See the world’s only wild penguin parade!
See the world’s only wild penguin parade!
Inclusions
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Underground Viewing (if option selected)
3 Parks Pass (if option selected)
Incredible centre. Very modern and informative. Great experience to see the penguins in such a natural environment. Great staff, friendly and doing their best to control large crowds. Loved the no camera policy. Clean facilities, overall 10/10
It was amazing to see the penguins. However, I found that it was a long walk to the beach for the ones who are old, no proper sheds to provide protection from rain. Ticketing experience was good.
The overall experience was reasonably good We had visitors from the UK & wanted them to see the penguin parade . Although we only had general viewing tx , we still had a good view of the beach area . However this was diminished slightly as the. Light directly behind us was not functioning ( the only one not working ) & we feel that this definitely affected our enjoyment, as it was difficult to see the pegiuins as clearly as we would have hoped had the light been in working order .A bit disappointed !
Saw penguins on way out clearly and up close. Online tickets worked great. Appreciated buggy for husband who had difficulty walking so far. Some people didn't follow Ranger's directions, sit on bum and no phones. Thank you great evening.
This was first time for my mum and sister and they loved watching the little guys waddling towards their burrows. I had booked tickets online which was a seamless experience. Glad to see their were plenty of food options as we were hungry. The only not so good experience was trying to locate the charging station.
Great set up and lovely to see the penguins. Disappointed in the number of people not following the rules re seating and photography, which seems to mostly be about the number of people being too large and not enough staff to enforce the rules. Maybe some of the money spent on the fancy building should have gone to employing some more staff.
This is not a reflection on the venue but the disrespect from a majority of guests was disheartening. Those poor animals having flashes from phones they weren't meant to be using, pushing through children with their videos on their phones. The amount of times I had to tell people 'No photos' 'No videos' was ridiculous. There needs to be something in place to stop this from happening. My children have nothing to look back on beacaue I did the right thing and didn't take photos or videos. Get staff to walk around with eftpos machines and fine these entitled people on the spot and make them delete images from their devices.. it was very overwhelming.
Sue the guide was very good, you could see that she loves her job and is (in my opinion) too kind with certain clients. I would have liked more information about the penguins during the "waiting time" on the viewing platform but I had answers to all my questions in the venue. What was really disturbing was the crowd, I'd say at least half of the people there were still taking pictures after the picture policy applied. There should be more staff to assess bad behaviours and especially on the boardwalks where lots of people were shouting (even adults) and using their flash directly in the birds eyes. On top of that and even if it is not part of this experience, the nobbies was the worst. There was people's hats and trash on the grass and everyone would gather around a penguin screaming as soon as it would leave his burrow. I think there should be walls of glass on both sides to reduce trashs and noise pollution.
I love the ambiance of the place, the high light of the penguins parade is amazing and they are so cute. Would love to come back again. Such a great and beautiful experience 🥰
The wait of more than an hour and fifteen minutes was too long on a hard bench. It was quite dark when the penguins came ashore in dries and drabs, not really a parade. I'm glad I went, but was a bit underwhelmed.
Ticket experience was good. The facility excellent, restaurants good. The guide at facility was not too clear in speaking. Plus weather did not go our way. Lots of rain but watch cute little penguins great experience.
The guides were so helpful and experienced within the answers to questions. They were so friendly, I definitely felt seen with questions I had. I am definitely coming back, it is one of those experiences that I just can't wait to experience again.
Everything okay but penguin parade experience was not good.
Beautiful experience for kids., infirmation is amazing.
It all went smoothly especially given how many people were there.
This experience is perfect for
It was a great experience and we saw lot of Penguins there.
Loved the parade but unsure of the numbers advertised we where lucky to see 100 come yet 419 reported to have come in
Everything, courtesy of the guides n the viewing of the penguins. Thank You all very much. Keep up your good work.
Seeing the little penguins in their natural environment was delightful.
Phillip Island’s ultimate wildlife and heritage trio.
Phillip Island’s ultimate wildlife and heritage trio.
Inclusions
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Underground Viewing (if option selected)
This experience is perfect for
Your pace, your penguin adventure—half or full day.
Your pace, your penguin adventure—half or full day.
