Frequently Asked Questions About Phillip Island Tours
How do you get to Phillip Island from Melbourne?
Phillip Island is about 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, with the drive taking around 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your destination and traffic. The island is connected to the mainland by the San Remo Bridge. You can drive, take a V/Line coach to Cowes, or catch the Western Port passenger ferry from Stony Point. Our day tours pick up in Melbourne and handle the drive both ways.
What time does the Penguin Parade start?
The parade starts at sunset, so the time moves through the year. In midwinter the penguins come ashore from about 5.30pm; in midsummer it can be after 9pm. Our evening tour times are set to match.
Can I take photos of the penguins?
No. Phillip Island Nature Parks bans photography and filming at the Penguin Parade, including phones, because camera light disorients the birds. Put the phone away and watch. The rest of the island, including the Nobbies boardwalk and the koala centre, is fine to photograph.
Where can you see seals on Phillip Island?
Seal Rocks, off the Nobbies at the island’s western tip, holds Australia’s largest fur seal colony. You view them from the Nobbies boardwalk, and the coin-operated telescopes there bring them closer. Our tours include the Nobbies stop. Numbers peak over summer when pups are on the rocks.
Are the penguins there all year round?
Yes. Little penguins come ashore at Summerland Beach every night of the year. Numbers are highest from November to February during breeding and moulting. Winter crossings are smaller but the viewing is quieter and the tour costs less.
What else is there to do on Phillip Island besides the penguins?
Our full day tours add the Koala Conservation Centre boardwalk, the Nobbies and Seal Rocks, Cape Woolamai’s beach, and Warrook Farm for a working farm stop. The Phillip and French Island tour ($225) adds a boat crossing to French Island, which has no sealed roads and a healthy koala population.
Is the Phillip Island tour suitable for young children?
Yes, and the wildlife stops holding their attention. The catch is the finish time: the Penguin Parade ends after dark and the drive back to Melbourne is another two hours, so children are often asleep on the coach.
What should I wear to the Penguin Parade?
Warm layers and a windproof jacket, whatever the forecast in Melbourne says. The viewing stands sit on an exposed beach and the wind comes off Bass Strait, so it runs colder than the city by several degrees. Closed shoes. The seating is concrete and it can be wet.
Do I need to book the Penguin Parade separately?
No. Entry fees are included in our tours, so you are not buying a separate Nature Parks ticket. If you want the Penguins Plus or underground viewing upgrade, that is arranged as an add-on when you book.
Can you do Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road in one trip?
Yes, but not in one day. They sit on opposite sides of Melbourne. Our 2 Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island tour ($495) covers both with an overnight stop, which is the only sensible way to fit them together.














