Combos

Combo (Save 6%): Phillip Island Penguin Parade + Dolphin & Whale Cruise Tickets

Name: Combo (Save 6%): Phillip Island Penguin Parade + Dolphin & Whale Cruise Tickets
Start: 2026-04-30T17:15:00
End: 2026-04-30T19:15:00
Location: Melbourne

Koala resting in a tree at Koala Conservation Reserve, Phillip Island.

Visitors seated at Phillip Island Nature Parks viewing area for Penguin Parade.

Whale breaching in ocean during Phillip Island Dolphin & Whale Cruise.

Phillip Island dolphin and whale cruise with tourists observing marine life.

Duration

50 min - 3 hr 15 min

Open today

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the start of your experience

4.3/5(3,792)

Gombosuren D

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

On a beautiful seaside, for the first time with my husband and our gorgeous baby, we eagerly and excitedly waited for the sunset and for the adorable little penguins to come out of the ocean. It became one of our most unforgettable memories. Even though taking photos of the penguins was prohibited, the warm atmosphere among the many people, getting to know others while waiting to see the penguins, and spending time together as a family made it one of life’s truly priceless golden moments.

Belinda D

Family

Verified booking

4 days ago

We had a very good experience at the Penguin Parade, it was the 3rd time i have been and the second for my husband and our son. To start with, we were shocked at how many people were lining up when we arrived, and didn't think we would get seats so we let our son enjoy the playroom area and bought some food, but once the doors opened the queues moved quickly and we were lucky enough to get side seats and were able to see the penguins clearly. It is a fantastic family outing.

Manpreet K

Family

Verified booking

Last week

The ambience was beautiful, sitting over the beach and being with nature. We loved the idea of not having the phones on. Gave me and my children a time away from the screens and just looking at the ocean. Loved watching the penguins waddling out of the water and making their way to their houses. Thanks for the wonderful experience!!

Aastha N

Group

Verified booking

Last week

Absolutely loved the Penguin Parade! Watching the little penguins waddle back to their burrows was such a magical experience 🐧✨ The setup is really well organized, Thank you to friendly staff, and the atmosphere feels peaceful and special. Definitely worth it ❤️

Ratan S

Family

Verified booking

Last week

We visited philip Island few days back. We witnessed little penguins to return to their natural habitat after day long fishing for their families. The season and day was not appropriate though. So we saw only a few. The nature park is well maintained and with necessary amenities.

Deborah P

Family

Verified booking

Last week

Very impressive visitor centre, lots for all ages including little kids. Lovely sunset walk along the boardwalk. Gorgeous display of the penguins and in an effort to beat the crowds we left early and spotted a little penguin burrowing into its hole.

Watch the world-famous Penguin Parade at Phillip Island from the general viewing platform.

Cruise past Cape Woolamai and spot whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds along the island’s southern coast.

Get two signature Phillip Island wildlife experiences in one combo—ideal for nature-loving travelers.

Enjoy expert commentary and a relaxed cruise, complete with complimentary tea and snacks.

Fun fact: Phillip Island is home to Australia’s largest Little Penguin colony and a key point on the whale migration route.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Entry to Penguin Parade at Phillip Island National Park

Access to the boardwalk and the visitor center

Access to the general viewing platform

Phillip Island Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise

3-hour Phillip Island southern coast cruise

Expert commentary

Whale & dolphin spotting

Regular seals & sea bird sightings

Tea, coffee, cake, and biscuits in the afternoon

Access to a licensed bar

Phillip Island Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise

Other food and beverages (available to purchase onboard)

You can cancel these tickets up to 3 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

3,792 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United Kingdom, United States, Canada and over 26 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Ratan S
Family
Verified booking
Last week
We visited philip Island few days back. We witnessed little penguins to return to their natural habitat after day long fishing for their families. The season and day was not appropriate though. So we saw only a few. The nature park is well maintained and with necessary amenities.
Muhammad A
Group
Verified booking
6 days ago
We were supposed to be at the Penguin Parade on a Monday at 5.45pm , but only arrived at 8pm. Luckily, they were accomodating and gave us new tickets on Wednesday, a day before we left Melbourne. Basically, the "General Viewing" ticket is having a seat at the stands and hoping to catch a glimpse of the penguins leaving the water and going onto the beach and into their burrows further inland. There were a lot of people, and quite annoying as the public were told to not use their cameras, flashes or even stand up(to not block the view) but there is a certain demographic of tourists that seem to do all of the above... Therefore, my family and I couldnt see that much at the stands. The real fun began when we were walking back to the visitor centre on the boardwalks as we could see the penguins going back to their burrows up close. Personally, that was one of the highlights of this event. If I were to come to the parade again, I would have brought - binoculars (to abide by the "no phones/cameras" rule) - Poncho/a big plastic mat to put on the dirty/wet seating area (it was raining that day and no umbrellas were allowed) - Extra inner clothing/jackets (it was cold) Overall, it was a fun experience, I would have planned it with other activities on Philip Island as it was a 4hr drive, to and back.
Brent F
Couple
Verified booking
Yesterday
The guides were excellent and told the story really well. It was disapointing that photographs couldn't be taken. The guides explained why, and I accepted that, although despite many requests and explainations, some still chose not to hear/head them. It's sad that the careless actions of a few, spoil the experience for the rest of us. Otherwise the experience was pretty good. The visitor centre was excellent, amenities were great and the guides explained everything and were really helpful.
Gombosuren D
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
On a beautiful seaside, for the first time with my husband and our gorgeous baby, we eagerly and excitedly waited for the sunset and for the adorable little penguins to come out of the ocean. It became one of our most unforgettable memories. Even though taking photos of the penguins was prohibited, the warm atmosphere among the many people, getting to know others while waiting to see the penguins, and spending time together as a family made it one of life’s truly priceless golden moments.
Belinda D
Family
Verified booking
4 days ago
We had a very good experience at the Penguin Parade, it was the 3rd time i have been and the second for my husband and our son. To start with, we were shocked at how many people were lining up when we arrived, and didn't think we would get seats so we let our son enjoy the playroom area and bought some food, but once the doors opened the queues moved quickly and we were lucky enough to get side seats and were able to see the penguins clearly. It is a fantastic family outing.

