Recently Viewed
Full-Day Phillip Island Tour: Experience Kangaroo, Koala, and Penguin Parade
4.4
714 Ratings
Melbourne
Experience the incredible Penguin Parade on Phillip Island with our full-day tour. Explore top attractions and witness the unforgettable phenomenon of penguins emerging from the water at sunset.
Experience the incredible Penguin Parade on Phillip Island with our full-day tour. Explore top attractions and witness the unforgettable phenomenon of penguins emerging from the water at sunset.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park - Moonlit Sanctuary hosts a variety of iconic Australian animals such as kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils, along with many lesser-known species like the spot-tailed quoll, yellow-bellied glider, and long-nosed potoroo.
- Woolamai Beach - Situated at the base of Cape Woolamai, Woolamai Beach…
- Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park - Moonlit Sanctuary hosts a variety of iconic Australian animals such as kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils, along with many lesser-known species like the spot-tailed quoll, yellow-bellied glider, and long-nosed potoroo.
- Woolamai Beach - Situated at the base of Cape Woolamai, Woolamai Beach is one of Victoria’s most stunning and rugged beaches. With its impressive surf and soft golden sand, a visit to Phillip Island is incomplete without stopping here.
- Cowes - Located at the northern tip of Phillip Island, Cowes is the island’s most populated town. It offers a charming village atmosphere filled with restaurants and bars. Cowes Beach and Jetty provide breathtaking views over the tranquil waters of Western Port Bay towards the Mornington Peninsula.
- The Nobbies Centre - Walk along the Nobbies boardwalk for spectacular views of the impressive volcanic rock formations. Discover Seal Rock, home to the largest colony of Australian Fur seals. Keep an eye out for more Australian wildlife, including Swamp Wallabies and even Penguins.
- Phillip Island Nature Parks - Penguin Parade - As the sun begins to set, head to Summerland Beach for the main attraction. Once the sun has gone down, the little penguins will feel secure enough to come out of the water in small groups and cross the beach. Walk along the boardwalks to accompany these charming birds as they waddle back to their nests, their bellies full from a day of fishing at sea.
What's Included
- Entrance to the Moonlit Sanctuary
- Wildlife Viewing
- General admission to the Penguin Parade
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Free Audio Guide App
- Melbourne CBD Pick up and Drop off
- Entrance to the Moonlit Sanctuary
- Wildlife Viewing
- General admission to the Penguin Parade
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Free Audio Guide App
- Melbourne CBD Pick up and Drop off
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Bottled water
Additional Information
Each evening at dusk, the remarkable Penguin Parade takes place on Phillip Island’s beaches. The resident group of small penguins rises from the ocean to venture back to their burrows in the sand banks - and this journey is your opportunity to experience this indelible event firsthand!
We’ll spend our daytime visiting premier sights like the Moonlit…
Each evening at dusk, the remarkable Penguin Parade takes place on Phillip Island’s beaches. The resident group of small penguins rises from the ocean to venture back to their burrows in the sand banks - and this journey is your opportunity to experience this indelible event firsthand!
We’ll spend our daytime visiting premier sights like the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and the Nobbies, before getting comfortable on the beach, primed for the main event at the Penguin Parade. With all admission costs covered, this value-packed tour is the optimal means to explore Phillip Island’s spellbinding coastal landscapes and lovely wildlife.
- Unfortunately we cannot take infants under the age of 3 years old
- Please note: Evenings on Phillip Island can be cold and windy during the Penguin Parade. We recommend wearing warm clothing, such as a good jacket, to stay comfortable.
- Most travellers can participate
Location
Immigration Museum (Museums Victoria)
Flinders Street
Corner of Flinders Street and Market Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(714 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Willie_m
Jan 16, 2026
Watch the penguins on the... - Watch the penguins on the boardwalk after the parade. It was 10 times better than the coming onto the beach
Review provided by Viator
Colin
Jan 13, 2026
baby blues - Took this ride with Elliott and he is such a great bloke! Not sure I can use that word being American ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Honestly the best tour I’ve been on with the perfect amount of wit, jokes and historical facts so you get everything here! Education, laughter and cute little penguins at the end.
