Cowes, the principal township of Phillip Island, is located on the north coast and is reached by road from Newhaven or ferry from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula. Originally known as Mussel Rocks, it was re-named by Commander Henry Cox, the government surveyor in 1865, after the holiday retreat on England's Isle of Wight. The town jetty, built in 1870, was the main point of arrival for ferry passengers from the mainland before the bridge linking San Remo and Newhaven was opened in 1940.

Cowes has beautiful safe beaches with fine sand, facing north into Western Port overlooking French Island and the Mornington Peninsula. Cowes is still the island's commercial hub, a bustling town to the north. It is well serviced with shops, restaurants, cafes, motels, caravan parks, camping grounds, bed & breakfasts, art, craft & souvenir shops, theatre and cinema. A museum is situated at the Heritage Centre in Thompson Ave, with a large display of historical information and artefacts.

All major sports are played in Cowes and are centred around the Recreation Reserve in Dunsmore Park and the Leisure Centre, both located in Church Street. The bowling & croquet clubs are located in Dunsmore Road and the golf club in Settlement Road.

There are two pleasant walks along the beach starting at the end of Thompson Ave. West will take you through Mussel Rocks, past the yacht club, Richardson Point through to the boat ramp at Anderson Street. Here you can either return along the beach or go down Anderson Street to Church Street, turn left and head back into town. East will take you around Erehwon Point, then connect to Lovers Walk. Lovers Walk concludes at Dunsmore Road, however, you can continue along Stradbroke Avenue. At the end of Stradbroke Avenue you can either follow the beach back to Cowes or continue to Rhyll Inlet.

Public Toilets are located on The Esplanade, at the end of Thompson Ave and at the end of Findlay Street. Also at the Anderson Street boat ramp and Red Rocks Point.

Free electric BBQs and scenic beach front picnic spots are located at Mussel Rock and Erehwon point (playground) on The Esplanade and Red Rocks Point at the end of Red Rocks Road.

The boat ramp is located at the end of Anderson Street, off Church Street, and the jetty is located in the town centre on The Esplanade.

Cowes Services
    * Shopping/restaurants - Yes
    * Medical Clinic - 164 Thompson Avenue
    * Chemist - 24 Thompson Avenue
    * Post Office - Thompson Avenue
    * Banks
          o Commonwealth, 49-53 Thompson Avenue
          o ANZ, Thompson Avenue
          o National, 50 Thompson Avenue
          o Westpac, 55 Thompson Avenue
    * Vet - Thompson Avenue/Settlement Road intersection
    * Public Transport - V-Line bus daily, stops in Chapel Street (opposite Coles) and Thompson Avenue
    * Recreation Reserve - Dunsmore Park in Church Street
          o Cricket Yes
          o Football Yes
          o Soccer Yes
          o Tennis Yes
          o Skate Board Yes
          o Bowls Dunsmore Road
          o Croquet Dunsmore Road
          o Golf  Settlement Road
          o Squash Leisure Centre Settlement Road
    * Playground Yes Erehwon Park, The Esplanade
    * Public Toilets
          o The Esplanade at the end of Thompson Avenue
          o The Esplanade at the end of Findlay Street
          o Anderson Street boat ramp
          o Red Rocks Point
          o Heritage Centre Thompson Avenue
    * Public BBQs (electric & free)
          o Mussel Rocks, The Esplanade
          o Erehwon Point Park, The Esplanade
          o Red Rocks, end of Red Rocks Road
    * Halls
          o Phillip Island Cultural Centre
    * Market Every Sunday in Settlement Road opposite Mitre10
    * Churches
          o Catholic, Phillip Island Tourist Road south of RSL
          o Anglican, cnr. Church Street & Thompson Avenue
          o Uniting, cnr Chapel Street & Warley Avenue
          o Baptist, cnr Settlement Road & Dunsmore Road
          o Christian Family,  89 Thompson Avenue Cowes
          o 7th Day Adventist, Heritage Centre
          o Assembly of God, Heritage Centre
    * Yacht Club - Osbourne Avenue/The Esplanade
    * Jetty - The Esplanade
    * Boat Ramp - Anderson Street
    * Slipway No

Rhyll in its beginning, with its sheltered port, offered shelter to early explorers and expeditions.

Rhyll today has an excellent all-tide boat ramp, slipway, two jetties, yacht club, angling club and sailing school. Other services available are boat hire, general store, restaurant and bar, take-aways, cafe' and bed & breakfast accommodation.

Public toilets, BBQ and tennis courts are located in Rhyll Park behind the Rhyll Mechanics Hall in Lock Road, and public BBQs and toilets are located on the foreshore on Beach Road, near the jetty.

 Take a stroll along the Rhyll Inlet - it is a haven for myriads of sea birds. Watch out for pelicans, black swans, gulls and ibis. The inlet is recognised the world over as a significant area for migratory wading birds.

Other nature walks include the Oswin Roberts Koala Reserve in Harbinson Road, Conservation Hill Lookout and the Rhyll Swamp Bird Sanctuary board walk located on the Cowes-Rhyll Road.

To the south, the Phillip Island Tourist Road takes you to the centre of the island and the Koala Conservation Centre, Motel, Caravan Park, Restaurant and Maze.

Rhyll was the temporary site for the very early settlement of Fort Dumaresq (Flagstaff) where in December 1826 the area was established as a temporary British settlement. The claim of formal possession of the region was a bid to forestall French occupation.

Historic sites include:

• A memorial on the Rhyll-Newhaven Road, 50 mtrs south of the Cowes-Rhyll Road proclaiming the area British possession.
• A memorial near the jetty to commemorate the discovery of the area (port) and later expeditions.
• A memorial bronze plaque on pink Woolamai granite, commemorating the visit to Western Port by Lieutenant James Grant in the Brig “Lady Nelson”, and for the naming of Lady Nelson Point, located on the corner of Beach Road and Reid Street north of the yacht club.

The name Rhyll comes from Rhyl, a holiday resort in North Wales (Great Britain).

Rhyll