Puffing Billy Steam Train and Penguins Wildlife Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Melbourne, Australia
- 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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 not only the penguins but the Puffing Billy Railway steam train. Upgrade to the Penguins Plus package for an even better view of the parade.
- Ride through fern gullies and mountain ash trees on the Puffing Billy train
- See hundreds of adorable little penguins make their way home at sunset
- Learn about Phillip Island wildlife from your dedicated guide
- Enjoy round-trip transportation from a choice of several Melbourne spots
What's Included
- 1 hour train ride on Puffing Billy
- General admission into Penguin Parade
- Return transport to/from Melbourne
- All fees and taxes
- Licensed Guide
- Lunch
- DinnerDinner is available to purchase at Phillip Island
- SnacksSnacks at own expense
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We offer 4 pickup locations from Melbourne CDB which are listed above. Your pickup depends on the time of year you have booked. Your exact meeting times are listed below and our team will confirm this with you after a booking is placed. 12:30 pm (Oct-Mar, Daylight savings) Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour departs from our main pickup location Mail Exchange Hotel - 688 Bourke Street @ 12:30pm and below are the pickup times from our other locations: * 11.45am Mercure Melbourne Southbank - 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank * 12.05pm Regent Theatre - 191 Collins St * 12.15pm Her Majesty’s Theatre - 219 Exhibition St 10:00 am (Apr -Sept, Non -daylight savings) Penguin Parade & Wildlife Tour departs from our main pickup location Mail Exchange Hotel - 688 Bourke Street @ 10am and below are the pickup times from our other locations: * 9:20am Mercure Melbourne Southbank - 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank * 9:35amRegent Theatre - 191 Collins St * 9:45am Her Majesty’s Theatre - 219 Exhibition St As the time that the penguins arrive on the beach changes significantly during the year, our return time to Melbourne also varies significantly from 21:00 to 0:00
Itinerary
1
Puffing Billy Railway
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
The Nobbies
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- The remaining hours of the tour are for the travel time
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Donna_H
Wonderful experience. Bring some hardy snacks cause it's a long day 12 hours. Our guide Alan was fantastic. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. The steam train was so much fun, and the penguins were amazing. What a sight to see, and they are tiny and blue black on their backs. We also saw some lovely views along the way. Well worth the trip I would advise anyone not to hesitate, jump on this tour.
Reviews
4.8
based on 47 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Justyna_C, Jul 2026
I was on this trip in January but didn’t share my review earlier. Catching up now! It was the most amazing day I could’ve imagined! Gary- the tour guide- was so professional and friendly. I experienced the beauty of Australia during the steam train ride and had so much fun! 🤩 the whole itinerary was wonderful and I truly recommend the penguin premium option for a truly unforgettable experience! Thank you! Thanks to this experience I still continue using the app. So positively surprised I was!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🌟🚂🐧 We are thrilled to hear this was one of the best trips of your life! Gary will be delighted to hear your kind words about his professionalism and friendly approach. We are so glad you enjoyed the itinerary, Puffing Billy and the Penguin Premium experience. Thank you for recommending us and for sharing such a special memory! 💜
KaYun_N, Apr 2026
Very interesting and exciting experience, for puffing billy stream train, recommend to sit inside as the view will be better than sitting near to the door side. Feel very lucky to have good weather during the day. Saw quite a number of penguins during their way back to their nest, no photos nor videos allowed to protect the wildlife. Food inside the visitor centre slightly expensive and only can pay by cards.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Ka Yun, thanks so much for your review 😊
We are so glad you had a great day and were lucky with the weather — that always makes the experience even better. Great tip as well about seating on Puffing Billy.🚂
It is wonderful to hear you saw plenty of penguins returning to their burrows — such a special moment to witness.
