Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour from Melbourne
Description
Discover one of Australia’s most iconic wildlife experiences on a full-day journey from Melbourne to Phillip Island with Explore Australia Tours. Travel in comfort on our small group tour aboard our purple bus, guided by a passionate local expert. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary to see koalas, kangaroos and more in a natural bushland setting. Take in coastal views at Cape Woolamai (summer only) and enjoy a relaxed stop in Cowes. Stroll the Nobbies Boardwalk for sweeping ocean views and wildlife spotting before the highlight of the day. At sunset, watch hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at the world-famous Penguin Parade. With all entry tickets included, multilingual audio via our free app, and an eco-accredited focus, this is a seamless and unforgettable way to experience Victoria’s wildlife and coastal beauty. This is a truly unique opportunity to get up close and personal with nature and wildlife!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, where you will encounter iconic Australian wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles and the elusive Tasmanian devil. Set within natural bushland, this immersive experience allows you to get closer to native animals while learning about vital conservation efforts. You may also have the opportunity to enjoy an up-close encounter with a koala or wallaby (additional cost applies).
Feel the sand beneath your feet with a scenic stroll along Cape Woolamai Beach, one of Phillip Island’s most spectacular coastal locations. Known as a world-class surf beach, watch skilled surfers ride powerful waves while taking in sweeping ocean views and dramatic coastal scenery. (Time permitting)
Soak up the relaxed seaside charm of Cowes, Phillip Island’s main township, with time to stroll along the picturesque foreshore, Cowes Pier and The Esplanade. This vibrant coastal hub is filled with cafés, restaurants, boutique shops and a local microbrewery, offering the perfect place to unwind and take in the holiday atmosphere. Food and drinks can be purchased at your own expense. (Time permitting)
Visit the iconic Nobbies on Phillip Island, where you can explore scenic clifftop boardwalks overlooking the rugged coastline of Bass Strait. Take in breathtaking panoramic views across to Seal Rocks, home to one of Australia’s largest fur seal colonies, while spotting seabirds and native wildlife along the way. Wander the elevated boardwalks and, if conditions allow, witness the impressive blowhole in action. A must-see highlight showcasing the raw beauty of Phillip Island.
Witness the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, home to the largest colony of little penguins. From the general viewing platform and boardwalks, watch as hundreds of penguins emerge from the ocean at sunset and waddle across the beach to their burrows. As darkness falls, follow their journey along the illuminated boardwalks as they return home, offering incredible close-up viewing opportunities. This unforgettable wildlife experience is both heartwarming and unique, giving you a rare chance to observe these adorable seabirds in their natural habitat. A true must-do when visiting Victoria and one of Australia’s most iconic wildlife encounters.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer 4 pickup locations from Melbourne CDB which are listed above. Your pickup depends on the time of year you have booked. Your exact meeting times are listed below and our team will confirm this with you after a booking is placed. 12:30 pm (Oct-Mar, Daylight savings) Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour departs from our main pickup location Mail Exchange Hotel - 688 Bourke Street @ 12:30pm and below are the pickup times from our other locations: * 11.45am Mercure Melbourne Southbank - 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank * 12.05pm Regent Theatre - 191 Collins St * 12.15pm Her Majesty’s Theatre - 219 Exhibition St 10:00 am (Apr -Sept, Non -daylight savings) Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour departs from our main pickup location Mail Exchange Hotel - 688 Bourke Street @ 10am and below are the pickup times from our other locations: * 9:20am Mercure Melbourne Southbank - 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank * 9:35amRegent Theatre - 191 Collins St * 9:45am Her Majesty’s Theatre - 219 Exhibition St As the time that the penguins arrive on the beach changes significantly during the year, our return time to Melbourne also varies significantly from 21:00 to 0:00
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(160)
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Explore Australia, and a huge part of that was our guide, Stuart. From the moment the tour began, Stuart was friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about sharing Australia with his guests. He took us to Moonlit Sanctuary, the Nobbies, the Penguin Parade, and several other beautiful locations throughout the day. At every stop, he made sure everyone was comfortable and never rushed us. He was always there when we returned, ready with more fascinating information and stories. What really set Stuart apart was his ability to bring Australia to life. He taught us about Australian culture, wildlife, history, and local customs, while also pointing out countless things we would have completely missed on our own. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he was consistently kind, gracious, and engaging throughout the entire tour. We have taken many guided tours over the years, and Stuart ranks among the very best guides we have ever had. The tour itself was fantastic, but Stuart's professionalism, warmth, and knowledge made it truly memorable. We loved every part of the experience and would happily do this tour again. Highly recommended!
