Penguin Parade: Is the Penguins Plus Upgrade Worth It?

TL;DR: Standard Penguin Parade entry gives you tiered viewing of the little penguins returning to their burrows at dusk, and it’s guaranteed you’ll see at least one. The Penguins Plus upgrade, available on some of our tours, puts you in a smaller viewing area (capacity around 300) closer to where the penguins come ashore. If you want a closer, less crowded view, it’s worth adding. Read on for the full comparison.

You’ve decided to see the penguins. Now you’re weighing up whether to pay a bit more for a closer view. Fair question.

Standard Penguin Parade entry already covers the core experience: tiered seating as the little penguin colony makes its nightly walk from the ocean to the burrows at sunset. It’s genuinely worth seeing. So what does the Penguins Plus upgrade add? This post covers exactly that, so you can decide before you book your tour with us.

What You Get With Standard Penguin Parade Entry

Standard entry included on our Phillip Island tours puts you on tiered viewing above the beach, watching the colony come ashore at dusk. The Penguin Parade guarantees you’ll see at least one little penguin, though the number varies night to night with the season.

It’s an open-air experience, so you’re dressing for a cold beach after dark even in summer. The site keeps lighting low and asks visitors not to use flash, to avoid disturbing the penguins. For most visitors making the trip from Melbourne, standard entry delivers the moment they came for.

What the Penguins Plus Upgrade Adds

Penguins Plus is a smaller viewing area, with capacity for around 300 people, positioned closer to where the penguins first come ashore. Fewer people and a closer vantage point are the whole point.

If you want to be near the action without the larger general crowd, this is the upgrade that does it. It’s available on some of our tours rather than all of them, so check the tour page for whether it’s offered and add it when you book.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose standard entry if:

• You’re happy with tiered viewing of the colony coming ashore
• You want to keep the cost down
• You’re travelling on a tighter budget

Add Penguins Plus if:

• You want a closer view of the penguins landing
• You’d prefer a smaller, less crowded viewing area
• You’re making a special trip and want the best vantage point

Neither changes what you’re watching: a colony of little penguins walking home from the ocean to their burrows at dusk, every night of the year. The upgrade just changes how close you are when it happens.

Tips for the Penguin Parade

• Dress warmer than you think. It’s cold on the beach at night, even in summer. Bring a jacket and layers.
• Bring a small day pack with your wallet, camera, a water bottle and walking shoes.
• No flash photography. The site uses low lighting and asks visitors not to use flash or bright torches, so the penguins aren’t disturbed.
• Book ahead. If you want the Penguins Plus upgrade, add it when you book your tour, as spaces are limited.

Ready to See the Penguins?

If you’re coming from Melbourne, our guided day tour covers the drive, the timing and your Penguin Parade entry, so you don’t have to coordinate any of it. Penguins Plus is available as an upgrade on some tours. Have a look at what’s included and book directly with us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between standard entry and the Penguins Plus upgrade?

Standard entry gives you tiered viewing of the colony coming ashore at dusk. Penguins Plus is a smaller viewing area (capacity around 300) positioned closer to where the penguins land, for a closer, less crowded view. Penguins Plus is available on some of our tours.

Is the Penguins Plus upgrade worth the extra cost?

If you want a closer view and a smaller crowd, yes. If you’re happy with tiered viewing of the colony and want to keep the cost down, standard entry does the job well.

Will I definitely see a penguin?

Yes. The Penguin Parade guarantees you’ll see at least one little penguin, though the number varies night to night with the season.

Can you take photos at the Penguin Parade?

Flash photography isn’t permitted, and the site asks visitors not to use bright torches, as light disturbs the penguins. The site keeps lighting deliberately low.

What time do the penguins come ashore?

At sunset, and the exact time shifts through the year. Our tour is timed around it, so you’ll be in place before the penguins arrive.

Is the Penguins Plus upgrade suitable for young children?

It’s an open-air viewing area, so there’s no enclosed space to manage. Dress children warmly for the cold evening. Add the upgrade when you book if it’s offered on your tour.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. Book your tour ahead, and if you want the Penguins Plus upgrade, add it at the time of booking as spaces are limited.

What’s included in the Penguins Plus experience?

A smaller viewing area closer to the penguin landing point, separated from the general viewing areas. Check your tour page for the current inclusions and whether the upgrade is offered.