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Posh Penguins
Posh Penguins
5
Eco ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
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About
Posh Penguins offers offers exclusively private tours for 1-5 guests on Phillip Island, including the visitation of the famous penguin parade as well as other wildlife attractions. Our comfy SUV and MPV vehicles are all air conditioned, fitted with tinted glass windows with added UV protections, complimentary on-board wifi and bottled water and Apple-Car-Play. All attractions we visited are included in the price, with the exception of upgraded ticket options for the Penguin Parade which is at an additional cost and strictly subject to availability at the time of booking. We offer free pick ups and drop off's at most Melbourne CBD, Southbank and Docklands hotels.
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5.0
40 reviews
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39
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steve c
San Ramon, CA35 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Couples
This tour was absolutely the best and truly a highlight of our trip to Australia. No matter where you live in the world, if you visit Australia you've got to make time on your itinerary to get down to Melbourne and book a tour with Posh Penguins. We are from the US and the booking process was easy. The company quickly responded by email or telephone to any questions we had. Our guide, James picked us up at our Hotel in the CBD (Central Business District) of Melbourne and while on the road he shared his wealth of knowledge about Australia and the wildlife (Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koolas, birds, etc.). On this 11-12 hour tour we first visited a local wildlife park where we were able to feed Kangaroos and get up and close with a Koola. We stopped for lunch at a quick café called Island Pies which had the most delicious puff pastry pies (I had a Scallop pie and my wife had a beef and mushroom). After lunch we visited Churchill Island where we learned about sheep shearing and saw a sheep being sheared. Also, we witnessed a trained sheepdog demonstration. On Churchill Island we also saw wild Wallabies, and many different species of native birds.
The Posh Penguin tour also includes a stop at Swan Lake where we also saw different species of birds along with wild Kangaroos. The tour also includes a visit to the Koala Conservation Center where there are a number of Koalas and if you’re lucky, (we were) you’ll see a Koala that is actively eating and moving around from one Eucalyptus tree to another quite close to you, where you could touch them, but don’t.
Before it gets dark, you will visit the Nobbies area of Philip Island (home of the Penguin Parade) which is quite scenic with the rock formations and ocean waves. We learned that the Philip Island Nature Park which is where you will see the famous Penguin Parade is a non-profit conservatory that supports Penguin research and has helped increased the population of penguins. Shortly after sunset almost like clockwork you will see hundreds of penguins leave the ocean nightly to return to their burrow. Truly amazing. James and Posh Penguins delivered a non-rushed very informative tour that was well worth it, we loved it.
The Posh Penguin tour also includes a stop at Swan Lake where we also saw different species of birds along with wild Kangaroos. The tour also includes a visit to the Koala Conservation Center where there are a number of Koalas and if you’re lucky, (we were) you’ll see a Koala that is actively eating and moving around from one Eucalyptus tree to another quite close to you, where you could touch them, but don’t.
Before it gets dark, you will visit the Nobbies area of Philip Island (home of the Penguin Parade) which is quite scenic with the rock formations and ocean waves. We learned that the Philip Island Nature Park which is where you will see the famous Penguin Parade is a non-profit conservatory that supports Penguin research and has helped increased the population of penguins. Shortly after sunset almost like clockwork you will see hundreds of penguins leave the ocean nightly to return to their burrow. Truly amazing. James and Posh Penguins delivered a non-rushed very informative tour that was well worth it, we loved it.
Written 31 March 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.
Posh_Penguins
Thanks Steve for the glowing reference and taking the time to write such a in-depth descriptive review of your tour experience. Terrible photo of me (haha!) but the rest of your photos are great! :)
I'll pass on your kind words about the scallop pie to island pies. Very yummy indeed!!
Safe onward travels,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 26 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeffrey E
2 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Couples
What a fantastic day we had with James, we booked a private tour for two and he really looked after us!!
Written 7 March 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.
Thanks Jeff ! it was a pleasure to meet you and Deb. It always like an honour to be there when people come face to face with a koala for the first time in their life. It really is a special moment. And I'm glad you took the opportunity to upgrade your experience to the 'meet-and-greet' a koala at the wildlife park. Its great to be able to get up close and personally with these beautiful animals. I hope you both enjoy the rest of your time Down Under :)
Warm regards, James
posh Penguins
Written 8 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sharon H
10 contributions
Dec. 2022
This took this tour as part of a cruise ship shore excursion. I didn’t know much about the company or the tour prior to the tour, as it was an anniversary gift from my mother-in-law who lives locally. But we were pleasantly surprised with a simply wonderful day out of exploring the island and the Penguin Parade to round it all off. Their tours I believe normally start off in Melbourne, but I would recommend this tour for anyone arriving to Phillip island by cruise ship.
Written 27 December 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.
Thanks Sharon,
Your mother in law has great taste! And yes, we are more than happy to meet the arrivals of cruise ships either in Melbourne or down in Phillip Island.
