Phillip Island: Golden Hour Penguin Express Tour w/ Island Pickup
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
***Important - this tour DOES NOT depart from Melbourne, pickup is only included from Phillip Island***
Experience the magic of Phillip Island's world-famous Little Penguins at sunset on this expertly guided small-group tour. Departing from your Phillip Island or San Remo accommodation, journey through golden-hour coastal landscapes, encounter native Australian wildlife, and witness thousands of penguins waddle ashore at the iconic Penguin Parade.
Perfect for short-stay visitors and nature enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable Victorian wildlife experience with premium comfort and authentic local guiding.
Skip the hassle of planning logistics and let expert local guides showcase the best of Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes coastal village, and Bass Strait's dramatic ocean scenery.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Phillip Island
Begin your adventure with convenient pickup from your nominated accommodation. Board your premium midi coach, meet your expert local guide, and settle into your guaranteed window seat for every booking with WiFi access for the journey ahead.
Cowes
Explore the charming seaside village of Cowes on the shores of Western Port Bay. Stroll the sandy beach along The Esplanade, browse local shops and boutiques, and experience the relaxed island village atmosphere. There's time for optional refreshments at local cafes if desired.
What‘s Included
Small group authentic travel — Maximum 15 guests with engaging local guide
The Nobbies Golden Hour Experience — Scenic wildlife boardwalk
Premium Comfort Guarantee — WiFi-equipped midi coach, window seat guarantee for every booking
Cowes village exploration — Beach, shops & coastal streetscape
Wildlife viewing opportunities — Wallabies, echidnas, seabirds, Cape Barren geese, fur seals
Entry to Phillip Island Penguin Parade - General Viewing
Complimentary sparkling wine — Served on board after Nobbies
Convenient pickup & return — From your Phillip Island or San Remo accommodation
Dinner
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Golden Hour + Penguin Plus
Penguin Plus Upgrade Ticket
Pickup included
Golden Hour Penguin Express
Pickup included
Reviews
61 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An entertaining and informative excursion
ChantalR70,,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a enjoyable experience! The driver of the comfortable bus picked us up at the hotel on time, he was very friendly and told a lot of interesting facts and gave us good advices during the drive. He even offered some sparkling wine to all of the guests. The Penguine Parade itself is very touristic, but well organised.
We recommend
Robbie J,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very good. Wonderful guide. Michael was very attentive. .............................................
Avoid for Penguin Parade
187gemmat,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Avoid this tour operator for Philip Island: Golden Hour Penguin Express tour. We booked this tour in December for today. 48 hours before the tour was due to start, Local Way Tours reached out to let us know they had recieved less tickets than they had booked and could not confirm our tour. They were then hard to communicate with and unclear - not responding to myself or Get Your Guide. I used both Get Your Guide messaging and whatsapp. We have lost out on our accomodation ($177) as this was non-refundable and we were only coming to Philips Island for this tour. We were NOT made aware when booking that the operator are only allocated a small number of tickets and rely on Penguin Parade giving them extras closer to the time. They admitted to me it had been sold out for 3 months - we booked 2 months in advance so they sold tickets knowing this. They tried to rebook us on an alternative day but as we have come from the UK and are here for a limited time this was not possible for us. I am incredibily disappointed to have missed out on both this experience and accomodation.
Great evening tour
Scot H,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful tour! We had a great evening with Sue! She gave us lots of local history and fun facts about the penguins! Seeing the penguin parade was amazing! Being picked up at our lodging was an added bonus. No need to stress about parking or crowds!
Phillip Island bucket list item ticked
Janet M,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic experience the driver (Sue) was very knowledgeable about the history and the different wild life on Phillip Island.
Penguin parade ... a wonderful experience!
DawnA24,,Feb 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Overall a great tour. We were collected on time and by our lovely tour guide, Mike, who sent a text confirming details of pickup, etc on the day. The extra for the premium viewing of the penguins was worth it and delivered us a fabulous viewing and rewarding evening. Thanks to Mike for delivering great, respectful service. Our experience was all the better due to your enthusiasm and ability to welcome your guests. A wonderful memory and the penguins delighted us with wonderful memories.
Great guide and really nice stops
Pia Y,,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great guide and really nice stops with magnificent views. We saw a lot of different animals and enjoyed the stunning views.
Worthwhile “WOW” tour
kimberly k,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The communication for the pick up and tour was excellent. Jenny was very knowledgeable and friendly. She made the trip almost as worthwhile as seeing those adorable penguins. We also saw wild wallabies and bandicoots!
Very pleasant and...
Simranjit S,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very pleasant and absolutely refreshing experience. The tour guide had a lot of experience and was very easy to talk to and made our half day tour perfect.
The driver we had was...
Carol L,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The driver we had was great easy to talk to, polite friendly. Tour was wonderful. On time small group which was nice
Related Experiences
Operated by Local Way Tours