We did the full day Phillip Island tour and you are indeed gone for ~11-12 hours but every minute is worth it along the way. Be sure you’re able to hear the guide whoever you have because they are well versed in the area and have some very fun facts, especially the fourth Hemsworth.
come on… they’re the littlest penguins in the world, they’re blue and they spend a month a sea just to come back and burrow in packs of thousands. One of the coolest things I’ve seen in my life! Thanks penguin parade for making this possible, it’s so cute and so cool to see
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_s
Jan 10, 2026
The penguins are delightful! - We all enjoyed this tour. The highlights were going to the beach, the Nobbies, and, of course the penguin parade. The wildlife park was average and I could have happily missed it. Steve was a good driver and a great host. The penguin parade is a wonderful experience.
Review provided by Viator
Q3181otmariec
Jan 8, 2026
A busy, fun day - A fun day with lots to see, animals, coast and of course the penguins. Our driver Luke was fun and worked hard. Would definitely recommend this trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul_e
Jan 7, 2026
Memorable and fun family time. - It was a long afternoon/ evening.but completely worth it. Glad we dressed in layers for the penguins..
A great way to enjoy with family.
Review provided by Viator
Jane
Jan 7, 2026
Highly recommend - Fabulous day out to Phillip Island stopping at scenic photo stops, the Moonlit Sanctuary and the most amazing Penguin Parade. Our tour guide Ron was very knowledgeable and gave great advice throughout the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jack
Jan 15, 2026
Good sights, but tour company could use improvement - Fantastic views, legendary roads with sightings of special, rare wildlife only found in Australia, both at the sanctuary and in the wild. Although the sights were amazing, I found the tour itself and the guide to be somewhat bland. Minimal explanation on what specifically we were doing, and seemed to just be checking off boxes. I also found the seats to be quite uncomfortable due to the lack of legroom, I developed redness on my knees due to them constantly hitting the seat in front of me. If you’re any taller than 5’10” or so, it’ll likely cause issues for you as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dsouzamaria
Jan 11, 2026
Good trip to Phillip Island! - Steve was a good guide and driver. He had a big job on the hottest day of the year and kept everyone engaged. Phillip Island itself was beautiful and definitely worth a visit. Would’ve preferred more time there than some of the stops we made - had to rush dinner etc. But overall it was all worth it for the penguins and the amazing photographs! The later start in the day is a good shout for those who don’t want to be up at the crack of dawn, but it does mean you get back by midnight which can also be exhausting. Would recommend it if you want a later start in the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emaritamac
Jan 13, 2026
Not as expected… first of... - Not as expected… first of all, it was freezing, my first time in Australia, thought it’s their summer time.( would have appreciated, if advised to wear warmly prior to the trip) It was freezing cold, after 10 minutes viewing at the bleachers, gotta leave… barely see the penguins, ( so little creatures in the dark )was a bad spot for viewing. Wasn’t informed, not even allowed to tat photos. Total big hype, nothing is so exciting about it. Only couple of penguins came at a time from the shore, I was expecting multiple. Our tour guide wasn’t the most personable, so serious and tight … not so very friendly….Not recommended excursion, a disappointment for us
Review provided by Viator
Aemmanuel
Jan 11, 2026
Did not stand up to the expectation - For the hype and cost of the trip, this seemed a bit underwhelming. It takes 8 hours to complete. We were expecting a very large number of penguins coming on shore from the sea, but we saw only a handful. There could have been more we did not see, but I only saw fewer than 50. We weren't very impressed. We went to Melbourne just to see the penguin parade, but it wasn't worth it. Surprisingly, the City and the Great Ocean tour here were wonderful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
More activities from this operator
