The 15 Best Phillip Island Penguin Tours from Melbourne

1.Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,211 reviews · 12 hours · from $109Our pick

Spend a full day from Melbourne with Bunyip Tours, visiting Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai in summer, The Nobbies, and the Penguin Parade. Guides such as Chris H, Jools, Jono, and Alisha bring local stories to the drive. Expect a late return, cool coastal air, and standard parade seating.

“What a fantastic day spent by the coast and an utter privilege seeing the penguins. And everyone needs Bob the tour guide in their life! Would highly recommend this company!”

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2.Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 867 reviews · from $111Top rated

Spend 12 to 14 hours exploring Victoria’s wildlife with Bunyip Tours. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary, see koalas and kangaroos, stop at Cape Woolamai and the Nobbies, then watch little penguins return from the sea. Guides such as Michael, David, Bluey, and Reuben have earned praise for clear local commentary.

“Absolutely 5-star experience. Tour guide Chris H. is informative and had given clear and concise account of South Australia nature and native history and best tips to watch penguins. He is very friendly and helpful and sometimes humorous. Enjoyed the tour very much.”

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3.Phillip Island Penguin and Koala Highlights Day-Trip from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 775 reviews · from $125

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island for a koala reserve, Cowes, the Nobbies, and the famous Penguin Parade. You get air-conditioned coach travel, general viewing admission, and live commentary from a local driver-guide such as Cray, Fiona, Peter, or Joel. Bring warm clothes and expect a late return.

“Wonder experience as far as the penguins but leader was very disorganized and did not what out for his group”

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4.Phillip Island Penguin Parade Express Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 660 reviews

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island with guides such as Shano, Shane, Justin, or Jason. Visit the Nobbies, pause in Cowes when seasonal timing allows, then watch little penguins return from the sea. The bus has Wi-Fi, USB charging, and a toilet, but bring warm waterproof clothing.

“Absolutely loved the day trip and the guide was super kind & informational. Enjoyed going out to see the penguins on the island!! Must visit spot when coming down to Australia!!”

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5.Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 658 reviews · from $104

Spend a full day and evening exploring Phillip Island from Melbourne. You’ll visit Moonlit Sanctuary, Woolamai Beach, Cowes, the Nobbies, and the famous Penguin Parade. Guides such as Steve, Luke, John, and James add commentary, but expect a long group day with bus travel and a cold, no-photography penguin viewing.

“It all felt quite rushed. It started off well at the Moonlit Sanctuary but then we felt as though we had to hurry through everything. I’m aware we were stuck in traffic on our way to Phillip Island however even with the extra hour I don’t know how we would have made it to Cowes with time to eat and explore. As it was we had to miss Cowes meaning we only had time to order food (a long queue) go out to see the penguin parade, miss the end as we were aware our food was getting cold. Run in to grab the food and eat whilst walking the…”

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6.Small-Group Phillip Island Afternoon Day Trip from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 566 reviews · from $150

Leave Melbourne in the afternoon for Moonlit Sanctuary, the Nobbies, and Phillip Island’s famous sunset penguin parade. With a maximum of 11 people, guides such as Travis, Josh, Adam, and Gary can offer plenty of wildlife tips. Bring warm clothes, and consider Penguins Plus seating for a closer view.

“Very family friendly tour with a very friendly guide . Fun , beautiful views and pleasant drive. Pinguin Plus was a good choice, but don’t wait too long to find your seats to get the best views from the beginning. . Eating in the cafeteria was a hassle and we would choose a nice picnic basket if we should do it again. Remember warm clothes.”

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7.Penguins and Wildlife Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 539 reviews · from $102

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island by air-conditioned bus with an English-speaking local guide such as Fiona, Jacob, or Vicky. Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve, see coastal sights and possible wallabies, then watch little penguins return after dark. The day lasts about 10 hours and includes both main entry tickets.

“We have a great time travel to the beach, see a lot animals.”

