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Full-Day Phillip Island Tour: Experience Kangaroo, Koala, and Penguin Parade
4.4
717 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
(717 Ratings)
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Wheretonext1919
Apr 4, 2026
PENGUINS!!!! - PENGUINS!! Absolutely LOVED seeing the penguins come ashore! The French Island portion was cool to see wild Koalas and the rustic lunch was definitely unique but there wasn't much else. Drove around a lot of dirt roads looking at farmland so we'd skip that part next time. Would have loved to have more time to explore some of the local shops upon arrival to Phillip Island but really the tour is all about the Penguin Parade and that alone is worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Blossom_h
Apr 3, 2026
Fun trip with animal... - Fun trip with animal experiences. Was able to see Wallabies, Quokkas, and some Australian native animals. The tour guide Craig was friendly and caring.
Review provided by Viator
Thomas_m
Mar 30, 2026
We had a great tour of... - We had a great tour of the Moonlit sanctuary and headed to the Penguin Parade. We were disappointed that we didn’t find out until 15 minutes before arriving at the Penguin Parade that photos of the penguins were not allowed. The description of the tour should mention this. Even some of the tourist photos show the penguins and those should be removed.
Review provided by Viator
Sandra
Mar 30, 2026
Not to be missed penguin parade - Despite the weather we had a fabulous day with lots of interesting commentary from John our driver guide.
These little penguins are so cute and it was well worth the time and value for money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dian_m
Mar 28, 2026
Great experience - John was entertaining and very informative. He told us a lot about the places and animals we were stopping to see and pointed out things along the way. The only thing that would have made this perfect was being picked up from the ship
Review provided by Viator
Michael_w
Mar 20, 2026
Day at Prince Island - Long day, but lots of fun. Missed the koala experience (was sold out when we got there) but was able to feed and pet wallabies and baby kangaroo. Penguin march was a bit anticlimactic (not an army, just a dozen or so at a time), but still fun. Definitely worth the trip and our guide/driver, Craig, was wonderful.
Review provided by Viator
V4106pocatherinel
Mar 20, 2026
U - Interesting journey. Information that the guide distills over the trip and visits.
Magic the spectacle of the arrival on the beach of pygmy penguins. .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachel_k
Mar 29, 2026
Great experience... - Great experience especially the visit to the Moonlit Sanctuary where we got to handfeed wallabies. The penguin parade was a bit dissapointing - only saw 7 penguins (too many people) and the weather was dismal. I think March may not be the best time to visit. Luke the tour guide was great though
Review provided by Viator
Susietude
Mar 31, 2026
Would not highly recommend - The driver turned off the AC when talking to us rather than using the microphone and leaving the AC on.
There were too many stops for 40 passengers to have to get on and off the bus and have time to move about.
An hour was not enough time in Cowes (to eat and get to/from the restaurant choices).
The driver did not lower the bus for us to get on and off when probably half the passengers were over 50 and a few made it more obvious how difficult it was to pull ourselves in and out of the bus.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
725edithe
Mar 22, 2026
Disappointed with the Philip Island Tour, but guide (bus driver) to the Top - After driving the Great Ocean Road, I was a little disappointed with Philip Island Day: we went to the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park where we are supposed to see free-ranging kangaroos, koalas, etc... Fortunately, there were not so many people, but approaching the kangaroos was almost impossible mission given the "incivility" of some families to "grab" all the animals on their way and film for long minutes without leaving room for others...
Then, the Penguin Parade: we didn't see anything, except 6 penguin dots that we guessed information on the beach... Fortunately on the way back to the bus location, we just directed them into the "dunes and vegetation"
And the other stops were insignificant especially if you do the Great Ocean Road before, which it is really worth it ...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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