Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
4.6
Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
By Sightseeing Tours Australia
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-100, max of 39 per group
Duration: 10h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Wildlife Viewing
- Melbourne CBD Pick up and Drop off
- General admission to the Penguin Parade
- Entrance to the Moonlit Sanctuary
- Entry/Admission - Pearcedale
- Entry/Admission - Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
What's not included- Lunch
- You can purchase dinner at the town of Cowes
- Please bring you own water bottles, we discourage the use of single use plastic bottles
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, AustraliaCorner of Flinders Street and Market Street.
Pickup details- Please note that pickup time varies seasonally due to different sunset times for the main event. See below list for the correct pickup time at each pickup point. 7 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 Nomads St Kilda - 10:30am Savoy Hotel - 10:50am Radisson on Flagstaff - 11:00am Immigration Museum - 11:20am 1 May 2024 - 31 August 2024 Nomads St Kilda - 10:00am Savoy Hotel - 10:20am Radisson on Flagstaff - 10:30am Immigration Museum - 10:50am 1 September 2024 - 5 October 2024 Nomads St Kilda - 10:30am Savoy Hotel - 10:50am Radisson on Flagstaff - 11:00am Immigration Museum - 11:20am 6 October 2024 - 31 October 2024 Nomads St Kilda - 12:30am Savoy Hotel - 12:50am Radisson on Flagstaff - 13:00pm Immigration Museum - 13:20pm 1 Novermber 2024 - 28 Feburary 2025 Nomads St Kilda - 12:45pm Savoy Hotel - 13:05pm Radisson on Flagstaff - 13:15pm Immigration Museum - 13:35pm 1 March 2025 - 5 April 2025 Nomads St Kilda - 12:30am Savoy Hotel - 12:50am Radisson on Flagstaff - 13:00pm Immigration Museum - 13:20pm
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 156795P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Unfortunately we cannot take infants under the age of 3 years old
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- 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: 156795P3
From
AU$139.00
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- MartinaKylie0 contributionsAmazing!Love the tour!!! Our driver John was funny, kind and a fantastic driver. Was able to make sooo many amazing photos, and I am really happy about it! 😄 So thankful for such a lovely experience. Hopefully will see you soon! 😃🤩Written 19 March 2025
- BrendaM2690 contributionsGood day but could be improvedWe really enjoyed the trip and Am was a great guide and bus driver. The trip could be improved by changing the 1st toilet stop to even a service station. The toilets were grim and somewhere to buy a coffee or breakfast would have been very welcome given the v early start. Or you could replace one of the wine tastings (preferably the 2nd one which was pretty uninspiring) with a coffee and croissant stop. The first wine tasting was excellent and the 3rd one was good. Also there was mention on the promotional literature of a cheese tasting but that didn't happen or even get a mentionWritten 17 March 2025
- turtledove1230 contributionsCute little penguins coming home.The bus was clean and comfortable. Our driver, Burt, was informative, cordial and professional. The mic for the speaker system wasn't long enough, so the sound wasn't loud enough for those seated in the back half of the bus.Written 16 March 2025
- P9499LJmichaelc0 contributionsExcellent way to second an overcast dayExcellent way to spend an overcast day. Very comfortable bus and it was great value for money. We tasted about 20 wines at three venues: Sobels, 4 pines (a brewery but wine taking from several wineries) and Draytons. Overall it leaned a little too much into sweeter wines rather than dry, which most of the bus would have preferred. The highlight was the behind the scenes tour at Sobels, hosted by Hayden.Written 11 March 2025
- patriciahK5600AR0 contributionsTour of red centre with adventure AustraliaThis tour was booked via an online booking company sightseeing Australia, but the actual tour company were adventure Australia. I initially didn’t know this, and when trying to contact the booking agent, I was left frustrated with their vague answers to any enquiries, but thanks to Troy our tour guide for Adventure Australia we had a fantastic 4 day tour day tour of Uluru , Kings Canyon and more.Written 9 March 2025