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8.Phillip Island & Penguin Parade Afternoon Eco Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 428 reviews · from $111

Join Go West Tours for an afternoon and evening trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. Guides such as Lisa, Chloe, and Shane lead you to Cape Woolamai, The Nobbies, and the Penguin Parade. Entry is included, Wi-Fi is available, and the optional Puffing Billy combo fills your morning too.

“Easy, last-minute booking with good communication about meeting location. Our tour guide, Shane, was knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor, and went out of his way to drop us off close by to our hotels after a long day. The Little Penguins were the highlight, but we also saw a lot of Wallabies and Cape Barren Geese with their chicks.”

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9.1-Hour Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 415 reviews · 1 hour · from $34Best value

Join an English-speaking crew at San Remo for a one-hour morning cruise past Phillip Island’s cliffs, caves and bridge. Your skipper explains the coast and wildlife while you watch for cormorants, gannets, seals and dolphins. Tea, coffee and cake are included, with a midday return near the pelican feeding.

“A fabulous experience and would highly recommend this . So good to learn about the short tailed shear water , spotted a seal and the scenic cliffs. Since it was a Sunday we got to see the Pelicans being feed alongside some giant sting rays - a marvellous experience not to mention the delicious cake that was served onboard 👌🙏⭐️”

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10.Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 383 reviews · from $172

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island by air-conditioned coach, visit the Koala Conservation Reserve, explore Cowes and the Nobbies, then watch little penguins return from the sea from the Penguin Plus viewing area. Guides such as Fiona, Craig, and Vicky add live commentary along the way.

“Excellent tour. Fiona was a very nice guide. Very cold on the platform. Little blue penguins were amazing.”

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11.Phillip Island Penguin Parade with Expert Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 245 reviews · 12 hours - 1 day · from $116

Spend about 12 hours with Go West Tours visiting Brighton’s bathing boxes, Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai in summer, and the Nobbies before watching little penguins return at sunset. An English-speaking guide leads the day, with app commentary in 16 languages.

“Very nice and informative trip. Enough spare time for a quick overlook. Guide Tour (Israel) was amazing - made this trip even more fun.”

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12.Phillip Island Tour & Penguin Parade

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 202 reviews · 9 hours · from $113

Spend nine hours with an English-speaking guide such as Josh, Sarah, or Sam, visiting Moonlit Sanctuary, Woolamai Surf Beach, the Nobbies, Seal Rock, and Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. Hotel pickup, transport, and entry fees are included, but bring money for meals and warm layers for the evening.

“I enjoyed each part of the tour, including the ride by van with Alex, who is full of energy and fun. The tour is quite rich and also well planned and paced.”

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13.Penguin Parade and Multi Attraction Pass

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 135 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Spend a day exploring Phillip Island’s three leading nature attractions. Watch little penguins return from the sea at sunset, follow bush boardwalks beside koalas, and see farming demonstrations at Churchill Island. Penguin Parade entry is date-specific, while the other two sites remain valid for six months.

“Amazing ! My family came from America and loved seeing the penguins and learning about them. Definitely book in advance and please don’t take photos of them as it can hurt their eyes.”

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14.Phillip Island and Penguin Parade Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 114 reviews · 11 hours · from $102

Travel from Melbourne to Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai, the Nobbies, and Summerland Beach with an English-speaking guide. Expect kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, seals, and the famous sunset Penguin Parade. Guides such as Craig, John, Burt, and Steve add wildlife facts and humor along the way.

“Awesome trip. Luke B was very friendly and an amazing guide. We enjoyed the trip and his tour guidance.”

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15.Boutique Phillip Island Wine, Dine & Penguin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 87 reviews · 11 hours · from $162

Spend 11 hours exploring Phillip Island with a small group of up to 15 people. You’ll taste local wine, share a wood-fired lunch, spot native wildlife, visit Cowes and The Nobbies, then watch Little Penguins return at sunset. Guides such as Rod, Yuri, Ned, and Mike add local stories and warm service.

“A truly amazing experience Yuri our guide was amazing and explained everything we wanted to know.”

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