Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade
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Melbourne, Australia
- 11 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
See the best of Phillip Island on this group tour from Melbourne, where all the details are taken care of so you just need to relax and take in the sites. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, koalas, and the adorable tiny penguins who populate the island. Make sure your cameras are charged for photos at beautiful viewpoints, like at Cowes, and more.
- Stroll through Moonlit Sanctuary to see wombats, Tasmanian devils, and more
- Spend some time relaxing at Woolamai Beach
- Look at volcanic rock formations at Nobbies and see fur seals
- Make a few new friends on this group tour to Phillip Island
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Wildlife Viewing
- Melbourne CBD Pick up and Drop off
- General admission to the Penguin Parade
- Entrance to the Moonlit Sanctuary
- Free Audio Guide App
- Lunch
- DinnerYou can purchase dinner at the town of Cowes
- Bottled waterPlease bring you own water bottles, we discourage the use of single use plastic bottles
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Woolamai Beach
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Cowes
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
The Nobbies Centre
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Penguin Parade
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Unfortunately we cannot take infants under the age of 3 years old
- Please note: Evenings on Phillip Island can be cold and windy during the Penguin Parade. We recommend wearing warm clothing, such as a good jacket, to stay comfortable.
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 39 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.4
based on 818 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Liliya_E, Sep 2026
We had an absolutely amazing day on this trip. Our guide Elliott was very friendly, knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour. The Moonlit sanctuary was great but the views from Philip island were breathtaking. Cowes offered a delicious fish and chips ( much better than Cowes on the Isle of Wight). The cherry on the top was the penguin parade though. Seeing the penguins up close is an extraordinary experience!
Sean_P, Sep 2026
Our guide was very knowledgeable and was a great way to see the countryside. The penguins are tiny but amazing! Highly recommend.
Lisa_R, Aug 2026
We loved this tour! The surprise highlight was going to the Moonlit Sanctuary where my older son got to feed a wallaby right from the palm of his hand. The penguin parade was adorable and fascinating to watch! Our tour guide, Luke, was fantastic!
Theresa_M, Aug 2026
This is a full day adventure…10am to 9:30pm in the winter. We got to visit all of the amazing sites and topped it off with adorable blue penguins after sunset.
Dan_T, Aug 2026
It was a long day, but we saw wild animals, the tour guide/driver was pounctual and caring. Penguin ls were cutr
Bipin_P, Aug 2026
We had a very enjoyable full-day Phillip Island tour with our guide and driver, Elliot, who was warm, friendly and professional throughout the day. He explained each place clearly, gave us useful highlights about what to expect, and managed the timing of the entire tour very well. His guidance helped make the overall experience relaxed and enjoyable.
The Nobbies was one of the highlights for us -absolutely beautiful and very scenic, with amazing coastal views. We also enjoyed the wildlife sanctuary and seeing plenty of wallabies and other Australian wildlife. Phillip Island itself is stunning and gives you another completely different experience of Victoria.
The Penguin Parade was interesting, although the experience can depend a lot on where you are seated and where the penguins decide to come ashore. There is quite a bit of waiting, and being in the right place at the right time makes a difference. We were fortunate to see a group of penguins marching together, although they appeared on a darker side where there was very little lighting. Some audience areas seemed to have only two or three penguins passing by, so there is definitely an element of luck involved.
Overall, it was a very positive and memorable experience. The scenery, wildlife and beauty of Phillip Island make the trip worthwhile, and Elliot did an excellent job as both guide and driver. His friendliness, explanations and good time management contributed greatly to an enjoyable day. Definitely a tour worth experiencing when visiting Melbourne!
Beverly_K, Aug 2026
An interesting and varied day. I loved the wildlife park, which is beautifully laid out in full of fascinating animals. Little penguin experience was great, particularly seeing them making their way to their burrows on the hill. John, our driver and Guide, was knowledgeable, friendly and super helpful.
Carolyn_S, Aug 2026
Craig was a wonderful host, very informative. A lovely day excursion, would recommend. Good food options too
Anthony_P, Jul 2026
The tour was really nice. We got picked up at 10:30 and got back around 9:10pm because it was winter season here. We first drove to Moonlit Sanctuary and saw some animals. We were lucky to see many animals out and about moving. Then we went to Woolamai Beach and took some photos before making our way to Cowes for a meal break. Next, we went to Nobbies (note there are no restrooms there) and then finally to the Penguin Parade. Note that the number of penguins seen cannot be controlled by the tour so it was already nice enough to see some penguins walk uphill on our tour. When you get your tickets scanned, bear right and keep walking to the general viewing area. You can upgrade your seats at your own costs but we didn’t. When you get to the seating area, sit at the furthest right side as the penguins will bear left upon making ashore on the beach. Also note that you cannot take photos nor videos nor stand up while in the viewing area and staff will be monitoring around. This is because of the blue light in the flash that will frighten and disorient them. Some people will try to sneak a few photos but wil be kindly reminded to put them away. After 10-15 minutes viewing, you will need to make your way back to the boardwalk to walk then walk uphill. There you can have better chances to take photos and videos but remember, NO FLASH! It was nice as we got around 2 hours at that place but one hour was used to sit and wait for them to come ashore. Nonetheless, we saw some penguins walk uphill and then we got on the bus and it was about 2 hours (due to traffic) before we got dropped off at our different pick up locations. The tour said it was max about 30 people but we ended up having only 16 people which was nice. Everyone was punctual and we did everything on the package. The tour guide didn’t really engage much with us nor introduce himself but everything was self-explanatory and he got us to where we needed to go so that was good enough. Overall, good tour, smooth ride. Definitely need to dress warm if you come during winter season meaning nice thick jacket, scarf, hat and waterproof shoes due to sudden showers and maybe umbrella if it’s not too windy.
