Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
Description
Every night at sunset, the truly incredible spectacle of the Penguin Parade occurs on the beaches of Phillip Island. The local colony of little penguins emerges from the water to make their way to the burrows in the sand dunes - and this tour is your chance to witness this unforgettable phenomenon in real life! We’ll spend the day exploring top attractions including Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and the Nobbies, before settling in on the sand, ready for the main show at the Penguin Parade. Including all entrance fees, this great value tour is the best way to discover the wild coastal scenery and delightful animals of Phillip Island.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Moonlit Sanctuary is home to stacks of well-known Aussie animals including kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils, plus many lesser-known species such as the spot-tailed quoll, yellow-bellied glider and long-nosed potoroo.
Located at the base of Cape Woolamai, Woolamia Beach is one of Victoria's most beautiful and rugged beaches. With huge surf and a soft golden sand, any trip to Phillip Island must include a stop here.
Cowes is located at the Northerly tip of Phillip Island is and is the Islands most populated town. It offers a village feel full of restaurants and bars. Cowes Beach and Jetty offer magnificent views over the gentle waters of Western Port Bay back to the Mornington Peninsula.
Stroll the Nobbies board walk for views of the awesome volcanic rock formations. Check out seal rock which is home to the largest colony of Australian Fur seals. Keep you eyes peeled for more Aussie Wildlife including Swamp Wallabies and even Penguins.
As the sun begins to lower, we’ll make our way to Summerland Beach ready for the main event. Once the sun has set, the little penguins will feel safe enough to emerge from the water in small groups and make their way across the beach. Take a stroll along the boardwalks to walk alongside these adorable birds as they waddle their way back to their nests with their bellies full from a day out at sea fishing.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that pickup time varies seasonally due to different sunset times for the main event. Our staff will contact you with your correct pick up time. Please feel free to get in touch to confirm your pick up details. PLEASE NOTE: your drop off times range from 10pm - 11pm (winter) and 12am -1am (summer)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Unfortunately we cannot take infants under the age of 3 years old
- Please note: Evenings on Phillip Island can be cold and windy during the Penguin Parade. We recommend wearing warm clothing, such as a good jacket, to stay comfortable.
- Most travellers can participate
Reviews(776)
Great day out and the penguins were adorable! A pity some people ruin it for others by insisting on using their phones at the parade. Management should ban phones entirely.
It will be a long day but very fun! If you are going during the Australian winter or weather predicts rain, make sure to wear warm, rain wear. Eliot was a great guide and loved the smaller group size. Wish we saw some seals but the Penquin Parade at the end was the best!
It was a long day - about 11 hours in all, but worth it. The weather could have cooperated a bit more, but all our stops were beautiful. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and of course penguins! Craig took great care of us. I would do this trip again!
Phillip Island does not have any koalas and kangaroos. Though penguin parade is amazing. Tour takes you to Moonlit Sanctuary and then to Phillip Island.
Lovely experience. Wonderful sights, wildlife. The penguin parade was magnificent. Dress warmly because it’s breezy by the ocean.
Great wildlife day with our tour guide, Elliot, who educated and entertained us. The Moonlit Sanctuary was a pleasant surprise to walk among so many animals or be so near them. My husband got to pet a kangaroo and you can feed them. The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park is a great surrounding and experience but please note that the penguins are on their schedule - not yours - so don’t be surprised about a wait or the possibility of not seeing many as viewers jostle for positioning. We enjoyed our guide’s tips and info about Melbourne and other towns including great restaurant suggestions. Our only disappointment was we thought this was a smaller tour (rather than a large busload). Will pay closer attention next time to avoid the hassles of a large group.
This tour was an absolute waste of time and money. Although the bus arrived on time for my sister and me, every other stop was a disaster long delays, constant waiting around for late passengers, and a tour guide who made zero effort to stick to the schedule. Moonlit Sanctuary was nothing more than a pointless filler activity. The advertising makes it sound like part of the Phillip Island experience, but it’s nowhere near it and adds nothing except wasted hours. Because people didn’t follow the timings and the guide didn’t enforce them, we lost valuable time at the Nobbies Boardwalk and had no chance to visit the Penguin Parade information centre, grab food, or even look around. To make it worse, after finally seeing the penguins, we were told to be back on the bus within an hour completely unrealistic and unfair given the chaos earlier in the day. When I requested a refund for this poorly run, misleading tour, I was offered a 25% of the ticket price. Save yourself the frustration. Skip this tour entirely. Hire a car and do the trip yourself, you’ll have a far better experience without the incompetence and time‑wasting.
Great bus driver/guide. Loved the stops on the way, especially Moonlit sanctuary. We should have had more time there. I was upset that the penguin parade was so commercialized. Too many people at one time. I felt we were infringing on the penguins territory.
The tour itinery is good but the satisfaction depends on the guide which was not visited ble here. The tour guide is rubbish in information sharing to make the tour interesting He is over smart than required
Elliott did a great job leading the tour. I enjoyed the Moonlit Sanctuary, and while it was cold and raining during the penguin parade, it was fun to see the penguins when they arrived. I accidentally left a souvenir on the bus, but Sightseeing Tours Australia helped to get the souvenir back.
