L
Best tour guide
I had the privilege of being guided by our tour guide Aleks. She gave us a great experience, she gave great knowledge of where we were or what we were seeing. And also she had great tunes during the long drive back.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne
+13 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Price from
- $128 / person
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 4,074 reviews
- Languages
- HI, HI, DE, DE
- Group
- Small group, up to 24
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Melbourne
Description
Enjoy a personalised and informative experience with expert guides on small group tours of up to 24 guests, enhanced by a multilingual audio guide application available in 16 languages, including German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, and more.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your day with a colourful photo stop at Melbourne’s famous Brighton Bathing Boxes. Take in the vibrant beachfront setting and capture one of the city’s most recognisable sights before continuing your journey.
Get up close to some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife at Moonlit Sanctuary. Explore the sanctuary, see a variety of native animals, and enjoy the opportunity to feed kangaroos and wallabies.
Arrive on Phillip Island and watch the scenery change as you travel through this beautiful coastal destination. Along the way, your guide will share local stories and insights as you make your way towards the island’s wildlife and coastal highlights.
Stop at the stunning Cape Woolamai surf beach and take in the dramatic coastline, rolling waves and wide-open ocean views. It’s a beautiful taste of Phillip Island’s wild coastal scenery. We visit this spot only during the summer.
Enjoy a relaxed dinner stop in the seaside town of Cowes, with time to choose from a variety of local dining options and soak up the island atmosphere before the evening’s main event. We only stop at this spot during the summer.
Take in sweeping ocean views from The Nobbies, one of Phillip Island’s most spectacular coastal locations. Keep watch for native wildlife and look out towards the offshore seal colony as your guide helps bring the landscape and wildlife of the area to life.
Finish the day with Phillip Island’s most unforgettable wildlife experience. Watch as the little penguins emerge from the ocean after sunset and waddle across the beach towards their nesting grounds, a magical natural event and the perfect way to end your Phillip Island adventure.
Highlights
Pickup from Selected Hotels
WiFi on board
Friendly & Informative Tour Guide
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entry fees for Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Book 2 Tours + City Tour option includes a Great Ocean Road, a Phillip Island and a FREE City tour
What's included
Included
Pickup from Selected Hotels
WiFi on board
Friendly & Informative Tour Guide
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entry fees for Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Book 2 Tours + City Tour option includes a Great Ocean Road, a Phillip Island and a FREE City tour
Not included
Food & Drink (you may bring your own)
Kangaroo & Wallaby Food
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is only available from the list of hotels provided upon checkout. Your pickup will be between 10am-11am (non-daylight savings, AEST) or 11am-12pm (daylight savings, AEDT), depending on which hotel you selected. Your exact meeting time will be provided after a booking is placed. This tour returns to Melbourne between 9pm-12am midnight depending on the season.
Traveller Ratings
4.9
4,074 reviews
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
- 2 Tours + FREE City Tour option: This package includes 3 seperate tours, Great Ocean Road Day Tour, Philip Island Penguin Parade Tour & Melbourne City Discovery Half-day Tou
- 2 Tours + FREE City Tour option: Please note that you will be booked as follows: Great Ocean Road Day Tour, on the date selected. Phillip Island Day Tour, on the following date. You may choose any date for your Melbourne City Tour by contacting us directly
Frequently asked questions
How long does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne take?
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne lasts about 12 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne cost?
Prices start at $128 per person for this Melbourne experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup is only available from the list of hotels provided upon checkout. Your pickup will be between 10am-11am (non-daylight savings, AEST) or 11am-12pm (daylight savings, AEDT), depending on which hotel you selected. Your exact meeting time will be provided after a booking is placed. This tour returns to Melbourne between 9pm-12am midnight depending on the season. Pickup points include CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyMbSKBbS2DLdU3g+lRVpgYE=, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyAG4wRFRO4+aNkMe8qGbcrM=.
What languages is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne offered in?
The experience is available in HI, HI, DE, DE, RU, RU, PT, PT, KO, KO, CMN, CMN, MS, MS, YUE, YUE, EN, IT, IT, FR, FR, ES, ES, AR, AR, VI, VI, TH, TH, JA, JA.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 24 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(4,074)
M
Memorable day the penguins, wild life and magnificent coast
Jess has bees so knowledgeable about the area, safe at driving, entry story teller. Very cool the day was gone in no time
3
Great Experience!
