Discover the natural delights of Phillip Island with an eco-tour from Melbourne. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. Visit the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with koalas and other Australian wildlife. Finish the day at a local beach where you can watch hundreds of some of the world's tiniest penguins waddle out of the ocean and across the sand to their burrows.

Be enchanted as you witness small fairy penguins waddle past you from the ocean to their sand-dune burrows
Range of penguin viewing options including the exclusive viewing boardwalk or the more intimate option of the secluded beach location
Spend time at Brighton Beach and see the the iconic Brighton Bathing Boxes
Free WIFI available on all tours

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

This combination tour visits three top attractions in just one day. Perfect for those with limited time.

What's Included

Pickup from Selected Hotels
Friendly & Informative Tour Guide
Entry fees for Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island Penguin Parade
WiFi on board
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle

Gratuities
Food & Drink
Kangaroo & Wallaby Food

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pickup is only available from the list of hotels provided upon checkout. Your pickup will be between 10am-11am (May–July) or 11am-12pm (Aug–Apr), depending on which hotel you selected. Your exact meeting time will be provided after a booking is placed. This tour returns to Melbourne between 9pm-12am midnight depending on the season.

What To Expect

Your Phillip Island adventure begins with late morning pickup at selected Melbourne hotels in an air-conditioned minivan equipped with onboard Wi-Fi. Your first stop on your Phillip Island day trip is Brighton to see the historic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, spend time at the beach and take some time to admire these iconic landmarks.

Continue to Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, where you'll learn about an exotic array of Australian animals, including cuddly koalas, and lend a hand during feeding time. Included in your visit here is the spectacular “Conservation in Action” wildlife show, which showcases a number of lesser-known Australian species in a series of interactive and engaging ranger presentations.

Afterward, head to the island’s southwestern coast for dramatic views of the Nobbies and Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony.

For an enchanting finale to the day, make your way to a local beach for the famous Penguin Parade. As dusk falls, watch from a viewing platform as hundreds of adorable little penguins — also called fairy penguins, as these are the smallest in the world — emerge from the ocean and waddle across the sand and shrub to their nearby burrows. Opt for the Penguin Parade Plus or Guided Ranger Tour upgrade for an even closer view of this marvelous spectacle (see Itinerary below for more details).

Once the penguins are safely tucked into their burrows for the night, relax on the approximately 1.5-hour return drive to Melbourne, where you’ll be dropped off back at your departure point.

Brighton Bathing Boxes

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Photography of any kind is not permitted at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
Most travellers can participate
Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

Bring sunscreen and be aware that you probably won't get back until around midnight.

I would recommend to bring warm clothes as I was so cold that i had to buy an extra sweater and a rain coat.

As this is a conservation area photos are NOT allowed as this startles and can upset the Penguins, so the upmost respect should be given to these little creatures.

Reviews

5.0

1,470 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 1,470 reviews

Amazing

Aaron_P, Mar 2023

Israel was engaging and entertaining throughout the day trip!! Loved the punctuality and education that was provided

Melbourne magic

Katrina_B, Mar 2023

Eva did an excellent job! Highly recommend this tour! Seeing and hearing the Little Penguins was amazing!

Fun packed day

AyeshaCruickshank, Mar 2023

Great trip! It’s a packed day but you see a lot. The highlight are the kangaroos and koalas the last spot the penguins were cool our driver got us there on time to have a great seat!

5 Star Tour and Amazing Guide

Lynette_W, Mar 2023

We got to do exactly what we were hoping. Our tour guide, Mitch, was wonderful. He had a great personality and kept us well informed on how much time we had, what we wanted to see and would even lead us to the best vantage points!! He also was very knowledgeable about the indigenous people and respecting their tribes. We could not have had a better experience.

Once In A Lifetime Trip!

Jane_H, Mar 2023

Mitch was wonderful! Very informative. I loved the tour. The downside- no leg room in the bus at all. Very uncomfortable.

Despite a traffic jam due...

