- 1 DAY
- PRICE $ 129 AUD
- DEPARTS 11:45 WINTER / 13:45 SUMMER
- RETURNS 21:45 WINTER / 23:45 SUMMER
Phillip Island Penguins Tour Highlights
- See the amazing Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
- Explore the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve and take a walk along the boardwalks to observe koalas.
- Explore Phillip Island.
- Venture off the main path along the dirt roads by the coastal cliffs of Phillip Island to spot wallabies and birds of prey.
- Walk the coastal boardwalks at the Nobbies and Seal Rocks.
- Visit the Phillip Island Penguin Centre to learn more.
Tour Reviews
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The best day! Amazing day! Anthony was a great guide and gave us time in each location to enjoy each experience and was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The koala sanctuary was amazing but the highlight was definitely the penguin parade, I would 100% help recommend ☺️read moreread less
BethanKelly4/09/2026
A nice holiday in Melbourne 😃 It was very fun to be able to be so close with the little penguins and to see them coming home. It was raining pretty heavily so bring an umbrella and maybe check the weather forecast before packing for the trip.The koala reserve was also a nice place to see the koalas up in the trees.read moreread less
Mobile636517144754/09/2026 -
Zippity-do-dah! It was a fun day. Koala sanctuary was cool. Our visit to The Nubbins was windy and felt a bit otherworldly! The Penguin Parade was interesting, but we caught some medium rain at the end. All in all a good time was had by all!read moreread less
Hal A4/09/2026
Penguin Plus made for a great vacation centerpiece Had a great experience! Seeing the little penguins coming out of the sea and making their way inland was an amazing sight. Fiona was an amazing guide, full of all kinds of interesting information and insider advice. She really helped make this an extra special event for my family and I. The Penguin Plus was really worth it, but you have to get to the stand quickly to get a good view.read moreread less
alnsmith4/08/2026
Worth every penny The trip was really well planned - not too much waiting in between but still enough time to walk around, take photos and eat. Guide Fiona gave excellent tips how to best see the pinguins at Pinguin Parade and we were able to see them just 1 meter away!read moreread less
Taru R4/06/2026 -
Fun Experience - Long Day - Enjoy if it's your thing! This was a long day, for some fairly brief experiences with koalas and penguins. The tour absolutely delivered all that was promised. We drove some distance out of Melbourne, explored a koala conservation park that hosts about a dozen koalas, stopped on Phillip Island in a community with some restaurant options for dinner, then drove out to the Penguin Parade site. We arrived probably 90 minutes prior to the start of sunset, you were encouraged to find your seat about an hour prior, and then wait until penguins come up. We were there during molting season, so the population was a bit more limited; we definitely were treated to a fun parade. Viewers are allowed to watch for about 40 minutes, and then the lights are shut off so as not to disrupt the penguins any further. We were offered a last minute upgrade (at our own expense) to the premium seating and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that. You get much better seats in a much better location. These sell out way in advance, the weather was crummy, so we were advised that it's rare for them to be available. Then it was a 2 hour ride back into Melbourne. It's a long day (1:30 PM pick up to 11:30 PM return) for 60 minutes at a koala park and 45 minutes of penguin viewing. Definitely a tour to do once, probably would not look to repeat. Tour guide was upbeat, positive, and well organized.read moreread lessFrymet Hare4/05/2026
Well organised trip with lots of wildlife Great day out. Tour guide/ driver was excellent telling us lots, giving tips and pointing out animals. It’s a late return so much better to be driven! Koala sanctuary was lovely , dinner was scheduled with tips on where to eat and the penguin experience was great. We upgraded to premium which gave a great view of the penguins as they came onread moreread less
ann W4/05/2026 -
Amazing trip Our driver and tour guide Fiona was very knowledgeable and kept us on time and was informative throughout our journey. The highlight was obviously seeing the penguins which were amazing.read moreread less
John P4/02/2026