**Your Experience (Summary)**Make the most of Phillip Island’s coastal wildlife with this two-in-one adventure—land and sea.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Getting started

Arrive at Phillip Island Nature Parks and show your combo voucher at the ticket desk. Entry includes access to the visitor center and general viewing platform.

What to expect

Watch as hundreds of Little Penguins return ashore after sunset, waddling across the beach to their burrows.

Features

Little penguin colony: Watch over 1,000 little penguins waddle ashore, a unique wildlife spectacle that supports vital conservation efforts.
Boardwalk views: Enjoy panoramic views from the general viewing area and explore the boardwalks that wind through the dunes.
Other wildlife: Keep an eye out for wallabies, Cape Barren geese, and eastern bandicoots in their natural habitat as you explore the park.

Phillip Island Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise

Getting started

Head to the designated cruise departure point and present your ticket at check-in. Boarding instructions will be provided on-site.

What to expect

Cruise along Phillip Island’s rugged southern coastline in search of migrating whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds.

Features

Whale and dolphin sightings: Spot humpback and southern right whales, plus dolphins often racing alongside the boat—prime opportunities for wildlife photography.
Cape Woolamai cliffs: Cruise past these striking rock formations, home to thriving seabird colonies and panoramic ocean views.
Onboard experience: Enjoy afternoon tea as you watch for breaching whales and playful dolphins, with expert guides sharing insights throughout.

Churchill Island

Monday	10:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Tuesday	10:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Wednesday	10:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Thursday	10:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Friday	10:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Saturday	9:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm
Sunday	9:00am - 4:30pm	last entry 4:00pm

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Monday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday	5:00pm - 9:00pm

Koala Conservation Reserve

Monday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Tuesday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Wednesday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Thursday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Friday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Saturday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm
Sunday	10:00am - 5:30pm	last entry 5:00pm

Penguin Parade

Monday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday	5:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday	5:00pm - 9:00pm

What to bring

Penguin Parade

You can pack a raincoat or umbrella if rain is predicted.

Dolphin & Whale Cruise

Wear layered clothing and bring a windbreaker. Don’t forget to pack sunglasses, sunscreen, and motion sickness medication, if needed.

What’s not allowed

Penguin Parade

Photographs and video recordings are not permitted during penguin arrival due to the light sensitivity of the birds.

Big bags are not permitted. Only small carry-on bags are allowed inside.

Dolphin & Whale Cruise

Outside food or drinks, and smoking are not allowed onboard.

Accessibility

Penguin Parade

All parks are accessible by wheelchair.

Dolphin & Whale Cruise

Vessel boarding may not be fully wheelchair accessible. Please check in advance for support requirements.

Additional information

Penguin Parade

Penguins arrive at sunset each evening, with typical arrival times ranging from 8:30 to 9pm in summer (Dec–Feb), 7 to 8pm in autumn (Mar–May), 5:15 to 6pm in winter (Jun–Aug), and 6:30 to 8pm in spring (Sep–Nov). Arrive at least 1 hour beforehand to secure your seat and enjoy the visitor center before the parade begins.

Daily business hours may change; please check the official website of each attraction before departure.

Click here to see the estimated penguin arrival times throughout the year.

If you are planning a visit from mid-December to late January, or during a long weekend or the school holiday period, please allow extra travel time as the traffic can get busy.

Dolphin & Whale Cruise

Cruise departures are weather-dependent and require minimum passenger numbers. You’ll be notified of any changes in advance, with refund or transfer options available.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Please display the same at each ticket redemption point along with a valid photo ID.

Ticket redemption points

Penguin Parade Visitor Centre

Redeem your ticket at Penguin Parade Visitor Centre.

Address: 1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922, Australia.

Get directions to the redemption point

Wildlife Coast Cruises Tour Agency

Show your ticket at Wildlife Coast Cruises Tour Agency.

Address: 170 Marine Parade, San Remo VIC 3925, Australia.

Get directions to the redemption point