Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour

A tour taking in all of the Gippsland area's world-class tourism attractions. We start with a visit to the spectacular Australian Garden for a fully guded eco tour before heading to the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory to sample the sweetest of local produce. Get close up with our furry friends at the Koala Conservation Centre and check out some of Phillip Island's coastline before making our way to the Penguin Parade to watch everyone's favourite "ducks in a tux" make their way out of the water and home to their burrows.

The Phillip Island Penguin Parade takes place every night of the year as the little fairy penguins surf in on a wave, waddle up the beach and make their way to their burrows in the dunes as their ancestors have done for thousands of years.

Just on sunset, as some visitors begin to doubt that the birds will arrive, dark patches appear in shallow waters and the penguins’ familiar “huk huk” call is heard and they magically appear on the water’s edge. The penguins stand in the shallows, sometimes retreat in to the sea if they sense danger, regain confidence and again come to the beach. They usually regroup, sometimes numbering over 100 birds, and make their way up the beach to the dunes.

The number of birds arriving on the beach varies significantly throughout the year due to seasonal factors. The penguin’s year is divided into four different “seasons”

Moulting: - February / March / April
Nest Building - May / June /July
Egg laying - August / September / October
Chick Feeding - November / December / January

Visit these links for more info on the Fairy or Little Penguins, or our Phillip Island Day Tour.

View a map of Phillip Island or discover the History of Phillip Island Victoria.

See also our Great Ocean Road Day Tour.