1 Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour

Days
1
DEPARTS
13:45 /Summer
11:45 /winter
RETURNS
23:45 (summer)
21:45 (winter)
FROM
$165 AUD
$125 DEAL

Join our Phillip Island Penguins Tour, and we’ll showcase the very best Phillip Island has to offer. Located on Victoria’s South Coast, Phillip Island is home to a colony of around 32,000 Little Penguins. Each night, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of penguins emerge from the surf and waddle across the beach at the world-famous Penguin Parade. This full-day tour includes nature walks along Phillip Island’s stunning beaches and boardwalks, meeting some of the local furry residents and of course the Penguin Parade. Your tour guide will explain the best places to sit in each Penguin Viewing Area to maximise your overall experience.

Phillip Island Penguins Tour Highlights

  • Watch the wildlife spectacle that is the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
  • Guided ranger journey through the Philip Island Koala Conservation Reserve
  • Discover and explore the natural beauty, history and significance of Phillip Island
  • Travel off the beaten track on dirt roads along the Phillips Island coastal cliffs spotting wallabies and birds of prey
  • Take a stroll around the Nobbies and Seal Rocks coastal boardwalks
  • Explore the Phillip Island Penguin visitor centre

Why Should You Visit Phillip Island?

This Phillip Island Penguin Tours is an animal lover’s dream! Join us on an adventure south of Melbourne to the beautiful Phillip Island. One day we will experience a guided ranger journey through the Philip Island Koala Reserve, walk along wild and rugged surf beaches, spot wild Kangaroos and Wallabies, and at the end of the day, visit the world-famous Penguin Parade.

OPERATES

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN
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●Departs all year round except 25th Dec & 1st Jan
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Phillip Island Penguins Tour Itinerary

Located 140 km southeast of Melbourne, drive to the majestic Phillip Island, home to a little over 7,000 people and over a hundred different species of animals. This is a small Island. Still, it is steeped in significant areas of beauty with scientific, historic and archaeological interest.

It is only a 1hr 45min drive from Melbourne directly to Phillip Island. On arrival, you will be greeted by Phillip Island Nature Parks Ranger for a guided walk through Phillip Island’s Koala Reserve. You will be given a presentation about Koalas, the history and relevance of the Reserve and the last area of natural woodland on the island.

Phillip Island was a favourite hunting, fishing and foraging ground of the Yalloc Bulluck, one of the largest clans of the Bunurong people. These first Australians would cross over to the island in the Summer months and during the ‘egging season’. With the abundance of wildlife still here today it is understandable why the area was popular. Evidence of the Yalloc Bulluk’s foraging can be found today, with middens viewable at the Penguin Parade and within the Summerlands National Park. Phillip Island Nature Parks is actively working to enhance visitor understanding and preservation of these areas of cultural significance.

As you enter Summerlands, you will notice the absence of any housing. This is the part of the island which is all National Park. You will see the small wooden man-made burrows in which penguins who have not gone out fishing for the day are hiding. We will take a walk along the boardwalks of ‘The Nobbies‘ and have a look to see if we can spot any Little Penguins in their burrows. Follow the walkways to view ‘The Blowhole‘, where waves come crashing onto the dark volcanic rock. The caves and formations at this naturally craggy peninsula make for many dramatic photos, with the backdrop of Seal Rocks – on a sunny day, you might be lucky enough to see Australian Fur Seals basking in the sun. If you do not fancy braving the boardwalks, then step inside the Nobbies Information Centre. Here you can peruse the gift shop, grab a hot drink or discover the ‘Antarctic Journey Experience’. Antarctic Journey Entry can be added on for $18 per person and gives an immersive insight into the many marine animals of the Southern Hemisphere. As a WWF attraction, your entrance fee will go directly back into helping protect and preserve these majestic creatures of the deep Southern Ocean.

Departing the Nobbies, we embark on your off-road journey with incredible views and opportunities to spot Wallabies on the drive. Your guided tour will build up the anticipation of seeing wild Little Penguins, providing information about their unique habits and features. Did you know they have over 3000 feathers?

As the sun begins to set, it is time to make your way to the Penguin Parade. The Little Penguins only come out of the water after the sun has gone down so that they can be sure to stay out of the way of any predators in the air above them. The Penguin Parade ask that no photography is taken from this point on. This is to protect the sensitive eyes of the Little Penguins and ensure they are not scared. Wildlife Tours fully supports this request. We believe you will enjoy witnessing such an amazing natural spectacle without the distraction of getting the ‘perfect photo’ – allow yourself to be fully immersed in the experience! If you’re also considering travelling the Great Ocean Road, combine the two destinations deals for an overnight trip with us on our 2 Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour. Take the hassle out of planning and driving, sit back and enjoy the journey.

