Home > Melbourne > Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour from Melbourne
USD $125.00
Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour from Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
See penguins, koalas and kangaroos on a day trip to Phillip Island, Melbourne's wildlife wonderland and holiday island. Visit a wildlife park to get up close with koalas and kangaroos, then watch sea birds and fur seals in the rocky formation known as the Nobbies. At sunset, take your place at Summerland Beach to enjoy the nightly Penguin Parade, as cute little penguins waddle up the beach to their burrows after a day spent fishing at sea. To enhance your Penguin Parade experience, choose from a range of upgrade options: view the penguins from an exclusive viewing platform with Penguin Plus, interact with rangers and watch the parade from the exclusive Skybox, or choose the Ultimate Penguin Parade and enjoy a specially guided small-group tour at a secluded beach location.
Be picked up from your Melbourne hotel, then enjoy a scenic trip through the tree-lined streets of Melbourne's southeastern suburbs and around the harbor of Westernport Bay.
Your first stop is a wildlife encounter at Maru Koala and Animal Park, to interact with koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and other native Australian animals.
Continue to the beach resort of San Remo and cross the bridge to Phillip Island. Travel around the island's surf coast to admire the rock formations of the Nobbies, home to penguins, fur seals and sea birds.
Your next stop is the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach, where you can visit the information center to learn more about the cute little penguins. Then take your seat to watch the nightly Penguin Parade as the little penguins come home to their burrows after a day spent fishing at sea. Watch as part of the world's largest colony of smallest penguin species leave the water and waddle up the beach to their homes.
Optional Penguin Parade upgrades:
Penguin Plus Viewing Platform Watch the parade from an exclusive viewing platform next to the main route from the sea followed by the penguins. Limited to 150 people, the experience includes a free drink and small gift.
The Penguin Skybox View the Penguin Parade from the exclusive vantage point of an elevated viewing tower located at the main viewing stands. Limited to just five people, the Skybox is warm and dry, and gives you the best view of the penguins' burrows on Summerland Beach. Interact with the ranger and join in the nightly penguin count, assisting in the ongoing research to help protect Phillip Island's little penguins. The Skybox experience includes canapes and non-alcoholic drinks.
Guided Penguin Plus Tour The ultimate penguin experience is limited to a maximum of 15 people. Visit a secluded beach location for a special guided tour that allows you to get even closer to the little penguins.
Underground Viewing Experience Get an eye level view of the little penguins in this brand new underground viewing area. Enjoy the closest possible view of the penguins in their natural habitat with the comfort and convenience of being undercover and out of the elements. Limited to 70 people.
If you do this tour I recommend the ranger tour it was well worth the price and you have a private viewing area near the beach and the explanations from the ranger highlighted the tour.
Review by: jess.marro72, April 2018
The tour provider was AAT King and our driver was Peter. He was excellent! Very knowledgeable and funny. And he was regularly making sure the tour group was well attended to and he asked each of us if we had seen penguins. My group was lucky enough to see them and they were so cute! I was very happy with the tour.
Review by: zoogles87, April 2018
Very good tour - well organised and staff very helpful and informative._br/_ Maybe pack some snacks/drinks for the tour as you have to buy from cafes on route which were very busy and had long queues.
Review by: david R, April 2018
this was a fantastic tour every thing about it was excellent, but to see the penguins come in of the sea at night was totally amazing, highly recommend it.
Review by: Bruce A, April 2018
We chose to take the ranger guided tour and it was worth every cent. You are taken very close to where the penguins come on shore. The ranger provided commentary via a head set, she also gave us binoculars. This is an amazing experience for people of all ages._br/_ Our bus driver was very entertaining.too. The whole experience was truly memorable.
Review by: KIT WANG C, April 2018
Peter is an excellent tour guide who gave informative and humorous broadcast throughout the car ride
Review by: Victoria D, March 2018
Brilliant, loved feeding the kangaroos at the wildlife park. Enjoyed watching the penguins, some visitors seemed disappointed by the numbers but its nature! no guarantees and we did get to see maybe 100 walking up the beach.
