Day Trips

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Afternoon Guided Tour

Guests observing penguins at Phillip Island, Australia.

Father and daughter enjoying sunset view at Nobbies boardwalk, Phillip Island.

Penguins walking on the beach during the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.

Tourists with guide overlooking ocean and cliffs at Cape Woolamai.

Duration

10 hr

Open today

5:00pm - 9:00pm

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Transfers available

Go on a journey to Phillip Island with round-trip transfers from Melbourne to witness the charming Penguin Parade on this guided tour.

4.5/5(61)

Lynn A

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

Chris H was a fantastic driver/guide, he knew so many interesting facts and was a lot of fun too. He gave us tips on the best place to sit to see the penguins and it worked a treat. Overall just a fab day out, would highly recommend to anyone.

Stephanie N

Solo

Verified booking

Feb 2026

Jono shared lots of useful information and fun facts about his experiences. His service was very appreciated. Besides, his voice is so nice to listen to; he should do a podcast.

Chenjung L

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

My husband and I appreciated the tour guide Mike as Mike was well organized, and we received a very warm hospitality from him. We had a wonderful time and memory.

Mitch R

Group

Verified booking

Jan 2026

We had the pleasure of doing the 3/4 day tour for the Phillip Island Fairy Penguin Parade with our guide Sherif. Sherif was bright and very interactive with the group sharing his vast knowledge of the drive and the areas as we passed through them. Sherif took time to answer all questions as we travelled the 2 odd hours to Phillip Island. We were taken to several lookouts prior to going to the Penguin Parade. Prior to being dropped off Sherif took the time to explain the best vantage points to observe the Penguins as he had previously been a Parade member. This certainly enhanced our experience and we were very appreciative that Sherif took the time to go through it. Upon completion of the Parade Sherif took the time to gather where everyone was staying and planned the best route to drop each group off as close as practicable. A wonderful experience enhanced by a wonderful guide. Certainly recommend to anyone visiting Melbourne.

Brenda M

Group

Verified booking

Jan 2026

We had the best time on this tour. Our guide Sherif was so good with all his information and places he stopped at. One of the best guides I have had on a tour

Lukash M

Couple

Verified booking

Dec 2025

James our tour guide of Go West was passionate about Melbourne and Philip Island and quite knowledgeable and very friendly. Headout and Go West need to re update the collection point on their info section as the pickup was on the Market Street side of the Immigration Museum and not Flinders Street side. Also definitely try to get the Penguin Plus upgrade if possible. Well worth it to be up close to the penguins.

Enjoy a guided tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island, witnessing Australia's largest fur seal colony and the iconic penguin parade.

Go on a scenic ride in plush air-conditioned coaches, guided by expert local guides for a personalized experience.

Marvel at the colonies of seals scattered across Seal Rocks and stroll along the Nobbies boardwalk to learn fascinating insights about the rich marine wildlife.

Witness Little Penguins parading to their burrows at sunset, and upgrade to a premium viewing experience with a seat at the grandstand.

Fun fact: Little Penguins, the smallest of penguin species, ensure they see a sunset every day due to their unique beach-to-burrow lifestyle!

Philip Island tour

Informative driver/guide

AC transfers from Melbourne

Standard viewing at penguin parade

Entry fees and taxes

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

61 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 Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom and over 13 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Rachael W
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
An amazing experience! Our guides knowledge of the history of the area was outstanding. Gorgeous guests of honour - the penguins!
Lynn A
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Chris H was a fantastic driver/guide, he knew so many interesting facts and was a lot of fun too. He gave us tips on the best place to sit to see the penguins and it worked a treat. Overall just a fab day out, would highly recommend to anyone.
Frieda G
Solo
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Sherif was awesome!!!🤩 and the penguins were very very cute
Stephanie N
Solo
Verified booking
Feb 2026
Jono shared lots of useful information and fun facts about his experiences. His service was very appreciated. Besides, his voice is so nice to listen to; he should do a podcast.
Chenjung L
Couple
Verified booking
Feb 2026
My husband and I appreciated the tour guide Mike as Mike was well organized, and we received a very warm hospitality from him. We had a wonderful time and memory.

A sea of seals & penguins

As you drive away from the bustle of Melbourne to the tranquility of Phillip Island, relax in an air-conditioned coach as seascapes pass you by, setting the stage for an exciting escapade. The tour takes you first to the Nobbies Centre, a remarkable marine discovery hub where you'll expand your knowledge about local marine wildlife and enjoy an unbeatable view of Seal Rocks, home to about 16,000 seals, making it Australia's largest fur seal colony.

An enchanting evening with Little Penguins

As the day transitions into a sunset, brace yourself for the famed penguin parade. Watch these little creatures, the smallest penguin species standing just 33 cm tall, as they waddle their way across the beach to their burrows. Upgrade to premium viewing to enjoy a better perspective from the grandstand.

What to bring

Bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, change of clothes, towel, and power bank for the experience.

Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

What's not allowed

Photography is not allowed during the Penguin Parade.

Large bags, luggage, and pram/ strollers are not allowed on this experience.

Accessibility

The experience is not wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Additional information

Facilities: Free Wi-Fi.

This tour can accommodate a maximum of 24 people in 1 group.

The tour is conducted in English. However, you can access pre-recorded written & verbal tour information in 16 different languages by downloading the free Go West Tours App from the App Store or Google Play. Download the app before departure or use the complimentary onboard Wi-Fi. Please ensure you bring your own headphones.

Guests will be picked up from the Immigration Museum between 1:45pm to 2:45pm and dropped off between 9:30pm to 12am at the same location.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Immigration Museum (corner of Market street and Flinders street).

Address: 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.

Get directions to the meeting point