- Jazmoon420 contributionsA great way to see several amazing sites in one day!This was a great day trip! Karen, our guide/driver, was very nice and knowledgeable about local history. The Blue mountains were breathtaking and a must-see if you are visiting the Sydney area. This tour was fairly priced, and you get a lot for your money. I would highly recommend this tour!Written 9 March 2025
- jordanrV3373YG0 contributionsGreat experienceWe had a great time on this tour. Great value and gives you adequate time to see everything there is to see. Our tour guide James was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating and gave great insight and commentary throughout the trip.Written 9 March 2025
- 12rhysp0 contributionsGreat guide and experienceHad an amazing experience with James, he was very insightful and educated on all the history and locations. Highly recommend.Written 7 March 2025
- adriaano5950 contributionsUnforgettable day with JamesOur Great Ocean Road tour with SightSeeingToursAustralia was absolutely unforgettable, thanks to our amazing guide, James! From start to finish, he made the journey so much more enjoyable with his deep knowledge of history, the road, and all the hidden gems along the way. James knew the best spots to see wildlife, and thanks to him, we got to witness incredible koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat—an experience we’ll never forget. His enthusiasm, storytelling, and friendly nature made the tour 100 times better. If you’re booking this tour, I highly recommend asking for James—he truly goes above and beyond to make it special! 5 stars all the way!Written 7 March 2025
- Tvg22220 contributionsEven the rain could not ruin the dayFiona and her managery made the trip fun and informative. The Blue Mountains are a sight to behold stunning even though the weather was not entirely on our side. Thank you for an awesome day.Written 6 March 2025
- D2321OKkarenn0 contributionsScenic views fabulousThe scenic views was amazing. I went for the bus walk rather going on the scenic rides, totally worth it! The tour guide was great and was honest when giving us tips on how to make the most of the day.Written 5 March 2025
- 418MichelleB4180 contributionsGreat day out for all!We had such a great day! The scenery was amazing the entire trip, and we had appearances by koalas, kangaroos and even a seal at Loch Ard Gorge! Burt was our driver/guide and his knowledge of all things is beyond, and even our teenagers found it all super interesting. Thanks Burt!Written 4 March 2025
- gl0baltraveller480 contributionsGreat tourGreat tour - good mix of sightseeing and walking. Kieran, our guide, was superb. Good stops and great recommendations. Highly recommend.Written 4 March 2025
- Traci G0 contributionsGreat Tour to Blue Mountains and Sydney ZooFull day tour with tons of fun! Our guide and driver was awesome. Although he was Polish by birth, he had a wealth of knowledge of all things Australian. Loved the Sydney Zoo and feeding the kangaroos! Leura was a great lunch stop. Echo Point and the Three Sisters were gorgeous. Scenic World was an adrenaline rush and such a beautiful rainforest. The ferry back to Sydney at the end was too long. A return to our meeting place would have been preferable on such a long day.Written 2 March 2025
- ALB19630 contributionsEnjoyable trip to the Blue MountainsGood trip. Our driver and guide was excellent, knowledgeable and friendly. We chose a tour without entry to Scenic World which wasn't for us. However we came away with the feeling that the prime objective of the tour was to get everyone to Scenic World as soon as possible. Time at the zoo, 3 sisters and lunch all felt rushed just to get to the afternoon activity.Written 1 March 2025
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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4.6
208 reviews
Excellent
164
Very good
20
Average
10
Poor
7
Terrible
7
Jensen D
25 contributions
Possibly one of the best wildlife experiences I've ever had, certainly the best tour guide James!
James was just a magnetic speaker and so knowledgeable, they shared so much info about the history of the area and the wildlife that really brought the tour to life. My partner thought their music choices were great too.
The tour itself is amazing, it requires a strict schedule which James was great at ensuring we kept to and even managed to get us a bit longer at the wildlife sanctuary.
Moonlit sanctuary was lovely, you get there a bit later in the day so the roos and wallabies aren't as hungry for the food you can give them but it's still a great experience.
We stopped at Cowes only briefly as it was very windy so we didn't need long there anyway, just enough time to take in the views and get some pics.
