Star Attraction
Penguin Parade
Watch hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at sunset on Summerland Beach. Three viewing options: General, Penguins Plus elevated platform, and the remarkable Underground Viewing gallery.
Victoria's Wildlife Coast · Millowl
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
& Wildlife Tours
Watch hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at sunset, spot 25,000 fur seals at Seal Rocks, walk treetop boardwalks past wild koalas — one unforgettable day from Melbourne.
Discover
About Phillip Island (Millowl)
Phillip Island is one of Victoria's most iconic natural destinations, located approximately 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. Connected to the mainland by a bridge at San Remo, this compact island packs an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, dramatic coastal scenery and family-friendly experiences into a landscape of wild ocean beaches, rugged basalt headlands and sheltered bays. Known to its Bunurong Traditional Owners as Millowl, the island has been a place of seasonal abundance for tens of thousands of years.
The island is most famous for the nightly Penguin Parade — where hundreds of little penguins (the world's smallest penguin species, just 33 cm tall) emerge from the ocean at sunset and waddle up the beach to their burrows. It's one of Australia's most beloved wildlife spectacles, drawing visitors from around the world to one of the best eco-tourism facilities on the planet.
Beyond the penguins, the four Phillip Island Nature Parks sites — the Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Reserve, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and the Nobbies Centre — together protect and showcase the island's extraordinary marine and terrestrial wildlife. Add to this the dramatic clifftop boardwalks of The Nobbies, Australia's largest fur seal colony at Seal Rocks, the heritage charm of Cowes township, the beloved Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, and the surfing beaches of Cape Woolamai — all packed into an island just 26 km long.
Highlights
What You'll Experience
Penguin Parade at Sunset
Hundreds of little penguins emerge from the surf and waddle to their sand-dune burrows — a nightly spectacle that has occurred for thousands of years.
Seal Rocks & The Nobbies
View Australia's largest fur seal colony — around 25,000 animals — from the spectacular clifftop boardwalk at The Nobbies headland.
Koala Conservation Reserve
Walk elevated treetop boardwalks through eucalyptus canopy and spot wild koalas resting in the branches just metres away.
Dramatic Coastal Scenery
Wild ocean beaches, ancient basalt rock formations, the Pyramid Rock blowhole and the windswept cliffs of Cape Woolamai.
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Site of Victoria's first European settlement (1801) — working blacksmithing, cow milking, wagon rides and weekend farmers' market.
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
Pannys Amazing World of Chocolate — the world's largest chocolate waterfall, the Statue of David in chocolate and behind-the-scenes truffle making.
Star Attraction
The Penguin Parade
Every evening at sunset, hundreds of little penguins — the smallest penguin species on Earth, standing just 33 cm tall — emerge from the ocean after a day of fishing and waddle up Summerland Beach to their burrows in the sand dunes. This nightly procession has occurred for thousands of years and remains one of Australia's most enchanting wildlife experiences.
Viewing takes place from purpose-built grandstands and boardwalks that ensure a close encounter without disturbing the penguins. The Penguin Parade is regarded as one of the world's best eco-tourism facilities, with three viewing options: General Viewing (open grandstand), the elevated Penguins Plus platform (closer view, smaller crowd), and the remarkable Underground Viewing gallery (eye-level glass-fronted experience in the dunes).
Timing varies seasonally — as early as 5:30 PM in winter and as late as 9:00 PM in summer — which is why our tour schedule adapts throughout the year to guarantee you're there at exactly the right moment.
Your Day
Full Day Itinerary
1
Midday
Depart Melbourne CBD
Pickup from central Melbourne hotels. Enjoy the scenic 2-hour drive south through Mornington Peninsula hinterland and the Western Port countryside toward the coast.
2
2:00 PM
Cross to Phillip Island via San Remo Bridge
Arrive on Millowl with your first glimpse of the stunning Bass Strait coastline. Your guide shares the island's natural and Indigenous Bunurong/Boon Wurrung history. Optional pelican feeding stop at San Remo (daily 12pm).
3
2:30 PM
Koala Conservation Reserve
Stroll along elevated treetop boardwalks and spot wild koalas in their natural eucalyptus habitat. Wallabies, echidnas and native birds are often seen on the ground below.
4
3:45 PM
The Nobbies & Seal Rocks
Walk the spectacular clifftop boardwalk at The Nobbies headland. View the massive fur seal colony at Seal Rocks through telescopes, take in 180-degree Bass Strait panoramas, and visit the optional Antarctic Journey exhibition (joint venture with WWF Australia).
5
5:00 PM
Free Time & Dinner
Explore the Penguin Parade visitor centre, browse the gift shop, or grab dinner from the cafe. Fish and chips with ocean views at the visitor centre is the local favourite. Photograph Pyramid Rock or stroll the Forrest Caves boardwalk.
