Cowes, Victoria — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Cowes, in the Bass Coast Shire local government area.
| Locality | Cowes |
| State | Victoria (VIC) |
| Local Government Area | Bass Coast Shire |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT) |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional Australia |
| Latitude | -38.46831 |
| Longitude | 145.23891 |
| Population | 4,770 |
| Density | 230.3 /km² |
| Area | 20.7 km² |
| Elevation | 28 m |
| Postcode | 3922 |
| Area Code | 03 |
| Distance to Melbourne | 77 km south-southeast |
Cowes is a locality in the Bass Coast Shire local government area of Victoria, Australia. It has a population of approximately 4,770. The locality covers an area of 20.7 km², giving a population density of about 230.3 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 28 m above sea level. It lies approximately 77 km south-southeast of Melbourne. Cowes is located at 38.4683°S, 145.2389°E. It observes Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT). Postcode: 3922. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Inner Regional Australia.
Cowes, a coastal settlement on Phillip Island, exhales the brisk, salty air of Bass Strait. It lies 30.9 km south-south-east of Mornington, VIC (from Mornington, VIC: bearing 150°T), and is situated 12.8 km south-south-east of Crib Point. The land here, a gentle rise from the sea, is a patchwork of green pastures and windswept coastal scrub, where the distant murmur of waves is a constant companion. The light, particularly as it softens towards evening, washes the landscape in hues of pale gold and lavender, illuminating the hardy coastal grasses that sway in the persistent breeze. The character of Cowes is intrinsically tied to its maritime setting; a sense of openness prevails, a feeling of being at the edge of something vast and elemental.
The history of Cowes is as much about resilience as it is about opportunity, a narrative shaped by the sea and the fertile land that neighbours it. Once a vital hub for fishing and grazing, the local economy has gradually shifted, embracing tourism as its primary pulse, drawing visitors to its sheltered bay and the island’s unique wildlife. The iconic pier, a weathered sentinel against the elements, speaks of countless arrivals and departures, a tangible link to the past. Beyond the immediate bustle, the surrounding countryside whispers of earlier times, of pastoral leases and the quiet toil that sustained generations, while the nearby waters offer a bounty that continues to define the spirit of Cowes.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Cowes, Victoria with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Cowes, in the Bass Coast Shire local government area.
Detailed location data for Cowes includes the postcode (3922), telephone area code (03), and local government area (Bass Coast Shire), with an ABS remoteness classification of Inner Regional Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Cowes is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |