Home > Melbourne > Phillip Island Penguin Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne
USD $98.00
Phillip Island Penguin Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
See all the world class attractions of Phillip Island in one day on this small group eco tour from Melbourne. Departing Melbourne at midday, you'll travel to Victoria'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. Get up close to koalas and other Australian animals at the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park. The highlight of your Phillip Island experience will begin at dusk as you watch the fairy penguins waddling up the beach into their burrows in the sand dunes. Traveling in a small group, maximum 24 people, will allow you to explore all that Phillip Island has to offer in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
Your first stop on your Phillip Island day trip is at Brighton. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, spend time at the the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks.
On Phillip Island, visit the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park, where you'll learn about a broad range of Australian wildlife. You'll have a chance to get up close to cuddly koalas and other animals for feeding time. Included in your visit here is the spectacular “Conservation in Action” wildlife show, which showcases a number of lesser-known Australian species in a series of interactive and engaging ranger presentations.
Continue to the southwestern tip of the island to enjoy panoramic views of the Nobbies, a group of rugged rocks rising from the sea, and Seal Rocks, the home of Australia's largest fur seals population.
At dusk every evening the world's smallest penguins waddle ashore after spending the day fishing out at sea. You will be seated in the main viewing area to watch the parade of waddling penguins. To make this experience even more unforgettable, upgrade to either the Penguins Plus or the Private Penguin Parade Experience. See below for more details.
Memorable Trip. A friendly and Informative tour guide by the same of Ms.Leah, I guess.
Review by: lorrainemcgrane8, June 2018
Seeing the penguins at Penguin Island was very fun. We lucked out as there were at least a couple of hundred penguins. With the underground option they are only 12 inches or so from your face so you get a really close up look rather than being in the general sitting outside. The Moonlit Sanctuary had some interesting animals and feeding the kangaroos and wallabies was certainly a highlight. Unfortunately you don't get much time there. Overall the tour should be longer so you have more time to spend at the both the Moonlit Sanctuary and at Penguin Island, especially with it being such a short day light wise. Go West, the tour company basically just drives you from place to place. If you are looking for more of a tour/commentary you would probably be disappointed.
Review by: dominsingapore, June 2018
I absolutely loved that day from beginning to end. One of my favourite moments was the visit of the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where I spent quality time petting wallabies. What an experience! I could have stayed there all day. It really felt being in the wild as opposed to fenced or enclosed like in a zoo. It was amazing. The stop at Brighton Beach was also nice but could probably be done on its own without the tour. Finally Philip Island is definitely a must visit. I am glad I opted for a special experience with a guide, I believe it made is extra special. I understand why we cannot take photos of the place but it's still a pity, and would have liked to know in advance, just to set my expectations. I would recommend this tour for solo travellers, couples or families.
Review by: dawn, May 2018
Highlight of the trip was the penguins. We did the guide option and would highly recommend as the crowds are less.
Review by: jma, April 2018
Amazing experience Phillip island was definerly the highlight of the evening. I wish we couldve spent a little more time at the kaola/kangaroo sanctuary nut feeding them was amazing!!! Especially the wallaby, I wanted to take them all home!
Review by: philip p, April 2018
Great day out! Nice beaches and scenery. Wildlife sanctuary and feeding kangaroos was fun no pictures with koalas. Penguin parate not to be missed! Wonderful experience! Late return. Dinner plans didn't fit into schedule very well.
Review by: Dolly, April 2018
such an unique experience ....the penguins are so adorable .. a must do especially if you have young children .
Review by: Mara B, April 2018
Had a great day._br/_ More time with the penguins would have been good.
Review by: Jacquelyn L, March 2018
Great tour! The Penguins are super cute! Brighton Beach was fun and the stop at the Wild Animal park was great. Getting to feed the kangaroos was a highlight for my daughters.
Review by: Jill M, March 2018
This tour is brilliant and I would highly recommend it. Our guide was very informative, friendly, caring and thoughtful made sure we had good places to see the penguins
Review by: navy4502, March 2018
Excelente, recomendado a los amantes de la naturaleza, es muy especial poder observar a los pinguinos en su hábitat natural.