6
Sunset
Penguin Parade
Take your seat in the grandstands as the sky turns golden and watch hundreds of little penguins emerge from the surf and waddle to their burrows. The optional Underground Viewing experience offers an even closer encounter at eye-level in the dunes.
7
~Late Evening
Return to Melbourne
Sit back and relax on the scenic drive back to Melbourne. Drop-off at your hotel or central city locations. Return time varies seasonally — earlier in winter (~9:30 PM), later in summer (~midnight).
Island Highlights
Iconic Phillip Island Attractions
Phillip Island packs an extraordinary range of experiences into just 26 km. The four Phillip Island Nature Parks sites form the conservation backbone of the island; iconic landmarks fill in the rest. Here are the must-see attractions our tours and add-ons cover.
Coastal Boardwalk
The Nobbies & Seal Rocks
Spectacular clifftop boardwalk on the island's western tip. View Australia's largest fur seal colony — around 25,000 animals — and the Pyramid Rock blowhole. Antarctic Journey exhibition inside.
Wildlife Encounter
Koala Conservation Reserve
Elevated treetop boardwalks bring you face-to-face with wild koalas in eucalyptus canopy. Wallabies and rare echidnas often spotted at ground level. Open daily 10am–5pm.
Heritage 1801
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Site of Victoria's first European settlement (1801). Working blacksmithing demonstrations, cow milking, sheep shearing, wagon rides and a weekend farmers' market. Connected by causeway.
Family Favourite
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
Pannys "Amazing World of Chocolate" — featuring the world's largest chocolate waterfall, the Statue of David in chocolate, interactive exhibits and the chance to make your own chocolate bar.
Surf Beach
Cape Woolamai
The island's highest point and most dramatic clifftop walk. Pink granite cliffs, crashing surf, mutton bird (short-tailed shearwater) rookeries, and a 6.6 km coastal walking trail. Premier surf beach.
Coastal Wonder
Pyramid Rock & Forrest Caves
Ancient basalt rock formations along the southern coast. Pyramid Rock is one of the island's most photographed natural landmarks; Forrest Caves are accessible at low tide for a hidden coastal experience.
Daily 12 PM
San Remo Pelican Feeding
A free local tradition — Australian pelicans, gulls and wading birds gather at the San Remo jetty for the daily fish-cleaning feed. Catch it on the way onto the island. A surprising free highlight.
Coastal Wonder
The Nobbies & Seal Rocks
The Nobbies is the dramatic western tip of Phillip Island — a windswept headland of ancient basalt rock formations where the land meets the powerful Southern Ocean. A timber boardwalk winds along the clifftops, offering sweeping 180-degree views across Bass Strait toward Tasmania on a clear day.
Just offshore, Seal Rocks is home to Australia's largest fur seal colony — around 25,000 animals can be seen basking on the rocks, playing in the surf and calling to each other. Telescopes along the boardwalk bring you remarkably close to these charismatic marine mammals.
Inside the Nobbies Centre, the Antarctic Journey exhibition (a joint venture between Phillip Island Nature Parks and the World Wildlife Fund Australia) takes visitors on an interactive virtual journey through the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Boardwalk access is free; the Antarctic Journey carries a small admission.
Indigenous Heritage
Millowl & the Bunurong / Boon Wurrung Peoples
Long before European arrival, Phillip Island was — and remains — Millowl in the language of the Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples, the Traditional Owners of this Country. Specifically the Yallok Bulluk clan, part of the broader Kulin Nation, are the traditional custodians, with continuous connection to Country dating back tens of thousands of years.
Each summer the Yallok Bulluk would travel to Millowl to feast on shellfish, fish, small marsupials and mutton birds (short-tailed shearwaters). Ochre was harvested at sites on Millowl and neighbouring Churchill Island for ceremonial body decoration. A 2,000-year-old shell midden at Point Grant still bears witness to this seasonal abundance, containing limpet, abalone, penguin, wallaby and seal remains alongside flint tools and ochre.
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is the Recognised Aboriginal Party for this Country today, and works in partnership with Phillip Island Nature Parks on the protection of the island's wildlife and cultural heritage. Cooee Tours acknowledges the Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples as Traditional Owners and Custodians of Millowl, and pays our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Bunurong / Boon Wurrung Peoples
Traditional Custodians of the Western Port and Mornington Peninsula region — including Phillip Island, French Island, and the surrounding coastline from the Werribee River to Wilsons Promontory. Their creator deity, Bunjil, takes the form of a wedge-tailed eagle.
Millowl — The Island's True Name
Phillip Island is known to the Bunurong as Millowl (also recorded as Corriong or Worne in Boon Wurrung). The island has been a place of seasonal abundance for over 50,000 years, with shell middens, ochre quarries and ceremonial sites still preserved across the coastline.