Review by: Bradley W, March 2018
The tour was excellent. Comfortable transportation with.an informative driver. I recommend upgrading to the Guided Ranger tour which provides better interaction with the park and a more private viewing platform.
Review by: Ibrahim A, March 2018
I definitely enjoyed it the most when I saw the little penguins running around.
Review by: Peter D, March 2018
Excellent trip, shame we were not told the highlight penguin parade was a not photography event! However a great day out and good value
Review by: Peter H, March 2018
Amazing experience!
Review by: Daniela J, March 2018
Tolle Tour, super Organisation, sehr netter Reiseführer! Wer Pinguine in freier Natur erleben möchte, sowie an der Landschaft Australiens interessiert ist, wird von dieser Tour begeistert sein. Es war ein unvergesslicher Tag!
Review by: Beverley M, March 2018
This is what u go on these excursions for, to see and experience new wonders. Its a must if u are visiting Australia.
Review by: Louise A, March 2018
Enjoyed it all
Review by: MDL_51, March 2018
Really recommend the Ranger Giuded, not only a great place to see, but binoculars are provided and a radio mike with the ranger. The trip also included a visit to the Maru wildlife sanctuary so holding a kuala, and feeding kangaroos was a real bonus.
Review by: John I, March 2018
A simply great trip!
Review by: Michael V, March 2018
Very well done. We took the ranger guided option which allowed us to receive direct narration of the event via headphones. Tour was scheduled well with ample time for each stop and dinner and still get to the penguin parade on time. Very knowledgeable driver.
Review by: Yves B, February 2018
This was a terrific tour! We really enjoyed watching the little penguins come up from the water. It was colder than we anticipated so beware that even if is a very warm day, it can be cold in the evening by the water.
Review by: MR B, February 2018
great trip from pick up to drop of
Review by: James D, February 2018
Penguins were cool. The nature preserve had depressingly small cages for the animals.
Review by: cheryl a, February 2018
TAKE the private penguin tour It was worth every penny.I would have skipped the morning tour and done the night tour.It was fun but a lot of time in the bus.
Review by: Tony, February 2018
It was a chilly, cloudy day in late spring on Philip Island. After a drive down from Melbourne, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the village on Philip Island and then arrived a little late at our viewing post by the beach. We still managed to get decent seats, through the kindness of some of our fellow tourists. We sat in anticipation, scanning the waters off shore, hoping to catch sight of the little penguins bobbing upon the surface of the ocean on their way home for the night. Our search was in vain. We did not see any penguins arriving from the water. But then, suddenly, there they were, coming around a large boulder by our seating area. There were dozens of them, perhaps a couple hundred. They stopped and peered, looking for any sort of threat. We humans, they ignored. Then singly, in pairs or in small groups, they waddled their ways toward their burrows. Sometimes a few would stop and stare at one another, as though conferring. As we watched, a small wallaby hopped down the hill, came close to our seats and then left into the gloom the way it had come. The penguins hesitated, but generally ignored the wallaby. Then the rain began to pour, and we all left, returning up the hill to the Visitor Center. On the way, we passed little penguins walking up the hill almost as far as the building. The tour to Philip island was truly wonderful, combining great scenic views and a stop at a small private zoo, where we were able to get up close to wallabies and kangaroos. At the zoo, we also had the opportunity to hold a koala and to get a clear sight of a Tasmanian devil in his burrow. We like to take advantage of the unique experiences that places far from home offer. The tour to Philip island was definitely such an experience.
