Top Victoria Nature and Wildlife Tours

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade and other wildlife highlights of Victoria. Your full-day tour stops at Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife conservation park to see Australian natives such as koalas and wallabies. Explore the dramatic Cape Woolamai surf beach and the Nobbies boardwalk where you can enjoy views of the rugged south coast and often seals as well.

Experience the thrill of an up-close encounter with dolphins, seals and sea birds as you glide around the Mornington Peninsula. Set sail for a 90-minute cruise, navigating the notorious ‘Rip’ of Port Phillip Bay and spotting Australasian Gannets at the Popes Eye Marine Park. Keep your camera close to hand as you pass bottlenose dolphins and Australian fur seals, and perhaps spot humpback whales or albatross along the way.

To fully experience the coastline of the Wilsons Promontory National Park, hop on board this cruise on an amphibious boat. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours you’ll cruise along the coast, admiring the beautiful beaches, forests, granite mountains, and rocky outcrops of the southernmost point of mainland Australia. A chilled out activity that’s great for nature lovers.

See the best of Phillip Island on this group tour from Melbourne, with all the details taken care of, so you can relax and take in the sights. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, koalas, and the island's adorable tiny penguins. Make sure your cameras are charged for photos at beautiful viewpoints, like Cowes and more.

Wildlife Wonders' Sanctuary offers a glimpse into an Otways habitat before the arrival of predators such as foxes and cats. Wildlife lives freely in a natural habitat, without cages, and on a wildlife walk they can be seen going about their daily lives. Dusk is a time when most animals are active, as nocturnal animals rise for the night and day-active animals return to rest. Dusk Discovery tours are limited to just 10 people, allowing time to capture stunning sunsets as well as amazing wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. As with all of Wildlife Wonders' experiences, 100% of profits go to support conservation and research into Australia's threatened species.

Travelers short on time in the Melbourne area don't need to miss out on one of Australia's greatest coastal road trips. This Great Ocean Road day tour includes many of the route's highlights, including the Twelve Apostles, Apollo Bay, and London Bridge. And, because this itinerary is the reverse of what many travelers take, you'll be skipping the worst of the crowds.

Spend a day immersed in the animal kingdom at the Melbourne Zoo. Encounter native species including koalas, wombats, and kangaroos, and local Victorian species such as indigenous penguins and seals splash. Also admire mighty Asian pachyderms at the Trail of Elephants, elegant African zebras and giraffes in open-air habitats, the energetic primates at Lemur Island, an elevated orangutan exhibit, and more.

Experience the rugged beauty of the Grampians National Park in a relaxed small group, with an expert local guide bringing the region to life through stories, local knowledge and insights along the way. Travel from Melbourne in comfort and discover waterfalls, dramatic rock formations, sweeping mountain lookouts and native wildlife, from Silverband Falls and the Grand Canyon to The Balconies, Reeds Lookout and Boroka Lookout.

Whether it’s your child or your inner child that loves steam trains and penguins, getting the timing right to watch little penguins parade on Phillip Island is a challenge. Skip the stress of the long drive when you join this convenient tour, which includes the Puffing Billy Railway steam train and general admission to the Penguin Parade.

Discover Australia’s wildlife and wines on a full-day tour to Healesville Sanctuary and the Yarra Valley. Depart Melbourne and head to Healesville Sanctuary where you get close views of native animals such as kangaroos, koalas, and emus. Continue your scenic drive to the Yarra Valley and arrive at a vineyard for lunch accompanied by a glass of wine. Afterward, tour the winery before moving on to De Bortoli Winery for a wine and cheese tasting.

Discover the natural delights of Phillip Island with an eco-tour from Melbourne. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. Head to the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and other native Australian wildlife. Finish the day at a local beach where you can watch hundreds of some of the world's tiniest penguins waddle out of the ocean and across the sand to their burrows.

Streamline your wildlife viewing and check off two of Phillip Island’s native species in just one day on this comprehensive, full-day tour from Melbourne. Instead of juggling separate bookings and reservations, head out by coach to view fairy penguins at Phillip Island Nature Park—home to the largest colony in the world—and see one of Australia’s most beloved marsupials, koalas, at Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve.

Travel the Great Ocean Road while avoiding the crowds, when you book this small-group reverse itinerary tour. Drive straight from Melbourne to the famous Twelve Apostles, then slowly make your way back to the city. Stop at sites such as Teddy’s Lookout, Gibsons Steps, Apollo Bay, and more while also keeping an eye out for wildlife like kangaroos and koalas. Enjoy incredible views over the sea while you learn all about the road and its storied past.

