Phillip Island & Penguin Parade
Full day · ~11–12½ hours
Family-favourite wildlife day. We pick you up in the morning — 10am in summer (Oct–Mar), 9am in winter (Apr–Sep) — drive south to Phillip Island, hit Churchill Island farm and the Koala Conservation Centre, then position you at the Penguin Parade for sunset. Penguin Parade tickets are not included and must be booked online in advance — there are no tickets at the gate.
⚠️ Book your Penguin Parade tickets first
- • Tickets are sold online only, in advance — no tickets at the gate.
- • Numbers are limited and sunset sessions sell out, often days ahead.
- • Everyone needs a ticket, including infants.
- • Without a ticket you can't see the penguins — book before you request the tour.
Why it's famous
Discover Phillip Island.
Phillip Island is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. Every night of the year, at sunset, these tiny seabirds come ashore and waddle up the beach to their burrows, and you can watch from viewing platforms and boardwalks at the Penguin Parade. It is one of Australia's best-loved wildlife experiences, and it is only about 90 minutes from Melbourne.
The island packs a lot of nature into a day. Treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Reserve bring you to eye level with koalas, Churchill Island's heritage farm offers open paddocks, Highland cattle and bay walks, and the clifftop boardwalks at the Nobbies look out to Seal Rocks, home of Australia's largest fur seal colony.
Between the wildlife stops there is a relaxed seaside side to the island. Cowes sits on one of Victoria's few north-facing beaches, and San Remo, the fishing village at the island's gateway, is known for its daily pelican feeding. Our timing works back from your penguin ticket, so the day flows at an easy pace.
What you'll see & do
- Watch little penguins return from the sea to their burrows at sunset at the Penguin Parade
- See koalas up close from two treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Reserve
- Wander Churchill Island Heritage Farm — paddocks, bay trails, bird hides and Highland cattle
- Walk the Nobbies clifftop boardwalks and watch the blowhole when the swell is up
- Look out to Seal Rocks, home of Australia's largest fur seal colony
- Meet farm animals in the nursery at Caldermeade Farm and watch the daily milking
- Taste your way through more than 190 kinds of treats at Panny's chocolate factory
- Stroll the Cowes foreshore and jetty, or watch the pelicans being fed at San Remo
Why you'll love it
- The famous Penguin Parade — little penguins waddle home at sunset
- Koalas up close on the treetop boardwalks of the Conservation Reserve
- The Nobbies' dramatic clifftop boardwalks and blowhole
- Home late with sleeping kids — we drive, you doze
$599 AUD — total. No hidden anything.
One fixed price per vehicle (up to 7 people). Here's exactly what that covers:
- Fixed price in AUDThe price you see is the total — per vehicle, up to 7 people
- No hidden chargesNo booking fees, no card surcharges, no surprises
- Tolls, fuel & parking includedEverything the car needs is in the price
- No driver or waiting chargesYour driver and reasonable waiting are included
- Hotel / home pickup & drop-offDoor-to-door across Melbourne — included free
- FREE airport pickup with any tourBook a tour and we collect you from the airport at no charge
- Pay your wayIn advance or any time before your trip ends — PayID, card or cash
See it on film
Official videos
Penguin Parade General Viewing on Phillip Island
Official video · Phillip Island Nature Parks
Koala Conservation Reserve
Official video · Phillip Island Nature Parks
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Official video · Phillip Island Nature Parks
⚠️ Book your Penguin Parade tickets first
- • Tickets are sold online only, in advance — no tickets at the gate.
- • Numbers are limited and sunset sessions sell out, often days ahead.
- • Everyone needs a ticket, including infants.
- • Without a ticket you can't see the penguins — book before you request the tour.
Your day, stop by stop
What we’ll do.
Times are guidance — we adjust on the day to your group’s pace.
Send this itinerary to your group:
- 10
10:00
Pickup from your home or hotel
Door pickup — Western Suburbs or Melbourne CBD.
- 11
11:45
Caldermeade Farm & Café — lunch on the farm
Farmhouse café lunch on the South Gippsland Hwy, then meet the animals in the nursery (treats included).
A working dairy farm settled in 1875, where Jersey and goat milk become yoghurt, butter, cream and gelato on site. Have lunch at the farmhouse café, meet the animals in the nursery (treats included) and watch the daily milking from the viewing room.
Official website ↗ - 13
13:00
Maru Koala & Animal Park
Koalas, kangaroos and farm animals at Grantville — 15 minutes before the island.
A family-run animal park at Grantville, about 15 minutes from Phillip Island, where you can meet and hand-feed many of the animals, alongside a pirate-themed mini-golf course and a bistro.
🎟️ Tickets at the counter or online
Buy entry at the counter on arrival, or online ahead if you prefer.
