Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Trip with Koala Conservation Reserve Visit
4.5

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Trip with Koala Conservation Reserve Visit

By Wildlife Tours Australia
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Start your day the best way, with a visit to a Koala Reserve! Learn about the furry koala and why it's so unique and loved by Australians. Enjoy stunning coastal walks and the pristine beaches of Phillip Island. Prepare for cuteness overload as we visit the home of over 32,000 Little Penguins! Each night, hundreds (sometimes thousands!) of these adorable penguins emerge from the surf and waddle up the beach at the world famous Penguin Parade. But it’s not all about them! You’ll also have the chance to make some new koala friends, as well as taking in the stunning beaches and boardwalks that Phillip Island has to offer.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 39 per group
Duration: 10h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: German, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish
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  • Admission to Penguin Parade (general viewing)
  • Admission to Phillip Island Koala Reserve
  • All National Park entry fees
  • Hosted by an experienced driver guide with comprehensive local tour commentary in English
  • Select inner city Melbourne pickup and drop off
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entry/Admission - Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Conservation Reserve
  • Entry/Admission - The Nobbies Centre
  • Entry/Admission - Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
What's not included
  • All Meals
  • Personal expenses


Start:
  • Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    The default meeting point for this tour will be Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, corner of Market St, Melbourne @ 11:45am (winter Apr - Sep) and 1:45pm (summer Oct - Mar). If you wish to change your pickup location to one of our other pick up locations, contact our team on +61 3 9393 1300
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6121P7

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
    • Not wheelchair, prams or stroller accessible. Please do not bring on tour.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 39 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6121P7

    From
    AU$145.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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    Itinerary
    • 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
      The default meeting point for this tour will be Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, corner of Market St, Melbourne @ 11:45am (winter Apr - Sep) and 1:45pm (summer Oct - Mar). If you wish to change your pickup location to one of our other pick up locations, contact our team on +61 3 9393 1300
    • Pass by
      Tooradin Jetty
    • 1
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    • 3
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Wildlife Tours Australia
      4.6 of 5 bubbles1,327
      Australia
      Joined in March 2010
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      Check small print
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      Worst Tour!
      Worst tour company EVER! My sister and her family visiting from USA went on Great Ocean Road tour on Dec 30 with Wildlife Tours Australia. I purchased this trip tickets based on great reviews on Google and Tripadvisor. The microbus was small and the AC was broken. The driver apologized and said that the AC was fixed 2 days back. Also a red light appeared on the dashboard while driving which is not a good sign. The company should've checked the vehicle before using it for tourists and ensure that it is fit for purpose! The windows in the back of the microbus couldn't be opened on a 26 degrees day, so my sister came back home with a massive headache and a bitter taste in her mouth.
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    • dordor-Sin
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      Written 26 December 2024
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    See all 1,327 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles107 reviews
    Excellent
    79
    Very good
    14
    Average
    8
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    3