The stop for dinner was also quite brief to ensure we were on time for the penguins but they're the main attraction so it makes sense. James talked us through all the restaurants we drove by too which helped make it more efficient getting food, I got some flake and chips to take away which was so good.
On the drive to the penguin parade James spent time teaching us how to spot the penguin tracks and burrows to help us have a better chance of seeing them beforehand and we were lucky enough to see a couple of penguins in their burrows! James also explained the importance of not straying from the proper walk paths as it can damage the wildlife, and didn't hesitate to politely tell people in our group off when they didn't listen to this which I appreciated as it shows he/the tour company care about the impact of the tour.
Finally the penguin parade itself was absolutely incredible. They make it clear you're not allowed to take photos after sunset as it disturbs the penguins which of course many people didn't listen to, and I was pleased to see the rangers are quick to tell people off for taking photos (although many people did seem to get away with it as there are just so many people). One thing to note too depending on the time of year you go, it can get very cold at the beach so bring layers as even if it's warm in the city it will be quite a bit colder there. The view from the beach is cool as you can see the groups of penguins slowly make their way out of the water, although if you're vision isn't great you may struggle to see this as they're quite far away. However, the real magic is from the boardwalk as this is where you see the penguins walk home to their burrows and they were literally centimetres away from us. The sounds they make are so adorable too!
Remember, the penguin parade is not a zoo show but a wildlife experience that we are privileged to witness and should be treated as such, and if anything this reinforces just how magical and unique it is.
Overall, this tour is thoroughly worth it and just an incredible experience made even better by James!
James was just a magnetic speaker and so knowledgeable, they shared so much info about the history of the area and the wildlife that really brought the tour to life. My partner thought their music choices were great too.
The tour itself is amazing, it requires a strict schedule which James was great at ensuring we kept to and even managed to get us a bit longer at the wildlife sanctuary.
Moonlit sanctuary was lovely, you get there a bit later in the day so the roos and wallabies aren't as hungry for the food you can give them but it's still a great experience.
We stopped at Cowes only briefly as it was very windy so we didn't need long there anyway, just enough time to take in the views and get some pics.
The stop for dinner was also quite brief to ensure we were on time for the penguins but they're the main attraction so it makes sense. James talked us through all the restaurants we drove by too which helped make it more efficient getting food, I got some flake and chips to take away which was so good.
On the drive to the penguin parade James spent time teaching us how to spot the penguin tracks and burrows to help us have a better chance of seeing them beforehand and we were lucky enough to see a couple of penguins in their burrows! James also explained the importance of not straying from the proper walk paths as it can damage the wildlife, and didn't hesitate to politely tell people in our group off when they didn't listen to this which I appreciated as it shows he/the tour company care about the impact of the tour.
Finally the penguin parade itself was absolutely incredible. They make it clear you're not allowed to take photos after sunset as it disturbs the penguins which of course many people didn't listen to, and I was pleased to see the rangers are quick to tell people off for taking photos (although many people did seem to get away with it as there are just so many people). One thing to note too depending on the time of year you go, it can get very cold at the beach so bring layers as even if it's warm in the city it will be quite a bit colder there. The view from the beach is cool as you can see the groups of penguins slowly make their way out of the water, although if you're vision isn't great you may struggle to see this as they're quite far away. However, the real magic is from the boardwalk as this is where you see the penguins walk home to their burrows and they were literally centimetres away from us. The sounds they make are so adorable too!
Remember, the penguin parade is not a zoo show but a wildlife experience that we are privileged to witness and should be treated as such, and if anything this reinforces just how magical and unique it is.
Overall, this tour is thoroughly worth it and just an incredible experience made even better by James!
Written 8 November 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.
Ellen H
30 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
Solo traveller and first time in Melbourne. I booked for the phillip island tour with a visit to Moonlit Sanctuary and couple of other stops.