Review by: Sheryl B, February 2018
Do this tour! We arrived on a cruise ship and had to meet the tour bus at Federation Square downtown by 1 PM. If you are doing something similar allow LOTS of extra time to meet the bus, as you will have to tackle downtown lunch hour traffic. Though it was only a few miles, it took an hour to get there and then find the bus. We could have used more precise directions as to where the bus was parked, such as street names, business names to look for, and what the bus looked like. However, once the initial hassle was taken care of, the tour was better than I expected. We stopped at the Maura Animal Preserve where we fed kangaroos and were photographed petting a koala 20 but well worth it. The trip to Phillip Island stopped at The Nobbies where there was a restroom. At Philliip Island we arrived to have time in the shop very nice one at that and to get to the viewing area. We paid a little extra for the underground viewing from which you can view the penguins at eye level as they waddle/stagger/walk by. No photos are allowed so you have to go to their website to captured photos. There was also time to walk around the area where we saw thousands of underground nesting sites - that is why it is imperative to stay on the paths - as well as some wild wallabies. The staff was wonderful about arranging transportation so we did not have to go back to Federation Square, but were let off at the cruise ship dock. Very grateful for that, as it was close to midnight when we got back. Warning about the weather: we went in early December and Melbourne was 96 degrees F that day. It got much hotter after we left. Prepare for hot weather. The evening temps were cool enough for a sweater.
Review by: Susan Rae J, January 2018
This was interesting but the dinner stop was rushed and we had to fend for ourselves.
Review by: Justin R, November 2017
Guide very informative and friendly
Review by: vakili, November 2017
Our tour guide, Adrian was very knowledgable, friendly, and I must say, sometimes funny! He gave us very good tips for seeing the Penguins in the island. The wildlife park was also amazing. The bus was comfortable. Very pleasant experience.
Review by: emalyn, November 2017
The little penguins were so adorable. Highly recommend to take this tour.
Review by: Sheila H, November 2017
You cant come to Melbourne and not do this trip. An excellent drive down with lots of information given and all wildlife pointed out and lots of great views but its the Penguin Parade which made the trip! An excellent experience which I will remember forever
Review by: Cherie D, November 2017
Great Tour, really amazing to see
Review by: John K, November 2017
Wonderful unforgettable experience. Our driver Pete was excellent, very friendly and knowledgeable, and coped with the chaotic road problems in Melbourne city very calmly. Didnt think much to the Maru Koala and Animal Park- poor Koala didnt look very happy and the whole place was a little frenetic. Had very interesting tour overlooking the penguin beach and the Grand Prix circuit before stopping off for a great bite to eat at Pinos in Cowes. Well worth paying the extra for Penguin Plus, as this is really why you are there- you wont be disappointed
Review by: Derek M, November 2017
This tour was one on my list that I had down as a must do, and I was not disappointed by the penguins. They came out of the water and up the beach right on time. I would highly recommend getting the guided tour package as you will enjoy an area to watch the penguins away from the big crowd and also a guide letting you know facts about the penguins and you are more than welcome to ask questions. The only part of the tour that I found a little disappointing was the stop at Maru Koala and Animal Park. Might have been interesting for the international guests but it was nothing special, and too much time was spent there. The stop at Cowes for dinner was nice, but as you get there late in the day there is not much to do after dinner except have a couple more drinks. I would avoid the Chinese restaurant if there is an Asian tour group following you. I went to the local hotel and had some great Aussie pub food.
Review by: Susan N, November 2017
We upgraded to the Ranger -guided tour. We got terrific information and a better viewing area. Be forewarned, they no longer allow any photography.
Review by: Steven M, November 2017
What a great experience. The staff was very knowledgeable. There was some confusion about the where to meet up with our Guide for the Ranger tour. There were a lot more people than expected and it felt very crowded. Too many people taking flash pictures when they were told dozens of times not to.
Review by: John A, November 2017
This is a great trip but a long one for us 10 hours ! We stopped at Maru Koala and Animal Park on our way for photo opportunities with Koalas, Kangaroos and other wildlife, there is also a small coffee shop and souvenir shop on site. We then went on to a stop near Cape Woolamail for coastal views on Philip Island before eventually arriving at The Nobbies Centre for more coastal views and toilets. We then drove to the Penguin Parade site. The main building had had it's roof removed in a recent storm and was shut ! We walked to the stands to watch the incoming penguins after dark. It was cold, windy and wet the day we when in early spring be aware this is all outdoors in the dark with no shelter !! After the penguins we returned to the coach and drove to Cowes for a meal stop, then back to Melbourne. Adrian our driver was brilliant, very interesting and informative. It was no one's fault about the weather and damage to buildings certainly not his !! When we got back to Melbourne we were the last drop off in St Kilda so despite it being late when we got back about 11pm we had a free night tour of Melbourne thrown in !! Good value trip well worth doing.