    Megan L
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Solo
    The trip was so much fun! Ethan (our guide) was super friendly and knowledgeable and even though I went alone I felt safe and surrounded by great people. This tour was one of the best things I did in Melbourne and I would definitely recommend it - saw Koalas, Penguins and Wallabies while exploring Melbourne’s beautiful surrounding areas.
    Written 24 February 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks heaps for the top-notch review! We’re stoked you had a great time on the tour. It was a blast having you along, and we’d love to see you on another one of our adventures soon! Catch you later, mate! Cheers, Cody
    Written 26 February 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Elizabeth R
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The day was a bit cold and rainy but the Penguin Parade was awesome! So worth doing to see the penguins come from the surf and band together talking and chattering as they made their way back to their burrows.
    Just so you know…no cameras after dark, the light is disrupting and since they don’t come out until dark…Photos are available through the park service.
    Written 24 April 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi There, Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Penguin Parade despite the cold and rainy weather. It's truly a magical sight to see the penguins returning to their burrows and interacting with each other after a day in the surf. We appreciate you mentioning the camera policy after dark. Preserving the natural environment and ensuring the comfort of the penguins is crucial, and we fully support the park service's efforts to minimize disruptions during this sensitive time. We hope you have wonderful memories of your visit to the Penguin Parade, and thank you for choosing to experience this unique and special event with us. Kind Regards, Wildlife Tours
    Written 15 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Paula R
    Saskatoon, Canada6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Family
    Amazing scenery throughout the bus tour. We had just enough time at each stop. The koala sanctuary was peaceful. The stop at Nobbie’s resulted in dozens of beautiful pictures, even saw some wild animals like echidnas and wallabies. The penguin parade was different than expected, but definitely worthwhile. The penguins come out slowly. Dress warm, even in the summer. Thankfully we had towels to sit on the beach and sweaters but it was windy and cool enough for blankets and heavier jackets. Highly recommend!
    Written 29 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi There, Thank you for the glowing 5-star review! We're delighted that you had a wonderful time on our tour. Your positive feedback means a lot to us. Shania :)
    Written 30 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Neha V
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates10 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    June 2023
    I gave them my contact info and I was at the pickup point from 11:55, which was 5 minutes late bc I was wandering around a giant casino/mall/hotel complex for 20 min looking for the pickup point. I was on a call with one of their people at the time trying to find the pickup point. At 11:55 I saw not one tour bus, I asked a valet and they tald me no one was waiting. I sent an email telling the company I was at the right place. waited at the designated location for 15 more minutes before calling them again. Their driver never bothered to contact me via text, phone, or email even though they asked me for contact info for that express purpose. Their agent claimed to have phoned me but I had no missed call or voicemail - and they knew I was there!. Why do they ask for contact info for the driver if they won’t even bother to text? This is the only time I have had an issue with a tour pickup in my over 30 years of international travel. Bc I chose this company over another one my one bucket list thing to do in Australia is now not possible. I guess theres a reason they are discounted so much more than other tours, When I called crying and upset they were more interested in my "tone" than helping me find a solution. Pick another company this one is not up to par. Yesterday I went on a day tour to great ocean drive with another company and it was excellent.
    Written 26 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Neha, We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. We really do empathise with your frustration, and that your day did not go to plan. As mentioned in our internal discussions, we did everthing we could to aid you in getting to our bus on time. Unfortunately, after our driver respectfully waited an extra ten minutes, we could not delay the beginning of the tour any longer. We kindly stayed on the phone with you for quite a while following this tour's departure, and did offer you some options so you could join the tour later on, or perhaps travel on another day. Our reservations team are trained to stay friendly and composed in high stress situations. Please respect our team members' choice to attempt to keep the conversation calm. I wish you the best of luck for the remainder of your travels :) Kind regards, Tayla
    Written 28 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Nicola U
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Solo
    I was concerned about the cost of this, as I don’t usually do tours when I’m travelling. But this was 100% worth it. The tour was fantastic. The bus driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. She gave us facts along the drive. It was really nice to have all the logistics taken care of and not have to worry about finding things and navigating around at night.

    The timing at the different stops on the way to the Penguin parade is relatively short- which I was also a little skeptical of- but it was actually really well timed. Sure, you could spend more time at any of those places, but the time allotted felt like enough to experience each of them, while also getting us to the Penguin location early enough to get good seats! (If you really wanted extensive time at the other stops, you’d probably want to do a multiple day tour or do it yourself across multiple days).

    The penguin parade was so cool and so cute. I loved it.