Amazing Day Fionna throughout the trip to Phillip's Island and Penguin parade is an amazing driver and tour guide. Thank you for your detailed explanations of all the stops along the way. You made this day truly magical and special that I will cherish.read moreread less
Ida R4/01/2026
Koalas, and Seals. and Penguins, oh my! Joel... or was it Marlin, was a very knowledgeable guide and gave us the history of Phillip and French Island. And he had a great sense of humor. Koala experience was very good and we had good viewing for the penguins at the "parade" (saw easily over 100). Provided plenty of time at the Koala experience, Knobbies, and the Penguin Parade. Highly recommend the Penguin Plus viewing option for much better Penguin viewing. Joel was very knowledgeable about koalas, penguins, and other wildlife. He had a great Playlist for the bus ride. He was always ready to answer questions. He has a great personality and is really sociable. All in all an amazing day.read moreread less
Tom H.3/24/2026 -
Joel Made This Penguin Tour Absolutely Perfect We had an unforgettable day on the Phillip Island tour, made even better by our guide Joel. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and kept everything running smoothly from start to finish. The Penguin viewing was incredible—seeing the little penguins waddle up close was pure magic. A perfect mix of wildlife, scenery, and great vibes. Highly recommend this tour—especially with Joel leading the way!read moreread less
Shantanu T3/21/2026
Great time spent at Philip Island tour! RWatching the Koala’s and little penguins was a memorable experience. Enjoyed the trip ! Joel was an excellent driver and guide , kept us engaged and informed as needed.read moreread less
AnshuSid3/15/2026
Very stressful trip! This day trip from Melbourne would deserve a 5-star from me but I am sorry to say my final outscore is badly affected by the very annoying behaviour of those in charge of refraining tourists from taking pictures of the penguins. We arrived on the seashore one hour before the sunset. We were uncomfortably sitting on the sand just to hopefully have a better view of the penguins. Wardens kept continuously telling us not to take any pictures. It was like a mantra. At some point, it was really irritating. In honesty, I couldn't understand why they did not want us to take pictures. The official explanation was that penguins are sensitive to the on-camera flash. This is something I can understand. But nobody was willing to use flash. Furthermore, most of the times cellphones don't even have flash. We just wanted to take photos. I believe it is understandable. Watching penguins is not something that happens every day, is it?Anyway, they kept walking back and forth to threaten us to be moved away, in case we took or kept taking snapshots. However, I could see some tourists who managed to take some of them despite the warnings. As far as I am concerned, I don't understand this kind of policy. The warden should be more focused on refraining from littering rather than bothering tourists who have regularly paid their tickets. The paradox is that the personnel who work there can photograph penguins. They can, we can't. It is weird. Aside from this very negative aspect, the first part of the trip was really nice. We could encounter koalas with nobody telling us not to take photos of them.read moreread lessGorgan3/14/2026 -
BRILLIANT animal experience AMAZING fiona had all the insider trips. Penguins and koalas were adorable and i cannot rave enoughread moreread less
Amy W3/09/2026 -
Great Great day visiting Koala Conservation & Penguin Parade, lovely lunch in Cowes. Fiona our driver was very friendly & knowledgeable on the places we visited & Melbourne. She went out of her way to make sure we had a good spot to see the penguins.read moreread less
Tracy S3/04/2026
Beautiful Little Penguins and More Fiona made the whole trip fun and relaxed. The koala conservation visit was fantastic and the little penguins were beautiful. Great trip.read moreread less
Jon R3/03/2026
Fiona is the GOAT Autopia Tours really are the best for Philips island tours. Fiona, my lovely tour guide was extremely knowledgeable on both the Koalas and the penguins. She not only knew a lot but explained it in a way that made it very easy to understand and enjoyable to listen to. Couldn’t recommend Autopia tours or Fiona as your guide more.read moreread less
Benjamin F3/03/2026 -