Driver/tour guide James made sure we arrive on our destinations safe and on time. We were ahead of other tourist buses which gives time for us to enjoy the location with not too many people. I love how James shared, not only his knowledge about different places and wildlife but also his personal experiences on particular places and animals. It felt like I am sitting in the bus with my "uncle" on the driver's seat. It felt homey.
The itinerary is well planned, allowing enough time to be spent at each location. Pick up location is easy to go to and James even offered to take guests closest to their locations when he can.
The booking was easy to do. The long drive was comfortable. The bus was not crowded.
I highly recommend this tour company as they made it very easy and fun for my first time exploring melbourne. Im already looking at mt next possible tour to join for this coming weekend.
Driver/tour guide James made sure we arrive on our destinations safe and on time. We were ahead of other tourist buses which gives time for us to enjoy the location with not too many people. I love how James shared, not only his knowledge about different places and wildlife but also his personal experiences on particular places and animals. It felt like I am sitting in the bus with my "uncle" on the driver's seat. It felt homey.
The itinerary is well planned, allowing enough time to be spent at each location. Pick up location is easy to go to and James even offered to take guests closest to their locations when he can.
The booking was easy to do. The long drive was comfortable. The bus was not crowded.
I highly recommend this tour company as they made it very easy and fun for my first time exploring melbourne. Im already looking at mt next possible tour to join for this coming weekend.
Written 12 August 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 Ellen! Wow, what a thoughtful review! We're super happy that you had an amazing time and that James was able to make you feel right at home! Safe travels and we hope to see you on another tour soon!
Written 4 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
roxanne3753
Chicago, IL32 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This is a 3 part trip and an investment of time, but well worth it.
Moonlit Sanctuary was a great way to see native animals up close. Definitely pay extra at the park to get your photo taken with a koala. If you want to buy food to feed the kangaroos and wallabies, only purchase one container for your family. The birds were more interested in the food than the animals by mid-afternoon when we arrived.
Phillip Island was wonderful. Because you will be sitting on benches on the beach it will be chilly or cold (depends on time of year). Some people brought blankets to keep warm. Do not bring food outside as the very aggressive seagulls will attach your food and you. No photography is allowed once you're outside. This is to protect the penguins as the errant flash is harmful to them. Please be mindful of this. Many people did not seem to care, which we found disturbing.
It is worth it to pay extra for the seats that are closer to where the majority of penguins exit the ocean to make their way to their nests. It was the most amazing experience to not only see the penguins come out of the water and cross a very big beach, but to see them find their way to their homes. Amazing.
So glad we did this on the recommendation of a friend. Definitely time and money well spent.
Moonlit Sanctuary was a great way to see native animals up close. Definitely pay extra at the park to get your photo taken with a koala. If you want to buy food to feed the kangaroos and wallabies, only purchase one container for your family. The birds were more interested in the food than the animals by mid-afternoon when we arrived.
Phillip Island was wonderful. Because you will be sitting on benches on the beach it will be chilly or cold (depends on time of year). Some people brought blankets to keep warm. Do not bring food outside as the very aggressive seagulls will attach your food and you. No photography is allowed once you're outside. This is to protect the penguins as the errant flash is harmful to them. Please be mindful of this. Many people did not seem to care, which we found disturbing.
It is worth it to pay extra for the seats that are closer to where the majority of penguins exit the ocean to make their way to their nests. It was the most amazing experience to not only see the penguins come out of the water and cross a very big beach, but to see them find their way to their homes. Amazing.
So glad we did this on the recommendation of a friend. Definitely time and money well spent.
Written 24 November 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.
Abhirupa D
1 contribution
June 2024 • Friends
Our tour started at the Immigration museum with tour guide James. If you’re not familiar with the city, please note that the pick-up is not in front of the museum as indicated, it is on the side of it. Because of this confusion we were precisely 2 mins late. James was terribly rude about that which was not the best start to the day.
