house rather than a big school camp set up. Made them feel very inclusive indeed.
Narelle M.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Christine D.
Oct 30, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Christine D.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jenette B.
Oct 27, 2024
Excellent group house
House was great for group stay easy location to centre of Cowes
Facilities excellent for entertainment everything you need Close to beach just a short walk
Jenette B.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
10/10 Excellent
Russell S.
Oct 21, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Penguins on Church exceeded our expectations
Totally blown away. Had an awesome experience and will look to book again next year for Australian Motogp 2025