Cape Woolamai, VIC 3925

Wild Coast, Cape Woolamai.
Famous for being one of the most treacherous bits of Surf coast in the area, with it's many rips and unpredictability.

Personally I love it for the wildness that it invokes, the beauty of its ruggedness and crashing waves.

Cape Woolamai is fast becoming a popular suburb of Phillip Island for a number of reasons.

* Close proximity to the bridge making commuting to Melbourne that bit quicker.

* The nature, the walks and miles of Beaches to choose from relaxed bathing to the wild surf.

* The few cafes, best woodfired pizzas and small convenience store, allows its residents to get basic needs without having to come to Cowes or San Remo.

* Whilst still affordable, it is fast becoming a little bustling area of activity, from Renovations, new Builds and an increase in value.

Won't be long and Melbourne buyers will be rushing in to grab the last of the under $500,000 coastal homes.

Cape Woolamai is a stunning coastal suburb, the people are friendly and the local shops are only a short walk away.
We love riding our bikes to San Remo, over the bridge. Not a single Rd to cross!
We often stop off to watch the Pelican feeding on our way get a coffee after our ride at Beanz, best coffee ever!
The safety beach is lovely to swim at and the walk through the Nature Reserve to the Pinnacles is breathtaking.
Quiet streets and loads of birdlife, it doesnt get much better.
Oh yes it does, going to sleep to the sound of the surf at night.

Cape Woolamai reminds me of the Melbourne I grew up in. Working class and middle-class community minded people, very safe and friendly atmosphere, lots of big new houses popping up in the place of old beach shacks every year. It really feels like a suburb on the move. I read through the other reviews and a couple of the negative ones seemed to complain about 'the airport'. Said airport has been decommissioned for over a decade and once in a blue moon a plane might make an emergency landing there but every time that happens they need to make a report to the police, it is not a regular occurrence at all. As for the helipad, it is about half a kilometer down the road and you rarely hear them, unless a more adventurous pilot is taking some cashed up tourists off the usual 5 minute route for a closer look at the beach or the whales that swim through every year.

The nature here is thriving, wallabies, sheerwaters, pacific gulls, hawks and echidnas are a very regular occurrence, not to mention the rabbits. Sometimes during stormy weather you will get the odd lost penguin or seal showing up on the beach. Most people in Cape Woolamai are very pro-environment, the best hike on the island is located here and takes you through Coast, Savannah and glade. During summer it is breathtaking because the butterflies have just hatched from their cacoons and as you hike through the hinterland they all flutter around you like something out of a Disney film.

The surf beach is long and constantly changing, many of the locals surf and they take great pride in finding the best spots on any good day and telling all their friends about it. Every morning when the sun is out, a plethora of seasoned surfers line the outlooks scanning the pristine coast for the best opportunities of catching a good wave. Soon after they are running down the sandy tracks with surf boards and wet suits determined not to miss out. Cape Woolamai is the only suburb on Phillip Island that has both a bay beach and a surf beach. The bay beach is quiet, safe, and fairly enclosed. It is perfect for kids and kayakers and is where the local hobby fishermen usually launch their dingeys.

The local fast food is particuarly good for a country town. Woolamai Pizza is especially good, I honestly think they have the best Australian pizzas I've ever had, and I grew up in the city. However if pizza doesn't catch your fancy there are a few other very good options, fish and chips, kebabs, burgers and a cafe with great coffee. If you feel like a sit-down meal there is a really good restaurant that recently arrived which serves keg-beer, traditional central European food with an overall motorbike racing theme. The closest supermarket is the IGA in San Remo where you are also spoiled for great culinary options.

Overall we couldn't fault Cape Woolamai for any reason, it is by far the nicest suburb either myself of my wife have ever lived in, and it's nice to live somewhere where people still greet one another as they walk their dogs and children are constantly out, riding their bikes and playing in the dunes. 10/10 from us, we are not going anywhere.

Cape Woolamai has very scenic views with amazing coastal beaches. Plenty of popular lookouts to explore. The Cape Kitchen is also renowned in the area. Cape Woolamai also has a modern shopping area with a variety of popular shops. Of course the beaches some of the best too!

Cape Woolamai is the perfect beach location. Easy access to a child-friendly bay beach on one side and a world class surf beach on the other. There is a real family feel to the suburb with many young families choosing to live here. Also, the best pizzas ever!

