Classic Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne

• Enjoy the scenic drive from Melbourne to Phillip Island
• Meet the furry and feathered Aussie locals at a wildlife park
• Learn about the Phillip Island little penguin colony at the Penguin Parade Visitor Information Centre
• Watch the world-famous Penguin Parade
• Enjoy more sightings of the penguins from the boardwalk.

• Guided tour with commentary
• Pick-up and drop-off at selected CBD hotels
• Comfortable air-conditioned transport
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on board your transport
• Friendly and knowledgeable local guide
• Wildlife park entry
• Short guided drive around the island and a stop at The Nobbies (time permitting)
• General Viewing seating for the Penguin Parade.

Book this tour with Penguins Plus seating

This Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne is a friendly and relaxed way to enjoy the unique spectacle of the island’s famous little penguins returning home at dusk after a day of fishing in Bass Strait.

After having your morning free for activities in the CBD, you’ll set off from Melbourne in the early afternoon for the wonderfully scenic drive southeast to Phillip Island. The journey takes around two hours (depending on the traffic), and your knowledgeable local guide will point out places of interest along the way. You’ll also learn interesting historical facts about the small rural towns you pass through.

Your first stop is a wildlife park on the Mornington Peninsula. Here you’ll meet some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas and wallabies. The park is also home to wombats, emus, dingoes and lots of amazing birdlife. It’s the perfect warm-up for the wildlife spectacle you’ll enjoy later in the day!

On arrival at Phillip Island, there should be enough time for a scenic drive and a short stop at The Nobbies for a walk around the headland. Local residents you are likely to meet include swamp wallabies and Cape Barren geese.

The next stop on this Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne is the Penguin Parade Visitor Information Centre for the main event. There’s time for a bite to eat in the café, before you’ll head down to the General Viewing tiered seating area by the beach to watch the parade.

As dusk falls you’ll watch the little penguins coming in from the ocean and heading up the beach to their burrows in the rookery. Once the parade concludes you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see more penguins as you make your way back up the boardwalk to the Visitor Centre.

At the appointed time you’ll make your way back to the bus for the return trip to Melbourne.

Enjoy this wonderful Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne to one of Victoria’s most famous natural attractions.

Penguin Parade seating upgrades

The following Penguin Parade seating upgrades are available. Please follow the prompts to book your upgrade. Please note that all upgrades are subject to availability on the night of your tour. Where an upgrade is not available, the upgrade fee will be refunded.

Penguins Plus

The Penguins Plus seating area is much smaller than the General Viewing area and set in a different section of the beach. The Penguins Plus viewing platform was constructed as a joint venture between Phillip Island Nature Parks and the RACV. The architects drew inspiration from the surrounding landscape, and the platform’s shape mirrors the coves of Phillip Island’s southern coastline. Typically these premium seats allow guests to see more penguins, and at closer range.

Guided Ranger Tour (minimum age: 16+)

At the Penguin Parade Visitor Information Centre, you’ll be met by a park ranger who will take you and a small group of guests (a maximum of ten people) on a guided walk through the rookery and down towards the beach. Along the way you’ll hear lots of interesting facts about the resident little penguins. Your ranger will then accompany you to your reserved seats right on the edge of the beach for the Penguin Parade. As the parade gets underway, the ranger will provide expert commentary on the behaviour of the penguins, and answer any questions you may have.

• Classic Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne
  Jenny33333 – Via TripAdvisor

  This was an excellent day out. Our tour guide was friendly and shared interesting information about the area and wildlife. I really enjoyed seeing the animals at the wildlife park and Philip island.

• Classic Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne
  Jeremy N – Via TripAdvisor

  A really lovely day out with the family, if a bit long. The bus driver and host was the effervescent and welcoming, full of tips and enthusiasm and not short of words (even his homily at the end of the day when most just wanted to get to our beds!). We were lucky with the weather and the penguins were stunning. Downside - no lunch provided. However, the day was enjoyed by us all.

• Classic Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour from Melbourne
  Namitac3009 – Via TripAdvisor

  The journey started with a Wildlife Park. You get to feed the Kangaroos here and get a photo with the Koalas. Our guide was extremely good. Following that, he took us to the helicopter base for the Philip Island Helicopter Tours which was 1/3 options you are presented with. This was courtesy to the day being wonderful and sunny - a perfect day for an aerial view of the island. Finally, the day ended with the Penguin Parade. Thanks to JP’s advice, I had an amazing view of the parade. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who would like to interact with Kangaroos and would enjoy a good Penguin Parade.

• Once your booking has been completed, an order confirmation will be sent automatically to your email address. You will also receive a booking confirmation with hotel pick-up details and operator contact information for the day. Please print the confirmation or have it available on your smart phone.
• Child pricing applies to those aged 0 to 15 years. Infants aged 0 to 4 years are not permitted to travel on an adult’s lap and must occupy a child protective seat. Protective seats are provided free of charge and must be requested at the time of booking. Please add the request in the notes section of your booking.
• This tour operates in all weather conditions. Please dress appropriately for the season and wear suitable footwear. You will be seated outside to watch the Penguin Parade.
• The itinerary provided may change due to weather conditions and operational requirements.
• Please note that no photography of the penguins is permitted.
• To purchase a gift voucher, please click here.
• Do you have a group enquiry? Please contact us.
• View our booking terms and conditions here.