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Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Experience the wonders of Phillip Island Nature Park with this half day tour to see the seals, koalas, kangaroos and of course the Little Penguins that call this island home.

Depart Melbourne and journey to the city’s most colourful attraction – the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes – for an opportunity to visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks.

Continue through Melbourne’s bayside suburbs on the way to the award-winning Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park. Here, enjoy a guided wildlife walk where you will have the opportunity to meet and hand-feed many species of native Australian animals. Learn about iconic species such as kangaroos, koalas, emus, and wallabies, as well as some of our lesser-known favourites including quolls, owls, bandicoots, and Tasmanian devils.

At Phillip Island itself, a visit to Point Grant and The Nobbies delivers views over Westernport Bay and the Bass Strait, including Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest population of fur seals.

However, the undoubted highlight of your Phillip Island tour – the main event – will be just after dark when the world’s smallest penguins parade ashore after spending the day fishing out at sea. You’ll be truly enchanted as the stars of the show emerge from the surf and pass right before your eyes on their journey back to their homes. Your guide will ensure you get the very best vantage point to enjoy the Penguin Parade.

After the parade you will have plenty of time to explore the Visitor Centre before beginning your journey back to Melbourne. With a drop-off back at your inner city accommodation, you’ll remember this day as a true highlight of your Australian holiday.

Upgrade Options:

Why not embellish your trip with one of the following add ons?

  • Penguin Plus Viewing: For an exclusive viewing experience, upgrade to the more personalised “Penguins Plus” viewing platform. With numbers limited to 300, you’ll enjoy special ranger interpretation in a more natural setting.
  • Penguins Underground Viewing: Enjoy up-close viewing of the penguins in their natural habitat through an underground viewing window, with the comfort & convenience of being indoors, undercover and out of the elements.
  • Guided Ranger Tour Upgrade: Enjoy front-row viewing on the sand and access to Penguins Plus with a small group and private ranger guide.

Experience Includes

  • Visit to the famous Brighton Beach boxes
  • Guided tour at the award-winning Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
  • Meet and feed a wide range of Australian animals including koalas, wombats, dingoes, and many more
  • Visit Point Grant to view the Nobbies and Seal Rock
  • Stroll the coastal boardwalks to enjoy amazing panoramic views
  • See the penguins waddle up the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at sunset
  • Pick-up and drop off from all major Melbourne city centre hotels
  • Luxury air-conditioned transportation with free WiFi
  • Experienced guide
  • Options to upgrade tour

Experience Excludes

  • Meals and refreshments
  • Optional gratuities

Departs

Daily, year round, except 25th December.

Departure location

For customers not staying in a City Centre hotel, the central meeting point is the Rendezvous Hotel, located at 328 Flinders Street, between Elizabeth Street & Queen Street.

Start times

Departure times start from 10.00am-11.00am between May and August and between 11.00am-12.00noon from September and April.

Duration

9-12 hours (Return between 9 PM and midnight – according to the season)

Terms & Conditions

  • This tour uses smaller air-conditioned buses, allowing access to many areas not available to the larger coaches as well as providing a personal touch with the benefits of a small group environment.
  • Nobbies viewing is seasonal and dependant on daylight hours.
  • Tour returns seasonally between 9pm - midnight
  • Photography of any kind is not permitted at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Photography is permitted at all other locations.
  • The number of birds arriving on the beach varies significantly throughout the year due to seasonal factors.
  • Dress according to the weather for that day. We recommend warm clothes & rain jacket in the winter months as it can get chilly on the Island when waiting for the penguin arrival. Snacks & water bottle
  • Any infants and children travelling must be advised at the time of booking. Prams and strollers are not permitted on the vehicle as they do not have storage space for these items.
  • There is a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 24 persons on each departure.
  • Infant seatS (0-3 years) or a child booster seat (4-8 years) are provided free of charge. Please note we have a limited number of child seats available each day and they must be pre-booked.
  • Go West Tours reserves the right to alter fares, inclusions, vehicles, use other accredited tour operators during peak season and may cancel tours in unforeseen circumstances.
  • Tour operation or alterations to itineraries may occur due to road or weather conditions, natural disasters, strikes, public holidays, accommodation availability and/or other factors. The company gives no guarantee as to the exact arrival or departure times of tours as circumstances beyond our control may influence this.
  • Go West Tours must be advised of any medical conditions or physical disability requiring special attention before the tour. Failing to advise us, may result in us refusing to accept the booking. We may also refuse travel if we feel that the tour chosen is not suitable without a suitably qualified companion.
  • Cancellation Policy: Guest cancellations within 48-24 hours to tour departure will incur a 50% loss of the tour fare. Guest cancellations within 24 hours of tour departure or failure to take up a tour for any reason will result in 100% forfeiture of the tour fare. No refunds will be made for any absence from the tour.