First stop at Moonlit Sanctuary was amazing. Would recommend buying wallaby food ($3) at the ticket counter to really enjoy the wildlife experience. Next we headed across to Woolamai beach on Philip Island. Wished we could have stopped there for more than 15 mins to actually head down to the beach. Next, we stopped briefly at Cowes for a “late lunch/early dinner” at 3pm. We were quite hungry by then so would recommend packing some food for the trip. We were supposed to make a stop at Nobbies but that did not happen. Finally, we arrived at the Penguin parade. This was definitely the highlight of the tour. Seeing these little creatures in their natural habitat was truly a unique experience. However, do expect to wait for a while and expect crowd.
Throughout the journey James kept us entertained with his personal stories about his interactions with Australian wildlife and the history of the location and its surrounding. This was very engaging and informative.
Suggestion for tour operator: Kind and courteous tour guide is really a bare minimum.
The tour can be better planned. We thought all the stops were pretty rushed and despite that one stop was missed.
First stop at Moonlit Sanctuary was amazing. Would recommend buying wallaby food ($3) at the ticket counter to really enjoy the wildlife experience. Next we headed across to Woolamai beach on Philip Island. Wished we could have stopped there for more than 15 mins to actually head down to the beach. Next, we stopped briefly at Cowes for a “late lunch/early dinner” at 3pm. We were quite hungry by then so would recommend packing some food for the trip. We were supposed to make a stop at Nobbies but that did not happen. Finally, we arrived at the Penguin parade. This was definitely the highlight of the tour. Seeing these little creatures in their natural habitat was truly a unique experience. However, do expect to wait for a while and expect crowd.
Throughout the journey James kept us entertained with his personal stories about his interactions with Australian wildlife and the history of the location and its surrounding. This was very engaging and informative.
Suggestion for tour operator: Kind and courteous tour guide is really a bare minimum.
The tour can be better planned. We thought all the stops were pretty rushed and despite that one stop was missed.
Written 8 July 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.
Hiya,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We are sorry to hear about your experience with James, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We take pride in maintaining high standards for all our drivers and expect them to be, as you say, both kind and courteous at all times.
We also appreciate your suggestion regarding snacks. We have updated our customer confirmation email to recommend bringing some food for the journey.
Due to the structured nature of our tours, adhering to a strict schedule is necessary, which sometimes means we have limited flexibility in case of delays. However, we strive to ensure that all planned stops are included unless absolutely unavoidable.
We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour itself, and would love to welcome you again for another tour in the future.
Written 18 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jocelyn C
7 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
The whole day was disappointing. The driver/guide was the dullest man I have ever come across, I think he was called Craig. The trip got off to a bad start as we were stuck in traffic for over an hour because of an accident on the motorway but our driver did not communicate anything about how this would impact our day. I was sitting near the front so was able to see his driving and he made no attempt to try and move into a lane that was moving more freely than the first lane which we were in, and he also let in half of Melbourne who were joining our lane from a slip road! It really was the most frustrating experience. I know that accidents happen and delays are an obvious result of this but our driver made no attempt to progress at all. He left a gap of at least 50 metres ahead of us that allowed every single car to join the motorway from the slip road whilst we were queuing in the traffic. His driving wasted so much of our day. I have no idea of why he drove like this, it was incomprehensible.
He then proceeded to waste further time in our day. Every time we turned up to something, he would pull up before going in and proceed to drone on for at least 10 minutes, completely useless information that was obvious to everyone. He also repeated himself A LOT, and then he said exactly the same thing again when we actually got to the place rather than let us get off the bus and go and see what we were booked to see.
Our first stop, at the wildlife sanctuary lasted about 30 minutes before the place closed for the day, the same happened at the town. We had time for a really quick coffee in the town, the first of the entire day and that was it. There was no time to do anything, anywhere. We were obviously impacted by the accident and the delay in our journey but it really was not helped by his odious driving and talking.
Do yourselves a favour a hire a car and do it yourself. The sanctuary was not worth our time, the town would have warranted an hour's wander and had some pretty settings and wrap up warm for the penguins, no matter the time of year. We were freezing cold - again something the tour operator should have warned us about. After the event, so many people told me that it is always really cold there!
