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
673 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Five hours on the road and we couldn’t even take a photo
VivianWatson,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Very disappointing to be told not to take photos when that is why we booked. Other people ignored the request as they didn’t speak English and this was poorly policed. Only saw half a dozen birds coming ashore. Not worth the two hour drive back to Melbourne. We also found the driver/host a bit annoying but he’s appeared to have a good rapport with some overseas visitors.
The best experience!
Emma S,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Our driver, Craig, was incredibly knowledgable and lovely. Seeing the penguins in their wild habitat was really special. We saw them emerge from the sea and waddle up the beach to their hollows for the night. It was beautiful. There was a stunning sunset aswell which added to the experience. We got to spend as much time there as possible, leaving at 22:10. I would highly recommend this experience to everyone. The sad thing is, lots of people are not considerate enough to obey the rule of “don’t photograph the penguins”. The blue light from our phones confuses and scares them, making them feel unsafe and possibly not want to come back. The staff did what they could to stop people, but there wasn’t enough of them. The place provides a QR code with general photos for everyone to download. This is the penguin’s home, please be considerate.
Could have been excellent
jeannes1065,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00The driver was terrible. He drove very slow, talked very low, was just flat and rote. A couple of the stops seemed pointless, or just didn’t happen (photo stops). There were very few penguins, which was nobody’s fault.
Penguins
James M,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00It was a long trip. John the driver was good but the trip could be shorter. Unfortunately it was a bad day for the animal sanctuary to hot for them to be out.
A great long day with amazing Australian wildlife sightings!
elaineb313,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our guide Peter was wonderful. Entertaining, informative and brought us to a Wildlife Sanctuary where we could be up close to kangaroos like we never could be in the wild. We were a little disappointed in the amount of penguins who actually paraded by us. But they were very cute snd the full moon coming over the edge of the mountains was spectacular. The food in the food court was not bad! And a bandicoot came to see us on the beach. A rare sighting. Peter also drove by where he knew we would see wallabies in the wild and I believe kangaroos in the distance. Saw an Ekidna in the rocks and dunes. At our stop at the Nobbies a great blowhole blew but you need to be patient for it. Great , long day!
Penguin walk?
Beth S,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00All the paperwork said 1245 and we were there waiting at 12:45 only to find out that the driver wouldn’t be there till 135 and he was late. The stops along the way were ordinary and really, not necessary. The shops were almost all closed when we got to the small town. I would’ve liked more information about the areas we were going through rather than the dad jokes that were given unfortunately, we were underwhelmed with the amount of penguins that came out of the water. There were maybe 20. I was disappointed for the price and what we got for it.
An experience that should not be missed!
I9260VRchristinef,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our tour today!! The experience at the Moonlit sanctuary reserve was magical—seeing the animals up close and being able to hand feed the wallabies was something we will not forget. The penguin parade was also wonderful— so great to see them living their lives in their habitat. We enjoyed the beautiful coastal scenery as well. James delivered so much information about the animals and the history of the area which was very engaging and added a lot to the experience. We appreciated his knowledge and humor. Thank you and thank you to James!
Penguins stars of the show. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sherpa62755,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a fabulous experience, highly recommend. Whilst the penguins stole the show, Jono guided us through the day with a charming mix of knowledge and wit that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Amazing day!
Passport756933,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our driver was great as was the tour. The animal preserve was a nice quick stop and I got to pet a kangaroo, which was cool. The penguin parade was just amazing!
A few animals experienced but not nearly as many as anticipated.
debrac131,,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Pickup times caused some confusion as ticket had different time and was reaffirmed through notices about charging my card so I ended up 45 minutes early for pickup. Thought the Moonlit Sanctuary was rather desolate but did see a few of the animals advertised. Stop in Cowes seemed a bit of a waste of time or delay on purpose. So few penguins and chaos, despite a low 2000 attendees. I would not recommend to other travelers. Very long day as return was half past midnight.
Related Experiences
Operated by Sightseeing Tours Australia