Bunyip Tours · Melbourne city hotels
A full day from Melbourne to Phillip Island for up to 24 guests: koalas and kangaroos at Moonlit Sanctuary, the Nobbies boardwalks, and the Penguin Parade at dusk with the ticket included. Pick it as a second nature day next to the Prom, closer to the city and built around wildlife rather than walking.
Be clear on the map first: this is not Wilsons Prom. Phillip Island sits in Western Port, about 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne plus 20 minutes from the bridge to the Penguin Parade (Phillip Island Nature Parks), while the Prom is about three hours away. The two make a good pair on separate days: the Prom for granite summits, empty beaches and wombats, Phillip Island for koalas and the nightly march of the little penguins.
Bunyip Tours, a family-owned Melbourne operator, runs this day for up to 24 guests. Pickup is from selected city hotels between 10am and noon, depending on the season, because the day ends at sunset; your exact time comes by email. The first stop is Moonlit Sanctuary at Pearcedale on the Mornington Peninsula, a 10-hectare conservation park with over 400 animals (Wikipedia), where entry is included and kangaroo food is extra. Then the Nobbies boardwalks over Bass Strait, Cape Woolamai in summer, and the Penguin Parade.
At the parade you have a standard viewing ticket. About 40,000 little penguins live on Phillip Island, and they come ashore at sunset every evening (Phillip Island Nature Parks). It is outdoors, and cameras and phones are not allowed after sunset, as flashes and light can disorientate the birds. Food is not included, though there are chances to buy meals during the day. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and strollers and large bags are not allowed. You are back in Melbourne later in the evening.
Pickup from selected Melbourne city hotels; the time depends on the season and arrives by email. Bring warm layers, a raincoat and a charged phone for the app.
Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and other native animals in bushland at Pearcedale. There is time to buy lunch here, and kangaroo food is sold on site.
Over the bridge onto the island. In summer the tour adds Cape Woolamai, with its cliffs and surf beach.
Boardwalks on the island's western tip look across Bass Strait toward Seal Rocks. It is often the windiest stop of the day.
Find a seat in the standard viewing area and wait for the first groups of little penguins to surf in and cross the beach to their burrows. Cameras away after sunset.
The drive back to the city after the parade, arriving later in the evening.
★★★★★Had a lovely time on the whole day Moonlit sanctuary/Philip island Penguin eco tour. Our guide Rhys was extremely knowledgeable, engaging and funny. The whole tour is well organised with enough breaks to get food/drinks/toilet. Really enjoyable whole day trip.
★★★★★We had wonderful time yesterday. Aleks the tour guide was amazing. [...] The tour was child friendly and we were so happy with the child car seat arrangement. The itinerary is perfect. We were not rushing and had plenty of time to enjoy each stop / spot. [...] (we saw a lot of penguins). I highly recommend this tour.
★★★★★Our guide, Chris N, was fantastic. The time allowed for us to visit each location enabled us to enjoy the views in peace. The Penguin Parade is a must-do experience, and I definitely recommend doing it on this tour.
★★★★★Although we only encountered a few of penguins, the whole trip was awesome. we were really happy to play with kangoroos, koalas, birds, etc in moonlit sanctuart. The nobbies view was also very awesome.
Read next:
No. Phillip Island is a separate island in Western Port, about 90 minutes from Melbourne. Wilsons Prom is a national park on the mainland about three hours from Melbourne. This tour does not visit the Prom.
At sunset every evening, says Phillip Island Nature Parks. That is why pickup on this tour moves between 10am and noon with the seasons.
Not after sunset. Phillip Island Nature Parks does not allow cameras, camcorders or phones then, because sudden light can frighten or disorientate the penguins.
No. Food and drinks are not included. You can bring your own, and there are chances to buy meals during the day, including at Moonlit Sanctuary.
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Phillip Island in a day from Melbourne: koalas, the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade, ticket included.
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