Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Here’s the very best of Victoria’s wildlife experiences. The Penguin Parade is an absolute ‘must’ on every visitor’s itinerary, but this tour gives you so much more.
First stop is Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, where you can get up close to wallabies on the wallaby walk (you may see little joeys peeking out of their mothers’ pouches). Enjoy a ranger providing unique insights and information during the daily koala presentation.
Then we travel on to the spectacular Cape Woolamai Surf Beach. Located on the southern coast of Phillip Island, this beach is exposed to the ocean swells and the surf here is truly impressive. It's also not uncommon to see dolphins or seals swimming in the waters just off the beach.
We also visit the Nobbies and Australia’s largest Fur Seal colony at Seal Rocks. Finally, the ultimate attraction: hundreds of Little Penguins emerging from the ocean and waddling across the beach to their sand dune burrows.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photography and video are NOT PERMITTED at the Penguin Parade.
Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board.
If travelling with an infant, please contact Tour Operator at info@bunyiptours.com directly and request infant seat.
What To Expect
Phillip Island
Begin your Phillip Island adventure with this exciting full-day wildlife tour!
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Encounter famous Australian Wildlife including Kangaroos, Wallabies, bird life, reptiles, Tasmanian Devils and of course Koalas! You may have the opportunity to get up close to a Koala or even cute wallabies* *Additional fees apply, paid directly to Moonlit Sanctuary
Options
Penguin Standard
Phillip Island tour includes general admission at the penguin parade Pickup included
What‘s Included
WiFi on board
Pickup from selected hotels
Entry to Moonlit Sanctuary & guided tour of the exhibits
Friendly & informative tour guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
General admission at the Penguin Parade
Meals other than as stated
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
940 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Hand-Fed Kangaroos and 860 Penguins: A Phillip Island Day to Remember
Nathan L,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Woody, our tour operator, was a dynamo: a skilled driver, knowledgeable guide, and clear communicator for a group representing visitors from Asia, Europe, and North America. He clearly loves Melbourne, Phillip Island, Victoria, and Australia, and has a real passion for conservation, especially the native animals and the penguins of Phillip Island. The wildlife sanctuary was such a hands-on treat. You walk freely among a few dozen kangaroos and wallabies (some areas are off limits so they can rest and get away from us pesky humans), and you can buy food to feed them straight from your palm, which was an amazing experience. I expected to view wildlife from a distance, not interact with it this closely. We upgraded to the on-site koala experience (it was off-season, so they had room), and got to take pictures with and pet the back of “Cyclops,” a female koala. The seven-minute session moved fast: the staff are pros at snapping a ton of photos in both portrait and landscape, and even managed to sneak in a short video. Note: Victoria state law doesn’t allow picking up or holding a koala, so if that’s on your list, you’ll need to do it in another Australian state. It’s hard to put into words what it’s like watching the penguins come ashore. As we settled into our seats, they were already arriving in waves, and it’s startling how close you are to them. The board at the entrance reported 860 penguins the previous night, and there were at least that many the night we visited. They keep coming in waves, and just when you think it’s over, another group arrives. We upgraded to the Penguins Plus tour, which gave us a smaller platform with fewer seats on the right-hand side of the bay, closer to where the penguins come ashore. The platform was lower to the ground, and there wasn’t a bad seat in the house; we had a clear view of the water and the shoreline. The boardwalk ramp up to the Penguins Plus seating area is barely three feet off the ground and well lit. After the waves of penguins came in, we watched them cuddle together and waddle into their little burrows.
The Island that Time Forgot — a Conservationist’s Treasure
Brett G,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The bus ride takes you on a scenic tour of Melbourne’s southern suburbs and deposits you on boardwalks for grand walk-abouts of Phillip Island. The Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes are a cool sight to behold. It’s nice knowing they’re being preserved as part of Australia’s cultural heritage. Viewing the small penguin parade is for sure a major highlight of one’s visit to Phillip Island. Our Go West driver/guide Tom is well-versed on the more distant and contemporary history of Melbourne / Phillip Island. Tom is a knowledgeable, friendly chap who made for a wonderful tour host. Try to pick a warmer, sunnier day, if you can. Overcast skies and southerly winds can make for a cold, uncomfortable evening on the island if you’re unprepared for such weather conditions. All in all, well-worth the time and money!
Okay but somewhat disappointing
Jack K,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Look, the tour guide Riquell was amazing, friendly, passionate and engaging no problems at all with her. However, this tour is marketed as a Phillip island tour and we barely spent much time at all there. Just a quick look at the Nobbies then watched the penguins from so far away you can barely see them. Except on the penguin highway or whatever. But you don’t even have much time there to look at them. Plus, earlier in the day we wasted probably 3 hours looking at the beach huts, and a disappointing Australian animal zoo. Why did these places have to be included, if you’re interested you can just go there on your own. Overall, pretty disappointing tour for the price, so I would just recommend this company to prioritise Phillip Island over other things if the tour is marketed as a Phillip island tour.
Great trip
Mobile02767203900,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide/driver David N is great. The trip is also well planned
What a wonderful world
yair m,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It brings to your knowledge some of natures wonderful moments.witnessing the merging of the tiny Penguins out of the wave ,and their funny marching up the hill.
History, wildlife and conservation all in one day !!
sertyop,May 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fantastic and highly informative day. Mark was excellent as our guide giving s comprehensive and detailed over of the history of Australia plus was equally informative about the wildlife viewed along the way.
Awesome Melbourne Tour
792jagans,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour turned out to be an absolutely incredible and memorable experience from beginning to end. Our guide, Bob, was professional, friendly, and attentive throughout the journey, making us feel comfortable at every step. His English explanations were clear, gentle, and well-paced—not too fast—which made it especially suitable for Chinese tourists with average English skills. The trip to Phillip Island & Moonlight Sanctuary was beautifully organized, allowing us to fully enjoy the scenic views and unique wildlife experiences without any stress. The transportation was excellent, with spacious and comfortable vehicles that made the entire journey relaxing and enjoyable. Every detail of the tour was carefully planned, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. From pickup to drop-off, everything was handled perfectly. This was truly a satisfying and premium travel experience, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Melbourne!
Awesome Tour in Melbourne
sly2026,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour turned out to be an incredible and memorable experience from start to finish. Our guide Bob was professional, friendly and thoughtful at all times. His English explanation was articulate, gentle and well-paced, not too fast at all, which is extremely friendly and suitable for Chinese tourists with average English skills. The transportation arrangement was great, with spacious and comfortable vehicles offering a pleasant riding experience. Every detail of the trip was well arranged, smooth and hassle-free. Truly satisfying in every way, I highly suggest this tour to everyone!
Awesome experience
Jing C,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A well-organized trip. Our driver/guide Lisa is amazing. I would remind everyone please do not take pictures of the penguins. Any light from your phone or camera will harm them. There are beautiful professional pictures for you to download for free.
Great Philip Island Tour with Bob
lilyy531,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Went on the Melbourne day tour to Philip Island with Bob as our guide, and I really enjoyed it! Bob was super friendly, tried to keep things fun, and shared lots of info along the way. I was traveling alone but he made sure everyone was looked after and no one got left behind. The timing at each stop was perfect, never felt rushed. Felt well taken care of and had a great time. Thanks Bob! :)
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Operated by Bunyip Tours