Marie_H, Jul 2026
This was a really good day trip and well worth the money. As a solo traveller with mobility issues I often struggle making my own way to tourist attractions, so I find guided tours the best way to experience as much as possible whilst travelling. The first stop was Moonlit Sanctuary - this is a lovely place, where you can see koala and hand-feed kangaroos and wallaby’s (if they are hungry).
There are a few stops before the highlight of penguin parade to allow you to take in the stunning scenery. Our tour guide Jono, was both knowledgeable and humorous and made the coach journey enjoyable and entertaining.
Obviously the penguin parade was the best bit…but this does involve a fair bit of walking (probably not by most people’s standards - but as someone who uses a walking aid, I feel this is worth mentioning) All photos and video recording of penguin parade is now prohibited, due to people not listening to the guidelines about no flash/lights as it disorientates the penguins migration path. However, so many selfish people refuse to abide by this rule. The is a lot of pushing and shoving to get good views of the penguins on their waddle up the hill. This was a little intimidating - but there were plenty of workers trying to manage the crowds.
Overall it’s a great day…but it’s so over-sold! There are 1000s of people at penguin parade in the evening, and I hadn’t expected it to be quite so busy.
Trevor_R, Jul 2026
Too much rush. Stop at uninteresting places where you rush around for refreshments and toilets. Ok we had terrible weather, col rain and wind, but it was dark before we saw a single penguine. We saw 10 in total for an 11hour trip. Operator....can do better. Think about it.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We’re sorry the weather made the day less enjoyable. The penguins naturally only return after dark, and while you may see a small number crossing one section of beach, over 1,000 can return across the colony at this time of year. A big part of the experience is also seeing them up close around the boardwalks and burrows. We appreciate your feedback on the pacing and stops.
Dawn_M, Jul 2026
This was the best tour we have ever done. But gave us a wealth of information and the penguin parade so fantastic.
Banafsheh_E, Jul 2026
The tour was great, for penguins prade, there is no photography or recording is allowed, just enjoy the experience, it'san amazing view. Also, the penguins are much smaller than the normal size penguins, vey cute. In addition, the lunch is advertised as included, but the time for lunch is included, you pay for your lunch. All the admission tickets are paid for by the tour.
Overall, great experience.
Kelsie_B, Jul 2026
We had the pleasure of having Craig as our tour guide on the Phillip Island bus tour, and he was absolutely fantastic! He was kind, knowledgeable, informative, and genuinely passionate about sharing everything Phillip Island has to offer.
What really stood out was how much he cared about his guests. At Moonlit Sanctuary, he took the time to personally show my mom and
I where the koala meet-and-greet was and made sure we arrived on time for our booking. That thoughtful gesture made our experience even more special.
Craig truly went above and beyond, and his friendly, caring nature made the entire tour unforgettable. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. Highly recommend!
Laurie, Jul 2026
You cannot take pictures of the penguins at night. Bring your own water bottle to be filled at stations along the way.
Gayle_J, Jul 2026
Wonderful bucket list experience seeing the penguins. A relaxing day but make sure you rugg up as it is cold down on the beach. Our driver/tour guide Jono was an excellent ambassador, knowledgable and polite, friendly and entertaining. I would highly recommend this trip.
Eddie_T, Jul 2026
Good experience in total. Very nice and friendly driver-guide. Perfect timing too. The arrangement is great. Will surely book for other tours in the future.
Jennifer_I, Jul 2026
I was so impressed with the entire experience from start to finish! Eliot was our tour guide and had me giggling the entire time. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The views from Philip Island were breathtaking and interacting with wildlife up close was incredible. My only suggestion would be to upgrade from general viewing to see the penguins closer or bring binoculars as I saw other visitors do. Overall, I enjoyed it very much and would strongly recommend.
Lea_V, Jul 2026
Great experience exploring Aussie’s wildlife and beautiful nature - beaches and cliffs on Philip island were incredible
Craig_C, Jul 2026
Is it weird that we'd recommend this trip to others, and that the relatively worst part of it was Penguin Island? Maybe so. Yet here we are.