Take a break from the city and discover the diverse wildlife of Australia on this full-day excursion to Phillip Island. Alongside a private guide, depart Melbourne and head south to begin your wildlife tour. Stop at the Maru Animal Park to see koalas and kangaroos, see wallabies at the Nobbies, and watch hundreds of penguins parade back to their burrows at sunset.

Get up close to the wildlife of Phillip Island and discover Australia’s largest colony of Australian fur seals on this catamaran cruise. Watch seals lounging on the rocks and swimming in the bays; spot seabirds swooping overhead and look out for dolphins, whales, and penguins as you float around the island. Finally, tuck into afternoon tea on board as you listen to the live commentary and learn more about the island’s varied wildlife.

Maximize your time in Australia, and check off two of Victoria's top wildlife spectacles in just one day on this comprehensive tour. From Melbourne, head to the Nobbies to soak up views of Philip Island's south coast, and check out the colony of resident fur seals. Then, it's time to spot some of the area's cutest residents, little penguins (also known as "fairy penguins"). As the night rolls in, watch as hundreds waddle along the beach and head into their burrows.

Discover Australia's Great Ocean Road—where coastal views and lush rainforests meet—on this full-day adventure from Melbourne. Heading out from the urban landscape of the city, keep your eyes peeled for koalas, walk through rainforests, and visit local landmarks like the Memorial Arch. A local guide is on-hand to fill you in on the area's history—something many travelers miss out on. Once you've refueled with lunch (own expense) in the beautiful town of Apollo Bay, marvel at the Twelve Apostles (a set of giant limestone stacks), and explore other panoramic views, including the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge.

Travelers short on time can still experience one of Melbourne’s best day trips with this afternoon tour to Phillip Island. After a free morning, travel in the early afternoon to Phillip Island, with time for some sightseeing before watching the famous penguin parade at sunset. For people not sure what to do in the morning, you can choose to include a morning trip to ride the Puffing Billy steam train.

Spot Aussie icons and exotic beasts on a thrilling family-friendly day out at the Serengeti-themed Werribee Open Range Zoo. Hop on an open-window bus for a safari tour and get up close to the wildlife. Then, explore the rest of the park on foot and at your leisure, visiting the different animal enclosures, enjoying zookeeper talks and presentations throughout the day, or making the most of the playgrounds.

Getting out of Melbourne and down to Philip Island takes a couple of hours at the wheel, and doesn’t leave much opportunity to take in the sights en route. Leave the driving to a guide and check off two wildlife encounters in just one day as you travel there by coach. Watch the “penguin parade”—fairy penguins making their way to their burrows—from an exclusive viewing platform, and visit the Phillip Island Koala Reserve to see the Australian marsupial up close.

Get out of the city for a day and enjoy relaxing time in nature on this economical group tour to the Mornington Peninsula. After leaving Melbourne, your first stop will be the natural Peninsula Hot Springs, where you can soak away your stresses or add an optional spa treatment. Continue to Murrays Lookout to enjoy panoramic views of the mountainous landscape. End the day at the cute and totally Instagram-worthy bathing boxes on the beach to enjoy panoramic views of the mountainous landscape. End the day at the cute and totally Instagram-worthy bathing boxes on the beach.

Experience Phillip Island in small-group comfort with no more than 11 guests—not 24 or 27 people on a coach. Travel in a modern Mercedes-Benz Vito or Sprinter with comfortable seating and climate control. Our exceptional guides combine wildlife knowledge, warm service and Penguin Parade advice to keep the day relaxed and organised. Provide any Melbourne CBD hotel, apartment or nominated address. We will collect you there and return you to the same place after the Penguin Parade. Guests outside the CBD receive a convenient meeting point. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary, with admission included, to see koalas, kangaroos and other Australian wildlife. Continue to The Nobbies for dramatic coastal views while looking for wild wallabies and native birdlife, then watch little penguins return ashore after sunset. Choose General Viewing or Penguins Plus when booking. Penguins Plus requires confirmation and is subject to availability. Other viewing tickets may be requested for an additional charge.

Save yourself time and energy when visiting the enormous Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne by touring on The Explorer bus. If you’re on a quick visit en route to Phillip Island then this bus is an ideal way to navigate the 37 acre (15 hectare) Australian Garden. It departs from the Visitor Centre and includes informative live commentary by the driver.