Thanks again for travelling with us 🐧
Sandy_P, Apr 2026
This excursion checked off a few things on our bucket list while visiting Melbourne. There were no issues booking the tour or with communication. Pick up was on time and exactly where stated. Make sure to read your confirmation email as different times of the year have different pick up times. Pick up for us was at 10 am and we returned around 10pm. It is a long day, but broken up
with stops along the way. Our tour guide Gary was very informative and chatty. Got us to all the places on time and back safely. The Puffing Billy train was a simple ride in an old fashion steam train. It’s nothing fancy or fantastic, but there are some nice views along the way. Our expectations were low, as we were prepared for the touristy train ride and because of that we had a pleasant time. For us it’s a one and done sort of thing but we got some great pictures and the ability to say we’ve been here. Next stop was the Nobbies. A beautiful landscape of nature to see here. Other than walking the boardwalk (with hundreds of others) there isn’t much to do but enjoy the scenery. The penguin parade was quite full. Hundreds of people all waiting to see the penguins emerge from the ocean and waddle up the banks to there burrows on land. Our night the penguins arrived around 6:40pm and not too may to see but none the less we saw some! We were then able to see them close up walking to their burrows as we walked the boardwalk out.
All in all the excursion was good. I’d recommend it if these are things you want to see. I feel the price was a bit steep but again if you want to see certain things outside of the city without having to navigate them yourself then this is the way to go.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for your review, Sandy 😊
We are so glad you were able to tick off some bucket list experiences and that everything ran smoothly on the day. Gary will really appreciate the kind mention.
It is a big day covering a lot of Victoria’s highlights, so we are pleased you enjoyed the mix from Puffing Billy through to the Penguin Parade.
We appreciate your feedback as well, and are glad you could relax and take in the experience without the need to plan it all yourself.
Thanks again for travelling with us 🐧🚂
Marian_H, Apr 2026
Other than the weather the trip was fan it was about an hour's drive to the puffing billy train had enough time to wander the area a little then aboard for the scenic railway gun journey then another drive about an hour to the penguin experience . First was the coat boardwalk no toilets so going at the railway is important but saw an Acidna very sweet and great coastline
Then onto the penguin watching of note you have about an hour before the sun sets and could stop to eat but I'd suggest if needed but take away and get get down to your zone early otherwise you find your not sat together or your sat away from the best view of the penguins emerging from the sea
I went straight there so had a great seat and left ved the experience
Also they say don't take photos as it scares the penguins and some silly boy had his flash on and didn't know how to turn it off but kept going for a shot so annoying! Otherwise great day a long day so ensure you have snacks and water and also if in the autumn take a jacket or something a bit warmer to wear
Our driver was fab friendly and informative. And felt safe as a driver .
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your review 😊
We are so glad you enjoyed the day, even with the weather, and great to hear you made the most of Puffing Billy and the Penguin Parade (and spotted an echidna too 🐾).
Appreciate you sharing those helpful tips for future travellers as well. Thanks again for travelling with us 🐨
Belinda_B, Mar 2026
Had the best time doing both these attractions. The experience on the train was amazingly fun and the atmosphere was great the penguin experience was great I thought we would have seen more penguins then we did but waking back up afterwards we seen a lot more
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your great review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade tour. It really is such a fun combination of iconic experiences in one day 🚂🐧
Penguin numbers can vary depending on the evening, but it is always special seeing them return to shore.
Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon!
Martin_H, Mar 2026
Everything was on time, what was promised was what was delivered. The coach driver was very informative with his commentary
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for taking the time to review Explore Australia! We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade tour. It is great to hear everything ran on time and delivered as expected.
Our guides will really appreciate your kind words, they take pride in providing informative commentary throughout the day.
Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon!
MontanaCole, Mar 2026
Beautiful views. Train was fun. The penguins were awesome. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Great tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your great review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade tour. Our guides will really appreciate your kind words, they love sharing their knowledge and making the day enjoyable for everyone.
It really is a great combination of scenery, history and wildlife 🐧
Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon!
Timmy_C, Feb 2026
The train is complete waste if your arent a kid. Dont see much from one side except peoples houses, then the train is too full to move around. The rest was alright. Loved the nobbies, and rhe penfuins were cool.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We are glad you enjoyed seeing the Nobbies and the penguins, they are definitely a highlight of the day. Puffing Billy is designed to be a fun experience for all ages, and while it can feel a bit full at times, we hope the scenic ride and the chance to spot wildlife still made it a memorable day. We appreciate your thoughts and hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!