He then proceeded to waste further time in our day. Every time we turned up to something, he would pull up before going in and proceed to drone on for at least 10 minutes, completely useless information that was obvious to everyone. He also repeated himself A LOT, and then he said exactly the same thing again when we actually got to the place rather than let us get off the bus and go and see what we were booked to see.
Our first stop, at the wildlife sanctuary lasted about 30 minutes before the place closed for the day, the same happened at the town. We had time for a really quick coffee in the town, the first of the entire day and that was it. There was no time to do anything, anywhere. We were obviously impacted by the accident and the delay in our journey but it really was not helped by his odious driving and talking.
Do yourselves a favour a hire a car and do it yourself. The sanctuary was not worth our time, the town would have warranted an hour's wander and had some pretty settings and wrap up warm for the penguins, no matter the time of year. We were freezing cold - again something the tour operator should have warned us about. After the event, so many people told me that it is always really cold there!
Written 12 January 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.
Jenny-Jane2013
Bedford23 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
It was a really fun trip. Our driver and guide was Richard who was knowledgeable, entertaining, and patient! The trip notes suggest turning up 10 minutes before schedule...a good idea as that will ensure you have a longer time at the Moonlit Sanctuary, where you can pay extra and chill out with a kaola. For an extra 3 bucks, you can buy some food for the kamgaroos and wallabies - probably best to buy 1 or 2 pots and share as not all the animals feel like saying hallo. If on this trip in September, bring a waterproof and some layers - the weather's a bit brisk by the coast. We were blown all over the place at Woolamai beach and the Nobbies, but well worth seeing. The Penguin Parade was a delight - don't expect a huge stampede of Penguins- they turn up sporadically in small groups. It's great to see them walking to their burrows from the boardwalk. A long day out (about 12 hours) and lots of fun!
Written 19 September 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.
Wow Jenny, Thank you for the amazing review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a fun trip with Richard.
Great tips on arriving early for more time at Moonlit Sanctuary and sharing food for the kangaroos and wallabies - such a fun way to connect with the animals! We hope to see you again on another adventure! 🌟
Written 20 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa L
3 contributions
Booking was easy, the cost reasonable, and the activities enjoyable, offering many beautiful photo opportunities, leading up to the highlight of the trip, the penguins.
Our driver/tour guide Craig, was
personable and very accommodating.
He safely got us there and back and his friendly and kind demeanor made everyone feel comfortable and taken care of.
The only thing I would recommend at booking is to let people know they can bring food if they choose to since the options for lunch and dinner are slim!
A very worthwhile day. Highly recommended!
Our driver/tour guide Craig, was
personable and very accommodating.
He safely got us there and back and his friendly and kind demeanor made everyone feel comfortable and taken care of.
The only thing I would recommend at booking is to let people know they can bring food if they choose to since the options for lunch and dinner are slim!
A very worthwhile day. Highly recommended!
Written 29 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 Lisa!
Thank you for your review - we're thrilled that you enjoyed your time with Craig and the little penguins on Phillip Island!
We will take your feedback on board re the food.
You're welcome back anytime. :)
Written 6 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andy M
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
My wife and I (we are from the US) concluded what had been a wonderful trip to Australia by flying from Sydney to Melbourne to visit Philip Island with the specific purpose of seeing the Penguin Parade. We paid for an upgraded tour providing for better viewing with Sight Seeing Tours Australia (SST) two months in advance. To do this we also incurred approximately $500 in plane ticket and hotel costs. During (yes!) the tour we received a call from an SST representative advising that the upgraded tickets had not been secured. The fault was placed on the venue's computers being down. Obviously, SST had waited until the day of our tour to procure the tickets. In fairness, SST offered to reimburse us for that portion of the tour for the upgraded seating. Given the disappointment, effort, and expense, I felt a full refund was warranted. After a follow up phone call I reluctantly agreed to a resolution where one of the two tours was fully refunded. I relayed that despite the agreement I was going to make a post about the experience. A first for me. The SST representative indicated that there was no problem with that. A week later, SST emailed a release of claims containing confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions which had to be executed in exchange for the settlement refund. This was a change/new conditions to which I had not agreed. I called SST on this and made a counter proposal. SST declined and questioned my motives in an unfortunate and unprofessional response. I do not care about the refund money as it is nominal. What does trouble me is SST's overall handling of the matter from its failure to live up to its sales promise to accusations of bad faith on my part when it unilaterally changed an unsatisfactory resolution for a customer that it aggrieved. This company is unreliable and lacks integrity. I suggest other tour companies be given an opportunity to meet your travel needs.
