VIC TOCA - Cruise Update #3 FINAL - Pakenham to Phillip Island

Join your fellow TOCA members for a relaxed and scenic cruise from Pakenham along the South Gippsland Highway to San Remo and then onwards across the San Remo bridge to Phillip Island.

NOTE:  We have around 25 cars participating with 44 people, so we need to allow sufficient time at each stop.

We begin with breakfast from 8:30 am at the Lilin & Co café (dog friendly) in Pakenham on Melbourne’s south-eastern edge.  NOTE:  There is a TESLA Supercharger (6 plugs) within easy walking of Lilin & Co Café.    At Lilin Café we will have a relaxing coffee / breakfast and a cruise briefing.

Breakfast  8:30 am

Briefing     9:15 am explaining the drive + some news

Depart       9:30 am and drive for 47 minutes.

Arrive at the market 10:15 am we stop here for 1 hour.

We arrive at 10:15 am at the Bass Coast Market at 2-4 Bass School Road, BASS.  We love our country markets!  NOTE:  The lady that runs "Café Alfresco" is a staunch "Cash Only" trader... so be prepared.

Depart market at 11:15 am and drive for 10 minutes.

Arrive at San Remo Fisherman's Coop around 11:30 am.  The San Remo village is a spacious area where you can find ice cream at "Scoops at Sanny" or the San Remo Bakehouse (the locals call it the "Sanny Bakehouse" and public toilets.

The San Remo Fisherman's Coop feeds the local Pelicans from 12:00 - 12:30.

Depart San Remo at 12:35 pm.  Our final leg takes us across the San Remo bridge onto Phillip Island.  At this point, we plan to get drone footage of all 25 Teslas crossing the bridge.

Depending on the time and on the way to our lunch venue, I may elect to pass and briefly stop at a "Community Battery".  There are 6 community batteries (100kw each) installed on Phillip Island within the last 9 months and all of them are in live operation.  I have been involved with a community group on Phillip Island to make this happen.  Talk to me if you are interested.

NOTE:  There is a EVIE fast charger (3 plugs 75 kw) in COWES (63 Chapel Street, COWES).

LUNCH ... I have changed the lunch venue from North Pier Hotel to the Shearwater Restaurant at the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre.  The North Pier Hotel was not able to reserve tables for our group.

Our lunch destination will be the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, and we will be having lunch inside at the Shearwater Restaurant.  The restaurant is being specially opened for us.  It normally opens at 4:00 pm.  I have visited the restaurant and spoken with Tyler (Chef) and he assures me they will look after us well.  The restaurant catering has very recently been taken over and so Tyler assures me that "old bad reviews" are to be ignored.  

Here is the Shearwater Menu  

NOTE:  This is a CASHLESS restaurant 

   BEST spot to park is near # 2

  A photo of the Shearwater Restaurant

AFTER lunch and into the evening.

The formal cruise finshes BUT for those people wanting to stay on Phillip Island after lunch, I can recommend a few things to look at and places to have dinner.

Grenache wine bar is very close to the EVIE fast chargers in COWES.  Tell Nigel or Mel that you are from the Tesla Owners Club.

Location:  55a Thompson Ave, COWES

RAMADA resort has 2 free destination chargers (11 kw) and has an excellent bistro. 

Location:  2128 Phillip Island Road

Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.  Stop at the café and walk through to overlook the track. 

Location: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Wildlife Coast Sunset Cruise.  Very good value at $79 per adult and book online.

Location:  San Remo pier   Link: Wildlife Coast Sunset Cruise

Hightlights:

• 1 hr 45min Cruise across the bay
• Sunset across the bay
• Explore Westernport’s sheltered eastern waters
• Views of Churchill Island, Reef Island, Elizabeth Island and French Island
• Look out for local birds & Australian Fur Seals
• Light commentary and live music – See who’s playing
• Licensed bar on-board (Eftpos payment available )

Inclusions:

• Grazing Box (Fresh Fruit, Cheddar cheese & Crackers)