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Important: Hours or services may differ. To get the most accurate information please refer to the supplier's official website. This destination you intend to travel to may have COVID-19 travel restrictions in place. Please check any national, local and health advisories for this destination before you book.
We recommend booking a tour with free cancellation* in case your plans change. *There is always a timeline associated with the free cancellation policy. Please check the terms and conditions of the cancellation policy before you book.
  •  Activities
  •  Melbourne, Phillip Island
  •  Melbourne Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade General Viewing

Melbourne Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade General Viewing

Phillip Island Nature Parks

  • Melbourne, Phillip Island
  • English
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Free Cancellation prior to 7 days of travel date
  • 48 Working Hours Confirmation

Standard Inclusions
  • General viewing at Penguin Parade
  • Penguin Parade Visitors Centre opens at 5pm daily including Christmas Day 25 December.
  • Vaccination documentation no longer required upon check-in.
  • The penguins are wild birds, so the numbers and arrival times vary with the life-cycle activity, weather and seasons. Please refer to 'Other info' section for the guidelines of seasonal arrival times.
  • 2023 session times - suggested arrival time to exchange tickets (for reference only, times may vary without notice):
  • 8:00pm 01-31Jan
  • 7:45pm 01Feb-28Feb
  • 7:00pm 01Mar-02Apr
  • 5:30pm 03-25Apr
  • 5:15pm 26April-01May
  • 5:00pm 02-15May
  • 4:45pm 16May-05June
  • 4:30pm 06-27June
  • 4:45pm 28June-10July
  • 5:00pm 11July-07Aug
  • 5:15pm 08-21Aug
  • 5:30pm 22Aug-18Sep
  • 5:45pm 19Sep-01Oct
  • 6:45pm 02-16Oct
  • 7:00pm 17-30Oct
  • 7:15pm 31Oct-13Nov
  • 7:30pm 14Nov-04Dec
  • 7:45pm 05-18Dec
  • 8:00pm 19Dec-31Jan2024

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ENQUIRIES

1 Key Facts

Included

  • General viewing at Penguin Parade
  • Penguin Parade Visitors Centre opens at 5pm daily including Christmas Day 25 December.
  • Vaccination documentation no longer required upon check-in.
  • The penguins are wild birds, so the numbers and arrival times vary with the life-cycle activity, weather and seasons. Please refer to 'Other info' section for the guidelines of seasonal arrival times.
  • 2023 session times - suggested arrival time to exchange tickets (for reference only, times may vary without notice):
  • 8:00pm 01-31Jan
  • 7:45pm 01Feb-28Feb
  • 7:00pm 01Mar-02Apr
  • 5:30pm 03-25Apr
  • 5:15pm 26April-01May
  • 5:00pm 02-15May
  • 4:45pm 16May-05June
  • 4:30pm 06-27June
  • 4:45pm 28June-10July
  • 5:00pm 11July-07Aug
  • 5:15pm 08-21Aug
  • 5:30pm 22Aug-18Sep
  • 5:45pm 19Sep-01Oct
  • 6:45pm 02-16Oct
  • 7:00pm 17-30Oct
  • 7:15pm 31Oct-13Nov
  • 7:30pm 14Nov-04Dec
  • 7:45pm 05-18Dec
  • 8:00pm 19Dec-31Jan2024

Not included

  • 1. Transport from/to hotels
  • 2. Food & beverages not listed as Inclusions
  • 3. Souvenirs
  • 4. Travel Insurance
Destination Melbourne, Phillip Island
Address Penguin Parade/Nobbies Centre/Antarctic Journey: 1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922 Koala Conservation Centre: 1810 Phillip Island Rd, Phillip Island VIC 3923 Churchill Island Heritage Farm: 246 Samuel Amess Dr, Churchill Island VIC 3925
How to get there ● By Car
Located approximately 169km south of Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, takes about 2.5 hours; approximately 144km south of Melbourne Federation Square, takes about 2 hour 5 minutes.

- Free Onsite parking available

● By Public Transport
Unfortunately there is no direct public transport available. Most visitors drive or arrive on a coach tour. If you do not drive, please book one of the day tours that visits Phillip Island.
Operating hours
General Viewing Vary by seasons. Please refer to "Inclusions" section for session time
Penguin Parade Visitor Centre (Including Christmas Day) 17:00 - Late
Good Friday Closed
Check-in requirements Please ensure you arrive at the General Viewing grandstands at least 60 minutes before penguin arrival time. Regrettably, failure to arrive before this time will most likely be classified as no-show and result in forfeiting the booking and it cannot be refunded or transferred.

