The little penguins of Phillip Island might only weigh a kilo, but they have a heavy schedule.
From their busy day of catching fish, to their evening commute from a big day of swimming…the little penguins have a big day!
The smallest penguins in the world are Phillip Island’s very own little penguins! They attract tourists from all over the world. Their small size makes them iconic to Phillip Island, and they have gained popularity as being the world’s smallest penguins.
The famous penguin parade has tourists flocking from all over to view them. Here’s an insight into the day in their life!
They spend 4 weeks of their entire life out to sea, fishing for their next meal. They prey on a whole menu of different fish.
They have an appetite for many different types of seafood. They’re not that fussy when it comes to their food choices. When they have hunted their food, they come back to their land burrows and they’ll feed their chicks with the food that they have hunted from the ocean.
A day in Port Phillip Bay
They fish out in the Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay. They’ll swim around the ocean, hunting for their food for a long time. When they have finished their fishing for the day, they emerge and go on search for tracks that have already been made towards the burrow. This is because when they finish their hunt, they burrow in the sand, and they’ll cross the beach to stay away from predators. Pacific gulls and sea eagles are their main predators, which they will stay away from when they are waddling up to their burrows away from the ocean.
Watching the penguin parade
When you watch the penguin parade, make sure you get there early! This will help you avoid disappointment.
They wait for dusk before crossing the beach to hide from predators such as birds of prey like Pacific gulls and sea eagles. They waddle across the shore in groups and follow familiar tracks back to their burrow.
Want to join a tour to Phillip Island to watch the penguin parade?
We run tours every day to Phillip Island, which are included as part of a penguin parade package – you’ll get to experience the penguins first hand! With pick-ups and drop-offs in Melbourne, you’ll be able to experience the penguin parade without worrying about the journey.
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.