The Phillip Island Penguin Parade is one of Melbourne’s most popular day trips and a great way to spend an evening. Get ready for a trip with beautiful coastline views, native animals, and the famed Little Penguins procession that happens every night at sunset.
Koala Conservation Reserve
The Koala Conservation Reserve is our first stop, and it’s about an hour and 45 minutes from Melbourne. You may stroll along treetop boardwalks by yourself and learn about the local koala population, the Reserve’s role in safeguarding the remnant forest ecosystem, and the ecology of Phillip Island as a whole.
Explore Phillip Island
We keep going through the island from the Reserve. The island spans 10,000 hectares and is home to more than 100 native animal species. The modest permanent population of Phillip Island, around 15,000, swells significantly during the holidays. Cape Woolamai, Newhaven, and Cowes, a busy coastal town, are some of the most important towns.
Cowes
We usually stop at Cowes, where you can stretch your legs, walk along the shoreline of Western Port Bay, shop, or dine at one of the many cafés and restaurants.
Phillip Island Nature Parks
As you go through Phillip Island Nature Parks, you’ll see the area’s famous combination of sandy beaches, animal habitats, and rocky headlands. The Little Penguin population on this island is the biggest in the world.
Nobbies and Seal Rocks
The next destination is the beautiful coastline of the Nobbies and Seal Rocks. You may take an optional guided stroll along the boardwalks to viewpoint locations where you can see penguin burrows and hear the surf crashing below.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Finally, we take the quieter back roads that pass through penguin habitat to reach the area where we can see the Penguin Parade. Pick your favourite spot at the Visitor Centre and get ready for the major event of the night: when the Little Penguins come out of the water and start their nightly walk over the beach to their burrows.
These amazing birds are about 30 cm long and weigh around 1 kilogram. They are the tiniest penguin species in the world. Fairy Penguins or Blue Penguins are also known as these birds. They live in colonies along the coast of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Distance by car: around 300 kilometres
Distance to walk: less than 1 km
Please note that departure times vary throughout the year to align with sunset and daylight saving time.
Travel with us to Phillip Island Nature Parks, a region known for sweeping beaches, dramatic coastlines, and some of the most iconic Aussie wildlife encounters in the country. Home to an estimated 32,000 Little Penguins, this destination has earned a reputation as one of Victoria’s most memorable wildlife viewing experiences — and for good reason.
Child fares apply to ages 0–12. Infants aged 0–4 may join selected sightseeing departures, but some tours are not suitable due to terrain or day length. An infant must still be ticketed, as they count toward passenger numbers. Child safety seats can be requested but are not guaranteed, and prams cannot be taken onboard.
Penguins arrive at sunset each evening. Check the Penguin Arrival Calendar for exact times. Arriving one hour early allows time to explore the Visitor Centre displays or grab a meal before heading to the beach.
Photography and filming are not permitted. Little Penguins have highly sensitive eyes, and sudden light or flashes can disorient them. Rangers actively enforce this rule to protect the colony.
Please bring only a small daypack. Larger bags and suitcases must be stored at your accommodation or in station lockers prior to boarding.
Only a low level of fitness is required; the walking components are short and manageable.
Tours generally operate with around 35 passengers aboard 28- or 38-seater Yutong coaches equipped with air-conditioning, large windows, and USB charging. On occasion, a larger vehicle may be used depending on demand.
Tours operate in most weather conditions. Only extreme weather that makes travel on Phillip Island unsafe would cause a cancellation. Because the parade takes place outdoors at sunset, warm and waterproof clothing is strongly recommended.
Enhanced hygiene practices and increased cleaning measures are in place for your safety. Further information is available from the tour operator.
A 1L refillable water bottle, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, comfy walking shoes, warm layers for the evening, a windproof jacket, small daypack (5–7kg), money for meals/snacks, and a camera to capture the journey.
Central meeting point:
Immigration Museum (east side), 400 Flinders St, corner of Market St, Melbourne
11:45 am (winter) / 13:45 pm (summer)
Pick-up Schedule (Winter | Summer):
11:05 | 13:05 — Pegasus Apartments Hotel
11:08 | 13:08 — Brady Apartment Hotel Hardware Lane
11:10 | 13:10 — Melbourne Marriott Hotel
11:15 | 13:15 — Space Hotel
11:20 | 13:20 — Grand Hyatt Melbourne
11:25 | 13:25 — Windsor Hotel
11:30 | 13:30 — Adina Apartment Hotel
11:35 | 13:35 — The Savoy Hotel
11:40 | 13:40 — The Great Southern Hotel Melbourne
11:45 | 13:45 — Immigration Museum
11:50 | 13:50 — Mercure Melbourne Southbank
Please arrive 5–10 minutes before your nominated pick-up time.
Standard penguin viewing access.
Koala habitat entry included.
Up-close animal sightings.
Connected, powered-up travel.
Knowledgeable local driver-guide.
Comfortable, relaxing transport.
Convenient city meeting points.
Multilingual audio commentary.
Local dining options suggested.
Personal coverage highly recommended.
Fixed central meeting locations.
Individual spending not included.
Yes, the Little Penguins come back to shore every night of the year, as long as the weather is good. The Penguin Parade happens every day at dusk, and observations are quite dependable, even if the quantity of penguins changes with the seasons.
General viewing offers most people a good view, particularly if you arrive early to choose your location. Upgrades only offer you a better view or a different perspective. You can still see the penguins perfectly from regular seats.
Yes, even in the summer. The ocean breezes hit the shore, and the temperature drops swiftly after dark. We strongly recommend wearing warm layers and a jacket that keeps the wind out.
The experience is fine for most kids, but keep in mind that the penguins don’t come until nightfall. That may be rather late in the summer. If your child isn’t accustomed to staying up late, consider travelling in winter or the shoulder season, when the sun sets earlier.
The eyes of little penguins are quite sensitive. Any flash or strange light, even from phones, might confuse them and put their safety at risk. The no-photo restriction is strictly enforced to keep the colony safe and ensure they return to their burrows.
