Full-day Melbourne City Sightseeing with Penguin Parade
Description
Experience the magic of Melbourne and enjoy two destinations in a single day! Our expert guide will take you to some of Melbourne's most iconic buildings and cultural landmarks before heading to Phillip Island to witness the world-famous penguin parade. Melbourne, a city bursting with lush gardens, vibrant restaurants, charming alleys, and a buzzing art scene, is waiting for you. We'll kick things off with iconic photo spots, like the MCG forecourt, Hosier Lane, Fitzroy Gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance. These aren't just places; they're your ticket to unforgettable moments and Instagram-worthy snapshots. But hold onto your hats, because after the Melbourne buzz, it's time to switch gears and immerse yourself in nature. Walk along the scenic coastal boardwalks at The Nobbies and as the sun dips below the horizon, get ready for the grand finale—the Penguin Parade. It's a natural spectacle that'll leave you in awe.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join us for a morning Melbourne City Discovery Tour, followed by a trip to Phillip Island to experience the Penguin Parade!
Stroll through Melbourne's most famous street art destination, renowned for its constantly changing murals and vibrant graffiti. This narrow laneway has become a cultural hotspot, showcasing Melbourne's dynamic art scene.
Take a drive past Melbourne's iconic landmark, Flinders Street Station!
Admire the stunning St. Paul's Cathedral, a magnificent architecture in the heart of Melbourne.
Pass by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Australia's oldest and most visited art museum, showcasing a remarkable collection of art from around the world.
Honour the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I and now a memorial to all Australians who served in global conflicts. Guests can enjoy stunning views of Melbourne from the viewing area.
Stop by Australia’s biggest stadium and learn all about our original game of Australian Rules Football. We visit the forecourt area only.
Admire the Old Treasury Building, a beautiful heritage site showcasing Melbourne's rich history.
Appreciate the Parliament House, a landmark with remarkable architecture at the center of the city's political landscape.
Stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a leading example of Gothic-revival architecture.
Visit Fitzroy Gardens, where you'll go for a quick stop at the Conservatory, a stunning display of lush plant life in the heart of the city and Cook's Cottage, the historic home of Captain James Cook's parents.
Take a brief stroll at a local distillery offering a taste of Melbourne’s craft spirits.
Pass by Lygon Street, famous for its vibrant Italian cafés and restaurants.
Pass through the Royal Exhibition Building, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site renowned for its impressive design and historical significance.
Drive by Queen Victoria Market, a bustling hub for fresh produce, food, and local goods.
Once we meet next to the Immigration Museum after lunch, we’ll begin our journey to Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade!
Stop by this stunning surf beach at Cape Woolamai! We visit this spot only during the summer.
Enjoy a dinner stop in Cowes, offering a variety of dining options! We only stop at this spot during the summer.
Enjoy beautiful views across the ocean while you spot the local seal colony.
The nightly spectacular! See the cute little penguins waddle ashore to their nesting grounds. Stroll along the boardwalks and enjoy a world-class visitors' centre filled with interesting exhibitions on the worlds smallest penguin.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Photography of any kind is not permitted at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
- The total duration of the tour is between 12-14 hours depending on the season
- The itinerary includes vehicle based sightseeing across Melbourne, photo opportunities at key locations, all internal transfers & a visit to Phillip Island
Reviews(270)
Wonderful tour and Michael Is fantastic guide, Simply the best!!!
We had an amazing trip with Jools seeing the sights of Melbourne. She was patient and very accomodating going out of her way to show us the sights. The tour wasn’t rushed and very informative. The Penguin Parade is a must see and an unforgettable experience. I do recommend wrapping up if you are doing it in winter.
Jools is the sweetest tour guide. She is knowledgeable, fun , experienced, super sweet , thoughtful and safe driver. She goes abbe and beyond and extremely efficient in getting people to find her bus in the crowd. She made the day special. Melbourne city tour is great to do. Phillip Island with pingüino parade is unique and a must do if in Melbourne.
Robbo is a sweet, gentle, and friendly soul. His tour was incredibly detailed and professional, and he’s a pretty funny chap who had us all laughing. This tour made my day — highly recommend!
Jess was our tour guide. FIVE STARS from start to end. She was awesome, she says she’s only been doing this for 7.5 months but it didn’t seem like it - seemed like she has been at it for years! She knew all the tips and short cuts, and we were well on time. Amazing photographer too, always at the stop to help us take photos! She played some games on the bus but we were a reserved lot, so we were a little quiet but she’s great with us :) Keep going Jess, and hope to see you again on another tour! Much love and all the best xx
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience on your Melbourne City Highlights and Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Encounters tours 😊 It’s especially lovely to hear your kind words about Jess. We’re so pleased that her knowledge, organisation, enthusiasm, and photography skills helped make your day extra memorable. It’s hard to believe she’s only been guiding for 7.5 months when she’s already making such a positive impression on our guests! We’ll be sure to pass along your encouraging feedback to Jess — she’ll be thrilled to hear it. We’re also glad you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere on board and appreciated all the little things she did to help make the day run smoothly. Thank you again for travelling with Go West, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure in the future. Much love and best wishes to you too! ❤️✨
The tour was amazing we had a great time. Jacqui was a very enthuasiastic and knowledgable guide, we loved hearing about the history of melbourne and sights. Definitely worth doing the tour! Particularly moonlit sanctuary and penguin parade!
This was a lovely experience, stopped off at a couple of beaches on the way down to Philip Island. Also stopped at a wildlife sanctuary, got to hand feed the Roos and Wallabies. Unfortunately it was raining quite heavily when we got to the Penguin Parade but seeing those little fellas waddling out of the sea and up to their burrows was very heartwarming. Big shout out to our guide Raquel, she was very informative and we could tell that she has a real passion for all the animals. It’s a 12 hour tour but her enthusiasm made it feel a Lot shorter. Would highly recommend.
Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed this combined Melbourne City + Phillip Island experience, from the coastal stops and wildlife sanctuary to the heartwarming Penguin Parade — even with the rainy weather! It’s wonderful that you were able to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies and still catch those special moments watching the penguins make their way home. A big thank you as well for your kind words about Raquel. Her passion for wildlife and engaging commentary really do make a long day feel much shorter, so we’re delighted she helped make your experience so enjoyable. Thank you for recommending the tour, and we hope to welcome you on another Go West adventure in the future! 🐧
Aleks made the trip sensational!l Beside being very knowledgeable she was able to convey so much information in an interesting and entertaining manner! Vehicle was clean and she was a great driver. Don’t hesitate - just remember to dress warm if going to penguin parade - gets cold at night by the water!! Food stops well planned and lots to choose from.
David N was a super guide and the trip was excellent. Well worth it
We have a very good time for the Melbourne day tour! Our tour guide Mark K. is absolutely fantastic! He is rich in history and feels like he is opening a culture book in front of us! The bus is comfortable, aircon is working very well. The sightseeing spot is awesome especially love the penguin parade, it is something must see in life! Only bit bored for the repeating beach stops , I will suggest maybe something different!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! We’re really happy to hear you had a great time on your Melbourne day tour and that Mark made such a wonderful impression. It’s lovely to know his passion for history and storytelling helped bring the culture of Melbourne to life for you. We’re also glad you found the coach comfortable and enjoyed the highlights of the day — especially the Penguin Parade, which truly is a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you as well for your helpful feedback about the beach stops. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts, and we’ll be sure to pass this along to our team as we’re always looking for ways to make the tour even more enjoyable and varied. Thanks again for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure in the future!