Review by: PEPPER, November 2017
Absolutely amazing tour,well worth the money!
Review by: lotabuck, November 2017
A fantastic experience with hundreds of little penquins going by within reach at times! Strongly recommend it!
Review by: EU MIN H, October 2017
Penguins are very small, can't really see them but overall, it was a fun experience!
Review by: ERIN C, October 2017
The Fairy Penguins were phenomenal. I'm so glad that I included them in my trip to Australia - well worth the price! The Waru Sanctuary is such a great idea. I admit that the animals seemed a bit sad. But the driver was funny and efficient and we ran ahead so he took us to a couple of unexplored beaches on Philip Island which were amazing. I could definitely spend more time there. Helpful tip: dinner is included between the animal reserve and Philip Island, so you have some time to see Cowes and get a bite to eat.
Review by: Nadia G, October 2017
Very nice tour. Great experience!
Review by: alisonstricker, October 2017
INCREDIBLE DAY!! Must do!!! The staff are friendly, helpful and kind from beginning to end. Our driver was great with tons of info along the way and we had a blast listening to his stories and knowledge. The maru park was FANTASTIC and so much fun for all ages. The real treat was of course the little penguin parade, and I would HIGHLY recommend the Ranger Guided Tour. You truly get the best view, as well as learn so much from amazing guides and you get to see so many more penguins from a front row seat. worth every penny to upgrade!! Had a terrific day, they took us to a great beautiful spot for dinner and some ice cream not included price wise, and the whole day was just fantastic. Must do, and highly recommend this company! Just awesome!
Review by: Eka I, October 2017
a very memorable experience to see those little penguins go home :
Review by: Susan M, October 2017
The most adorable little creatures I have ever seen in the wild.. amazing how they march every night to the land. Recommend getting front row. Disappointed that I couldn't take photos but understandable why they restrict you... highly recommend! Dress warm, it can get quite chilly....
Review by: shajens, October 2017
The Penguins at Phillip Island were awesome... the tour bus driver was as dry as a bone.
Review by: Stuart S, September 2017
It was a great tour and a fun day out, seeing the penguins at Summerland beach was a sight to behold however if you plan to photograph the Penguin Parade then you will be dissapointed as you won't be able to use your camera either smartphone or digital at all. Another highlight was seeing The Nobbies on Philip Island and visiting Maru Koala and animal park.
Review by: rnplatt, September 2017
Amazing experience witnessing the parade of fairy penguins - if you are in Melbourne this is a can't miss event. And the stop at Maru Koala and Animal Park was an added bonus. Never expected to be able to have our picture taken with a koala and pet one. Feeding the kangaroos was a real treat too! Overall great day and one we won't forget.
Review by: Kathryn C, September 2017
Friendly bus driver - fun day all around. Well worth the few extra dollars for ranger tour. Did not have to compete with the hurds of people racing to get a good view. After masses went down, we strolled down with ranger and literally had best seats in the place
Review by: Thao V, September 2017
A wonderful trip in which you can learn, see and touch the unique animals of Australia: feeding the Wallabies, take photos with the koalas, watching the penguin parade. The driver-tour guide told us very interesting stories about Australia and its people. Upgrading to the penguin plus is highly recommended.
Review by: Rhian O, September 2017
Great day!! Will was a brilliant tour guide. Took us all over Phillip Island. The penguins were amazing, Helpful ranger Rob told us the best place to see them. Top tip wrap up warm even if it's nice as chilly on the coast. We even stopped off in Cowed for fish and chips.
Review by: Malcolm P, August 2017
An absolutely fantastic tour worth every 'penny'! The driver/guide was really friendly and humerous which added to the experience. The wildlife sanctuary/park visit was stunning - having the up close feeding experience with the Kangaroos. As for the arrival of the Penguins at dusk, it was one of the best of my travel experiences yet - absolutely brilliant! You really must not miss this experience!
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