PHILLIP ISLAND
PENGUIN PARADE TOURs
Join us on our Phillip Island Penguins Tour! Located on the south coast of Victoria, Phillip Island is home to a large population of approximately 32,000 penguins. Every evening, penguins, reaching hundreds or even thousands of species, march across the sands, creating the well-known Penguin Parade.
Escape the city on a Phillip Island tours
Welcome to Phillip Island Natural Parks! Just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, this island in Victoria offers spectacular coastal views and plenty of Australian wildlife. Attend the Penguin Parade, spot koalas at the Koala Conservation Reserve or let time fly at Churchill Island.
- Departs / Arrives
- 11:45-21:45
- Starts / Finishes
- Melbourne
- Duration
- 1 day
- Style
- Original
- 129 AUD
- Departs / Arrives
- 7:35-20:30
- Starts / Finishes
- Melbourne
- Duration
- 1 day
- Style
- Original
- 95-110 AUD
- Departs / Arrives
- 7:35-19:30
- Starts / Finishes
- Melbourne / Adelaide
- Duration
- 3 days
- Style
- Original
- 695-1210 AUD
- Departs / Arrives
- 07:35-17:30
- Starts / Finishes
- Melbourne
- Duration
- 2 Day
- Style
- Original
- 475-715 AUD
- Departs / Arrives
- 11:30-23:00
- Starts / Finishes
- Duration
- 1 Day
- Style
- $110-115 AUD
- Departs / Arrives
- 07:35-19:30
- Starts / Finishes
- Melbourne / Adelaide
- Duration
- 2 Day
- Style
- Original
- 475-715 AUD
What our customers are saying about Phillip Island Tour
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Same as above Guide was very cooperative and made the trip so very informative. Cheers !
read moreread lessKetan C5/24/2026 -
Great ocean road one day trip Our guide Joel ( Marlin-J) was really fantastic & Fabulous!! He took a great care of us, provided excellent guidance, little fun stories and amazing assistance throughout the the trip, We took the Great ocean road one day trip And the journey was really comfortable, exciting and peaceful. Really enjoyed every bit of it. Highly recommended!!!
read moreread lessAgust D5/24/2026Special day at the peninsula hot springs! Very well organized trip! Only 5 people on the van and we left Melbourne on time. We got to stay at the hot springs for 4 hours! What a treat! It was a busy Sunday but no rain and each pool was not crowded. Chris offered insightful commentary about Melbourne during the drive down the peninsula.
read moreread lessJacquelyn W5/24/2026 -
First time to Australia….wonderful tour Wonderful tour with very knowledgeable tour guide Kiwi! Beautiful drive along the southern Australian coast and all the stops. Lunch was good. We stayed on time and everyone was pleasant. I enjoyed Kiwi’s narration along the way, but some non-English speakers had a hard time following. Be sure to request language translation, if needed. Otherwise, awesome!
read moreread lessCarmela Y5/21/2026⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Absolute Highlight of My Melbourne Trip! This tour completely exceeded my expectations! The itinerary was perfectly balanced—we managed to see so many incredible attractions along the Great Ocean Road, but it never felt rushed. There was always sufficient time to explore each spot and squeeze in some pit stops during the drive. A massive shoutout to our guide, Chris (aka Kiwi)! He was absolutely fantastic all day long—incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and kept everyone entertained and comfortable from start to finish. I’ll definitely be booking another tour with Autopia Tours the next time I'm back in Melbourne. Highly, highly recommend!
read moreread lessS C5/21/2026 -
Fiona’s tour is good It’s good, Fiona’s explanation was completely and she is nice.
read moreread lessZHIYUAN Z5/19/2026Anthony the great story teller of Great Ocean Road Fantastic experience. The tour guide and tbe chauffeur Anthony was extremely knowledgable, a great story teller and kept the trip engaging. All thanks to him
read moreread lessSanghamitra G5/19/2026Gorgeous scenery. Friendly informative guide Kiwi gave us a wealth of information about the history of the things we were seeing. The day trip covered a lot of ground but the stops were well spaced. The lunch was simple but tasty. We would recommend this tour for anyone wanting to see stunning scenery in a full day.
read moreread lessBruce D5/17/2026 -
Amazing experience Had an amazing experience with Chris ! He is a wonderful person and explained us everything very well . He drove very safely .
read moreread lessNIKITA T5/17/2026Memorable Philip Island tour ever! Joel aka Marlon our tour guide was awesome and took good care of the 11 passenger tour. I learned a lot from him and the tour itself. The tour tp see not only the Little Penguins but the Koala conservatory plus the Novvir coastal drive was memorable! I give Joel a 5++
read moreread lessCris R5/17/2026Genialer Tagesausflug Wir hatten einen super Tagesausflug. Unser Reiseleiter Joel (Marlin-J) war so unterhaltsam, informativ und lustig. Wir würden diesen Ausflug sofort wieder buchen. Die Koalaauffangstatiom war sehr interessant die Fahrt der Küste entlang wunderschön und das Beste zum Schluss, die Pinguinparade. Danke
read moreread lesskely675/17/2026 -
Fabulous day trip! Joel was an excellent driver & guide. Full of interesting stories of historical to current events. Excellent day trip. Outstanding views of nature including wildlife!