Review by: amcdlm, March 2018
Probably the best tour we did the entire trip. The day was long with several stops. Moonlit Sanctuary was fun...lots of interaction with wallabies and kangaroos. The penguins were adorable. We had the Guided Ranger upgrade....well worth the money. We saw WAY more penguins than the general admission people.....would definitely recommend this tour with the upgrade. Our GoWest tour guide was awesome as well.
Review by: Michael K, February 2018
Great day trip! Our guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable.
Review by: Barry S, February 2018
Any day trip on to Phillip Island is going to be a long day -- 14 hours round trip. In an ideal world the vans used would have fewer seats -- and likely to excursion would be more expensive. The vans used though by every small group tour seat 24 and during the 'season' are filled to the brim. There are shorter excursions -- but these miss key additional stop offs like the Moonlit sanctuary. I wish that stop off could have been a half hour longer.
Review by: David M, February 2018
Very informative tour, saw lots of usual animals. The places we visited were impressive and enjoyed hearing the history behind them. Our guide Paul G was very helpful and his funny/friendly attitude entertained us while driving.
Review by: Kyle F, February 2018
This is simply one of the best things my wife and I did in Australia. Seeing a few sights along the way followed by the penguin parade was absolutely amazing. Our guide and driver Kel was an absolute pleasure and took very good care of us. I cannot recommend this experience enough!
Review by: Thi Ngoc Nu B, February 2018
If you want to see penguin , you must up grade your purchases not admission general . Little cute penguin
Review by: HwaHyun K, February 2018
Quite disappointed because of the three main reasons 1 the guide was kind in general but throughout the journey, he either spoke to himself or chatted with a couple of passengers sitting in front seats. Couldn't see much efforts to properly communicate with the whole group. 2 there was no briefing of the schedule in the beginning of the journey, and we had to have dinner just three hours after we had lunch, which was not informed until we arrived the town for dinner. 3 I booked the Guided Ranger Tour. When the tour passed only 2/3 of the promised time and route, two guests said they need to go back to catch their bus and our guide Ann didn't ask the opinions of the rest of the group but just wrapped up the tour hastily. When I complained about this, the guide finally apologised after wasting 20 minutes to defend herself, but it was already too late to go back to the tour. Such a waste of money and time... above all it spoiled all the good travel spirit.
Review by: Julie B, February 2018
What an amazing day it was. 6 January 2018 we took the day trip in the blazing heat. We saw some fantastic beaches on our way to Phillip Island and visited a lovely sanctuary to see the koala's and kangeroo's, made very special by being able to feed the roos. Our tour guide SAM was amazing, knowledgable, funny and very attentive, we couldn't have asked for anything more. Obviously the highlight was the penguin parade, Sam got us there in plenty of time to get good seats and to see hundreds of penguins stroll up the beach was unbelievable, definitely recommend this tour and just hope you get Sam to show you around!
Review by: Jackie J, February 2018
Lots of fun and the tiny penguins were so cute!
Review by: Sharon H, February 2018
Excellent tour! Penguins are darling!
Review by: Hans L, February 2018
We were impressed about the courtesy and punctuality of the Bus Driver, Adam, picking us up at our Hotel. The driver entertained us with lots of interesting and relevant geographical and historical data about Melbourne and Victoria in general as well as Australian music with opportunity to join singing it together with the other passengers. That created a very cordial environment among us all. Adam displayed a great deal of humor with his comments and was willing to help with answering questions by all._br/_ We had a special guide called Ashley who explained the history and everything about penguins and who guided us to a reserved sitting place near the beach where the penguins appeared from the sea late in the evening and subsequent tour inspection where the penguins went after emerging from the sea. A truly unique experience in every respect! Lina and Hans from Sydney.
Review by: Ignatius C, February 2018
We were picked up on time as arranged. The driver, Pokey, was knowledgeable and courteous. He gave us the right amount of information ahead of each of our stops to prepare us. The penguins were very cute. It was defiinitely a day well spent.
Review by: syhmo, January 2018
If in the area this is a must see!!!!
Review by: rajushah2, January 2018
Need more leg room in small eco tours.
