
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 4,135 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne worth booking?
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne is a 12-hour experience in Melbourne, Australia, from $123 per person. It scores 92 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 4,135 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 92 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (4,135)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $123 per person
The Outty verdict
It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Melbourne, with an Outty Ranking of 92. At $123 it sits above the typical similar option ($76), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Prices and availability checked
Enjoy a personalised and informative experience with expert guides on small group tours of up to 24 guests, enhanced by a multilingual audio guide application available in 16 languages, including German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, and more.
What you get
About this experience
Enjoy a personalised and informative experience with expert guides on small group tours of up to 24 guests, enhanced by a multilingual audio guide application available in 16 languages, including German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, and more.
What's included
Included
- Pickup from Selected Hotels
- On-board WiFi
- Friendly & Informative Tour Guide
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entry fees for Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Book 2 Tours + City Tour option includes a Great Ocean Road, a Phillip Island and a FREE City tour
Not included
- Food & Drink (you may bring your own)
- Kangaroo & Wallaby Food
What you'll see and do
Brighton Bathing Boxes Association Inc.
Start your day with a colourful photo stop at Melbourne’s famous Brighton Bathing Boxes. Take in the vibrant beachfront setting and capture one of the city’s most recognisable sights before continuing your journey.
20 minutes here
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Get up close to some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife at Moonlit Sanctuary. Explore the sanctuary, see a variety of native animals, and enjoy the opportunity to feed kangaroos and wallabies.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Phillip Island
Arrive on Phillip Island and watch the scenery change as you travel through this beautiful coastal destination. Along the way, your guide will share local stories and insights as you make your way towards the island’s wildlife and coastal highlights.
Pass by without stopping
Cape Woolamai
Stop at the stunning Cape Woolamai surf beach and take in the dramatic coastline, rolling waves and wide-open ocean views. It’s a beautiful taste of Phillip Island’s wild coastal scenery. We visit this spot only during the summer.
30 minutes here
Cowes
Enjoy a relaxed dinner stop in the seaside town of Cowes, with time to choose from a variety of local dining options and soak up the island atmosphere before the evening’s main event. We only stop at this spot during the summer.
60 minutes here
The Nobbies
Take in sweeping ocean views from The Nobbies, one of Phillip Island’s most spectacular coastal locations. Keep watch for native wildlife and look out towards the offshore seal colony as your guide helps bring the landscape and wildlife of the area to life.
15 minutes here
Penguin Parade
Finish the day with Phillip Island’s most unforgettable wildlife experience. Watch as the little penguins emerge from the ocean after sunset and waddle across the beach towards their nesting grounds, a magical natural event and the perfect way to end your Phillip Island adventure.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
Book 2 Tours + FREE City Tour
Experience Melbourne’s best: Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island Penguin Parade day tours & receive a FREE Melbourne City Sights tour (RRP $85pp) Duration: 3 days: Day 1 - Great Ocean Road Day Tour. Day 2 - Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour & choose any day for your City Sights Tour Pickup included
Single day tour
Standard Penguin Parade: See the Phillip Island Penguin Parade from public boardwalks and viewing stands. No maximum number of people Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- hi, de, ru, pt, ko, cmn, ms, yue, en, it, fr, es, ar, vi, th, ja
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Go West Tours
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Photography of any kind is not permitted at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
- 2 Tours + FREE City Tour option: This package includes 3 seperate tours, Great Ocean Road Day Tour, Philip Island Penguin Parade Tour & Melbourne City Discovery Half-day Tou
- 2 Tours + FREE City Tour option: Please note that you will be booked as follows: Great Ocean Road Day Tour, on the date selected. Phillip Island Day Tour, on the following date. You may choose any date for your Melbourne City Tour by contacting us directly
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4,125 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
4 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
4,125 verified traveler reviews for Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
They Should Pay me for doing this
After a whole day doing this tour you will ask yourself "I really paid money for this?" The actual star of the show (the penguin parade) is the biggest racket I have ever encountered. They cram 2000 people in the bleachers at $35 a pop and call it conservation. I call it a money making scheme. If they really cared about the penguins they would fence off the entire area and leave them alone.
via Tripadvisor
This ended up being one...