Trip Details

What you need to bring?

Our central meeting point for this tour will be Immigration Museum (east-side), 400 Flinders St, corner of Market St, Melbourne @ 11:45AM (winter) / 13:45PM (summer).

Winter | Summer

This tour is affected by daylight savings hours, and departure time changes to maximize the sunset experience.

  • 02 Oct 2022 – 01 Apr 2023 summer @ 1:45pm
  • 02 Apr 2023 – 30 Sep 2023 winter @ 11:45am
  • 01 Oct 2023 – 06 Apr 2024 summer @ 1:45pm.

***If you cannot find your desired pickup location, please contact our office for a more exhaustive list of locations.* It is strongly recommended that you arrive at your pickup location at least 10 minutes before departure time. Please be patient and do not panic if your bus is running a few minutes late. If your bus has not picked you up within 10 minutes of your departure time, then contact our office on 03 9393 1300.

Pricing and package Deal Discounts

Fare prices: $165 Adult (13+) / $125 Children (0-12)

To organise your own private tour of Phillip Island contact our charters team on charters@gltg.com.au. Follow our itinerary or customise your own it’s up to you. Enjoy the convenience of a pickup and drop off at your address and relax exploring new places with loved ones.

What you need to bring?

What's Included?

FAQ

The price of a 7-day trip to Phillip Island is $2000 for a single tourist, $3600 for a couple, and $6800 for a family of 4. Hotels in Phillip Island range from $60 to $175 a night, averaging $100, and vacation rentals will cost from $170 to $1050 a night for the whole house.

Phillip Island delivers an incredible experience of Australia’s wildlife against a backdrop of stunning scenery. The famous penguin parade is just the beginning, so get ready for a holiday filled with nature, regional cuisine, wine and fresh sea air. Phillip Island is most conveniently reached by car.

The best time to visit Phillip Island is during the warm months, from November to March. During summertime, the weather is perfect, and you can enjoy all the experiences this gorgeous part of Australia offers!

For swimming and paddleboarding on Phillip Island, take benefit of the calm waters of Cowes Main Beach, Ventnor Beach, Red Rocks Beach, San Remo Back Beach and Silverleaves Beach.

Connection to the mainland by a bridge, Phillip Island is comfortable and convenient to reach by car. The journey from Melbourne or Gippsland and check out the numerous scenic spots, attractions, wineries and eateries along the way.

The water temperature (59 °F) in Forrest Caves (Phillip Island) is quite remarkable. If the sun is forecast to come out, the water should be warm enough to surf in a well-covered spring wetsuit. Some surfers prefer to wear gloves and boots.

Ticket options · Adult (16 years+) – $13.70 AUD · Child (4-15 years) – $6.85 AUD · Family (2 adults and 2 children) – $34.30 AUD · Australian Pensioner (ID required) – $9.55 AUD.

Reservations are required year-round for our Guided Ranger, Penguins Plus and Underground Viewing tours.

Sunset time
The Penguin Parade visitor centre currently opens at 5 PM. The penguins arrive every evening at sunset. We recommend that you arrive about an hour before penguin time.

Tour Review

phillip island tour review

“I had a wonderful day! Tour guide (Dan) was full of knowledge about all the animals I have seen. Besides that, he was really friendly and helpful for the entire day. Travelled in a small group which was perfect to speak to one another. Long story short, perfect” – Patrik – Netherlands

Our Phillip Island Tour departs daily from Melbourne at convenient locations throughout the city. All online bookings and deals are secure and encrypted, powered by Eway payments. Book online and save.

17 thoughts on “1 Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour”

  1. I went to Phillip Island this July 2019 and that was a perfect day. If you love animals, here is the place. We visit the Maru Wildlife park with koalas, wallabies, parrots… Don’t forget to bring warm clothes in winter for the Penguin Parade because it’s getting chilly aha
    By the way, the Penguin Parade is something to see in your life, this is a cute moment

  2. Had a fab day

    Dan was a great guide, top tips on how to get the most out of each experience. Thoroughly kick started my holiday in the right fashion 🙂 penguins, wallaby and koalas galore

    Thanks again for a great day

  3. I had a lovely day on the Phillip Island tour, started at the Maru Wildlife park and then went on to a chocolate factory as most people wanted to go there, had some really good chocolate! After this we went on to a board walk with beautiful views over the sea. As the evening was nearing it was time to go the Pengiun parade. We got time ourselves to walk around and watch the penguins coming out of the water. The penguins were so much smaller than i expected which made them really cute! Overall had a great day and will not forget about the cute little penguins!