Travis was an absolute wonderful Driver and Tour Guide. It was a tour of a lifetime. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Travis could not have been nicer, or more knowledgeable. But, in the future, very young babies should not be allowed on the tour bus. When they’re crying, it’s very hard to hear the Guide’s information. . At the very least, we should be made aware of a baby on board.
E
Philip Island Penguin Parade Go Niners
Raquel was great and a converted Niners fan!!!! We could really tell the pride she takes in her job and City. She was a great guide and a wealth of knowledge.
E
An Epic Australian Wildlife Experience
Incredible experience while visiting Melbourne! Our guide Michael was very informative, kind, and funny and made our experience here even better. Plus he took some great pictures 😁 we saw so many amazing wildlife animals and marvelous natural landscapes I highly recommend this day trip!
Operator response
An incredible Melbourne experience indeed! 😁 We’re so glad Michael was part of it. It sounds like he kept you entertained while also making sure you didn’t miss all the amazing wildlife along the way — and apparently doubled as your photographer too! 📸 We’re very glad you got some great shots to take home with you. Phillip Island really does pack a lot into one day, from the wildlife to those beautiful coastal landscapes, so it’s lovely to hear you enjoyed the whole adventure. Thanks for coming along with us and for such a great review. We’re thrilled we could be part of your Melbourne memories! 🐨🌊💛
A
Helpful guide Kevin
Kevin is informative and very helpful with the viewing strategy. Smooth itinerary of beach boxes, santuary and penguin parade.
Z
Best tour guide ever
Jools, our tour guide, was fantastic. Several nice personal touches during our tour! She was fantastic in all ways. She was knowledgeable and funny! The tour to the sanctuary was fantastic! The visit to Hobbie shoreline was magical. The penguin parade did not have as many penguins as I had hoped but still a beautiful and fantastic tour.
Operator response
Thanks so much for the lovely review! 😊 We’re so glad you had such a great day with Jools. It’s wonderful to hear that her little personal touches made a difference, and that you enjoyed having her along for the day. She certainly knows how to keep things fun while sharing plenty of knowledge too! The sanctuary and that beautiful stretch of coastline sound like they were real highlights. 🐨🌊 And while the penguins don’t always arrive in the numbers we hope for, we’re glad you still enjoyed the parade and the experience of watching them come ashore. 🐧💛 We’ll make sure Jools sees your kind words. Thanks again for joining us on Phillip Island, and we hope you left with some wonderful memories of the day! 😊
B
Great one day trip from Melbourne
It was a great experience. My son enjoyed feeding the wallabies the most. We loved watching the little penguin parade!
6
Half-day tour of Phillip Island penguin experience
The tour guide's Australian humor is really funny, and the detailed introductions made the whole trip interesting and educational, while also allowing me to feel the charm of Australian thinking logic.
6
Ask for Kevin, have a blast, leave your kids!
We had the best time with Kevin and the trip checked all the boxes. The smaller bus travel is the way to go, and don't worry about the tour length it flies by. We took some shots of the beach boxes, had ample time at the Moonlit Sanctuary to see all the cuties from the wombats to koalas and kangaroos plus a good lunch. Then off to Phillip Island where the ride gets really beautiful and scenic. But Kevin our tour guide brought the magic. He will tell you Melbourne's history and the significance of the sites as you pass them. He will get you to the penguin march right on time and give you all the tips to make the most of your experience. He will play DJ and drive you home despite the rain and traffic. TIP: LEAVE THE KIDS with a sitter. All it takes is one kid having a "moment" that can really disrupt this beautiful tour for everyone else because it is so intimate and every minute is interesting.
Operator response
Thanks so much for the fantastic review! 😊 We’re so glad you had such a great day with Kevin. It sounds like Kevin kept the day moving in all the right ways — and apparently took his DJ duties just as seriously as his guiding ones! 😂 We love hearing that his stories and little tips along the way helped you get even more out of the day. There’s certainly a lot packed into the Phillip Island tour, so we’re happy to hear the day flew by for you. And the wildlife at Moonlit Sanctuary followed by the scenery around Phillip Island and the Penguin Parade makes for a pretty great combination. 🐨🐧 Thanks again for joining us, and for sharing such a fun review. We’ll definitely make sure Kevin knows he brought a little extra magic to the day! 💛
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