- 14
14:15
Panny's Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
Newhaven's famous chocolate world — tastings and treats, 2 km before Churchill Island.
Panny's makes more than 190 varieties of chocolate treats. The café and factory shop are free to enter (first sample free too), and the Amazing World of Chocolate exhibition features a chocolate waterfall and a one-tonne block of chocolate.
🎟️ Ticket needed — buy at the counter
A ticket is needed for the Amazing World of Chocolate — buy it at the counter on arrival. The café and factory shop are free to walk into.
- 15
15:15
Churchill Island heritage farm
Working 1860s farm, sheepdog demos, kids welcome.
Just off Phillip Island, Churchill Island Heritage Farm has wide-open paddocks, historic grounds, daily farm activities and bay trails with bird-watching hides — plus a café deck for a quiet coffee.
🎟️ Tickets at the counter or online
Buy entry at the counter on arrival, or online ahead if you prefer.
- 16
16:45
Koala Conservation Reserve
Boardwalk through native bush — koalas at eye level.
Two treetop boardwalks wind through six hectares of bushland so you can watch koalas at eye level in their natural habitat. Look out for wallabies, echidnas and native birds too.
🎟️ Booking recommended
Ticketed entry — buy online at Phillip Island Nature Parks before you go.
- 17
17:30
Cowes — beach & free time
Esplanade walk, ice cream, early dinner before the parade.
Phillip Island's main town sits on one of Victoria's few north-facing beaches, with cafés, restaurants and boutique shops close to the beach and ocean views across Western Port.
Official website ↗ - 18
18:45
Nobbies Centre & blowhole
Cliff-top boardwalks, fur seals through the binoculars.
Clifftop boardwalks at the tip of the Summerland Peninsula look out over the Nobbies to Seal Rocks, home of Australia's largest fur seal colony, and the blowhole puts on a show when the swell is up. The boardwalks and car park are open; the Nobbies Centre, café and toilets are currently closed.
Official website ↗ - 20
20:00
Penguin Parade (sunset)
Little penguins return to their burrows — around 8–9 pm in summer. Book your viewing tickets in advance.
Phillip Island has the largest little penguin colony in the world. At sunset the penguins come ashore and waddle to their burrows while you watch from viewing stands and boardwalks; arrive about an hour before penguin arrival time.
Official website ↗⚠️ Must book online in advance
Tickets must be booked online in advance — there are NO tickets at the gate. Numbers are limited and sunset sessions sell out, often days ahead. Everyone, including infants, needs a ticket. Without a ticket you cannot see the penguins.
- 22
22:30
Direct drop-off home
Comfortable return, kids usually asleep.
Getting there
How far is it?
Every numbered stop on one map — shown from the CBD for scale. Your day is door-to-door from your home, we handle all the driving, tolls and parking. Tap the map for Google Maps.
Tickets & bookings
Book your tickets before the day.
Attraction entry isn’t included in the fare — buy it directly from the official sites below (no mark-up, no middleman). Tell us your session times and we’ll plan the driving around them.
Penguin Parade (sunset)
Pre-book onlyTickets must be booked online in advance — there are NO tickets at the gate. Numbers are limited and sunset sessions sell out, often days ahead. Everyone, including infants, needs a ticket. Without a ticket you cannot see the penguins.
bookings.penguins.org.au
Maru Koala & Animal Park
Buy entry at the counter on arrival, or online ahead if you prefer.
marukoalapark.com.au
Churchill Island heritage farm
Buy entry at the counter on arrival, or online ahead if you prefer.
penguins.org.au
Koala Conservation Reserve
Ticketed entry — buy online at Phillip Island Nature Parks before you go.
penguins.org.au
What’s included
- Premium 8-seat MPV for the whole day and evening
- Driver, fuel and all road tolls
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
- Pickup 10am in summer (Oct–Mar) · 9am in winter (Apr–Sep)
Not included
- Penguin Parade entry tickets (book at penguins.org.au)
- Koala Conservation Centre entry fee
- Churchill Island entry fee
- Meals and snacks
Common questions
Good to know.
- Do I need to book the Penguin Parade tickets myself?
- Yes — and this is the one booking that can make or break the day. Penguin Parade tickets are sold online only, in advance — there are no tickets at the gate, numbers are limited, and sunset sessions sell out (fast in school holidays). Everyone, including infants, needs a ticket. Book on penguins.org.au as soon as your date is set, then send us your session time.
- Can we leave earlier or later?
- Standard pickup is 10am in summer (Oct–Mar) and 9am in winter (Apr–Sep), because the Penguin Parade moves with sunset. Tell us your parade ticket time and we fine-tune from there.
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Ready for Phillip Island?
Send us your preferred date and group size — we’ll confirm availability within a business day.
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