Tours/Melbourne/Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform
Viator · group up to 39 pax

Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform

4.8(491)Melbourne1 hour
VIATOR4.7(117)TRIPADVISOR4.9(374)

Description

Enjoy one of Australia's most incredible wildlife experiences on this magnificent Phillip Island tour. Witness the world famous penguin parade from the brand new exclusive penguins plus viewing platform, definitely the highlight of this day tour. Your day trip includes a visit to Phillip Island Koala Reserve where you can see the iconic Australian koalas up close.

Tour Options

Penguin Plus Viewing
  • Australian wildlife encounters: Guests will have a close-encounter experience with two of Australia's most popular wildlife the koala and the penguin. Duration: 10 hours Medium group sizes: Our modern vehicles range from 24-39 seats with air conditioning and seat belts designed for long-haul comfort.

Itinerary

Admission included45 min

It is only a 1hr 45min drive from Melbourne directly to Phillip Island. On arrival you will be greeted by Phillip Island Nature Parks Ranger for a guided walk through Phillip Island’s Koala Reserve. You will be given a presentation about Koalas, history and relevance of the Reserve and the last area of natural woodland on the island. Guide to accompany the group and assist Ranger with the group.

45 min

From the Koala Wildlife Park, it is a short drive to Phillip Island, a 10,000-hectare home to more than a hundred varieties of animal species. Phillip Island boasts a population of approximately 15,000 which is boosted during the busy tourist seasons. There are three main settlements being Cape Woolamai, New Haven & Cowes.

Pass by

Phillip Island boasts a population of approximately 15,000 which is boosted during the busy tourist seasons. There are three main settlements being Cape Woolamai, New Haven & Cowes.

30 min

Generally, we make time to wander through the coastal township of Cowes. Sheltered alongside the calm Westernport Bay this township was named after Cowes on the Isle of White. Beautiful seaside scenery, unique stores to peak into and many nice restaurants to purchase food.

Admission included45 min

Next, we arrive at the Nobbies Rocks where we take you on an optional guided walk down the boardwalks to see the rocky coast and spot Penguins nesting in their burrows. Then we travel along the Phillip Island backroads through Phillip Island Penguin Habitat. Enjoy incredible views of the coastal cliffs on your way to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.

Admission included120 min

The main attraction of Phillip Island tour has always been the Little Penguins doing their daily ritual of penguin parade. These little friends are the smallest of its kind in the world. Enjoy sunset at the Visitor Information Centre and choose the right seat to have a great view of the main spectacles of the day — the Penguin Parade!

Highlights

Expert driver guide with live commentary spoken in English
Travel in comfort and style of a large coach with air-conditioning
Admission to Phillip Island (Penguins plus viewing area)
Admission to Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve

What's included

Included
Expert driver guide with live commentary spoken in English
Travel in comfort and style of a large coach with air-conditioning
Admission to Phillip Island (Penguins plus viewing area)
Admission to Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve
Not included
Meals not indicated
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Traveller Ratings

4.8
491 reviews
5
445
4
26
3
14
2
4
1
2

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Our vehicles are not wheelchair, prams or child stroller accessible please refrain from bring on tour.
  • Only a small day pack per person with no more than 5 kg is permitted

Reviews(491)

B
bryanc661
July 1, 2026
Great company to deal with.

Great service from your company from booking right through till being delivered home safely by Joel. Great day..

Operator response

Thanks so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear everything went smoothly from booking through to your journey home, and that Joel helped make it a great day. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

M
marthacA6351QE
June 28, 2026
Great time with Kiwi and the wildlife

This tour was a lot of fun. Our guide Kiwi was entertaining ang knowledgable. He also managed to squeeze in an extra stop for us. The koala conservation site and the nobbies were highlights. The penguins were super cute as expected

Operator response

Thank you for sharing such a lovely review! We're so happy to hear you had a fun and memorable experience. Kiwi really is fantastic at making the tour engaging and special, and we're glad he could fit in that extra stop for you-it sounds like it made the day even more memorable. The koala conservation site, the Nobbies, and those adorable penguins are truly highlights, and we're delighted they added to your enjoyment. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures soon!

D
Daydream29895568443
June 25, 2026
Great tour, great guide!