This ended up being one of my favourite experiences in Melbourne. Rhys was an excellent guide; he shared lots of interesting little tidbits of information throughout the day which made some of the more monotonous parts of the journey fly by. The Brighton beach boxes were the first stop and probably not somewhere I would have thought to visit on my own; great spot for photos! The Moonlit Sanctuary allowed us to see koalas, kangaroos, and so many unique Australian animals up close. The Penguin Parade was the perfect way to end the day. But be warned: you can't take photos to protect the little ones, but it honestly makes you appreciate the experience even more. I'd recommend this tour to anyone visiting Melbourne, especially if you're an animal lover.
via Viator
Must-do if in Melbourne
Had a lovely day seeing wildlife and driving through Melbourne and to Phillip Island, with really good drive-bys and stops. Tom, our guide, was awesome - very informative, kind, and kept us on schedule. Would absolutely recommend to anyone travelling to Melbourne!
Response from the operator: Thanks for sharing your experience with us! 😊 Sounds like you had a great day exploring Phillip Island! Tom will be happy to hear his stories, local knowledge and friendly approach helped make the journey just as enjoyable as the stops along the way. And keeping everyone on schedule while fitting in all that wildlife spotting is no small feat! We're glad you got to enjoy a bit of everything Phillip Island has to offer. If you're back in Melbourne, perhaps the Great Ocean Road or Puffing Billy & Redwoods could be next for another day of exploring! 🌿
via Tripadvisor
Penguin tour
Peter our guide was very informative, helpful and would happily recommend this tour
via Tripadvisor
10/10 Tour with Robbo!
Overall, our tour was a 10/10 experience despite the windy weather! Our guide, Robbo, was incredibly knowledgeable and coordinated the entire itinerary really well. We managed to visit every stop as planned and had a smooth, enjoyable trip from start to finish. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a great experience!
Response from the operator: Thanks so much for the 10/10 review! 😊 Glad to hear Robbo kept everything running smoothly and you managed to visit all the planned stops, even with the wind making an appearance! The Great Ocean Road has some pretty spectacular views, and it sounds like the weather couldn’t take too much away from the experience. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Robbo. Thanks for recommending us, and if you’re back in Melbourne, perhaps a trip to Phillip Island to see the little penguins could be next! 🐧
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $123 to $334
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1,447
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by Go West Tours, who run 12 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 85.4 and 4 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Go West Tours runsWhy this scores 92
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Melbourne.
How does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne compare to similar tours in Melbourne?
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It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Melbourne, with an Outty Ranking of 92. At $123 it sits above the typical similar option ($76), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Who is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne best for?
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It suits families and travelers who want a full-day outing best, based on its 12-hour length, all-ages access and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne good value?
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It is a premium pick. It starts at $123, above the $76 typical for similar experiences in Melbourne.
How much does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne cost?
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Prices start at $123 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Melbourne usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Melbourne is not rushed.
Is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 92 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 4,135 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Melbourne, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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Around 1,447 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Melbourne can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Melbourne and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Melbourne within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Melbourne?
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On Outty we rank every Melbourne experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Laid back Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Beer, Cider & Chocolate tour, Melbourne: Epic Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch - Gin/Beer Upgrade, Yarra Valley Wine Tour from Melbourne Choc Gin and Good Times. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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Included: Pickup from Selected Hotels; On-board WiFi; Friendly & Informative Tour Guide; 100% Satisfaction Guarantee; and All Fees and Taxes. Not included: Food & Drink (you may bring your own); and Kangaroo & Wallaby Food. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 20 listed pickup locations in and around Melbourne.
What languages is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne offered in?
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It is offered in Hindi, German, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, Malay, Cantonese, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; and Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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Across 4,135 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Book 2 Tours + FREE City Tour, Single day tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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