Hotels near Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Thompson Avenue, Cowes VIC 3922, Australia
Phillip Island is a 100-square-km island 140 km south-east of Melbourne - famous for the nightly Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach where the world's smallest penguin species (little penguins or fairy penguins, 33 cm tall, the only blue-coloured penguin species) waddle from the ocean to their burrows at sunset. The colony numbers 32000 birds; nightly arrival groups typically range 300-1500 penguins depending on season. The parade has run as a public attraction since the 1920s.
General Viewing 32 AUD; Plus Viewing (closer position, fewer crowds) 60 AUD; Penguins Plus (boardwalk underneath the colony) 80 AUD. The Penguin Parade Visitor Centre opened in 2019 with elevated boardwalks reducing impact on the colony. The parade starts at sunset (around 17:30 in winter, 20:30 in summer). Day tours from Melbourne 160-220 AUD include transport. Self-drive 90 minutes; arrive 90 minutes before sunset. Open year-round.
Pro Tip: Pay the extra 30 AUD for Plus Viewing - the standard viewing area has tour-bus crowds that can spoil the experience. The Penguins Plus boardwalk option lets you see the birds from beneath their walking path. Combine with the Phillip Island Nature Park koala sanctuary on the same day.
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