Review by: Melody B, December 2017
It was a really great trip. Unfortunately it was cold and very windy. Due to the weather nobody wanted to spend long at the 2 beach stops. It would have been great if we could have spent more time at the wildlife park rather than on a cold beach as we did not have enough time to see all the animals and watch the bird show as well. All in all a good trip and Alex our driver was informative and excellent fun.
Review by: Katy T, December 2017
I had a really magical day and eve. Was lovely to see the penguins so close up. My tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, and he made the day that much more enjoyable. Would certainly recommend it to anyone... a worthwhile experience and a great day out.
Review by: Margaret K, November 2017
The entire experience was fantastic, Phillip's Island itself as well as the stop at the Wildlife Refuge on the way. We had plenty of time to see native wildlife at the refuge, which was really an added bonus. Our driver Kel was informative and upbeat. Great day!
Review by: Jay, November 2017
Amazing Experienced!
Review by: Al.4bees, November 2017
Overall a good trip. A couple of things to be aware of. If you come from a different time zone be aware that your pick up time may not be what you think. Best to confirm the day before. Also even though it was not very busy at the penguins many people were rude and ignored the multiple requests to not take pictures and to be still and quiet! I am surprised that the penguins still use this area with all the commotion. Had two guideshowever one was in training. Also the bus brokeown at midnight on the way back. About an hour delay!
Review by: Kevin K, November 2017
Great trip to Phillip Island. We saw some local spots on the island with beautiful beaches. And those penguins are a sight to see!
Review by: Kera M, November 2017
This was a lot more than we expected. Leah, our driver, was very nice and informative. We started out with the box houses at Brighton Beach. We then went to the Sanctuary where we fed wallaby's and kangeroo's and saw koala bears. We went to several other spots that all had great views. The stops were short, but the right amount of time. Most stops were about 30 minutes. We got Thai and Pizza at the corner at the dinner spot that were both really good. We paid for the preferred seating and it was well worth it. Granted, we still did not get a seat, as we waited until closer to sunset to go out there, but we saw hundreds of the cutest little penguins. Well worth the money!
Review by: I-Hua S, November 2017
This trip was absolutely amazing. The tour guide Kel was very energetic and interesting so we didn't feel board in the car. I like the Philip island so much. The views are stunning. It's also very fun to watch penguins waddled back to the island. They are so cute.
Review by: Teresa H, November 2017
Let me just start out by saying, this was a fantastic tour all the way around. Our tour guide Michelle was the best guide ever. She made sure she told us about everything we would be seeing and a few secrets about about the various locations we would be going to like, the best place to take pictures of the Brighton Bathing Boxes and the best view of the ocean at Cape Woolamai, which I have to say is just about the most gorgeous beach I have ever seen, to the best spots to view the precious little penguins. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend this tour with this company, and hopefully you will get Michelle for your guide. Great job Michelle.
Review by: daecha t, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: djhellers, October 2017
We went in a bus of 20-24 people, where only four of us utilized the small group eco tour. We began at Brighton Beach, which is a fun place for photos and learn some Melbourne area history. Our guide, Jon, was very nice and played some enjoyable music, didn't talk every second and interactive with everyone. I'm glad we did the small group tour to see the penguins, especially since we'll likely never do it again and it was one of the coolest things we'd ever seen. Our guide Annie was a bit slow and didn't really move things along at a pace most of us wanted, but she did share good info and the seats are the best only four groups of 10 each are allowed. The grandstands are too big and far away and in Penguin Plus the penguins are heading directly for you. I liked where we sat because you could see the Little Penguins coming in, on their rafts, from both sides of the shore. So cool.
Review by: junkkksk, October 2017
Fun but long day
Review by: Hon Wing Jimmy Y, October 2017
worth to get an upgrade for Penguin Plus which you could sit closely to the critical path of penguins.
Review by: petervirgo88, October 2017
Good trip. Very on time, good tour guide.
Review by: Brian W, October 2017
Great tour with Go West! Our guide, Joel, was funny and knowledgeable. My wife and I had a lovely time and enjoyed all of our stops. Enjoyed feeding the wallabies and kangaroo's at the Moonlit Sanctuary and seeing the dramatic coastline scenery of the Nobbies on Phillip Island. The penguins were an exciting finish to the day and we would recommend upgrading to the penguin plus viewing area because you get much better views. Fun day!