Thanks Mike - what a great review. Stuart is an awesome guide, so happy to hear you got to experience his knowlefge and hospitality. I will definately be passing this review onto Stuart. Glad you enjoyed Moonlit Sanctuary and the Penguins as well. Really appreciate you recommending Explore Australia Tours. Thanks Explore Australia Tours Team
Must Visit Experience. Do try it out. Mark was great at his work. An All-In-one person who handled everything well.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback 🌟🐧 We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour 😊 Mark will be so happy to hear your kind words and that he helped make the day run smoothly. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon 💜
This was my second daytrip booking with them. Highly recommended tour agent. Absolutely amazing penguins and wildlife tour. Antony was our tour guide for Moonlit sanctuary experience. He is very professional , polite and cheerful.Very small group and comfortable bus. He explained to us clearly and gave us tips along the way. Me and my kids thoroughly enjoyed feeding the wallabies and ducks and Kengaroos. Very close encounters. Loved it. Saw cute koals. After half day we were combined with another group for Penguin island. Gina was our guide. She is very professional, explained about the wildlife , when to spot. Dos and donts. Stopped at places to get stunning philip island coastal views. Only small vehicles can reach these places. Always ask the guide what is the best place to sit for penguin viewing. Try not to miss the penguins coming out of the ocean. Amazing amazing experience. The little blue penguins are adorable. Prepare for cold winds as you will be seeing penguins after sunset. Walk around after a while to see penguins returning to their homes and interaction with each other. Absolutely loved the trip
Thanks for the awesome review. Looks like you got 2 of our great guides on this tour. I will pass on your comments to them for sure. We also love the helpful tips you shared. Thanks again for taking the time to leave such thoughtful feedback, and we hope to see you again on another adventure soon! The Explore Australia Tour Team
Had a great time on this tour. Stuart was very knowledgeable. Plenty of time at Moonlit Sanctuary and Penguin Parade station never felt rushed. Thoroughly recommend.
Hi Robin, Thanks for the 5 star review. I will pass this onto Stuart. So glad you enjoyed Moonlit and the Penguin Parade without feeling rushed. Great to hear you will be recommending our Penguins and Puffing Billy Tour!! Thanks Explore Australia Tours Team.
An unforgettable wildlife experience and one of the best introductions to Australia we could have asked for. Moonlit Sanctuary gave us the opportunity to see and interact with Australian wildlife up close, while the Penguin Parade felt genuinely magical once the little penguins began returning ashore at sunset. The entire tour was very organized and balanced wildlife experiences with scenic stops throughout the day. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Michael was a wonderful tour guide and driver as well.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback 🌟🐧 We are thrilled to hear the Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour was such a memorable introduction to Australia 😊 It is fantastic that you enjoyed the close wildlife encounters at Moonlit Sanctuary and the magical experience of watching the little penguins return ashore at sunset 💜 Michael will be so happy to hear your kind words about his guiding and care throughout the day. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Great experience viewing wildlife at the animal sanctuary and the penguin march is one of the best things I have ever seen. As you walk out to the ocean keep an eye on the holes and caves because that is where the penguins are headed. One thing I would recommend is that you carry masks because both tours I have taken people are obviously ill and cough profusely. My family got sick after the tours. I think the tour operators should require the people that are continuously coughing to wear a mask or prevent them from going on the tour.
Thanks so much, Michael. We are really glad to hear you enjoyed the wildlife sanctuary and the penguin march on the Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour. It is such a special experience watching them come in from the ocean. We are very sorry to hear about your concerns regarding other guests being unwell during the tours. That is not the experience we aim to provide, and we appreciate you raising it. Your feedback is important and will be passed on to our team for review. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you and your family again for a smoother experience in the future.
The sanctuary was nice but obviously the real highlight was seeing the penguins! They were soo adorable! I also really loved the Nobbies- when you get there walk to the left side (the path splits)- very magical place :)
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you had a beautiful day on the Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour and that the penguins were the highlight for you. It’s wonderful to hear you also enjoyed the Nobbies, it really is a magical spot. We appreciate your helpful tip for future guests and hope to see you on another tour soon!
We saw some incredible sights among the nobbies, the penguins and the ocean pyramids. But, there was a lot of lost time waiting for the bus to pick up at different locations. The seating on the bus was too tight. No leg room, especially when you are spending several hours on the bus. The driver was very nice, but less joking and more facts would have improved the tour.
Thank you for your honest and detailed feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed the incredible sights at the Nobbies, the Penguins and Pyramid Rock, they really are unforgettable highlights of the day. We truly appreciate your comments regarding the bus comfort, timing and tour commentary. Guest comfort is very important to us, especially on a full day tour, and your feedback will be shared with our team as we continually work to improve the experience. We are glad to hear the driver was welcoming, and we hope to provide an even better experience for you next time.
I took this tour on a weekday, which turned out not to be the best choice. One of the towns we stopped in had all their cute souvenir and boutique shops closed which left only restaurants open, so we ended up with about an hour there and very little to do. We also visited Moonlit Sanctuary, which was a huge letdown. The sanctuary looked run down and not very well maintained, and the overall atmosphere was quite depressing. We spent around an hour and a half there, which felt far too long for what there was to see. The rest of the tour included a few quick stops at beaches and coastal viewpoints, but nothing that really made up for the earlier parts of the day. I would have been better off renting a car and exploring on my own, especially just to see the penguins. NOT WORTH IT!
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the weekday timing and visit to Moonlit Sanctuary did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your comments about the shops and sightseeing stops, as this helps us look for ways to improve the experience for future guests. We are glad you were still able to see the penguins and hope you will give us another chance in the future.
We had the most incredible experience!! I couldn’t recommend it enough!! Our tour guide Peter was so great!!
Thank you for your fantastic review! We are so glad you had an incredible experience on the Penguins and Wildlife Nature Tour. Peter will be thrilled to hear your kind words about his guidance. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another memorable adventure soon!