Donna_H, Feb 2026
Wonderful experience. Bring some hardy snacks cause it's a long day 12 hours. Our guide Alan was fantastic. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. The steam train was so much fun, and the penguins were amazing. What a sight to see, and they are tiny and blue black on their backs. We also saw some lovely views along the way. Well worth the trip I would advise anyone not to hesitate, jump on this tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy Steam Train, the penguins, and the beautiful views along the way. Alan will be delighted to hear your kind words about his friendliness, knowledge, and courtesy. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another memorable tour soon!
Lorraine_K, Jan 2026
We had an amazing day on Puffing Billy and Penguins wildlife tour. Gina, our tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful the whole day through.
Puffing Billy is an amazing experience and watching hundreds of penguins come in from the ocean to their Burroughs was something else. Do yourself a favour and pay for upgrade to penguins plus. WELL worth the money for being so close to the penguins 🐧. You can take photos until it gets dark, then no photography or videos allowed. Just live in the moment and the experience.
It's a long day but with a guide like Gina, it doesn't seem like it. An amazing day. Thank you.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear you had such an amazing day on the Puffing Billy and Penguins Wildlife Tour. It’s fantastic that Gina made the experience so enjoyable with her knowledge, friendliness and helpfulness throughout the day.
We’re glad you loved Puffing Billy and the incredible sight of the penguins returning to their burrows. It’s great to hear that the Penguins Plus upgrade added to your experience and allowed you to be so close to the penguins. Your advice to simply enjoy the moment is spot on!
Thank you again for travelling with Explore Australia Tours, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon.
laura_b, Dec 2025
Wonderful day on the railway and watching the penguins coming in from the sea and waddling to their burrows
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear you had a wonderful day riding the Puffing Billy Railway and watching the penguins come in from the sea and waddle back to their burrows. It is such a special experience. Thank you for travelling with Explore Australia Tours and we hope to see you again soon.
laura_b, Dec 2025
Fantastic day seeing the amazing penguins and lots of wallabys, bandicoots, possum. Loved every minute!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your great review. We are so pleased to hear you had a fantastic day and loved seeing the penguins along with the wallabies, bandicoots and possums. It is wonderful to know you enjoyed every minute of the experience. Thank you for choosing Explore Australia Tours and we hope to welcome you back again soon.
Mayank_b, Dec 2025
Superb guide and tour.
Very professionally managed and planned
I recommend to take this form this tour company only
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your great review. We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed the Puffing Billy Steam Train and Penguins Wildlife Tour and that you found the experience professionally managed and well planned. We really appreciate your recommendation and thank you for choosing Explore Australia Tours. We hope to see you again on another tour soon.
Li_L, Nov 2025
Our guide Darren was incredibly attentive and thoughtful throughout the trip. He gave us enough time at each stop — even though the schedule was quite packed — and shared valuable knowledge, especially about wildlife. You can truly feel his passion. He also shared great tips so we were able to see Penguins at a very close distance. We highly recommend this tour to everyone!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your fantastic review. We are thrilled you enjoyed the Puffing Billy Steam Train and Penguins Wildlife Tour. Darren will be so happy to hear your kind words about his attentiveness and passion. We are delighted you had such a close encounter with the penguins and hope to see you again soon.
RaziqHaikal_R, Nov 2025
Great experience with tour guide Stewart. Real hands on guidance throughout all the attractions despite the decently massive group per bus. Plenty of time given at all the stops and attractions. Really appreciate tour guide Stewart for going above and beyond with the service and the information provided
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review. We are thrilled you had a great experience on the Puffing Billy Steam Train and Penguins Wildlife Tour. Stewart will be delighted to hear your kind words about his guidance and service. We hope to welcome you on another fun adventure soon.