Larry_P, Mar 2023

Despite a traffic jam due to different functions in the city, Aaron guided us quickly and safely out of the city. We found Aaron to be very animated and informative. It helped sitting on the bus to be more enjoyable. The tour, itself had wonderful sights, capping it off with the penguin parade (with Aaron giving us extra tidbits as to the best viewing point. We had a terrific time and would highly recommend this tour to all.

Would go on this day tour over and over if I could!

Elysia_C, Mar 2023

Amazing experience made possible by our guide Bill, he was so friendly and accommodating to everyone's needs! Love his passion for the job as well! Duration for all attractions was adequate, even though in our personal opinion we wished we could spend more time at Moonlit sanctuary! 1h30mins was a bit of a rush for animal lovers like me and my sister. Nevertheless it was reasonable as the time taken to travel between destinations needs to be accounted for! Seeing the penguins as a finale to the day tour was absolutely amazing, definitely recommend this itinerary overall!

Well worth it

Pam_Y, Mar 2023

watching thousands of Penguins waddle to shore is an experience we will never forget, highly recommended.

Penguin Parade

Kent_T, Mar 2023

The first part of the tour was good, but the penguin parade was amazing. Got some great tips from our guide Terry R about how to get the most out of things. Such good info! Would recommend this!

Best opportunity to see the animals

Robert_S, Mar 2023

This tour exceeded my expectations. A great chance to see and interact with Aussie animals both in a contained sanctuary setting (zoo-like) and the open and free-roaming spaces of Phillip Island. Aaron, our tour guide, was informative and engaging. Highly recommended.

sit in the front seat

Deborah_B, Mar 2023

The penguin parade was amazing. Very long day. If you do not sit in the front seat it is difficult to see anything the guide points out during the long drive

The wildlife sanctuary...

Joan_P, Mar 2023

The wildlife sanctuary was fantastic we were able to pet a koala. As we lay loved the penguins it was awesome to see them walk their way home.

A great day and the penguins are unforgettable!

Stephen_G, Mar 2023

Terry was a great guide - good information, personality, inclusion. Tour was well organized, good sights, well spaced food & toilet stops. A well done tour.

Great day

john_f, Mar 2023

The penguins were the highlight of a great day. Israel was a great guide. Easy going and kept us all informed of sights and wildlife

Great tour. Fun seeing animals. Long day

Anita_G, Feb 2023

Great tour and driver Chris R. Explained things in details. Gave us some tips and tricks along the way. But an exceptionally long day. Can cut down a few things and start the day at 3 pm vs 11am to midnight.

Phillip Island and Penguins

Lauren_D, Feb 2023

Very long but fun day! The tour guide Aaron was great. Would recommend people bring a jacket just in case you are cold or it rains. Highly recommend this tour especially the penguins plus! My husband and I had a blast. We saw lots of animals and of course Penguins!

Must do tour

Penny_C, Feb 2023

This is a wonderful tour. You see so much in one day. It’s a great value for everything you get to visit. Raquel, our tour guide, was fantastic.

Spectacular’s

boshra_A, Feb 2023

Everything was awesome Specially owr guide raquel And her company go west always the best and thy penguins so cute ❤️

Adorable penguins and beautiful beaches!

Julianne_D, Feb 2023

This was one of the highlights of our whole trip! It was a long day, but our guide, Emma, was amazing and kept everyone engaged the whole time! At our first stop, we got to visit and take pictures of all the colorful bathing boxes at Brighton Beach. We also got to go to an animal sanctuary where we got to learn about lots of indigenous animals of Australia, such as kangaroos, koalas, and emus. We then went to a seal lookout point , and even though we didn't see any seals, the views were beautiful and we saw a Little Penguin! Then it was finally time to go to the beach to see the penguins. Once we were seated by the beach where they would come out of the ocean, the guides gave us a brief overview of the Little Penguins and what to expect. Shortly after the sun went down, the penguins began coming on shore and making their ways to their homes/babies. They were so small and adorable, and it was just an incredible experience to see them in the wild!

Best guide

Ronald_C, Feb 2023

Fantastic tour mainly because the guide and driver Aaron did such a great job. Definitely recommend taking this tour especially if you enjoy nature and cute penguins

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