Inclusions
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Exclusions
Ticketing experience was stress free. Day was good, penguin parade was brilliant, loved the stories the rangers shared. Bus trip was smooth and I appreciated a mid way stop. The excusion offered everything you said in the tour guide. I would suggest that you emphasise to pack something warm- I didnt ( I may have missed that bit!) and ended up buying a nice warm blanket from the shop so now I have a lovely warm little blanket with penguins on it- very cute
Our Guide and Diver Camile was very helpful, Hard a very good nowlegde and was so Kind and friendly!
It was a lovely day trip and as I like listening to the voice of nature and wildlife, it was definitely worth giving a shot. Thank you.
Ver y cool experience, you probably don't get closer to wild penguins, wallabies, or koalas. On the down side, I think the tour should start earlier as some of the stops felt rushed.
Ticketing experience was very easy. The tour guide was amazing, so friendly from the word go, she spoke to every single person for a couple of minutes before we got on the bus. Made everyone feel very welcome. She was so good at explaining everything on the trip and gave us so many hints and tips to make the day even more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend. Fabulous experience.
Bob at the pinguin parade was great. The whole bus went to business class
Dolphins by day, penguins by night!
Dolphins by day, penguins by night!
Inclusions
Phillip Island Cape Woolamai Morning Cruise
Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
3 Parks Pass (if option selected)
Exclusions
Phillip Island Cape Woolamai Morning Cruise
Phillip Island Cape Woolamai Morning Cruise
Nature Parks Penguin Parade
Incredible centre. Very modern and informative. Great experience to see the penguins in such a natural environment. Great staff, friendly and doing their best to control large crowds. Loved the no camera policy. Clean facilities, overall 10/10
Overall it was a great experience.
It was amazing to see the penguins. However, I found that it was a long walk to the beach for the ones who are old, no proper sheds to provide protection from rain. Ticketing experience was good.
The overall experience was reasonably good We had visitors from the UK & wanted them to see the penguin parade . Although we only had general viewing tx , we still had a good view of the beach area . However this was diminished slightly as the. Light directly behind us was not functioning ( the only one not working ) & we feel that this definitely affected our enjoyment, as it was difficult to see the pegiuins as clearly as we would have hoped had the light been in working order .A bit disappointed !
Saw penguins on way out clearly and up close. Online tickets worked great. Appreciated buggy for husband who had difficulty walking so far. Some people didn't follow Ranger's directions, sit on bum and no phones. Thank you great evening.
This was first time for my mum and sister and they loved watching the little guys waddling towards their burrows. I had booked tickets online which was a seamless experience. Glad to see their were plenty of food options as we were hungry. The only not so good experience was trying to locate the charging station.
Great set up and lovely to see the penguins. Disappointed in the number of people not following the rules re seating and photography, which seems to mostly be about the number of people being too large and not enough staff to enforce the rules. Maybe some of the money spent on the fancy building should have gone to employing some more staff.
This is not a reflection on the venue but the disrespect from a majority of guests was disheartening. Those poor animals having flashes from phones they weren't meant to be using, pushing through children with their videos on their phones. The amount of times I had to tell people 'No photos' 'No videos' was ridiculous. There needs to be something in place to stop this from happening. My children have nothing to look back on beacaue I did the right thing and didn't take photos or videos. Get staff to walk around with eftpos machines and fine these entitled people on the spot and make them delete images from their devices.. it was very overwhelming.
Sue the guide was very good, you could see that she loves her job and is (in my opinion) too kind with certain clients. I would have liked more information about the penguins during the "waiting time" on the viewing platform but I had answers to all my questions in the venue. What was really disturbing was the crowd, I'd say at least half of the people there were still taking pictures after the picture policy applied. There should be more staff to assess bad behaviours and especially on the boardwalks where lots of people were shouting (even adults) and using their flash directly in the birds eyes. On top of that and even if it is not part of this experience, the nobbies was the worst. There was people's hats and trash on the grass and everyone would gather around a penguin screaming as soon as it would leave his burrow. I think there should be walls of glass on both sides to reduce trashs and noise pollution.
I love the ambiance of the place, the high light of the penguins parade is amazing and they are so cute. Would love to come back again. Such a great and beautiful experience 🥰
The wait of more than an hour and fifteen minutes was too long on a hard bench. It was quite dark when the penguins came ashore in dries and drabs, not really a parade. I'm glad I went, but was a bit underwhelmed.
