Phillip Island Tours

Phillip Island Day Tours from Melbourne

Day tours depart Melbourne CBD around 9 to 10am and return late evening, around 10 to 11pm. The route heads southeast via the South Gippsland Highway and across the bridge onto the island.

A typical day includes a stop at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park for kangaroo feeding, koala encounters, and a look at Tasmanian devils. From there, the Nobbies boardwalk gives you views over Seal Rocks and the island’s dramatic southwest coastline. The day finishes at Summerland Beach for the Penguin Parade at sunset.

Pickup is available from Melbourne CBD hotels and St Kilda. Penguin Parade tickets are included in all Sightseeing Tours Australia Phillip Island tours.

The Penguin Parade

The Penguin Parade happens every night of the year at Summerland Beach on Phillip Island’s south coast. At sunset, little penguins (also called fairy penguins) come in from the sea and waddle up the beach to their burrows. Around 32,000 little penguins call Phillip Island home. The penguins come in from the surf in groups, moving up the sand and past the viewing platforms towards the dunes. It’s a spectacle that’s hard to replicate anywhere else in Australia.

When do the penguins come out?

At or just after sunset. In summer (December to February), expect around 8:30 to 9pm. In winter (June to August), it’s earlier, typically 6 to 6:30pm, because sunset comes sooner and the penguins adjust accordingly. Autumn and spring fall between those ranges. SSTA tours are timed to arrive at Summerland Beach before the penguins start emerging.

Photography rules

Strictly no photography, flash, or lit phone screens once the penguins are present. Rangers enforce this on the beach. The rule exists because light disorients the penguins and disrupts their navigation. Most visitors find that putting the phone away actually improves the experience.

Upgrade options

Three upgrade options are available at the Penguin Parade. Penguins Plus offers a beach-level viewing platform closer to where the penguins emerge. Underground Viewing takes you below the boardwalk with glass panels so you can watch penguins walking overhead. The Ranger Tour is a guided experience with a Phillip Island penguin ranger. All three sell out quickly in peak season. Book your upgrade when you book your tour.

Penguin Parade tickets are included in all SSTA Phillip Island tours. If you’re searching for penguin parade tickets and travelling from Melbourne, a guided tour is the most straightforward way to secure entry and transport together.

Wildlife on Phillip Island

The Penguin Parade draws most visitors, but the island has more wildlife than most people expect before they arrive.

Australian fur seals

Seal Rocks, visible from the Nobbies boardwalk, is home to one of Australia’s largest fur seal colonies with over 20,000 seals. You can watch them from the elevated boardwalk without getting close enough to disturb them.

Koalas

Wild koalas live in the eucalyptus trees at the Koala Conservation Reserve. Elevated boardwalks run through the reserve, putting you level with the tree canopy for close-up views without going to a zoo.

Wallabies, echidnas, and shearwaters

Wallabies and echidnas are found across the island, particularly at Churchill Island Heritage Farm. Short-tailed shearwaters (mutton birds) return to Phillip Island in enormous numbers each year between September and April, one of the largest migratory seabird events in Australia.

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park

Part of the standard tour itinerary. Hand-feed kangaroos, get a photo with a koala, and see Tasmanian devils. A good primer before the rest of the day.

How Far is Phillip Island from Melbourne?

Phillip Island is 140 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. The drive takes approximately 90 minutes via the South Gippsland Highway, depending on traffic. SSTA tours depart Melbourne CBD in the morning and return late evening after the Penguin Parade. You don’t need to navigate unfamiliar roads, find parking at each attraction, or drive home late at night after an evening event. The coach drops you at each stop and the guide handles the logistics throughout the day.

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