read moreread lessAlexandra37585/10/2026Great Ocean Road trip in reverse with 12 Apostles Joel our guide was very knowledgeable about the area as he grew up there and was able to recount real stories which added to the atmosphere of the tour
read moreread lessAndy5/10/2026A relaxing getaway What a lovely mother's day celebration. My daughter booked this tour as a special treat. Only 1.5 hours from Melbourne. We had a relaxing dip in the hot pools and massage treatment. Kiwi, our driver was wonderful. He shared some history along the way. The ride was comfortable.
read moreread lessNancy M5/10/2026 -
Hot Springs The tour guide Kiwi were so kind and attentive. He kept taking good care of everyone in the tour. Amazing Hot Spring Experience
read moreread lessYung kin C5/10/2026A great outing made better with a great guide Had a great day out with our Driver and Guide, Fiona. Expert and safe driver who showed a true enthusiasm to give information, ensure we all had a great time, she was accessible, personable, informative, and truly wanted us all to enjoy ourselves as much as possible. She was a delight to spend time with, and I would recommend her to anyone. We had a great time at the koala reserve and at thepenguin parade, despite a brief downpour of rain. Everything went great and her ability to get us all back to our best drop- off in rainy weather was very much appreciated. My photos do not include any of the penguin parade as photos are not allowed in order to observe the penguins privacy and natural behavior
read moreread lessBarbara S5/06/2026 -
Koalas and penguins Thanks Fiona for a nice and informative trip about penguins and koalas
read moreread less柏緯 宋5/06/2026A day out with Joel The tour covered all the said points very well. All the tourists could capture beautiful pictures and memories for life. The coffee was served as committed. It's a DIY coffee where they keep hot water, coffee, sugar, milk etc and make your own. Alongwith Tim Tams. The sandwich for lunch was tasty and filling. I opted for veg and the veggies inside it were so fresh n crunchy. I didn't feel hungry till evening. I saw the veg sandwich bigger than the non veg 😉 Special credits to our tour guide Joel. He did a fab job telling us about the points, history of the places. Sweet person to spend the day with. He made all the tourists comfortable, co and waited patiently incase we were late. Joel- Thanks and love from India.
read moreread lessArch C5/05/2026 -
Good hot spring experience. Went on a hot spring tour in peninsular. Was a very relaxing experience and with beautiful view. Chris was the tour guide and he was very punctual and informative.
read moreread lessFlorence L5/04/2026Highly recommend! This guide was a larger one then expected however Fiona was great - super high energy as a solo traveller she made me feel as if I had a friend on the tour. I can only recommend doing this tour - and trying to get Fi as your guide. She had all the answers!
read moreread lessArjaa S5/04/2026 -
Craig was great, loved his facts, information, stories & humor. Enjoyed trip so much. He seemed to enjoyed his job and p Craig was fun, great humor and personality. He really seems to enjoy his job. And people!
read moreread lesssheri h5/02/2026Excellent tour thanks to an excellent guide. Beautiful scenery Joel (Marlin-J) was an excellent guide throughout the entire tour. You can tell he really enjoys his job, and he also loves showing his country and the place where he grew up to others. It was a very pleasant day, and he made a great effort to make sure we could see all the places—we even saw a koala and kangaroos in the wild. He also told us interesting stories during the bus ride to make the journey more enjoyable. He has a very positive energy, even at 7:00 am hahaha. I would take a tour with him again. 😊 If I had to mention something I didn’t like as much, it would be that the food was a bit limited—just a sandwich and a muffin for lunch. At the first stop in the morning, we had tea or coffee with Tim Tams (definitely the best part)
read moreread lessMaría F5/02/2026
Why go on a Phillip Island tour?
Aussie wildlife
Experience Australia’s adorable wildlife like never before on Phillip Island! Watch the famous little penguins waddle off into the sunset, get up close with thousands of Australian fur seals and hand-feed kangaroos, and watch the beautiful whales migrate in winter!
Reconnect with nature
Be amazed by Phillip Island’s natural beauty! Explore pristine beaches, coastal scenery, and remnants of natural bushland. Walk, bike, or drive and discover Phillip Island’s nature all year round.
Adventures
Experience a variety of activities and family-friendly attractions on Phillip Island for an unforgettable experience! Travellers can explore a maze, participate in go-kart racing, enjoy the panoramic views of Cape Wulamai cliffs, take surfing lessons, and see a chocolatier in action.
Culinary
Feel the diverse culinary offerings of Phillip Island, including local producers, cafes, restaurants, wineries, and breweries.
Top things to do in Phillip Island
Many activities for nature enthusiasts and thrill seekers are available in this coastal heaven. The island offers an amazing encounter with Australian animals set against a backdrop of magnificent landscapes. The penguin parade tour that is famous worldwide is just the beginning, you brace yourself for a trip full of mother nature, local delicacies, wine and fresh air from the sea.
Plan your visit to Phillip Island
Each tour has its departure time and operating days.