Its worth noting that, if joining a tour on Phillip Island from the cruise ship terminal, the 12 hour tour ultimately becomes an 8 hour tour, as our guide will still need to travel to/from Melbourne to reach the island (which is a 2 hour drive each way)
Thanks for your recommendation.
Warm Regards, James
Written 8 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
alex b
5 contributions
Sep. 2022
This was a fantastic day out. My wife and my teenage lad and I had an amazing day with James exploring the island. Overall seamless service an easy company to book with. We also enjoyed a subsequent tour along the great ocean road a few days later, which we added after at the end of our first tour.
Written 25 September 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.
Hi Alex, thank you for the review. I am glad you found it a seamless experience. We took the opportunity over lock down to make the booking process easier, so we are really glad that came through during your experience. I'm glad we managed to find a free day to take you down the Great Ocean Road
Thanks again, James :)
Written 26 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julia H
Glasgow, UK6 contributions
Sep. 2022
We had a blast on this tour. Our guide Erin was warm, funny and really knew the area well. We were initially unsure of how a tour of the penguin parade would work. We had assumed the island was tiny, with just the penguins as its inhabitants. Turns out we were completely wrong and its quite a big island, and we spent a few hours on the island itself, exploring it with our guide before we went onto the Penguin Parade later in the evening. The only negative i could think of was the dinner at the Penguin Parade, although to be fair we were pre-warned by our guide not to expect much as they have a captive audience over that far side of the island. The food wasn't too bad, but it was overrun with tourists and the food was at tourist prices. We would have preferred something a bit more local. It's a shame an alternative doesn't exist nearby.
Written 6 September 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.
Erin is a legend! I will pass on your appreciation.
Yes, the cafe a the Penguin Parade is not the perfect dining experience, but unfortunately in such a secluded area, it is the only option. We can offer a dining option in the town of cowes, but this would mean missing out seeing some really great wildlife sightseeing just before sunset, which is when they are most active. But we are happy to adapt the tour, whichever way our guests would prefer.
Warm regards,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 12 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
julia b
Berlin, Germany8 contributions
May 2022
We took a tour of the entire Phillip Island with a visit to the Penguin Parade. His depth of knowledge of the island and the penguin habitat made the experience our highlight during our time in Australia. I didn't realise there was so much more to the island than just Penguins.
A very special place indeed.
A very special place indeed.
Written 30 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.
Thanks for those kind words Julia.
Oh yes, there is much more to the island than just the Penguins. Vey happy you got to experience it and I got to show you some parts that the majority of tourists don't get to see.
Warm regards,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 12 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
peter s
3 contributions
Jun. 2022
We didn't expect to be taking a private tour down to the phillip island. But our hire car company double booked our car (a good lesson not to book with a budget hire car company) so we had to scramble around for a last minute tour. Out hotel concierge suggested Posh Penguins, so he helped make all the arrangements for the tour. We woudnt normally take a guided tour (especially not a private one) as its just not 'our thing' but we were very pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it, and might be open to take a guided tour, perhaps even a guided tour, in the future.
Written 28 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.
I'm sorry to hear your rental car got double booked, but I'm so glad we could come to the rescue.
Thank you for your endorsement.
Warm regards,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 12 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
elizabeth b
8 contributions
Apr. 2022
The Penguin Parade has been on my bucket list for years. And yesterday, I finally got there. When I first started researching the trip, I found it quite hard. There is is no public transportation down to Phillip Island. I didn’t want to hire a car myself, so we were forced into choosing a tour.
So we had to choose what kind of tour. Small group tours sounded the way forward, but the schedule was set in stone and they didn’t actually spend that much time on the island itself. So we decided a private tour would be best. There were actually a lot of operators to choose from. Most that we looked at and got quotes from, were not very responsive to our questions and were at least 50% more expensive than the Posh Penguins company, so at first we were a little dubious. Why are they so much cheaper? Is this too good to be true? Well to answer that, the answer is no. The tour was perfectly delivered. The vehicle was beyond our expectations. Very comfy for a couple. Our guide Erin was a myriad of information and I loved her passion for the conservation of the island and especially its little Penguins.
So we had to choose what kind of tour. Small group tours sounded the way forward, but the schedule was set in stone and they didn’t actually spend that much time on the island itself. So we decided a private tour would be best. There were actually a lot of operators to choose from. Most that we looked at and got quotes from, were not very responsive to our questions and were at least 50% more expensive than the Posh Penguins company, so at first we were a little dubious. Why are they so much cheaper? Is this too good to be true? Well to answer that, the answer is no. The tour was perfectly delivered. The vehicle was beyond our expectations. Very comfy for a couple. Our guide Erin was a myriad of information and I loved her passion for the conservation of the island and especially its little Penguins.
Written 27 May 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.