An amazing day trip to see the march of the penguins. Our driver Fiona fetched us from the Immigration Museum in Melbourne on time. The tour starts with a 2 hour drive to the Phillip Island. Along the way you stop for 30 minutes to see Koalas in their natural habitat, then 1 hour for supper in a little town followed by the big show. We did ‘Penguin / Platform Plus and it was well worth the extra l. We saw over a 100 penguins. It’s starts off slow and then magic and they appear. Get a seat facing the ocean!!! Our driver Fiona was very knowledgeable and friendly. A+++ The tour isn’t a small group with over 30 people in a bus but it was manageable. If there were many old people this would have been an issue as the bus isn’t accessible. All in all we were very impressed. Note, once at the penguin parade no phones, cameras are allowed and this is strictly enforced.read moreread less
CDC3/03/2026
Loved Pengiuns Parade with Fiona!!!! Had an amazing time with Fiona! Lovely and infectious personality, she always had a smile and is very friendly and always checked we had a good time once getting back on the bus. She also has great knowledge of wild life and good food suggestions. I would highly recommend any trip on Fiona’s bus and especially the Penguin Parade!! The tour was a good length with perfect amount of time at each location!read moreread less
Ashley C3/03/2026
Brilliant experience with penguins and koala’s We had a great day trip with Fiona as our guide. She was a great tour guide… Very friendly and personable, knowledgeable, wicked sense of humor, excellent driver! She encouraged us to shop local and gave lots of tips and guidance on getting around the small town on Phillips Island.read moreread less
Shelagh B2/24/2026 -
Penguin Parade was marvelous Very long day, rainy. The penguins were marvelous. The trip could have been shorter. Spent too much time in Cowes. Could have spent more time at koala reserve. Penguin Plus worth it.read moreread less
Pam H2/22/2026
A Must Do Amazing experience - got up close with koala’s, wallabies, and penguins. Our guide Coco was knowledgeable, fun, and conscientious. A definite must-do.read moreread less
Steven H2/21/2026
An amazing day!!!! We had a great day with our lovely guide Lauren. She was so friendly and helpful (funny too), and was really knowledgable about the animals and the area we were visiting. The tour group size was good too, as it wasn’t too big. We loved seeing the Koalas at the sanctuary, the coastal views at the Nobbies were breathtaking and seeing the penguins there was a real bonus. The main event the Penguin Parade was just magical… an experience I will remember for a long time!A great day that I would 100% recommend to others.read moreread less
Alison B2/20/2026 -
Best Penguin Parade experience ever The whole experience was fantastic and Fiona ( our fantastic driver and guide) was brilliant and gave us the best tips to view the penguin parade, which we enjoyed so much!!!!read moreread less
437jackyw2/18/2026
Koalas, Wallabys, and Little Penguins (+ other animals) along with some beautiful coastal views The trip was well organized and our guide, Joel, was knowledgeable, fun, and did a good job of keeping people organized (as best as he could with many non-English speaking folks on the tour). Overall a good experience and a fun trip to see the penguins. As one should expect, be prepared for coastal winds and rain.read moreread less
Teaguean K2/17/2026
Worth the money Fiona was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable and talked through some of the journey about the history of the places we visited. Getting picked up and dropped off was seamless and Fiona had some tips like when to go to the gift shops and what order to do things. The koala walk was great, we saw a few up close. Penguin island was great but make sure you take a coat.read moreread less
Charlotte f2/17/2026 
Full Itinerary
Why Visit Phillip Island
Join Phillip Island Penguin Tours and get amongst the Aussie animals! Head south of Melbourne to Phillip Island and enjoy a guided ranger tour at the Phillip Island Koala Reserve, walk the wild surf beaches, see kangaroos and wallabies in the wild and finish the day with the Penguin Parade.
Itinerary
Phillip Island’s Koala Reserve
1 hour 45 minutes drive to Phillip Island. Once you arrive, a Ranger from Phillip Island Nature Parks will take you on a walk through the Koala Reserve. You will receive a talk about koalas, the history of the reserve and the last remaining natural bush on the island.
You will receive an informative talk about koalas, the reserve’s history and the last remaining natural woodland on the island.