There are two very different types of reviews on here. The ones that are selling their homes & the ones that are adverse to anyone living in the area that doesn't suit their own lifestyle. I will try to be straight forward & non bias. Cape Woolamai appeals to anyone who either loves to surf, swim or walk on the beach, be it a safe bay or a sometimes wild ocean. There are really no other reasons that would influence your move here anymore greatly. The housing is slowly turning toward the updated beach style, with a bit of quality. There are still far too many holiday & permanent homes & gardens that are left unmaintained & are depreciating the look of the area overall. The main road into the town is dull & unappealing. The services are low, but those that do exist are making a real effort to service locals & tourists alike. It is a lifestyle choice to be in this town and, if yours is a laidback & non-judgemental choice to be in a natural & ever-changing environment, then you could love it here too. You don't make that decision based on what is NOT here already, you make it because you love it for what it is, as I do. My advice is to stay a few nights in Cape Woolamai in both peak & winter seasons, walk the beach, surf or swim & utilise the local shops. If you haven't fallen in love with it in this time, then you probably need to continue your search.

Cape Woolamai, like the whole of the Island is a great place for a holiday, but to live permanently there, some things need to be taken into consideration before you read all the other 'glowing' reviews by those wanting to sell/rent their homes to you.
Pro's - Great surf, quiet and peaceful (for 9 months of the year), inexpensive to buy (not rent).
Cons - very busy in summer with homes being let out to whoever pays, so your neighbours over the holiday season could be lovely old retirees or a footy team up for a huge week of partying. no natural gas and big electricity bills compared to metro/suburban melbourne, shops and services that are hardly open over the late autumn to spring period as holiday makers are the main source of income, lack of quality child care and general services (schools etc), no public swimming pool, a dodgy public hospital in Wonthaggi (30 minutes away), not much for kids to do as the wildlife parks are used fairly quickly, some ugly fibro holiday shacks, basically no public transport...
dont mean to sound too negative but these things must be taken into account before you take the plunge (or seachange as it is called these days).

Cape woolamai
where do i start, i am writing this review as i feel the other reviews have been put on by people in desperation of getting an extra dollar for the house they are selling, the all seems a little "perfect place to live", in saying that the place is nice, the beaches are awesome and cape woolamai has world class waves. the suburb is a majority of holiday/holiday let houses which are used mainly on weekends, there is a typical set of questions asked by the locals around the island and it goes like this.... local shopkeeper- "do you live here mate" holiday house owner - "yeah" local shopkeeper - "what part time or permanent" holiday house owner - "nah mate, just part time"... yeap people are are a funny bunch who are desperate to say they live on phillip island.
the suburb has a airport right next door to it, check the maps, so if your thinking of buying a weekender be aware the planes and helicopters take off early, now that they have skydiving here as well on weekends. yeap we have lots of wildlife here, the Bass Coast Shire Council say that VIC Roads does not take animals into account when it designates a speed zone so they put roads through the middle of nature areas and then refuse to drop the speed limits to a suitable speed that may help save the lives of these animals, take a look around there are dead animals everywhere, and they call it a nature reserve, its a disgrace the way we treat the animals here...
the weather is great in summer, sea breezes in the arvo cool the place down, in winter its cold wet and windy, the grass is green and the soil is sandy. the water is bad tasting, and no natural gas on the island, so you need to buy bottled gas, if you have gas appliances.
the place is a extremely busy area for around 6 months of the year and in the middle of winter its a little quieter, our local speed camera man is now here two times a week because of the amount of complaints of ridiculous speeds being used in our streets. the other thing you will notice is the amount of rundown two and three bedroom fibro cement homes which are not good if you have a nice house next door to it, its bad for the eyes and bad for the neighbours, maybe one day they will all go, but i doubt it.
It is what it is, but its far from perfect and yes i live here

Cape Woolamai is a hidden gem. A fantastic family escape. Two great beaches, nature reserve with amazing views, local shops etc. Other than PORTSEA, there is no other town that has both a calm water swimming beach and a wild surfing beach within the one town. And you pay one tenth the price for realestate.
Cape Woolamai is an amazing place. Check it out!

Trees, safe beach, friendly locals, fresh air, surf beach, necessary shops, bike riding, swimming, fishing, pristine nature walks....all within 1.5 hours of Melb...need I go on?

Where else can you be within walking distance of a gorgeous, safe and sandy swimming beach as well as a wild and boisterous surf beach. Add to that the wildlife and unspoilt wilderness of the Cape and you have a place to die for.
Everyone looks when a car goes past because it is so uncommon.
A place to refresh the soul and lift the spirit.