Review by: Lee C, September 2017
I would love to express my appreciation to Locky, such a energetic tour guide, and I could truly feel his passion._br/_ The itinerary is perfect, we saw the beautiful bathing boxes in Brighton and the cute creatures in the park._br/_ And my favorite part would be the beautiful seaview at Philip Island._br/_ Last but not least, the tiny penguins are also my best favourite._br/_ I enjoyed a lot with this tour
Review by: Burke P, September 2017
We had a great day. It was nice being with a small group, and I enjoyed seeing the countryside during the long drive to Phillip Island. The wildlife sanctuary was very enjoyable. Lots of wallabies and very interesting birds. The call of the Eastern Whip Bird honestly enhanced my experience, and I'm not even that into birds. The Nobbies area was beautiful, reminiscent of that rocky volcanic coast of South Point, Hawaii. My wife and I chose the guided ranger tour for the Penguin Parade. I was very anxious because the guided tour was eating into time when I just wanted to be sitting and waiting for the penguins. But our guide, Rachel, was very good, and made sure we had an informative and also relaxed and fun experience. I was glad that she took us through the Penguin World museum because there would have been no time otherwise. We got headsets and binoculars, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the penguins charge across the beach. I got a hot chocolate with our free drink ticket that was spectacularly delicious. We were staying at an outlying hotel in South Yarra, so our early morning pickup had been arranged at a different hotel, but the driver offered to return us to our actual hotel once he was made aware. The people, the scenery, and the penguins, all led to a wonderful day. My only hesitation on giving 5 stars is that time was too short at the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade. One would have to choose either enjoying the outdoors or doing a little shopping and the museum. It would be great to either state these choices very clearly to guests or to build in a little more time, maybe offering another 20 minutes after the parade, or skipping the Brighton Beach Boxes. Although I admit that the boxes are part of the reason I chose this particular tour, so I understand it is a difficult balance. Overall very happy, and would recommend to others!
Review by: Myfavoritebluesky, August 2017
It's one of the best tours we had. Very interesting and Go West is the best!
Review by: Veronicalam, August 2017
Hands down the best local tour I've been on ! From the minute I was picked up at the hotel to the drop off I was treated with no less than the best of Aussie hospitality. Tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable and equipped with the best smiles. The tour was well-timed and packed with interesting things to see. We were so lucky to catch the animals awake ! A big thank you to Scott, our absolutely fantastic tour guide, who sent us around with big smiles and useful information that greatly enhanced our experience ! Special thanks to the engaging swiss tour guide who drove me from south yarra to meet the tour !
Review by: michelle l, August 2017
Try to get the Eco Ranger tour to see the penguins its amazing!! You have your own guide that explains everything in the best spot to see the penguins!
Review by: Karen G, July 2017
We purchased this tour for our friends from Ohio in the US. They loved being picked up from their hotel and being delivered back to the door in the evening. Their tour guide was Rachel and she was very friendly and informative. As with group tours you rely on others being punctual and unfortunately an Asian couple were continually late and it cut the group's time short at the Nobbies. A lot of fairy penguins made their way ashore that evening and being on the viewing platform was an advantage. Rug up as it is very chilly.
Review by: dawnscheng, June 2017
There is absolutely nothing like catching your first batch of penguins waddling up the beach! Go West and our guide, Jon, made this trip very educational and enjoyable. The Moonlit Sanctuary, while not as well known as some other sanctuaries in the area, is an amazing chance to get very up close and personal with kangaroos and wallabies. Definitely would recommend for those visiting Melbourne!
Review by: Abhay D, June 2017
Must see tour.
Review by: Kia Lin G, May 2017
I think the tour will be better if we stop at St Kilda for lunch instead of the Moonlit Sanctuary.... too much time spent at the Sanctuary.
Review by: Samantha Lim, April 2017
Overall, tour is great. Appreciate more time at the attractions. Time seems to pass by too fast! Leah is a great driver and guide.
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