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Phillip Island Penguin Parade from Melbourne: Our Tour + Penguins Plus Review
We watched the parade of little fairy penguins waddle in at the end of the day and return to their burrows! See why you can’t miss this cute event! | Things to do in Australia | Where to go and What to do in Melbourne, Australia #Melbourne #australia #penguins
Updated August 15, 2026
Phillip Island Penguin Parade from Melbourne: Tour + Tips
Address: 1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922, Australia
Viator Tour: Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform
Phillip Island Penguin Parade from Melbourne
Watching hundreds of tiny penguins waddle out of the ocean and make their way home for the night was easily one of my favorite experiences in Australia!
We visited the Phillip Island Penguin Parade from Melbourne, where the world's smallest penguins return from the ocean to their burrows each evening around sunset. These adorable little penguins stand only about a foot tall and have the prettiest blue-and-white coloring.
They're officially called little penguins, although you may also hear them called fairy penguins or little blue penguins — and I still think "fairy penguins" is the cutest name ever!
We booked a Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour from Melbourne and upgraded to the Penguins Plus viewing area, which ended up being one of the best parts of the experience. The exact tour we booked in 2019 is no longer available, but this is the closest current option I found — and the one I would choose today.
If you're trying to decide whether the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is worth the trip from Melbourne, whether you should book a tour, or if Penguins Plus is worth the upgrade, here's everything you need to know before you go.
PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUIN PARADE AT A GLANCE
Where: 1019 Ventnor Road, Summerlands, Victoria
From Melbourne: About a 90-minute drive to Phillip Island, plus additional driving time across the island
When: Every evening around sunset
Our viewing area: Penguins Plus
Should you book ahead? YES! We booked at the last minute and got lucky.
Photos: No photography or filming after sunset
Don't have a car? I would book a tour from Melbourne.
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Penguin Parade in Melbourne, Australia on Phillip Island - Evening Tour
BOOKING THE TOUR
We booked our Penguin Parade tour through Viator: Phillip Island Little Penguin Parade Evening Tour to see the fairy penguins (it was about $100 per person)! Although we booked it the night before, we should have booked further in advance!
A bus picked us up near Finders Street Station in Melbourne (just down the street from our hotel) and the drive was just about 2 hours through the countryside outback! Our driver/guide was informative and kept us entertained for the duration of the ride, I just couldn't wait to see these little penguins!
Is the Phillip Island Penguin Parade Worth It?
YES!
We did a lot during our trip to Australia, but this is still one of those experiences that immediately comes to mind when I think about the trip.
There's something completely different about seeing little penguins in the wild rather than at a zoo or aquarium. You sit facing the ocean waiting for the sun to go down, and then suddenly you start hearing them.
And then they appear!
Little groups of penguins emerge from the water and start waddling across the beach toward their burrows. Before long, there are penguins everywhere.
It was adorable, fascinating and unlike anything we had experienced before.
If you're visiting Melbourne and love wildlife, I would absolutely make room in your itinerary for the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
Should You Take a Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour From Melbourne?
We did, and I would do it again — especially if you're staying in Melbourne without a rental car.
The Penguin Parade is located on Phillip Island, Victoria, outside of Melbourne. Public transportation on Phillip Island is limited, and the public bus doesn't actually take you all the way to the Penguin Parade. There also isn't a return public bus to Melbourne after the parade ends.
That makes a Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour from Melbourne one of the easiest ways to see the penguins without worrying about transportation or driving back to the city late at night.
Our tour picked us up near Flinders Street Station, just down the street from our hotel, and took care of the transportation for the entire evening.
Plus, our guide pointed out wildlife along the way, which is how we spotted our first wallaby in the wild!
A note about booking your tour
When we went, we booked our tour through Viator the night before.
I don't recommend doing that!
We got lucky, but knowing what I know now, I would book the Penguin Parade as soon as I knew which day I wanted to visit. Tickets can sell out, especially during holidays and other busy travel periods.
When you're comparing tours, pay attention to the viewing option included. Some tours include general Penguin Parade admission, while others offer the option to upgrade your ticket.
If I were choosing again, I would specifically look for a tour that includes or allows an upgrade to Penguins Plus.
Don’t forget to check out our Top 10 Things to do in Sydney, Australia
Our Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour
Tour bus for the penguin parade
One thing I loved about booking a tour was that getting to Phillip Island became part of the experience.
After leaving Melbourne, we drove through the countryside toward Phillip Island while our driver and guide shared information along the way.