The Yallok Bulluk Clan
The specific Bunurong clan whose Country includes Millowl, French Island and the eastern Western Port catchment. The Yallok Bulluk travelled to Millowl each summer to feast on shellfish, fish, small marsupials and short-tailed shearwaters (mutton birds).
The Kulin Nation
Five language groups — Bunurong, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, Taungurung, Wathaurong and Dja Dja Wurrung — whose Country spans central Victoria. The Kulin share a common cultural and ceremonial identity expressed through ancient kinship systems still maintained today.
Planning
Best Time to Visit Phillip Island
Phillip Island is a year-round destination, with each season offering a different experience — and importantly, different Penguin Parade timing. Our tour schedule adapts to optimal sunset viewing throughout the year.
🌸 Spring (Sep–Nov)
Penguin breeding season begins — chick activity in burrows. Mutton birds return from their Alaskan migration. Whale sightings still possible early in the season. Mild coastal weather.
☀️ Summer (Dec–Feb)
Peak season with long daylight hours. Penguins emerge late (~8:30–9:00 PM) — a late tour return, but the warm coastal evenings make the wait worthwhile. Best for beach time and Cape Woolamai walks.
🍂 Autumn (Mar–May)
Fewer crowds, beautiful golden-hour light, and earlier penguin emergence (~7:30 PM). Mutton birds return to their burrows for the season. Seal pups becoming active and curious at Seal Rocks.
❄️ Winter (Jun–Aug)
Earliest Penguin Parade times (~5:30 PM) mean an earlier return to Melbourne. Dramatic stormy coastal scenery, fewer crowds, and prime whale-watching season — humpbacks and southern right whales pass close to the island.
Premium Upgrades
Phillip Island Add-On Experiences
Make your tour unforgettable with one of our signature add-on experiences. Each can be incorporated into private departures or arranged as part of an extended overnight package.
Premium Viewing
Penguins Plus & Underground Viewing
Upgrade to the elevated Penguins Plus platform (smaller crowds, closer view) or the remarkable Underground Viewing experience — a glass-fronted gallery in the dunes that puts you eye-level with the parade.
Upgrade your viewing → Eco CruiseWildlife Coast Cruise to Seal Rocks
Get up-close to Australia's largest fur seal colony aboard an environmentally accredited cruise from Cowes pier. Twilight cruises and seasonal whale-watching cruises (June–November) also available.
Add a seal cruise → 4-Park PassFull Phillip Island Nature Parks Pass
Includes all four Nature Parks sites — Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Reserve, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and the Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Centre. Best value for the most thorough island experience.
Upgrade to 4-park pass → 2 DaysPhillip Island Overnight
Stay overnight in Cowes for a more relaxed pace. Day 2 includes Cape Woolamai walk, Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, the famous fish & chips at San Remo, and optional Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit visit.
Build a 2-day tour →Traveller Reviews
What Our Guests Say
★★★★★
"The Penguin Parade was absolutely magical. Watching those tiny penguins waddle up the beach at sunset is something I'll never forget. Worth every moment."
Sydney, Australia
★★★★★
"Our kids were absolutely mesmerised by the penguins and the koalas. The guide was fantastic with children and made the whole day educational and fun."
Beijing, China
★★★★★
"The Nobbies boardwalk was incredible — we could see thousands of seals from the cliffs. The whole island has this wild, untouched feeling that's hard to find."
Berlin, Germany
★★★★★
"Perfect day trip from Melbourne. Great guide, beautiful scenery, and the penguin parade is genuinely one of the best wildlife experiences in Australia."
Auckland, New Zealand
The Cooee Difference
Why Choose a Guided Tour?
The Penguin Parade timing changes with the seasons, the island's highlights are spread across multiple Phillip Island Nature Parks sites, and it's a long day trip — including the post-sunset return drive in the dark. A guided tour takes all the planning, ticketing and driving stress off your hands.
No Driving Stress
Relax while we cover the 280 km round trip — including the late-night drive back to Melbourne after sunset.
Expert Wildlife Guides
Passionate naturalist guides share penguin behaviour, seal ecology, Bunurong cultural history and island stories throughout the day.
Seasonal Scheduling
We perfectly time the itinerary to the sunset, so you're always at the right Penguin Parade grandstand seat at exactly the right moment.
Family-Friendly
One of Victoria's best family destinations. Our tours engage all ages, with full wheelchair and stroller accessibility at all four Nature Parks sites.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Penguin Parade takes place at sunset, which varies seasonally. In summer (December–February) penguins emerge around 8:30–9:00 PM; in winter (June–August) it can be as early as 5:30 PM. Spring and autumn fall in between. Our tour schedule adapts seasonally so you arrive at the optimal time, with grandstand seats secured before the penguins start emerging.
