Located south-east of Melbourne in Westernport Bay is the picturesque Phillip Island – popular tourist destination and home to the famous Little Penguins. Day tours to Phillip Island from Melbourne explore some of the beauty of this island off Victoria’s south coast, before finishing the evening at the world-renowned Penguin Parade watching the little penguins come ashore. While the Penguin Parade is on the must-do list for most visitors to Phillip Island, there is plenty more to discover on this stunning island.

Best Phillip Island Day Trips from Melbourne

Explore the best of Phillip Island with one of our day trips from Melbourne. Departing Melbourne in the morning or early afternoon (depending on the time of year), our one day trips take you to meet some of the island’s charismatic wildlife, discover the dramatic coastal scenery and of course, observe the little penguins in their natural habitat at Summerland Beach. The little penguins come ashore after the sun goes down, making their way to their burrows in the sand dunes after a day out fishing in the ocean.

For a Phillip Island day trip, you can choose from our small group or large coach tours. Our large coach tour is conducted on a luxury bus with reclining seats and wifi, visiting the Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island and Nobbies before arriving at the Penguin Parade. The small group tour is conducted on a 24 seat bus, stopping at Maru Wildlife Park to meet Australia’s famous wildlife, Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and Woolamai Beach. Enjoy a walk along the coastal boardwalks of the Nobbies Centre before finishing up at the Penguin Parade around dusk for the big show. Both tours include entrance to the famous Penguin Parade and wildlife parks.

If you want to explore a bit more of Victoria’s stunning coastal scenery, jump on the 2 Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour. This tour spends the first day travelling along the spectacular Great Ocean Road, including the iconic 12 Apostles, before bedding down in Torquay. On day two we take the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, and commence our exploration of the other side of Port Phillip Bay. We finish the tour at the Penguin Parade and journey back to Melbourne.

Penguin Parade Tour

Just interested in seeing the penguins? Join our evening Penguin Parade Tour to head straight to the main event! Admire the passing scenery from the comfort of the large luxury coach as you head out from Melbourne, straight to Phillip Island. The tour arrives at the Penguin Parade in time for you to take a seat for the nightly spectacular, so you can relax and watch as the penguins cautiously exit the ocean. Make sure you explore along the boardwalks to walk alongside the penguins as they waddle home to bed down for the night.