Hi Elizabeth,
So happy to hear you finally made it to Phillip Island with us and that you still found us relatively cost effective, despite being a private tour provider. Yes, I am also I agreement that Erin is an awesome guide :) :)
Warm regards,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 12 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly S
5 contributions
Feb. 2022
The island is brimming with wildlife. That’s if you know where to look. Thankfully our guide did. Apart from some of the real wild animals dotted about the island, we also saw koalas at the koala conservation centre. They are in what could be described as a semi wild environment, so not only are you guaranteed to see them, you don’t feel bad for them like at some wildlife parks where they only have limited space (or perhaps just one tree). They are free to move around, which makes spotting them that bit harder, but also more fun. The Penguin Parade was, like for many others that visit the island, our highlight.
Written 9 February 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.
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your glowing feedback. We love the challenge of finding 'real wild animals' during our time on the island. One day is never the same, so we are always excited what we are going to find. And yes the Koala Conservation centre certainly makes koala spotting easier and they do some amazing conservation work as well (which often goes unnoticed).
Warm regards,
James
Posh Penguins
Written 12 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
amsterdamer78
Amsterdam, The Netherlands56 contributions
Dec. 2021
We have previously procured the services of this company before, but that was for a whirlwind visit to the island and really only to see the Penguin Parade. However, we had learnt previously, that there is so much more to see, so we organised for a follow up visit. This time however, we choose to see the island over 2 days.
This was a great decision, as it meant we could take our time, not be rushed and enjoy the island as it should be enjoyed.
It was particularly nice to enjoy the island in the morning, as most are day trippers who don’t really descend until around lunchtime.
For anyone unsure,I would recommend at least choose their longer 14 hour tour, if you don’t have the extra day spare. It takes 90 minutes to reach the island from Melbourne. And trust me, you are going to want to maximise your time on the island, as it has so many beautiful little spots. Our guide James knew all the little nooks and crannies (I haven’t used that expression in a long time!) and areas which were pristine and unspoilt by mass tourism.
We also saw the Penguin parade for a second time. It was just as good as the first. We decided to take a different upgrade option this time though. We choose the underground bunker, which sounds like some kind of war related upgrade. It was in fact the perfect place to watch the penguins. We were warm and dry from the elements and got to see them at eye level which was incredible.
All in all, It was a fantastic 2 days.
This was a great decision, as it meant we could take our time, not be rushed and enjoy the island as it should be enjoyed.
It was particularly nice to enjoy the island in the morning, as most are day trippers who don’t really descend until around lunchtime.
For anyone unsure,I would recommend at least choose their longer 14 hour tour, if you don’t have the extra day spare. It takes 90 minutes to reach the island from Melbourne. And trust me, you are going to want to maximise your time on the island, as it has so many beautiful little spots. Our guide James knew all the little nooks and crannies (I haven’t used that expression in a long time!) and areas which were pristine and unspoilt by mass tourism.
We also saw the Penguin parade for a second time. It was just as good as the first. We decided to take a different upgrade option this time though. We choose the underground bunker, which sounds like some kind of war related upgrade. It was in fact the perfect place to watch the penguins. We were warm and dry from the elements and got to see them at eye level which was incredible.
All in all, It was a fantastic 2 days.
Written 23 December 2021
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.
Posh_Penguins
Thanks for the review Adam. So great that you could join us for a 2nd time. Great advice on suggesting the 14 hour tour. I feel its a happy medium between the 12 hour tour and an overnight tour. The extra 2 hours is always welcomed and allows you more time to savour the island.
I'm glad you enjoyed the Underground bunker. It's my preferred upgrade of choice, but it is often sold out. I'm glad you got in early!!
Happy new year and Safe travels for 2022.
Warm regards, James Posh Penguins
Written 28 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ezpzylemonsqueezey
Alabama14 contributions
Do any of your tours include the Great Ocean Road as well?
Yes, we can include a tour of the Great Ocean Road. Just be aware that they are in two different locations, so you would need to a tour of Phillip Island on one day and the Great Ocean Road on another. The Great Ocean Road is really best seen over 2 days.
So we can offer you :
2 Day Tour (Day 1 - Phillip Island, Day 2 - Great Ocean Road)
3 Day Tour (Day 1 Phillip Island, Day 2 & 3 - Great Ocean Road)
We can also offer the flexibility to have a day break (day of leisure) in-between the tours incase 2-3 days of touring is too much. Feel free to get in touch to discuss your preferences :)
JustcallmeRichard
Sydney, Australia20 contributions
Hi Posh Penguins. Are all the attractions that you visit included in the price? How long is the tour? Thanks
All the attractions that we visit, are included in your total cost of your tour. This also includes a standard entry ticket the Penguin Parade. If you wish to upgrade this ticket, you can contact prior to the tour.
The tour duration is 12 hours. If you wish to extend the tour time, and visit a few other places, this can again be arranged prior to booking for an additional surcharge.