It was a fun day of experiencing Australia's wildlife, including a rare albino baby kangaroo, and the drive to a fun coastal town and the tour around the island were great. Seeing wallabies in the wild is a memory we'll have forever.
The only downside was the beach in the evening, where we saw maybe a dozen penguins total, and were led to believe by other tourists we'd see 200-300 coming out of the water. Now, park rangers said it wasn't the breeding season, so that may have played a role, but ultimately, we got to see a dozen penguins up close and personal, which, by my count, is about a dozen more than I'd ever seen in the wild. So it was a good day overall.
Linda_P, Jul 2026
Craig our tour guide was wonderful. He had extensive knowledge and was prepared for everything including wet weather. The trip was amazing stopping off at a sanctuary that was really enjoyable. The unforgettable experience was the penguins.
Gieselle_S, Jul 2026
It will be a long day but very fun! If you are going during the Australian winter or weather predicts rain, make sure to wear warm, rain wear. Eliot was a great guide and loved the smaller group size. Wish we saw some seals but the Penquin Parade at the end was the best!
Kathy_R, Jun 2026
It was a long day - about 11 hours in all, but worth it. The weather could have cooperated a bit more, but all our stops were beautiful. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and of course penguins! Craig took great care of us. I would do this trip again!
Mehul_P, Jun 2026
Phillip Island does not have any koalas and kangaroos. Though penguin parade is amazing. Tour takes you to Moonlit Sanctuary and then to Phillip Island.
Rachel_Y, Jun 2026
Lovely experience. Wonderful sights, wildlife. The penguin parade was magnificent. Dress warmly because it’s breezy by the ocean.
Paula_H, Jun 2026
Great wildlife day with our tour guide, Elliot, who educated and entertained us. The Moonlit Sanctuary was a pleasant surprise to walk among so many animals or be so near them. My husband got to pet a kangaroo and you can feed them. The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park is a great surrounding and experience but please note that the penguins are on their schedule - not yours - so don’t be surprised about a wait or the possibility of not seeing many as viewers jostle for positioning.
We enjoyed our guide’s tips and info about Melbourne and other towns including great restaurant suggestions. Our only disappointment was we thought this was a smaller tour (rather than a large busload). Will pay closer attention next time to avoid the hassles of a large group.
Joanne_F, Jun 2026
This tour was an absolute waste of time and money. Although the bus arrived on time for my sister and me, every other stop was a disaster long delays, constant waiting around for late passengers, and a tour guide who made zero effort to stick to the schedule.
Moonlit Sanctuary was nothing more than a pointless filler activity. The advertising makes it sound like part of the Phillip Island experience, but it’s nowhere near it and adds nothing except wasted hours. Because people didn’t follow the timings and the guide didn’t enforce them, we lost valuable time at the Nobbies Boardwalk and had no chance to visit the Penguin Parade information centre, grab food, or even look around.
To make it worse, after finally seeing the penguins, we were told to be back on the bus within an hour completely unrealistic and unfair given the chaos earlier in the day.
When I requested a refund for this poorly run, misleading tour, I was offered a 25% of the ticket price.
Save yourself the frustration. Skip this tour entirely. Hire a car and do the trip yourself, you’ll have a far better experience without the incompetence and time‑wasting.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
We're sorry to hear that the tour didn't meet your expectations.
Moonlit Sanctuary is a scheduled part of our advertised Phillip Island itinerary, and while delays caused by late returning guests can occasionally affect the time available at later stops, our guides always do their best to keep the day running as smoothly as possible while ensuring no one is left behind.
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that the resolution we offered did not meet your expectations.
Kind regards
Jane_S, Jun 2026
Great bus driver/guide. Loved the stops on the way, especially Moonlit sanctuary. We should have had more time there. I was upset that the penguin parade was so commercialized. Too many people at one time. I felt we were infringing on the penguins territory.
Tapan_M, Jun 2026
The tour itinery is good but the satisfaction depends on the guide which was not visited ble here.
The tour guide is rubbish in information sharing to make the tour interesting
He is over smart than required
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience with the guide did not meet your expectations. Our aim is for every guide to provide an engaging and informative tour, so we're disappointed this wasn't your experience.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your comments, and we'll pass your feedback on to the relevant team.
Kind regards,
Anonymous, Jun 2026
You should stick to the plan obviously, if the flight is cancelled and you've got delay, they wont wait for you even for 15 minutes but that's fine, al least I learn something.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
Thank you for your feedback. We understand your disappointment. While we do our best to wait for late guests where circumstances allow, this isn't always possible. Every situation is different and depends on factors such as the day's schedule, traffic conditions, and the impact on other guests. We appreciate that this can be frustrating, but we're always trying to balance the needs of everyone on the tour.
Kind regards,
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