Ticket experience was good. The facility excellent, restaurants good. The guide at facility was not too clear in speaking. Plus weather did not go our way. Lots of rain but watch cute little penguins great experience.
The guides were so helpful and experienced within the answers to questions. They were so friendly, I definitely felt seen with questions I had. I am definitely coming back, it is one of those experiences that I just can't wait to experience again.
Everything okay but penguin parade experience was not good.
Beautiful experience for kids., infirmation is amazing.
It all went smoothly especially given how many people were there.
This experience is perfect for
We had a great experience. The one hour cruise was amazing. Our stay should have been longer.
It was a great experience and we saw lot of Penguins there.
Loved the parade but unsure of the numbers advertised we where lucky to see 100 come yet 419 reported to have come in
Everything, courtesy of the guides n the viewing of the penguins. Thank You all very much. Keep up your good work.
Seeing the little penguins in their natural environment was delightful.
Meet koalas in the treetops, just minutes from the beach.
Meet koalas in the treetops, just minutes from the beach.
Inclusions
3 Parks Pass (if option selected)
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Underground Viewing (if option selected)
This experience is perfect for
Sunrise at Melbourne’s beach boxes to sunset with penguin viewing!
Sunrise at Melbourne’s beach boxes to sunset with penguin viewing!
Inclusions
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Underground Viewing (if option selected)
Very efficient and fun. Tour guide was fantastic.
Penguins, very much. The animal park was just ok. The amount of time on the bus, while perhaps unavoidable, was not enjoyable. Very, very long day. Would have loved the opportunity to swim. Brighton beach houses were a bust, didn't even have time to kick off shoes and wade in the beautiful water.
The tour was amazing! Definitely recommend if you're wanting to see the beautiful views victoria has to offer. Moonlit sanctuary homing an incredible range of native animals offering close up experiences. Phillip Island did not disappoint, being able to see the penguins in their natural habitat was a once in a lifetime experience. Our journey made even better by our tour guide Jonno who was friendly, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about his job.
The tour guide Graeme was great and went out of the way to stop the bus and help us spot roos, wallabies and other wild life on our journey.
Step into 1850s farm life on a scenic island.
Step into 1850s farm life on a scenic island.
Inclusions
3 Parks Pass (if option selected)
Penguins Plus (if option selected)
Underground Viewing (if option selected)
Ticketing was easy to follow and information and maps for the three activities were good. The staff at all three were really helpful, pleasant and made the experiences fun. It was fun getting close to the animals at Churchill Island and the highlight was milking the cow. Walking around the koala reserve and again getting to see them up close was special. The highlight of the afternoon was the penguin parade, particularly getting to see them as they went to their burrows, from the boardwalk. We all agreed that we had a great day. We self drove.
Amazing as always.... HOWEVER, please get your wardens to supervise properly at Philip island and stop people from using camera and trying to climb over barriers to get to the penguins!! There was so many just stood around talking together it was very disappointing and to be honest will put us off from going again because it breaks your heart!
The seating arrangement is not the best. Unless you're in the first couple of rows, you can't really see. And if someone stands up, you really can't see anything. It's pretty chaotic. I've done the same experience in Dunedin, NZ and it was way less chaotic.
We enjoyed the experience of seeing the penguins coming out of the sea but unfortunately, it was very cold that evening. The walk down was great on the boardwalk but it would have been better if drinks had been available especially as there was a cold wind blowing.
This experience is perfect for
Very relaxing place to visit. Tickets were really easy to book.
It was fun and for a first time experience the atmosphere was phenomenal definitely will be back ...
That is very good I wish agine we want visit this place
The 3 parks pass made our trip very convenient, and the price is also a bit cheaper which is nice!
Inclusions
Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower
Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower
Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable, making our experience a great one. And the penguins were so cute and adorable when they came into the beach.
Incredible centre. Very modern and informative. Great experience to see the penguins in such a natural environment. Great staff, friendly and doing their best to control large crowds. Loved the no camera policy. Clean facilities, overall 10/10
Great view, I love the small balcony that I can be outside in the wind!