Learn about the History and Aboriginal Culture of Phillip Island
The Nobbies Phillip Island Nature Park
As you enter Summerlands, there is no housing; this is all National Park. Here, you will see small wooden burrows where Little Penguins that haven’t gone out to fish are hiding. We’ll walk along the boardwalks at ‘The Nobbies’ and see if we can spot any Little Penguins in their homes. Continue along the pathways to ‘The Blowhole’, where the waves crash against the dark volcanic rock. The rugged caves and formations of this peninsula are great for photos, especially against the backdrop of Seal Rocks. On a clear day, you might even see the Australian colony of Fur Seals basking in the sun. If you don’t want to walk the boardwalks, the Nobbies Information Centre is a nice place to rest. Here, you can browse the gift shop, have a hot drink or explore the ‘Antarctic Journey’. Entry to the Antarctic Journey is $18 per person and gives you an insight into the marine life of the Southern Hemisphere. As a WWF attraction your admission fee goes directly towards the conservation of these amazing creatures of the deep Southern Ocean.
Off-Road Wildlife Coastal Drive
The Phillip Island Tour Penguin Parade
Additional information
Pricing options
Fare prices: $ 165 Adult (13+) / $ 125 Children (0-12)
To organise your private tour of Phillip Island, contact our charters team at [email protected]. Follow our itinerary or customise your own it’s up to you. Enjoy the convenience of a pickup and drop-off at your address and relax exploring new places with loved ones.
Pickup times and locations
Please arrive at your designated pickup location 5–10 minutes before the scheduled time to ensure the tour proceeds smoothly and on time. Here are the pickup times and locations:
- 11:05 or 13:05 : Pegasus Apartments Hotel, located at 206 A'Beckett Street in Melbourne
- 11:10 or 13:10 : Melbourne Marriott Hotel, situated at the corner of Exhibition Street and Lonsdale Street in Melbourne
- 11:15 or 13:15 : Space Hotel, found at 380 Russell Street in Melbourne
- 11:20 or 13:20 : Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Russell Street entrance in Melbourne
- 11:30 or 13:30 : Adina Apartment Hotel, located at 189 Queen Street in Melbourne
- 11:35 or 13:35 : The Savoy Hotel, situated at 630 Little Collins Street in Melbourne
- 11:45 or 13:45 : Immigration Museum, located at 400 Flinders Street, on the corner of Market Street in Melbourne
- 11:50 or 13:50 – Crown Towers - 8 Whiteman St Queens Bridge St, Southbank
Inclusions
- Penguin Parade entry
- Inner city pick-up and drop-off
- Experienced driver/guide and tour commentary
- Koala Reserve Entry Fees
What to Pack
- Water Bottle - 2L
- Hiking shoes (recommended)
- Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Prescribed medications
- Camera
- All-weather clothing
- A sense of adventure!
- Binoculars for bird watching
Important Notes
- The itinerary may be subject to change due to cultural reasons, seasonal weather changes, operational logistics and accessibility.
- The minimum age requirements for this tour is 6 years old. This trip is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.
- Please email our Reservations Team ([email protected]) at least 48 hours prior to departure to confirm pick-up location and time.
- Travel Insurance is highly recommended.
- Remember to double-check your exciting tour plans with the tour operator! Just ring them at 03 9393 1300 within seven days of your departure.
- Before you embark on your adventure, let the tour perform the operator's pre-existing medical conditions.
Check Availability & Book
FAQ
When should I visit Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade?
The Penguin Parade is on all year round but the best time to visit is during summer (December to February) when it’s warm and daylight hours are longer. Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are also nice weather with fewer visitors.
How long does the ‘Penguins of Phillip Island’ tour last?
The Phillip Island tour is a full day tour, approximately 12 hours including travel time from Melbourne. The itinerary includes wildlife viewing, nature walks and the Penguin Parade.
Are the tours suitable for children and families?
Yes, the tours are family-friendly and suitable for children. The Penguin Parade and visits to the Koala Reserve and Nobbies Centre are designed to be fun and educational for all ages.
What to wear and what to bring?
Wear comfortable walking shoes and a jacket as the weather can be quite changeable. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle. Binoculars and a camera (note: no flash at the Penguin Parade) will also come in handy.
Is food included or should I bring my own?
Some tours may include lunch or snacks, but please check with the tour operator in advance. Bring some snacks and water, especially for the kids. There are also cafes and food outlets at the various stops during the tour where you can buy meals and snacks.















































