Phillip Island Koala Reserve & Penguin Parade Tour | Melbourne
Get up close and personal with your favorite Australian animals during this Penguin Parade and Koala Reserve experience on Phillip Island! Watch cute little penguins cross the shoreline from the ocean. Visit Koala Reserve and meet fluffy animals.
- Be led by a ranger guide through the Phillip Island Koala Reserve
- Visit the Seal Rocks Boardwalk and explore the Nobbies Centre
- Stop by the Penguin Parade’s award-winning visitor information centre
Package Options
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Hotel transfer |
| Tour types | Guided tour, Audio guide |
| Meal arrangement | Arrange yourself |
| Sightseeing type | Natural sights, Eco-tourism, Islands tour |
| Transport | Bus tour |
Product Info
— What You Can Expect —
Get up close and personal with the cutest Aussie creatures at Phillip Island!
Enjoy one of Australia’s most spectacular wildlife experiences and watch penguins waddle ashore. Get the chance to see koalas in their natural habitat at Koala Reserve. Start the day with a guided ranger walk through the Koala Reserve woodland. Admire the views and wildlife, before heading to the western end of the island to the Nobbies. Spot wild wallabies and native birds. Then, make your way to the Penguin Parade. Explore the award-winning Visitor Centre before witnessing the world’s smallest penguins emerge from the sea and waddle ashore.
Don’t miss out on this wildlife-viewing experience and book your tickets with KKday now!
— Important Info —
- Operates daily
- Tour duration: 9.5 hours
- Departs: 13:45pm (Oct to Mar) / 11:45 am (Apr to Sep)
- Returns: 23:45pm (Oct to Mar) / 21:45 pm (Apr to Sep)
- This tour will be affected by daylight saving time. The departure time will change throughout the year to maximize the sunset viewing experience
Meet cute and cuddly koalas
Watch penguins parade up the shore
Follow your tour guide through the woodlands
Visit the Nobbies Ocean Discovery Centre
Route map
Purchase Notice
- This tour will be affected by daylight saving time. The departure time will change throughout the year to maximize the sunset viewing experience
- Audio translations are available for guests. Passengers can download the app and access all available translations for the Phillip Island Tour. The audio translations are available in 10 different languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Italian, German, French, and Dutch
- No photography or filming is permitted at the Penguin Parade. Penguins have sensitive eyes and a bright, sudden flash or unusual light may frighten or disorientate the penguins
- The pickup location will be at most major hotels located in the city center. Kindly add your hotel name in the Requests & Remarks section when booking
Reminders
Please bring a refillable water bottle, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, all-weather warm clothing, a windbreaker, comfortable walking shoes, a small day bag (5–7 kg), money for snacks and meals, and a camera
Child fare prices apply for children who are 0–12 years old. Infants who are 0–4 years old are not permitted to travel on the accompanying adult's lap and must be safely restrained within a child protective seat. Infant protective seats are free of charge and must be requested at the time of the booking
In the event of rain or inclement weather, your experience will still proceed as usual unless you are contacted by the provider
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations 10 day(s) (inclusive) before the selected date are allowed. Unused orders can be canceled for free
- Cancellation is not allowed between 0–9 days from the selected date. Orders cannot be canceled or modified, and refunds will not be granted.
- Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.
FAQ
Visitors can witness hundreds of Little Penguins waddle ashore after a day of fishing. The experience includes viewing from tiered seating, learning about penguin conservation at the award-winning visitor information center, and exploring boardwalks to see penguins up close in their natural habitat as they return to their burrows.
The main penguin parade, where penguins emerge and cross the beach, typically lasts about 30 to 50 minutes. However, visitors should allow extra time before and after for exploring the visitor center, browsing exhibits, and walking the boardwalks, making the total experience approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
The number of penguins returning varies nightly based on factors like breeding cycles and feeding conditions, but visitors can expect to see hundreds, often thousands, of Little Penguins. Phillip Island is home to Australia's largest colony of Little Penguins, with their population estimated to be around 40,000 birds.
The only species of penguin found at Phillip Island is the Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor). They are the smallest species of penguin in the world, standing about 33 cm (13 inches) tall. They are also commonly known as fairy penguins in Australia and New Zealand, identifiable by their blue-grey feathers and white underparts.
At the Phillip Island Koala Reserve, visitors can get up close to koalas in their natural eucalypt habitat. Elevated boardwalks allow for eye-level viewing of koalas as they rest and feed in the treetops. The reserve also provides opportunities to learn about koala conservation and observe other Australian wildlife.
The Nobbies Centre offers an interpretive display about the area's marine life and unique geological formations. From the Seal Rocks Boardwalk, visitors can enjoy stunning coastal views of Bass Strait and spot Australian fur seals lounging on the rocks below, particularly through coin-operated binoculars. Look out for seabirds and dolphins too.
The Phillip Island Penguin Parade offers a captivating experience year-round. During warmer months (December-February), penguins return later in the evening, but viewing can be comfortable. In cooler months (June-August), they return earlier. Numbers are generally consistent, but the breeding season (spring/summer) can offer additional activity and penguin interaction.
Yes, guided experiences are available to enhance the visit. At the Koala Reserve, visitors are often led by a ranger guide who provides insights into koala behavior and conservation efforts. While the Penguin Parade viewing is largely self-guided from tiered seating, educational talks and specific ranger-led viewing options are sometimes available to enrich the experience.
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