I was excited for the entire drive because... PENGUINS!
Once we reached Phillip Island, we had some time to get food, walk around and explore before continuing toward the Penguin Parade.
We could see the coastline and wildlife offshore, and our guide was constantly watching for Australian wildlife along the drive.
That's when we saw our first wild wallaby!
Seeing a wallaby in the wild in Australia felt like one of those "Yep, we're definitely in Australia!" moments.
FIRST WALLABY SIGHTING IN THE WILD on Philip Island!
HAD TO TAKE A WALLABY SELFIE!
Arriving at the Penguin Parade
Funniest and cutest parking lot sign - Please check under your car
We arrived in the parking lot and saw these cute signs warning to look under your car. Apparently, some of the penguins lose their way, ending up in the parking lot, hiding under cars. When you go, be careful, and triple check under your car before you leave!
We walked into their visitors center where they had another cafeteria and a gift shop. The tour came with a coupon for a free drink so we redeemed our coupon - the cafeteria had sodas and light snacks. I ran into the gift shop and had to get a magnet for our collection on our fridge!
SEATING FOR THE PENGUIN PARADE
Finally, it was time to get our spot for the parade! There were little pathways built to lead to the bleachers and among the path were some of the burrows of the penguins as well as more wild Wallaby!
The viewing section was set up almost like a football stadium where bleachers were set up facing the ocean, with paths for the penguins to come between.
WAITING FOR THE PENGUINS TO ARRIVE FROM OUR PENGUIN PLUS VIEWING SECTION
Is Penguins Plus Worth It at Phillip Island?
For me, YES. I thought Penguins Plus was absolutely worth the upgrade.
This was something we had traveled halfway around the world to see, and I wanted the best view we could reasonably get.
The Penguins Plus viewing area put us closer to the penguins, and once they started coming in from the ocean, some waddled incredibly close to where we were watching.
We arrived early so we could get a good spot and settled in to wait.
When we visited, there was also a wildlife ranger nearby who could explain what was happening as we waited for the penguins to arrive.
If you're already spending the time and money to travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island specifically to see the penguins, Penguins Plus would be my pick.
Especially if this is a once-in-a-lifetime Australia trip.
What Happens During the Phillip Island Penguin Parade?
THE FIRST FEW START THE PARADE, MAKING THEIR WAY BACK HOME TO THEIR BURROW
This is where the experience became magical.
At first... nothing.
We sat overlooking the ocean waiting for the sun to go down.
Then we started hearing the penguins before we could really see them.
Little penguins spend much of their lives at sea and return to land around dusk. Before coming ashore, they gather together offshore in groups called "rafts."
Then groups start making their way out of the water.
Some penguins confidently waddled toward shore while others seemed to change their minds and head right back toward the water!
They naturally wait for the darker evening hours because it helps give them some protection from predators.
Then more appeared.
And more.
And MORE.
Before we knew it, there were hundreds of tiny penguins waddling across the beach and making their way toward their burrows.
HUNDREDS OF PENGUINS COME BACK LOOKING FOR THEIR FAMILIES
During breeding season, some adult penguins return to their burrows to feed their chicks, and you can hear the colony calling back and forth.
The SOUND was one of the things that surprised me most.
There are penguins calling everywhere!
It was impossible not to smile.
The Best Part Happens on the Walk Back
As cute as it was watching the little penguins come out of the ocean, I think one of my favorite parts was actually walking back toward the Visitor Centre afterward.
The boardwalks take you through areas around their burrows, and suddenly the penguins are right there beside you making their way home.
We could watch them waddle along below us and get such a close look at how TINY they really are.
I could have stayed there all night.
Eventually, though, we had to get back on the bus and return to Melbourne.
But first...
We checked under the bus for penguins.
Obviously.
Can You Take Pictures at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade?
This is one thing that has changed from the way I originally wrote about our experience back in 2019, and it's important.
Photography and filming are not allowed after sunset during the Penguin Parade.
So once the parade begins, put the phone and camera away and just enjoy it.
I know. I'm a blogger. I want pictures of EVERYTHING.
But this is one of those experiences where you're better off being completely present anyway.
And trust me — watching hundreds of these tiny blue penguins waddle home is something you're going to remember without a picture.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade - Penguins heading back to their burrows
What Time Does the Penguin Parade Start?
The little penguins arrive around sunset, so the exact time changes throughout the year.
You'll want to check the expected penguin arrival time for the date you're visiting rather than planning around one specific time.
