Penguin Parade

Last updated October 2026

Watch the world's largest little penguin colony come ashore at sunset on Phillip Island; general viewing $34 adult, $17 child, bookings essential.

At the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, run by Phillip Island Nature Parks, families watch little penguins from the world's largest little penguin colony waddle home from the ocean to their burrows at sunset, any night of the year, from viewing stands and boardwalks over Summerlands Beach. It is about 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne, plus 20 minutes from the bridge. General viewing tickets cost $34 adults (16+), $17 children (4-15) and $85 for a family of two adults and two children; Penguins Plus and Underground Viewing cost more, and a Family Wildlife Tour runs Fridays, Saturdays and nightly in school holidays. Everyone, including infants, needs a ticket, and bookings are essential. Arrive about an hour before penguin arrival time. The visitor centre opens daily from 12pm with a cafe. Paths are wide for prams, with pram parking at the stands, and it is a certified sensory-inclusive site. As of October 2026 burrow and boardwalk upgrades are under way, but the parade continues. Payment is contactless only.

Facts checked against the venue's own website on 17 October 2026.