Great experience if it's your first time in Melbourne. Amazing view!!
It was amazing to see the penguins. However, I found that it was a long walk to the beach for the ones who are old, no proper sheds to provide protection from rain. Ticketing experience was good.
The walk to watch the parade was very good, seating was really good, guides were great even when they had people still wanting to take photos they had great patience, the facilities where first clss, great evening that we recommending to all our family and friends.
My first time taking my 2 kids 12 and 8 to the penguins. The kids loved seeing the penguins up close and fearing their sounds as they found their burrows. . There were a lot of disrespectful people there standing up and taking photos and videos. It was a sold out evening so we barely got to see any penguins coming on to shore, maybe 4. Thank goodness their experience was made so much better as we walked back along the boardwalk. . The staff were great but constantly having to tell people to sit down and stop using their phones for photos and video.
The overall experience was reasonably good We had visitors from the UK & wanted them to see the penguin parade . Although we only had general viewing tx , we still had a good view of the beach area . However this was diminished slightly as the. Light directly behind us was not functioning ( the only one not working ) & we feel that this definitely affected our enjoyment, as it was difficult to see the pegiuins as clearly as we would have hoped had the light been in working order .A bit disappointed !
I enjoyed the experience of waiting and watching the penguins to return home. I had no expectations, so it made the experience more joyful as I waited in anticipation for the arrival of their return. One of nature's amazing gift to us.
Ticketing via your website was very easy. Your commentary from Sue was fantastic, she knows her stuff. Thank you. We spoke to a few guides and they were all great to have chat about the penguins with.
Saw penguins on way out clearly and up close. Online tickets worked great. Appreciated buggy for husband who had difficulty walking so far. Some people didn't follow Ranger's directions, sit on bum and no phones. Thank you great evening.
This was first time for my mum and sister and they loved watching the little guys waddling towards their burrows. I had booked tickets online which was a seamless experience. Glad to see their were plenty of food options as we were hungry. The only not so good experience was trying to locate the charging station.
Great set up and lovely to see the penguins. Disappointed in the number of people not following the rules re seating and photography, which seems to mostly be about the number of people being too large and not enough staff to enforce the rules. Maybe some of the money spent on the fancy building should have gone to employing some more staff.
It's a unique experience for sure and it was very special watching the wee guys gather together n make their way up the beach....hoping the seagulls wouldn't attack them. However, I would advise anyone going to wrap up warm as it was pretty chilly. We all loved the experience
This is not a reflection on the venue but the disrespect from a majority of guests was disheartening. Those poor animals having flashes from phones they weren't meant to be using, pushing through children with their videos on their phones. The amount of times I had to tell people 'No photos' 'No videos' was ridiculous. There needs to be something in place to stop this from happening. My children have nothing to look back on beacaue I did the right thing and didn't take photos or videos. Get staff to walk around with eftpos machines and fine these entitled people on the spot and make them delete images from their devices.. it was very overwhelming.
Ticketing was online, and seamless. However, disappointed that we saw a total of possibly less than 50 penguins. So not a parade, more like a small trickle.
Sue the guide was very good, you could see that she loves her job and is (in my opinion) too kind with certain clients. I would have liked more information about the penguins during the "waiting time" on the viewing platform but I had answers to all my questions in the venue. What was really disturbing was the crowd, I'd say at least half of the people there were still taking pictures after the picture policy applied. There should be more staff to assess bad behaviours and especially on the boardwalks where lots of people were shouting (even adults) and using their flash directly in the birds eyes. On top of that and even if it is not part of this experience, the nobbies was the worst. There was people's hats and trash on the grass and everyone would gather around a penguin screaming as soon as it would leave his burrow. I think there should be walls of glass on both sides to reduce trashs and noise pollution.
I love the ambiance of the place, the high light of the penguins parade is amazing and they are so cute. Would love to come back again. Such a great and beautiful experience 🥰
we were disappointed with how little penguins we saw, were expecting to see alot more . Maybe on nights like we had, you offer thoses who can, free entry to be used for another night .
The wait of more than an hour and fifteen minutes was too long on a hard bench. It was quite dark when the penguins came ashore in dries and drabs, not really a parade. I'm glad I went, but was a bit underwhelmed.
