Phillip Island Tours from Melbourne

Phillip Island lies about 2 hours' drive from Melbourne, and the tours we describe take 9 to 12 hours, nearly all of them closing with the Penguin Parade, when hundreds of little penguins come ashore at sunset. Public transport does not reach the parade or run late enough to bring you back. Our list counts 23 Phillip Island tours from Melbourne. The tours on this page carry more than 2,575 reviews between them, with an average score of 4.6 out of 5.

Koalas, seals and the island's coast

Entry to the Koala Conservation Reserve comes with one of the tours we describe, which also visits Seal Rocks and The Nobbies, for cliffs and penguin burrows; its coastal views take in Summerland Beach and Cape Woolamai Surf Beach. It lasts 9.5 hours, and it lists German, Spanish and Italian among its languages.

With the Puffing Billy steam train

Another two add a ride on the Puffing Billy steam train, on a Belgrave to Lakeside ticket in one case, to the evening with the penguins. Expect 10 to 12 hours for these two days.

Small group with wine, lunch and Cowes

A small-group format of 11 hours caps the bus at 15 travellers, each with a guaranteed window seat. The wood-fired lunch comes with seasonal sides, and a stop in Cowes, the island's main town, leaves room to wander; the day also holds sparkling wine at golden hour and the Penguin Parade.

Seal cruise and free time in Cowes

A 12-hour format adds a 2-hour wildlife coast cruise, spotting seals, dolphins and other marine life, and free time in Cowes, a beachside town of shops and cafés. A barista coffee at the Melbourne departure point comes with it, and the group is capped at 15 guests.

Private minibus from your hotel

A private day trip keeps the minibus to your party alone, with hotel pickup and drop-off and a guide on board. It runs about 9 hours. Travellers rate it 4.4 out of 5. Ask which stops on Phillip Island it covers when you book.

Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.

Length moves less than content across these formats, from about 9 to 12 hours; the Puffing Billy day fits a railway ride and Phillip Island into a single day. Measured by reviews, the front-runner among the tours on this page is "From Melbourne: Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade Combo Tour", with more than 1,459 reviews and a score of 4.6 out of 5.

Seats and cameras at the Penguin Parade

Most standard tours include General Viewing, tiered seating on the beach; Penguins Plus is a separate, smaller area closer to where the penguins walk. "Admission to Penguin Parade (General View Ticket)", one listing notes. Once the parade begins, photography and filming are not allowed, to protect the penguins' eyes.

Warm layers for Summerland Beach after dark

The wind off the Southern Ocean turns Summerland Beach cold at night even in summer, so pack a windproof jacket, a beanie and layers. The penguins come ashore later in summer than in winter; tour times shift with them.