Written 3 April 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.
We take full responsibility for failing to provide you guys with your upgraded seating option. As discussed, it was an error in a process and something that we have changed to prevent further disappointment. We refunded the upgrade and offered you both a 50% tour refund, I still believe that to be a adequate compensation since you got to undertake the tour and attend the penguin parade, all be it you didn't get your preferred seating.
To insist on us refunding the tour in full, covering your flights and hotel costs, is not something we can entertain.
I really hope you enjoyed your tour even without your preferred seating, the penguins are an amazing experience.
Regards
Cameron
Written 4 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Justin D
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
If you just want to briefly experience many things, this tour might work for you, and the overall price isn't bad. The individual parts were good, but it just tries to cram too much into an afternoon and evening. The sanctuary was very nice, but the ~45 minutes we got was barely enough to even briefly see all of the animals, so if you want to get anything more than a passing glance, you will not see everything. At Cowes, you stop for dinner, but you'll likely be quite pressed to get dinner and run back to the bus within the 45-minute allotment there. I don't think we actually stopped at Woolamai Beach, but I may have that confused with The Nobbies; we only stopped at one of those and it was for about 10-15 minutes, not even enough time to walk the full path down to the beach and back.
The penguins were fantastic, but also still rushed. You're on "penguin time" at that point, and if they're running late (as they were for us), you will be as well and that will further cut into your schedule. There's no photography allowed after sunset (for the safety of the penguins), so you only walk away with your own experience (or any photos you buy).
I suggest that unless you want a very cursory exposure to many things, doing the individual parts of this tour separately would be better. While it would make for an even longer day, I think this tour should start much earlier to allow adequate time at the different venues. We walked away feeling like the preponderance of our day had been spent either on the bus or rushing back to the bus.
The penguins were fantastic, but also still rushed. You're on "penguin time" at that point, and if they're running late (as they were for us), you will be as well and that will further cut into your schedule. There's no photography allowed after sunset (for the safety of the penguins), so you only walk away with your own experience (or any photos you buy).
I suggest that unless you want a very cursory exposure to many things, doing the individual parts of this tour separately would be better. While it would make for an even longer day, I think this tour should start much earlier to allow adequate time at the different venues. We walked away feeling like the preponderance of our day had been spent either on the bus or rushing back to the bus.
Written 22 October 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.
Joy W
Auckland Central, New Zealand464 contributions
May 2024 • Family
This is a highly recommended tour. The pickup was at 1030 from Flagstaff Gardens and drop off was 9. Our tour guide Craig was very friendly, nice and reliable. The tour included Moonlit Animal Sanctuary, Woolamai Beach, Nobbies and the penguin parade. You have enough time to enjoy each place at a leisurely pace. We were the last group to leave the penguin parade. The bus is a medium size bus fitting around 40 people, so it did not feel squished. The price was great value for your money compared with other tours. Thank you so much to Sightseeing Tours we made the right choice!
Written 19 June 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.
Cheers for your feedback Joy! We're glad you enjoyed the trip and found it was great value for money! 😃
Written 19 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ciao! Noi viaggiamo con un neonato di 4 mesi. Puó viaggiare in auto? Potete venire a prenderci direttamente in hotel ( si trova in centro )? Siamo 3 adulti + neonato. Attendo risposta. Grazie saluti
Written 7 October 2024
The particular tour I did didn't give a lot of time at individual beaches with the exception of the hour we got for dinner in the village. So if you wanted to go to that beach you could but otherwise with the drive from Melbourne there was a pretty set schedule
Written 5 August 2024
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