Ticket experience was good. The facility excellent, restaurants good. The guide at facility was not too clear in speaking. Plus weather did not go our way. Lots of rain but watch cute little penguins great experience.
It was truly a dream come true. Sue & Pip the park rangers really looked after us well, ensuring that we saw the penguins up close. Watching the little penguins come out of the water at sundown in groups of 30, 40 & 50 & waddling up the beach was a sight to behold. An experience not to be missed....can't recommend it enough
Upgraded to penguin plus well worth it Hundreds of little penguins up close A frenzy at the end with a chaotic race to the final viewing area Keep hold of your small kids
Whilst in general it was a wonderful experience (even though there was not many penguins) there was disconnect with the message given by guide regarding the use of phones/cameras. It felt like there 1 rule for some and a different one for others. There needs to be closer observation/enforcement for non compliance to those using cameras. People disobeying this instruction need to be removed from the area. Penguins were definitely distracted by this. 😒
The guides were so helpful and experienced within the answers to questions. They were so friendly, I definitely felt seen with questions I had. I am definitely coming back, it is one of those experiences that I just can't wait to experience again.
These tickets give you entry to one of Phillip Island's top attractions: Koala Conservation Reserve or Churchill Island. Best for folks who want to explore at their own pace, or are short on time.
Recommended experiences:
Get the best seats for Phillip Island's most popular attraction, attracting over 2 million people from all over the world each year! If there's one thing you cannot miss on the island, it would be watching Little Penguins waddle up from the sea to their burrows.
Recommended experience:
Get the most value for money with the 3 Park Pass, which will give you entry to Penguin Parade, Koala Reserve & Churchill Island. These tickets are great if you're looking to explore Phillip Island on a budget.
Recommended experience:
Enjoy round trip transfers from the city while you explore Phillip Island. Choose to visit attractions like Brighton Beach, Healesville Sanctuary & Puffing Billy, for an added dose of adventure. Great for folks who want hassle free commutes & a guided tour of the island.
Recommended experiences:
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you’ll get to see Little Penguins waddle their way back home just after sunset. Standing tall at just 33 centimeters, they might just be the cutest things you see up close!
Distance from Melbourne: 141.8 km
If you're skipping a guided day trip and planning on travelling to Phillip Island by yourself, these are your best options:
Some of the top-rated hotel and motel options at Phillip Island are:
Top restaurants at Phillip Island include:
Absolutely! Phillip Island is one of the most unique experiences in Australia, with untouched wild forests and beaches, penguins visiting every day, whales and dolphins making their presences known to visitors, and a beautiful bar/pub culture. It’s a wonderful experience to go on if it’s your first time in Australia!
Taking a guided tour can enhance your experience, especially if you want to learn more about the island's history, wildlife, and conservation efforts. Book half and full-day tours, with optional upgrades to attractions like Puffing Billy, Healesville Sanctuary, Moonlit Sanctuary and more.
To reach Phillip Island from Melbourne city center, you can drive, take a bus, or join a guided tour that includes transportation. The distance is approximately 140 km, and the journey takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic.
If you want to see the famous Penguin Parade, the best time to visit is during the cooler months from September to April when the penguins return to shore at sunset. However, if you're interested in whale watching, the best time is from May to October when whales migrate along the coast.
We’d recommend booking your tickets in advance, especially during peak seasons like holidays and weekends, as it is a popular tourist destination. This applies particularly to attractions like the Penguin Parade and the Koala Conservation Centre.
Dogs are generally not allowed inside most attractions on Phillip Island due to conservation efforts and the protection of wildlife.
Weather can affect transportation options to Phillip Island, particularly if you're planning to take a ferry. Rough seas or inclement weather might cause cancellations or delays, so it's advisable to check weather forecasts and transportation updates before your trip. Check out our plan your visit page for more tips to keep in mind during your visit.
Phillip Island provides amenities and assistance for people with disabilities at most attractions. These include wheelchair access, accessible restrooms, ramps, special parking and wheelchairs for rent.
There's no strict dress code for entering Phillip Island, but it's advisable to dress comfortably and consider the weather conditions, especially if you plan to spend time outdoors. Carry layers in case it gets cold, especially for the Penguin Parade.