Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Every night at sunset, the truly incredible spectacle of the Penguin Parade occurs on the beaches of Phillip Island. The local colony of little penguins emerges from the water to make their way to the burrows in the sand dunes - and this tour is your chance to witness this unforgettable phenomenon in real life!
We’ll spend the day exploring top attractions including Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park and the Nobbies, before settling in on the sand, ready for the main show at the Penguin Parade. Including all entrance fees, this great value tour is the best way to discover the wild coastal scenery and delightful animals of Phillip Island.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Unfortunately we cannot take infants under the age of 3 years old
Please note: Evenings on Phillip Island can be cold and windy during the Penguin Parade. We recommend wearing warm clothing, such as a good jacket, to stay comfortable.
Most travellers can participate
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Moonlit Sanctuary is home to stacks of well-known Aussie animals including kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils, plus many lesser-known species such as the spot-tailed quoll, yellow-bellied glider and long-nosed potoroo.
Woolamai Beach
Located at the base of Cape Woolamai, Woolamia Beach is one of Victoria's most beautiful and rugged beaches. With huge surf and a soft golden sand, any trip to Phillip Island must include a stop here.
What‘s Included
Entrance to the Moonlit Sanctuary
General admission to the Penguin Parade
Wildlife Viewing
Air-conditioned vehicle
Free Audio Guide App
Melbourne CBD Pick up and Drop off
Lunch
You can purchase dinner at the town of Cowes
Please bring you own water bottles, we discourage the use of single use plastic bottles
Options
Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
Pickup included
Reviews
626 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic & unique experience!
Ma Ana Patricia A,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our trip to the Moonlit Sanctuary was better than going to the zoo bec there was closer interaction with the koalas, kangaroos and wallabies! The parade of penguins in Phillip Island was a unique and exhilarating experience. The quiet of the beach waiting for the penguins then finally seeing them waddle in groups was nothing short of magical! It was God’s gift, for sure! It was a 12 hour day but it was so worth it. Kudos to our guide & driver, Andrew! His commentaries were very informative, driving, superb & time management, excellent. Thank you!
Great start for 2026
Wun S,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was well organised and John did a great job in helping us to get the best experience out of the group. It was a busy holiday season and full of visitors from different countries. The weather was perfect for the penguins but not so good for people who were not prepared for the cold night.
Penguins!
seoyunk2025,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Elliot was a great guide. The tour was well paced with ample time to explore and eat. We saw plenty of penguins and they were so cute!
Very crowded at the ...
warren m,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Very crowded at the Penguins area with too many rules to make iit enjoyable. Our bus was 1 hour late for the pickup and broke down later so we missed the surfing beach and were always rushed. Driver was great.
Penguins parade
Karen L,,Jan 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00A great trip especially the last stop with the penguins, very cute. Our guide Elliot was fab lots of history and facts about Melbourne and beyond. In Cowes, grest recommendations for food.
Fun Day
665maddiek,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Overall I enjoyed! My partner and I were thinking about renting a car and making the drive out to Phillips Island but this was more cost efficient. We went peak season, so outside the immigration museum there were tons of buses and it was a scramble to find the right bus. Some people were quite pushy to speak to the drivers to find out if they were on that bus, and the drivers really provided no structure to check. Other than the beginning of the trip finding the bus, we had a great time visiting the wildlife sanctuary, Cowes, and of course the main attraction— the penguins. I also want to shoutout our bus driver, he was incredibly friendly and kind!
Tour needs to start earlier as it is too rushed
Wendy N,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00It all felt quite rushed. It started off well at the Moonlit Sanctuary but then we felt as though we had to hurry through everything. I’m aware we were stuck in traffic on our way to Phillip Island however even with the extra hour I don’t know how we would have made it to Cowes with time to eat and explore. As it was we had to miss Cowes meaning we only had time to order food (a long queue) go out to see the penguin parade, miss the end as we were aware our food was getting cold. Run in to grab the food and eat whilst walking the boardwalks. There was no time to shop or sit and just have a coffee etc,. I really think this tour needs to start much earlier than it does Our driver, Steve, was nice and his driving felt safe, the coach was clean and well air conditioned, so much so that we asked him to adjust it to warmer as we were all putting on coats and jumpers and Steve happily obliged. He kept us well informed throughout the trip. The package does say to take warm clothing for the Penguin Parade, I would recommend everyone heed that advice as we still old even with our jumpers and coats! One last comment is that once we arrived at Penguin Parade we had to wait in the coach whilst the driver collected our entry wristbands. Then they needed to be separated and handed out- there must be a better way of doing this as it took up around 20-30 minutes!
Viator is not worth using
Jon N,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00The zoo on this tour is just sad. It's like the joke about how visiting a zoo with only one animal, a dog. It's a Shitzu. They skipped two of the locations and neither Viator, nor the provider, would give a partial refund. The penguins are very cute. All in all, you would be better off skipping all Viator tours and renting a car. Viator is not there to support their members, just to collect fees.
Really nice tour but a little too long.
Alexander S,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Seeing the Penguins is the last part of the trip and they don’t come out until almost 21:00. The tour runs a solid 10 hours so this will keep you busy all day. Tour is fun for all but seems to be a better fit for families with kids.
Great guide, great experience
Gingeontour456,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a brilliantly led day out to explore Philip Island, Elliot our tour guide was amazing from start to finish. We saw so many great sights and the penguin parade at the end is a must see experience
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Operated by Sightseeing Tours Australia