Approximately 10–12 hours depending on the season, including return travel from Melbourne and time at each attraction. Winter tours are shorter due to earlier sunset (return to Melbourne ~9:30 PM). Summer tours run later into the evening (return to Melbourne can be close to midnight).
Approximately 140 km south-east of Melbourne by road — about 2 hours via the M1 (Monash Freeway) and Bass Highway. The drive crosses the bridge at San Remo onto the island at Newhaven. The route takes you through the rolling green Mornington Peninsula hinterland and Western Port countryside.
The Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples are the Traditional Owners of Phillip Island, which they know as Millowl. Specifically the Yallok Bulluk clan, part of the broader Kulin Nation, are the traditional custodians. The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is the Recognised Aboriginal Party for the area. Their connection to Country dates back tens of thousands of years, with shell middens, ochre quarries and ceremonial sites still preserved across the coastline.
Flash photography, phone torches and any kind of light source are strictly prohibited at the Penguin Parade — bright light disorients the penguins and can prevent them coming ashore. Non-flash photography is permitted but the lighting is very low. Most visitors find watching with the naked eye far more memorable than fiddling with a camera. Save the photos for The Nobbies earlier in the day.
Three options, all included in our standard tour or available as upgrades:
General Viewing (included): open grandstand seating with great views of the main parade.
Penguins Plus (upgrade): elevated platform, smaller crowd, closer to the action.
Underground Viewing (premium upgrade): glass-fronted gallery in the dunes — penguins waddle past at eye level, just inches away. A truly remarkable up-close encounter.
Yes. Churchill Island Heritage Farm — site of Victoria's first European settlement (1801), connected to Phillip Island by a causeway — features working blacksmithing demonstrations, cow milking, sheep shearing, wagon rides, and a vibrant weekend farmers' market. It pairs beautifully with the Penguin Parade as part of our 4-Park Pass upgrade or extended itinerary.
Absolutely — Phillip Island is one of Victoria's best family destinations. Children love the penguins, koalas and dramatic coastal scenery. The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and A Maze'N Things theme park are ideal additional family stops. All four Nature Parks sites are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible with complimentary buggy services for visitors with mobility needs.
Standard tours include free time before the Penguin Parade to purchase dinner at the Penguin Parade visitor centre cafe. Our guides can also recommend a stop for the famous San Remo fish & chips en route. Budget approximately A$15–25 per person. Premium private tours include a pre-Parade restaurant booking at one of Cowes' waterfront restaurants.
Warm layers are essential — the Phillip Island coast gets cold and windy at sunset year-round, even in summer. Bring a windproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and a camera (no flash). Binoculars are useful for Seal Rocks. The Penguin Parade grandstands are exposed to the elements, so dress warmly. A small daypack with water and snacks is also helpful.
Encounter
Phillip Island Wildlife
Phillip Island supports an extraordinary concentration of marine and terrestrial wildlife. From the world's smallest penguins to Australia's largest fur seal colony, wildlife encounters are the heart of every visit. The island is also a critical breeding ground for short-tailed shearwaters (mutton birds) and a year-round home to wallabies, echidnas and rare Eastern barred bandicoots.
Little Penguins
World's smallest penguin — just 33 cm tall
Australian Fur Seals
~25,000 seals at Australia's largest colony
Koalas
See them up-close on treetop boardwalks
Multi-Region Itineraries
Combine Phillip Island with Other Victoria Tours
Visiting Victoria for a longer stay? Pair Phillip Island wildlife with another iconic region for a richer journey. Available as private departures or scheduled small-group tours.
2 Days
Phillip Island + Mornington Peninsula
Wildlife and wine country side-by-side. Day 1 on the Mornington Peninsula (cellar doors, Cape Schanck, Peninsula Hot Springs), then continue to Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade.
Enquire about this combo → 3 DaysPhillip Island + Yarra Valley
Penguin Parade meets premium wine country. Phillip Island wildlife on day 1, overnight in Cowes, then continue to the Yarra Valley for boutique cellar doors and the Chocolaterie.
Enquire about this combo → 4 DaysPhillip Island + Wilsons Promontory
For nature lovers — combine Australia's most famous wildlife encounter with Victoria's wildest national park. Cape Woolamai cliffs and Phillip Island sunsets, then Wilsons Prom hiking trails.
Enquire about this combo → 5+ DaysUltimate Victoria Loop
The complete Victoria private circuit — Phillip Island penguins, Yarra Valley wines, Great Ocean Road, the Grampians and Mornington Peninsula — five regions in one bespoke journey.
Build a custom trip →Explore More
Popular Victoria Day Tours
Combine your Phillip Island experience with other iconic Victorian journeys departing daily from Melbourne.