Phillip Island Tour: 1 Day, departs 11:45 Winter / 13:45 Summer, returns 21:45 Winter / 23:45 Summer
1 Day Great Ocean Road Tour: 1 Day, departs 7:35, returns 20:30
Melbourne to Adelaide Tour: 3 Days, departs 7:35, returns 19:30
Snow Trips Victoria: 1 Day, departs 8:00, returns 18:00
Yarra Valley Wine Tours: 1 Day, departs 8:45, returns 17:15
3-Day Great Ocean Road Tour: 3 Days, departs 7:35, returns 17:30
Otway Discovery Tour: 2 Days, departs 7:35, returns 18:30
2-Day Great Ocean Road Tour: 2 Days, departs 7:35, returns 22:30 Winter / 12:00 Summer
Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour: 1 Day, departs 7:30, returns 20:30
Grampian Tour: 1 Day, departs 7:35, returns 20:30
The most convenient way of reaching Phillip Island is by car. A bridge links the island to the mainland, so it can be ideal road trip from Melbourne. Renting a vehicle on Melbourne’s airports will not be an issue.
Melbourne Airport (MEL), Tullamarine is nearest airport to Phillip Island.
Avalon Airport (AVV) is 192 km away from Phillip Island and operates both international and domestic flights.
Phillip Island is best visited during warm weather which usually begins in November until March. In mild weather conditions you can enjoy exploring hiking trails, beaches and encountering wild animals as well . It’s also great time when you can watch the penguin parade because they come up ashore after catching dinner from ocean.
Peak season: Summer (December – February)
Off-peak season: Winter (June – August)
Don’t miss seeing thousands seals during your coastal cruise! Young seals swim play and do hunting exercises throughout Autumn months (March-May).
Phillip Island offers excellent accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities, providing top-notch facilities.
Arrival: Melbourne Airport offers accessible services to ensure a smooth arrival. Disabled travellers can book a shuttle or wheelchair-accessible taxi to Phillip Island from here.
Getting there: You will find different resources that facilitate transport around including getting around maps, all-terrain wheelchair hire as well as Changing Places guide.
Accessibility highlights: Phillip Island Nature Parks is committed to giving everyone a chance of having wildlife experience. The well-known Penguin Parade and Koala Sanctuary are sensory integration certified venues with physical impairment or neurological disability facilities available there.
Most of the restaurants on Phillip Island are located in Cowes. Pino’s Trattoria offers a great selection of Italian cuisine, including pasta, pizzas, and salads, accompanied by signature cocktails.
Flametrees Restaurant, Cafe & Bar: Located in the heart of Phillip Island, this restaurant offers dishes from around the world and has a children’s menu.
Cafe Omaru: Located 3 minutes from Flynn Beach, this restaurant serves Indian cuisine, including rice and curries, as well as vegetarian options.

Middle-class hotels: , Tropicana Motor Inn.
Luxury hotels: Glen Isla House, Mud Hollow Barn, Beach House Getaway 2.
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world. Join us on our Great Ocean Road Tour for a complete adventure along this coastline. Visit world-famous surfing beaches, listen to the unique stories of the Shipwreck Coast, splash around in the Loch Ard Gorge, and, of course, visit the world-famous 12 Apostles. Along with all these Great Ocean Road attractions, this exciting new adventure offers the chance to see koalas in their natural habitat.
Grampian
Discover the world’s oldest and most scenic mountain ranges on our day trip to the Grampians from Melbourne. The area is home to native wildlife, including kangaroos, emus and birds, so keep your eyes peeled! Travel to the charming town of Halls Gap. Discover fascinating Aboriginal culture at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. See the awe-inspiring Jaws of Death, the Balconies Lookout, and hike to the base of the magnificent Mackenzie Falls.
Yarra Valley Wine
Experience award-winning wines on one of our Yarra Valley wine-tasting tours. Choose from day tours of the Yarra Valley or private tours for groups.
Snow Trip
Pile the kids in the car and Victoria’s snowy fields for a day to remember! Play snowballs and build a snowman together. Many accommodation options are conveniently located next to car parks, allowing you to drive up to the snow within metres. Resorts such as Lake Mountain are so close to Melbourne that you can enjoy a full day in the snow and make it back for dinner!
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour Itinerary
Tour highlights
- Witness the enchanting Phillip Island Penguin Parade in its natural setting.
- Embark on a ranger-led tour through the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve.
- Uncover the scenic beauty, rich history, and importance of Phillip Island.
- Venture along the lesser-known dirt paths of Phillip Island's coastal cliffs, keeping an eye out for wallabies and raptors.
- Amble along the coastal pathways of the Nobbies and Seal Rocks.
Why Visit Phillip Island?
Embarking on the Phillip Island Tour is a treat for wildlife enthusiasts! Journey with us southward from Melbourne to the scenic Phillip Island. During our day trip, you’ll be guided by a ranger through the Phillip Island Koala Reserve, traverse untamed surf beaches, sight wild Kangaroos and Wallabies, and culminate the experience with the globally renowned Penguin Parade.