For General Viewing and Penguins Plus, Phillip Island Nature Parks currently recommends arriving about one hour before the expected penguin arrival.
I would rather arrive early, explore the Visitor Centre and get settled than be rushing in while everyone else has already found their seats.
What Should You Wear to the Penguin Parade?
Bring layers!
Even if Melbourne or Phillip Island feels warm during the day, you're sitting outside near the water after sunset, and it can get chilly and windy.
Depending on the season and forecast, I would bring:
A jacket or sweatshirt
Layers
Comfortable walking shoes
Rain protection if needed
Something warm for kids if you're visiting as a family
The Penguin Parade takes place outdoors in all kinds of weather, so check the forecast before you go.
Tips for Visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
After doing it ourselves, these are the things I would want to know before going:
Book ahead. We booked the night before and got lucky, but I wouldn't plan a trip that way now.
Consider Penguins Plus. We loved having the closer viewing area and I would pay for the upgrade again.
Arrive early. Give yourself time to use the bathroom, grab something to eat and find your viewing area without rushing.
Bring layers. Phillip Island can get COLD once the sun goes down.
Put your camera away after sunset. Photography and filming aren't permitted once the parade begins.
Take your time walking back. Don't race directly back to the bus or parking lot! Watching the penguins near the boardwalk on their way to their burrows was one of our favorite parts.
Watch for wildlife. Wallabies and other native wildlife live around Phillip Island, so keep your eyes open throughout the trip.
Check underneath your car before you leave. I mean... there's a sign telling you to. And how often do you get to say you checked underneath your car for a penguin?
Is the Phillip Island Penguin Parade Good for Kids?
The Penguin Parade is definitely an experience families can enjoy, but there are a couple of things I would consider when planning with younger kids.
The biggest one is timing.
Because the penguins arrive around sunset, summer visits can mean a fairly late night — particularly if you're taking a tour all the way back to Melbourne afterward.
There's also some waiting involved before the penguins appear.
But once those little penguins start waddling in?
I can't imagine too many animal-loving kids NOT getting excited.
If you're traveling with younger children, I would look carefully at the length of the Melbourne day tour you choose. There are full-day tours that include several Phillip Island attractions as well as shorter afternoon/evening options focused more heavily on the Penguin Parade.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade FAQs
What are the penguins at Phillip Island called?
They're called little penguins and are the smallest species of penguin in the world. You may also hear them called fairy penguins or little blue penguins.
Does the Penguin Parade happen every night?
Yes! Little penguins return to the colony around sunset every evening of the year.
How far is the Penguin Parade from Melbourne?
Phillip Island is roughly a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, and the Penguin Parade is farther across the island once you cross the bridge. I would allow plenty of extra time, especially during busy travel periods.
Can you visit the Penguin Parade without a tour?
Absolutely, if you have a car.
If you don't have a rental car, taking a tour from Melbourne is much easier because public transportation doesn't go directly to the Penguin Parade and there isn't a public return bus to Melbourne after the parade ends.
Do you need to book the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in advance?
YES.
Tickets and popular viewing areas can sell out, so I would book as soon as you know which date you want to visit.
Is Penguins Plus worth it?
I thought so!
We chose Penguins Plus because this was a major bucket-list experience for us, and I loved getting the closer viewing experience. If your budget allows for the upgrade, I would choose it again.
Can you take photos of the Phillip Island penguins?
Photography and filming are prohibited after sunset during the Penguin Parade.
Take your photos earlier in the day and then put the phone away once the penguins start arriving.
What time should I arrive at the Penguin Parade?
Arrival time depends on sunset. For General Viewing and Penguins Plus, plan to arrive about an hour before the expected penguin arrival time unless your ticket tells you otherwise.
Is the Penguin Parade outdoors?
Yes. You'll be outside for the viewing experience, so dress for the weather and bring layers.
Would I Visit the Phillip Island Penguin Parade Again?
In a heartbeat!
We experienced so many amazing things in Australia, but watching the little penguins come home at Phillip Island remains one of my favorites.
I loved hearing them before we could see them, watching those first brave little groups waddle out of the ocean, spotting our first wild wallaby and getting an up-close view of the penguins as we walked along the boardwalk afterward.
And yes, I loved the ridiculous parking lot sign too.
If you're planning a trip to Melbourne, I would absolutely add a Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour to your itinerary.
And if you're wondering whether I'd spend the extra money for Penguins Plus again?
Definitely.
Now go see those little penguins!
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