Day Trips

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Express Tour with Penguin Parade

Get straight to the fun on Phillip Island: penguin parade and a visit to the Nobbies Centre on this express tour departing from Melbourne.

Highlights

If you love wildlife and nature, this tour is for you! Start with an AC bus ride from Southern Cross Station to Phillip Island, home to the adorable penguin colony.
It's showtime at sunset: watch the world's tiniest penguins strutting down the beach in their nightly parade.
With access to the main viewing area, enjoy a clear, wide unobstructed view of the ocean and the little penguins.
Don’t miss the Nobbies Centre and Seal Rock. Stroll the boardwalks, explore interactive exhibits, and catch seals playing via live cams – fun and education rolled into one!
Did you know? There's a rock at the end of the boardwalk at Nobbies Centre that acts like a natural water cannon, shooting up water when the sea gets rough!

Inclusions

Express tour of Philip Island
Access to Penguin Parade general viewing area
Round-trip transfers by AC coach from Melbourne
Entry to Nobbies Centre

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Your experience

Scenic escape to Philip Island

Settle into a comfy AC bus at Southern Cross Station and head over to Phillip Island. Leaving at 2 PM, you'll get to see beautiful sights like Western Port and French Island on your way, arriving just in time for the Penguin Parade and a visit to the Nobbies Centre.

Meet the seals and birds

At the Nobbies Centre, zoom in on the playful Australian fur seals through the state-of-the-art cameras. The area is also a haven for birdwatchers, with flocks of birds living around the cliffs. And don't miss the fun, interactive exhibits about Phillip Island’s flora and fauna. Step outside and take a stroll on the Nobbies Boardwalk – it clings to the cliffs and offers stunning views of the Bass Strait and the rough coastline below. If luck’s on your side, you might spot whales or dolphins from the Nobbies Centre. And check out the blowhole when the waves hit just right, it shoots water into the air!

The main event: Penguin Parade

As the sun dips, get ready for the cutest march ever! Watch the Little Penguins, the smallest of their kind, end their day's hunt and waddle up the sandy beach to their burrows. Nestled along the coastline, the main viewing platform offers a 180-degree view, placing you front and center of the parade. After the parade, you'll have some time to evening meal (own expense) and then head straight back to Melbourne, reaching home by mid-evening. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind adventure where wildlife takes center stage!

Itinerary

Pick up from Southern Cross Station, Melbourne
Nobbies Centre
Seal Rock
Penguin parade at Philip Island
Return to Southern Cross Station, Melbourne

Know before you go

What to bring

Pack warm clothes and a rain coat for a weather-ready kit; who knows when the skies might decide to be moody? A rug to sit on the seats is also handy.

What's not allowed

Keep your camera and camcorders tucked away at the Penguin Parade – photography is strictly not allowed.

Accessibility

The Nobbies Centre is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible and the Penguin Parade has a dedicated viewing area for wheelchairs right by the penguin path.

My tickets

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.

Redemption point

Show your ticket at Southern Cross Station Access Rd, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia.
Address: Southern Cross Station Access Rd, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia.

Get directions to the meeting point