The Fascinating Habitat of Victoria’s Little Penguins
Written by: Cameron Ward
Published: 01/10/2017
Reading time: 4 mins
Filled with wildlife, Phillip Island is best known for the Penguin Parade where you can watch the little penguins march up the beach.
Phillip Island, located about a 90 minute drive from Melbourne CBD, boasts stunning natural beauty and is a must visit destination for animal lovers. Particularly enchanting is the sight of the penguins at sunset at the Penguin Parade. You can learn more about their habitat and behaviour at the Visitor Centre.
Little penguins are the smallest species of penguin – hence their name. They are also known as fairy penguins or blue penguins due to their size and feather coast. They typically grow to an average height of 33 centimetres and predominantly live on the coastlines of Southern Australia and New Zealand. The penguins spend most of their days fishing at sea before returning to land as darkness falls.
Where to Find Little Penguins
The little penguins are found across some parts of Victoria, with Phillip Island and St Kilda being the two main areas.
Phillip Island
The largest colony of little penguins can be found on Phillip Island, where the penguin parade takes place every evening across the stunning Summerland Beach. With up to 40,000 breeding pairs, Phillip Island has been a major attraction for many years. You are guaranteed for an incredible wildlife encounter at Phillip Island.
St Kilda Pier
St Kilda Pier Breakwater has been home to the little penguins for a long time, and they have been the subject of conservation studies since the mid-1980s. There are over 1000 little penguins that live around St Kilda. When encountering these penguins, it’s essential to maintain distance and avoid feeding them.
Great Ocean Road
Elsewhere in Victoria, you can find little penguins along the picturesque stretch of the Great Ocean Road. They aren’t found all along the road but you could see them by London Arch and the Twelve Apostles!
The best time to see the little penguins
All year round you can see the little penguins waddle up the beach at sunset for the Penguin Parade! These areas where the penguins call home boast beautiful beaches. The penguins can spend their evenings sleeping in their burrows and warm waters where they can head off fishing during the day.
What other wildlife can I see on Phillip Island?
If it’s nature encounters you’re after, Phillip Island is the place to go. Whether you pop down to a wildlife park or see them in the wild, there are plenty of opportunities.
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Australian fur seals
Around the corner from the Penguin Parade is where the resident Australian fur seals live at Seal Rocks. There are 20,000 seals who call the rocks home, with around 5000 to 8000 seals hanging around the rocks at all times!
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Koalas
A chance to see Australia’s beloved koala is over at the Koala Conservation Reserve. You’ll have the chance to see the cute koalas in their natural habitats. Keep an eye out in the trees as you walk across the boardwalk for the koalas snoozing or munching on eucalyptus leaves.
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Phillip Island Wildlife Park
To see all sorts of Aussie wildlife, make sure you check out the Phillip Island Wildlife Park. At the wildlife park you can handfeed and pat the kangaroos and wallabies and see over 100 different species of Aussie animals!
Without a doubt, the Penguin Parade is a highlight not to be missed. Watch as the cute little penguins come up the beach as the sun sets behind them. Make sure you get in early to grab the best spot, or better yet book an upgrade and get a better viewing experience!
Related article: What is the Penguin Parade Plus on Phillip Island?