Joel was fantastic! Great tour and tour guide. We saw koalas at the reserve and we loved the penguin parade! The penguin parade was worth the ticket alone. There were 3 opportunities to buy food and use the restrooms. Joel is very knowledgeable and very friendly.

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Joel was fantastic and that you enjoyed the tour. Seeing koalas at the reserve and experiencing the penguin parade are truly special highlights, and we're glad they exceeded your expectations. It's great to know that Joel's knowledge and friendliness made the trip even more enjoyable. We appreciate your positive feedback and hope to have the chance to host you on another memorable tour in the future!

P
pukamexico
June 23, 2026
A day with penguins and koalas with our guide Fiona.

The tour is very good; our guide Fiona explained all the stops we made as well as the history of Melbourne. She is very good and enjoys what she does, which makes her do a great job; excellent outing.

Operator response

Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and learning about Melbourne with Fiona. She is truly passionate about what she does, and she'll be delighted to hear your feedback. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon!

B
Batosai777
June 18, 2026
Penguins parade was an amazing experience, a must see when visiting Melbourne!

Fiona is a great guide, she explained really well about the trip and also gave us a lot of useful tips to make our trip an amazing experience… The whole tour, seeing the koalas, the short stop for photos at the noobies, and especially the main attraction seeing the penguins parade was absolutely amazing!

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! It’s fantastic to hear that Fiona was such a great guide, providing clear explanations and helpful tips to enhance your trip. It sounds like you had some truly memorable moments, from spotting adorable koalas and capturing great photos at the Noobies to the highlight of the penguin parade-absolutely magical! We’re glad the tour exceeded your expectations and that Fiona contributed to making your adventure so special. Looking forward to more amazing journeys in the future!

P
Priya_N
June 17, 2026
10/10 GREAT experience- Lauren was awesome!!

Really cool experience! Lauren was the absolute best!! She had the best personality, made sure we had plenty of rest stops, gave us exact detail and instruction as to the time we had for each location and best spotting for the penguins! Lauren wasd 10/10 all around! The experience itself, I recommend doing a tour that just brings you to Philip island for the penguins. We stopped at lunch first, went to koalas and then hit the penguins (left 12am ish) and we saw the penguins from 6-8ish. It was quite a long day. Understandably it is a 2 hour drive but i feel leaving almost 2-3 hours later would make the day feel less long. OVerall though, no regrets it was a wonderful experience, comfy bus with wifi and great tour guide!

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We're thrilled to hear that Lauren provided exceptional service and made the tour memorable with her personality, attention to detail, and helpful instructions. It’s wonderful to know she made your day special. Your recommendation to do a dedicated tour to Philip Island for the penguins is very helpful for future visitors. It sounds like you had a full and enjoyable day, with great stops at the koalas, lunch, and the penguin viewing in the evening. Your feedback about the timing is valuable, and we'll consider it to improve the experience. We’re glad you enjoyed the comfy bus, wifi, and the overall tour. Thank you for choosing this adventure, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!

K
kylierG8943DX
June 15, 2026
Great tour

Fiona was a great guide, thoroughly enjoyed it. She was full of interesting facts.

Operator response

Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed your Phillip Island day trip and had a great time with Fiona. It’s wonderful to hear her knowledge and interesting facts added to your experience. We really appreciate your feedback!

B
B8146XVchiarab
June 11, 2026
Penguin upgrade

Anthony, aka Ant-Man, has been very helpful and passionate about this tour. He gave us significant hints to fully understand wildlife and nature. Thanks a lot for your support and guidance during the day!

Operator response

Thanks for the lovely review! 😊 We're so glad you enjoyed the day at Phillip Island and found Anthony’s passion and insights helpful. He’ll be really happy to hear your kind words. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!

A
akr12341729
June 7, 2026
Great. Thanks Fiona.

Thanks Fi! Awesome trip and we had a good time

Operator response

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had an awesome trip and enjoyed your time. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back for more great adventures in the future. Safe travels and see you again soon!

8
896yukia
June 7, 2026
Great experience

It was a great experience seeing penguin parade, koalas and some of other wild lives. Our driver Joel was very friendly. Thank you very much!!

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the penguin parade, koalas, and other wildlife. It's fantastic that Joel, our driver, made your experience even more enjoyable with his friendliness. We truly appreciate your kind words and thank you very much for choosing us. We look forward to welcoming you again for more memorable adventures!

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