    Thanks for the great tour!
    Written 19 May 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Billy I
    3 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022 • Couples
    Our tour guide was just superb! She was very energetic, excited, and approachable. Her playlist was awesome, made the 2hr drive feel cozy and chill. The only downside was the late pickup at Immigration Museum, and the domino effect it had (only 30minutes in koala sanctuary, and when we reached the Nobbies, the centre was just closing). Otherwise the trip was awesome, got to see cute fluffy koalas up close, and the (I think improvised) visit to the beach near Forrest Caves. Its a shame the penguin’s approach is a bit hard to see, but during the walk back to the bus, we saw soooo many penguins up close next to the boardwalk.
    Written 17 October 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Stephanie s.
    Mississauga, Canada2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Couples
    My husband and I booked the Phillip Island tour. We were picked up on time and first taken to Maru. This was a really exceptional experience. You get to be up close to a lot of native Australian animals including Kangaroos and wallabies. We then went to a chocolate tour which was nice and then spent a few minutes visiting a beach. The weather was beautiful, if you happen to be going on a really hot day, bring a lot of water and sunscreen as you spend most of the day outside. We then had some extra time and made a bonus stop at pyramid rock, if you go between April and November you may be lucky enough to see some whales. Afterwards we went to the nobbies which is a great place to grab some pictures and see some penguins before the main event. We then when to see the penguin parade, we purchased the penguin plus which is definitely worth it. The majority of the penguins will walk right by you. Make sure to get to the viewing area at least half an hour before the penguins are due to get a good seat. Once the sun sets it can become chilly so bring some extra clothing. There were around 1200 penguins that came in the night we went. We were then dropped off back to our pickup point, keep in mind this tour was a full 12 hours so be prepared for a late night. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone interested in seeing some Australian wildlife.
    Written 1 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jean-marie
    Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    June 2022 • Solo
    Commercials painted on the windows prevent to see anything through it. Yet the guide comments on the nice things he sees outside the bus. Quite frustrating.
    It is correct that the Pinguins show up everyday. Mind that if they are 30 min too late, all the sun light is gone. Happened to me.
    Mind that the piguins are too far away and the light is too bad. Will be interesting only if you have a strong interes in bird watching.
    Phillip island is worth it but not the way this is operated.
    Written 20 June 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sheri K
    Chico, CA25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Friends
    This entire day trip was absolutely amazing!
    We didn’t get back to our hotel till close to midnight because of the long drive from Melbourne but it was probably the best thing we did in the two weeks we were in Australia! We were thrilled to see so many koalas and wallabies up close in the koala Conservatory. There was plenty of time to grab dinner, and then head onto Phillip Island to watch the Penguin parade. We waited patiently for the penguins to arrive, and the first ones came out from the water around 9:15 PM. There were thousands of us, but somehow the workers kept us all quiet, while the penguins screwed out to find their babies waiting for them in the bushes along a walkway. I didn’t realize how small they were until I was actually standing above them on the wooden boardwalk.
    Taking pictures is absolutely forbidden since the flash and cameras scare them but of course there were some idiots who didn’t want to follow the rules and took pictures anyways. I seriously wanted to knock their phones out of their hand. Apparently looking at pictures on the Internet was not good enough for them. My advice is if you do go, please enjoy the moment and put your phones in your pocket. Who would have thought that watching little Penguins paddle up to see their chicks would be so enthralling. A great tip is once they start arriving on the sandy beach head on over and get your spot on the boardwalk and position yourself right above the path and you will have the best position to see thousands of little blue penguins waddling up ever so slowly listening for the sounds of their young. It truly is a remarkable sight!
    Written 22 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi There, Thank you for the stellar 5-star review of our Phillip Island tour! We're thrilled that you enjoyed the experience. The little Penguins are so special! Your positive feedback encourages us to continue providing memorable tours. We look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future. Thank you again, Shania :)
    Written 23 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Charles
    86 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020 • Friends
    Well organised tour that was excellent value for money. Saw koalas, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies up close but penguins undoubtedly the highlight. We chose the underground viewing that was well worth the extra as it was a cool evening and you needed to be in place at least 30 minutes before the penguins came on shore. It is a late night as the coach did not get back to Melbourne until after midnight. Dave. V our driver excellent not only for his good humour but also his knowledge.
    Written 13 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi there, and thank you for the nice feedback. We are glad that you've had a great time on our tour. We'll make sure that we pass on the feedback to Dave as well. Thanks for booking with us and we hope to see you in the future on one of our other tours!
    Written 19 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Trip with Koala Conservation Reserve Visit provided by Wildlife Tours Australia

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