Ashley_P, Oct 2025
A lovely day overall, but just shy of 5 stars for two reasons: the first (and biggest reason) is that the tour itself had a different itinerary than the specific one listed here. We didn't go to the Nobbies and spent a totally useless 15 minutes at a picnic area and 30 minutes in Cowes instead... barely enough time to use the bathroom let alone get food, sightsee or anything. The second was that our guide, while very nice overall, did not give us any information about the area or what we were seeing. Compared to other reviews I thought we'd get to learn something more about the area but nothing beyond just driving us and letting us know when to be back. Not a huge deal, just unmet expectations. The two main stops -- Puffing Billy and OF COURSE the Penguin Parade, are incredible. The Penguin Parade is absolutely the highlight, and Penguins Plus was 100% worth it.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed both Puffing Billy and the Penguin Parade, and that the Penguin Plus experience was a highlight for you. We sincerely apologise that the Nobbies could not be visited on the day. Unfortunately, it was closed indefinitely due to damage caused by recent severe weather, and we were only informed of this at short notice. We understand this was disappointing and appreciate your understanding. Your comments regarding the commentary and timing have also been noted and will be shared with our team for improvement.
Tracy_A, Feb 2025
Great tour to go on. Especially of you have kids. Penguins plus is a great choice. Unclosed to these amazing creatures. Puffing Billy great for kids to go on and hang legs over the side.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour, especially with the kids. The Penguin Plus option really does offer an incredible up-close experience, and the Puffing Billy train ride is definitely a fun adventure for families. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable day!
Joseph_B, Jan 2025
The day was well paced and included all promised activities. The train was fun, the conservancy had lots of wallabies, and the penguins didn't disappoint. Cat, our guide handled the day well in spite of the fact that the microphone didn't work. Would recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience and that the tour delivered on everything promised. It is great to know you enjoyed the train ride, wildlife encounters, and of course, the adorable penguins. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to Cat—she will be delighted to hear them! Hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Aparajith_B, Dec 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed the puffing Billy train ride it was a surreal experience. We also enjoyed the penguin parade was wonderful watching them. Our host Lelly was excellent
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed the Puffing Billy train ride and the Penguin Parade – both are truly magical experiences. It is also fantastic to know that Leelee made your tour even more memorable with her excellent hosting. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to her! We hope to welcome you back on another exciting adventure with Explore Australia in the near future!
Michael_L, Dec 2024
The penguin parade was amazing. Highly recommend. Our tour guide was great too! If you have little ones then this tour is definitely for you. The train ride is more for children, I have to admit.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Penguin Parade and found the tour guide to be great. It is wonderful to know that the tour worked well for families with little ones. We appreciate your feedback about the Puffing Billy train ride being more suited to children, and we are glad it added to the enjoyment of your day. We hope to welcome you back on another memorable adventure with Explore Australia soon!
Patricia_L, Nov 2024
Wonderful and fun experience at the Puffing Billy Train. Penguin parade was quite adorable and a must see experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so happy to hear you had a wonderful time on the Puffing Billy Train and enjoyed the adorable Penguin Parade. It’s truly a must-see experience, and we’re glad it made your day special.
We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures soon!
henny_t, Nov 2024
we had great time because tour guide was so nice.we had so much fun when getting on the puffing billy train
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed the Puffing Billy train experience. Our team works hard to ensure every guest has a memorable time, and we’re glad that your tour guide helped make your visit extra special.
We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Sophie_C, Feb 2026
Puffing Billy... it’s nice, beautiful scenery, quiet little hike
The Penguin Parade with Option Plus is amazing! Penguins pass 50 cm from us.
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Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Puffing Billy ride and the beautiful scenery along the way. It sounds like the Penguin Parade with Penguins Plus was a real highlight and an unforgettable experience getting so close to the penguins. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to the team and hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!
Frederik_J, Nov 2024
Billy toget var klart det fedeste på turen, fedt at køre med et af de ældste toge i verden. Og at få lov til at sidde med benene udover kanten.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed riding the Puffing Billy train – it truly is a unique and historic experience. Sitting with your legs over the edge definitely adds to the excitement! We’re thrilled that it was the highlight of your trip.
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another adventure soon!
From $166.81
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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