P
Kevin was amazing
The experience with the penguins was amazing
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 8–10 hours
- Price from
- $96 / person
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 211 reviews
- Languages
- HI, HI, DE, DE
- Group
- Small group, up to 24
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Bunyip Tours
- Meeting point
- Please wait at the corner of Flinders & Market Streets, next to the Immigration Museum. **Please do not wait at the front entry of the Museum**- Pickup is at 1:45pm if travelling during non-daylight savings times, AEST.- Pickup is at 2:45pm if travelling during daylight savings time, AEDT.
Description
In just one extraordinary day, experience two of Victoria’s top wildlife attractions: the Nobbies and Seal Rocks, with one of Australia's largest colony of fur seals; and the nightly Penguin Parade, where little penguins pop out of the water and waddle across the beach to their burrows. At the Nobbies and Seal Rocks, the clifftop boardwalk opens up breathtaking views of Phillip Island’s wild south coast, and there are further lookout points among natural sea bird gardens which have spectacular flowering displays in spring. Then witness Victoria’s largest colony of little penguins in the nightly Penguin Parade. As dusk falls, hundreds of little penguins splash out of the water onto the beach, making their way to their burrows. They feed at sea and return to their burrows to mate, care for their young and to moult.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 1:45 PM and 2:45 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 15
- Adult (ages 16+)
- $96
- Child (ages 4–15)
- $89
- Infant (ages 0–3)
- $89
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 31 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Nobbies
Views of Phillip Island's rugged south coast and home to Australia's largest fur seal colony.
Penguin Parade
World famous Penguin Parade. Enjoy the brand new visitors centre and learn about the daily lives of the Little Penguins. Take a stroll along the paths and boardwalks trying to spot a Penguin who may have stayed behind from the days fishing and is snuggled up in their burrow. As dusk falls, watch as bands of Penguins come ashore and waddle up Summerland Beach.
What's included
Included
General viewing entry fees at the Penguin Parade
Park Entry Fees
WiFi on board
Friendly & informative tour guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
211 reviews
How it compares in Melbourne
- Starting price $96 is 48% below the typical $184 for tours of similar length in Melbourne
Excurgo comparison of 840 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Photography and video are NOT PERMITTED at the Penguin Parade
- Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
- This tour returns to Melbourne at approximately 9pm-12am depending on the season
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne take?
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne lasts about 8–10 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne cost?
Prices start at $96 per person for this Melbourne experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 1:45 PM and 2:45 PM.
How much does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne cost for children?
Children aged 4–15 pay from $89, adults from $96.
Does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne sell out?
It can: 31 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour from Melbourne for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please wait at the corner of Flinders & Market Streets, next to the Immigration Museum. **Please do not wait at the front entry of the Museum**. - Pickup is at 1:45pm if travelling during non-daylight savings times, AEST. - Pickup is at 2:45pm if travelling during daylight savings time, AEDT. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express 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, EN, 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(211)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Fabulous
Great tour very easy way to see the little penguins
S
This is something you must see
This is something you must see! Such a unique experience and definitely when James/Jaimes is our driver! He’s humerous, super friendly and explains everything very well. He does not only talk about the penguins but also about the island and other wildlife. Would 100% book again.
G
Must see - Phillip Island & the Penguins
It's a lovely way to spend the second half of the day and Go West's Jacqui,our driver and guide,was peppy and full of life .The Penguins are simply too cute and they waddled back from the ocean at near to 7 pm and we got a closer look at them as they made their way from the beach to the penguin highway as it's called ! .The other two stops before at Cape Woolamai Beach and the Nobbies too were good fun....touched the Southern Ocean too and caught some surfers
C
A great trip despite the cold.
We had a good experience from the booking right the way through. The tour guide, Jono , went out of his way to make sure everyone had a good trip and got home safely. He was particularly kind to my grandson who has Autism and finds travel difficult.
J
Great tour, and Tom was an excellent guide
We really enjoyed the Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour. Our guide, Tom, was engaged, knowledgeable, and clearly enjoyed sharing the area with us. Throughout the trip, he shared plenty of interesting facts and took the time to point out wildlife in their natural habitat, including wallabies, birds, and of course the penguins. Tom also gave us some really good pointers on where to sit and what to look for when the penguins started coming ashore. Those little tips made a big difference once the parade started. I would definitely recommend upgrading to the Premium viewing experience. There are no children under 12 in that section, the penguins come incredibly close to the stands, and you also have access to a more private viewing area along the “penguin highway.” Watching them waddle past you up close as they made their way back to their burrows was easily the highlight of the night. Great experience overall, and I’d definitely recommend both the tour and Tom as a guide.
Operator response
Thanks so much for the fantastic review! 😊 We’re really glad you had such a great evening on Phillip Island with Tom M. It sounds like he brought plenty of enthusiasm to the journey and made the most of those wildlife spotting opportunities along the way. 🦘🐦 We especially love hearing that his tips helped you get settled in and enjoy the Penguin Parade once the little ones started making their way up from the beach. And seeing them wander past so close is definitely one of those moments that’s even better when you’re right there watching it happen! 🐧💛 It’s also great to hear that the Premium viewing experience added something extra to your evening. There’s something pretty special about watching the penguins make their way along the “penguin highway” at close range. Thanks again for joining us and for the lovely words about Tom. We’re so happy the Penguin Parade turned out to be the highlight of your night! 😊
I
Annika Schlyter
Guide Chris N really gave himself, and it was so clear he wanted us to have a perfect experience, which we did! What a fantastic place Philip Island is, so many impressions to digest now:) THANKS!
H
Penguins in the wild!
Didn’t see as many penguins as we had hoped but the experience was fantastic. It’s thrilling to see them in the wild. A plus was seeing the night sky. It was moonless and the island location is remote so the milky way is clearly visible from the venue.
P
Great half day trip to Phillip Island
Guide Jaimes was welcoming, humorous, calm and informative (both on Victoria wildlife, beaches and history). Great communication on timing, stops and what to expect at each as well as helpful tips on best viewing areas and penguin spotting. Excellent afternoon tour to see the popular penguin parade.
9
Fantastico, deeply concerned guide
Well timed pick up , Mr Kevin has an excellent voice ,clear tone , good language, well mannered, good man helping you all the way at each and every step legibly , gifted to have him as our tour guide!!! Overall the tour experience was par excellence! Thank you 🙏
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from$96
4.7(211) Free cancellation