Cowes is the main township on Phillip Island in
the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia.
Cowes is about two hours' drive from
Melbourne and can also be reached by ferry
from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula.
Cowes is located on the northern side of Phillip
Island and faces towards French Island and the
Mornington Peninsula. At the 2011 census,
Cowes had a population of 4053.

In recent years Cowes has seen a rapid
expansion in its size. Many estates and
apartments have been built in and around the
town on what was previously rural farmland. An
estimated 70% of houses are owned by
absentee owners, most of whom live in and
around Melbourne.

The main road of the island (Phillip Island Road)
leads into Cowes and becomes the town's main
road, Thompson Avenue. A distinctive feature
of the road is the 1 km lining of Golden Cypress
trees which were planted in the early 20th
century. Further into town, the road begins a
gradual descent before it terminates with a T-
intersection at the waterfront. As the road
approaches the waterfront, density of
restaurants and general retail outlets increases.
Cowes Jetty was built at the end of
Thompson Avenue in 1870 and remains a focal
point of the town. It is flanked by sheltered
beaches which are a popular attraction for
families. An annual fireworks event was held at
9pm on New Year's Eve until in 2010 they were
cancelled. Occasionally a container ship can be
seen from the waterfront heading to or from
the port at Hastings which is located to the
north.