Phillip Island Penguin and Koala Highlights Day-Trip from Melbourne
Overview
Available languages
9 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Take in the spectacular Phillip Island Penguin Parade as you watch the colony of Little Penguins crosses the shoreline from the ocean. Heading out to Penguin Parade, we begin our day at a Koala Reserve to meet some furry Australian favourites. Take a tour and get up close and personal with our native Australian wildlife. Travel to Phillip Island Nature Parks, known for its natural beauty, sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and unique wildlife experiences. The island is home to a colony of around 32,000 little penguins. Phillip Island Tour is one of the popular and must-watch tourist attractions in Victoria.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
No photography or filming is permitted at the Penguin Parade. Penguins have sensitive eyes and a bright, sudden flash or unusual light can frighten or disorientate a penguin.
Child and infant fare prices apply from 0 to 12 years old. Child protective seats are free of charge, subject to availability and must be requested at time of booking.
Limited storage space on our vehicle, baggage kept to 1 x 5-7kg day bag per person. Our vehicles are not wheelchair, prams or child stroller accessible please refrain from bring on tour.
Please ensure you have checked the average temperatures for the time of year you are travelling and have packed adequate clothing.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Experienced local driver guide to assist you throughout the day
Air-conditioned premium coach travel and comfort
Comprehensive live commentary in a fun and social atmosphere
Admission to Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve
Admission to Phillip Island Nature Park with Penguin Parade (general viewing)
Meals not included, guests will have an opportunity to support locals and buy lunch along the way.
Hotel transfers pre/post tour itinerary to a nominated pickup point.
Travel insurance is highly recommended
Personal expenses
What To Expect
Melbourne
Our coach will depart from Melbourne City and head southeast for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, with our first stop being the Koala Conservation Reserve on Phillip Island.
Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Conservation Reserve
At the Koala Conservation Centre on Phillip Island, guests will have 45 minutes to explore the lush surroundings and stroll along the elevated boardwalks that wind through the treetops. Here, you’ll have the chance to get up close to koalas in their natural habitat, spotting these iconic creatures as they rest in the eucalyptus trees. The knowledgeable staff will provide fascinating insights into the conservation efforts that protect these beloved animals. It's a peaceful and educational experience, offering fantastic photo opportunities and a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of Australia's wildlife.
Options
General Viewing Admission
Australian wildlife experience
Mid-range seat in coach travel
Duration: 9 hours: This tour operates on a seasonal departure schedule, pick up times change when daylight savings clocks are adjusted.
Roundtrip to & from Melbourne
24-seater Mitsubishi Rosa Bus: This vehicle makes for a safe & comfortable journey (air-conditioned), with large passenger windows for unobstructed views.
Reviews
657 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Super enjoyable!
Sharon S,
Oct 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00Kiwi the driver was very friendly. He was helpful and i enjoyed the trip. The experience is unique and great .
Fun - but not what I expected.
Chase Y,
Oct 11, 2025
- Viator
3.00It’s not that I didn’t have a good time - it just wasn’t what I expected. The title of the tour said Kangaroo and Koala “experience,” and a “Penguin Parade.” Pictures showed up close experiences with each of these animals. I was expecting to experience what I saw in the pictures - to be able to touch or feed a kangaroo and a koala, and have hundreds of penguins running around close by. I never saw a kangaroo. Not even from a distance. A few wallabies at a far distance while driving or randomly at the koala sanctuary - but there was not a kangaroo experience at all. The koala sanctuary had several sleeping koalas in branches at a distance. You needed binoculars or a camera with a zoom to see facial features or arms and legs - and even then, for most of the crowd without proper equipment, all you could really see was a ball of fur in a tree crutch. You could see them, but it was not any kind of “experience.” The few that were awake were either hiding behind a bush of branches they were feeding on, or so far away you couldn’t really experience anything. There may have been a total of 10 koala and 6 of them were asleep in a ball at a distance. The “Penguin Parade” was a bust. The ad said 600-1500 penguins coming ashore. It was maybe 100 - and not all at once. 10 here - 15 there. None came near us. They were so far away, I couldn’t even tell they were penguins. If I was not told to look exactly at a certain spot and wait for penguins to come - I would not have even known they were penguins. So few showed up - that it really was not worth sitting in the rain to watch.. I asked the workers … why so few?. They said sometimes it happens. Silt in the water and low tide makes them stay in the water. We had both. Had I known ahead of time that there was absolutely NO photography allowed — That I was not going to be able to take a single picture - I probably would’ve skipped this. But — there was nothing to take a picture of anyway. I was in town on business, had been traveling for over 22+ hours and booked this based on the title & pics to try to squeeze in some fun on a short layover. The driver was nice, punctual, accommodating and informative. He did give great info and insight along the way, but I likely slept through some of it due to being jet lagged. No complaints about him. The little bit I did see was cool - But I can’t say I’d recommend it
Too many people. They...
Juan A,
Oct 9, 2025
- Viator
2.00Too many people. They said there was no time to take us to see the seals, but there was enough time to take us to shops.
Lovely smattering of Australian wildlife
Pat C,
Oct 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00The koalas were the highlight of the tour for me. The guide was very knowledgeable about the wildlife and entertaining as well. We got to see koalas, Wallaby and of course penguins. The warning I would give is that waiting for the penguins is quite chilly so bring warm clothes and seagulls are plentiful so I do not recommend eating while you wait. The seagulls will try to steal your food. The only downside was the other people at the parade who took pictures of the little penguins after many stern warnings about how it scared them. As a result, there were not as many penguins as usual.
Well…
Eric M,
Sep 30, 2025
- Viator
3.00This is the first time Viator lets me down. I use this platform to book all of my experiences in every country I visit, and unfortunately, this experience is one of the bottom three out of approximately 60 I’ve booked. To be clear, our guide was lovely and there was no issue with her driving, charm, or knowledge; it was the tour itself that fell short. In particular, the Penguin parade at the end was so underwhelming and not worth freezing for. The whole ordeal was chaotic with the amount of people in attendance and frankly, just a big cluster! The price isn’t justified and the adventure was more of a bad dream, so this tour gets three starts (and I’m being generous because our guide was good).
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Operated by Autopia Tours