If you are not familiar with the area or travelling on a weekend or local public holidays / school holidays, please make sure you've checked your timetable or driving route beforehand, and allow extra travelling time for unexpected delays to ensure you do not miss penguin arrival.
What to bring/wear ● The Penguin Parade is at sunset and at the outdoor, suggest to bring warm clothes
● A rug to sit on the seats is also handy
● Appropriate clothing for all weather conditions, eg. jacket for cooler months.
● Comfortable enclosed walking shoes
● Water bottle, Snacks
● Umbrella / raincoat if rains
● Insect repellent
● Money / credit card for optional purchases
Other info 【Pre-bookings and updates】
- Bookings are highly recommended with at least 48 hours notice to avoid disappointment.
- Infants must be included in the booking requests.
- For the latest updates, please refer to  https://www.penguins.org.au/visit/

【General terms and conditions】
● No photography or filming is permitted at the Penguin Parade. Penguins have sensitive eyes and a bright, sudden flash or unusual light can frighten or disorientate a penguin. To ensure penguins keep coming back to this special area please do not use your cameras, camcorders or camera phones at the Penguin Parade.

【Penguin arrival calendar】
● Penguins arrive at sunset each night. Please arrive at least 1 hour prior to penguin arrival time.
● Beach access doors will open approximately 1 hour prior to penguin arrival time.
● Penguin Parade duration is 50 minutes from the time the first penguin crosses the beach.
● Please allow extra travel time if visiting from mid-December to late January, during long weekends, school holidays or other peak periods, as traffic can get very busy.
● The penguins are wild birds. Numbers and arrival times will vary with the life-cycle activity and weather.
● Estimated penguin arrival times (Guideline Only)
January - 20:45
February - 20:30
March - 20:00
April - 19:00 (Daylight Saving Time) / 18:00 (Non-Daylight Saving Time)
May - 17:30
June - 17:15
July - 17:45
August - 18:00
September - 18:15
October - 18:45 (Non-Daylight Saving Time) / 19:45 (Daylight Saving Time)
November - 20:15
December - 20:30

2 Overview

The Summerland Peninsula in the south-west of Phillip Island is home to an estimated 32,000 little penguins – one of the largest colonies in Australia. The Penguin Parade represents approximately 10 per cent of the colony. Each night at sunset, little penguins (numbering in the hundreds or thousands depending on the season) make the march across the beach and return to their burrow homes in the sand dunes.

Melbourne Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade General Viewing

Phillip Island Nature Parks

Phillip Island is part of the UNESCO Western Port Biosphere Reserve and encompasses wildlife sanctuaries, wetlands, woodlands and breathtaking coastlines which are protected and managed by world-renowned environmental and research programs. Habitat within Phillip Island Nature Parks supports significant populations of little penguins, hooded plovers, short-tailed shearwaters and other international migratory bird species, and mammals such as koalas, possums, wallabies, Australian fur seals and bats. 

 

General Viewing

Can you hear the 'huk-huk' of penguins as they gather in their groups and begin moving towards the shore? Watch closely as they emerge from the waves, then waddle across the beach toward their burrows in the dunes.

 

Fun Facts
  • Little penguins are the smallest of the 17 penguin species and the only penguin that lives permanently in Australia.
  • There are approximately 32,000 breeding penguins on Phillip Island.
  • The first tourists visited the Penguin Parade in the 1920s.
  • In 1955 the State Goverment established a large reserve over the penguin colony.
  • The Little Penguin Scientific Advisory Committee was formed in 1966 and penguin counts and research programmes began.
  • The Phillip Island Nature Parks were established in 1996.

Meet the world’s smallest (and cutest) penguins at the world-famous Penguin Parade

Only 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island features spectacular coastal scenery and plenty of Australian wildlife.

Phillip Island is a not-for-profit organisation. Revenue raised contributes to research, environment and education projects.

Tiered seating in the General Viewing stands overlooking Summerland Beach.

Mating and Egg laying from August to November. Chick feeding in December and January. Moulting from February to April. Nest building from May to July.

Experience the magic of little penguins returning home at sunset to one of the largest penguin colonies in Australia

Dusk at the Penguin Parade

Visitor Centre. Currently under upgrading. New Visitor Centre for the Penguin Parade is due to be completed in late 2019

3 Policy

Cancellation Policy

● If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
● If you cancel between 0 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
● If no show, no refund.

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