  4. The tour was excellent. Seeing more than 500 little penguins parade on the beach was a beautiful experience. The tour is greatly recommended. I went there Sunday April 8, and I had fun.

  5. On the off chance that you like penguins, at that point this is the visit for you! In spite of this being a significant tourist trap area, this group tour completes an extraordinary activity giving you guidance on how best to see the thousand penguins coming up the shoreline/cliffside. It is such a cool experience and I thoroughly recommend it. You additionally get the opportunity to sustain some child and grown-up kangaroos and hang out with them and get the chance to see some other extraordinary Australia natural life also. You can likewise pay additional cash to get a photograph holding a koala, which is really one of a kind because there aren’t a considerable measure of areas that let you do that. Visit manage was an extraordinary child with a great deal of good data and they set up lunch for you and everything, which is pleasant, yet normal.

  6. Visit was awesome fun… penguins are so charming and Phil our guide was exceptionally fascinating! Would prescribe to everybody who visits Melbourne.

  7. Happy Traveller

    We enjoyed seeing the parrots and the penguin parade. It was nice. I highly recommend this tour. We went there last July. It was chilly that night. Make sure to have a warm coat. We love it.

  8. The penguins were extraordinary, I liked the experience! The nature park was pleasant. It was an extraordinary a whole day. The tour guide was beautiful and lovely.

  9. Great tour. Our guide/driver was Philip. He was cool. Not so much penguins as I thought, but still it was great.

  10. Incredible outing to a wildlife stop on Philip Island. Our tour guide was Kelly, she was extremely enlightening and awesome. She’s fun as well. The penguin parade was beautiful. I certainly suggest this tour.

  11. Kaardell, Lund Sweden

    We did the Phillip island tour and for us it was a great experience. We were 25 people, so not to big of a group and the pick up bus arrived on time.

    For lunch we had a choice between chicken or ham sandwiches and with that a roll and some dried fruit. We were also offered coffee and tea.

    All the stops were good, and one of the things that really made our day great was our guide Neal who did an excellent job telling us what we could expect of the different stops. I think enough time was offered at each stop.

    We got to see a great deal of wildlife, both in the park and out in the wild. Remember to bring warm clothes when watching the parade, since the night gets cold even in summertime.

  12. Sayforall, Utrecht The Netherlands

    I chose ‘Wildlife Tours Australia’ because the programme itinerary was nice and the expenses were suitable to my pocket. It was a one day trip to Phillip Island. I would like to thank the friendly tour guide (Mike was his name, conducted the whole trip, drove us there and managed everything so well) especially for such a nice experience. The trip included visit to Maru wildlife park, Churchill island and the Phillip island. The evening visit to penguin parade was an incredible experience. I would highly recommend people to take this trip.

  13. R_Doshi02, Singapore Singapore

    Timely pick-up from hotel. The driver/tour guide for my tour was Mr Matt D who had a good knowledge regarding the places in the agenda even took the effort to remember everyone’s name for that tour.

    Pretty commendable. Sandwiches, biscuits and drinks were provided prior to Maru Koala Park visit. The beaches visited were beautiful. Got to see the Penguins coming out from the sea in the evening, Not to be missed. Recommended

  14. Daphne B, Zaandijk The Netherlands

    I went on the Phillip Island Day Tour on the 24th of October together with my best friend. We didn’t know what to expect of the day but we were pleasantly surprised! The day started of with a visit to a nice small wildlife park where you could see some koala’s and kangaroos. After that we continued our trip to Phillip Island we visited some beautiful sights of the island where we got the chance to do a walk and enjoy the nature. We ended the day with the well known Penguin Parade. It was amazing to see all those cute little penguins searching their homes to spent the night! There were hundreds of them, I couldn’t stop smiling. We had a nice lunch included in the tour and the tour guide told us some interesting information about the island and the penguins. I would highly recommend this trip, it was great fun!

  15. LadyGaoGao, Los Angeles California

    Great service from beginning to end. We had a dashing tour guide named Sid, who was considerate, entertaining, and very accommodating. He adjusted the stops accordingly and we were never rushed or spent too long at a stop. My husband and I had a wonderful time and this day tour was one of the highlights of our first trip to Australia.

  16. Bill was our tour operator n he was awesome in detailing.

    May be d size of coach was little cramp n should be improved upon.

    Quality of lunch also require improvement.

  17. Wow, myself and the wife took this tour to phillip island after extensive travel around australia.
    Along with all the wildlife, kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, emus etc we got to witness the penguins waddle up the beach.

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