We had a great time driving out to Phillips Island to see the Penguin Parade. Going to the Moonlit Sanctuary was the perfect way to break up the ride there. Highlights were seeing and feeding the wallabies and watching the conservation show. We stopped at other scenic viewpoints and especially enjoyed going to the Nobbies. The Penguin Parade is a special event to see and we would recommend it to all visitors to Melbourne. Our guide/driver Kenny made us feel very welcome in Australia so thank you to him for a great day.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Bottled water
Excludes
- Dinner
- Lunch
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Visit cute Koalas and handfeed the Kangaroos
Gorgeous Surging beach welcoming passengers to start their visit through the island
Magnificent Nobbies, Giant rocks next to the southern ocean, huge waves hiting the rocks and Wild wallabies hopping next to the coast
Visiting Penguin parade, when these little Penguins getting out of water and marching towards their burrows to see their chicks
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
I had a great full day exploring Melbourne’s wildlife and Phillip Island. My guide, Ben, was friendly, funny and genuinely personable, and very easy to spend the day with. He took excellent care of me throughout, helped with my bags, took lots of photos for me and made sure I was comfortable at every stop. We covered a lot over the course of the day, saw plenty of Australian wildlife, and the whole experience felt relaxed and enjoyable rather than rushed. He was attentive, helpful and great company throughout. A really enjoyable day and a great way to experience some of Victoria’s wildlife!
Elena was awesome! Penguins sooo cute..Elena was wonderful guide for day & customized trip for what we wanted to see. Got to see wild kangaroos in their environment. Great tour!
Elena was AWESOME! Very knowledgable, friendly & customized trip for what we wanted! I was so excited to see wild kangaroos in their habitat (and not zoo)..she made sure we saw wildlife/nature shots & of course, penguins!!!
We went to Philip island with Elena, it was such an amazing experience, everything was perfect and Elena was extremely helpful and kid.
Ben was extremely nice and took us on a Phillip island tour. He was very patient as i was travelling with a small child. Also he stopped for lunch and dinner and washroom breaks as required. He had good knowledge of the tour and guided us well.
Amazing tour with a fantastic tour guide. Ben did a fantastic job. He was informative and patient as we navigated the different sites. We had such a fun time
We had a fabulous day! I organized a trip for an international group of doctors in Melbourne for a supportive care in cancer meeting. Our guide Ben was wonderful and informative. The beaches and animals were fabulous. Koalas, kangaroos and more! We even learned about important trees and cool birds. Spotted animals in the fields with our guides help. Sunset at Nobbies! The fairy penguins are so incredible and adorable and we had prime viewing for the incredible trip out of the ocean up the penguin track to their burrows. Dinner on the island was great as well and the drive quite easy. Highly recommend! This is a great day trip.
Ben was super responsive and helpful as we planned out this day. He even secured us (sort of last minute) tickets for the underground viewing at Phillip Island! (Thanks again!!) Ben is super knowledgeable whether discussing Australian fauna or history, is upbeat and cracks great jokes, and achieved the perfect balance of guiding and letting us guide ourselves - this comes to him intuitively based on the guests themselves and their preferences and interests which is a super lovely extra touch. We highly recommend traveling in comfort, safety, and great company with Ben!
Our family enjoyed our private Phillips Island tour with Ben. The trip was worth the price. Drive was smooth and relaxing.
Our most memorable tour in Australia and one of the BEST Guides we have ever toured with. It took us all week to finally see the amzing australian wildlife including wallabies, kangaroos, and koalas along with some amazing landscapes. It was well worth a weeks wait. We had an amazing guide in Fred. A true gentleman and character with a love of Melbourne and captivating stories thst kept our family awake and listening for the full 10 hours we spent together. His passion for guiding was evident as soin as we met. He is chock full of great trivia abt the city and personal stories from his years of guiding. Ben, the operator, was also very quick to respond to my queries while on travel and went out of his way to reaccommodate us and secure the whole family penguin plus tkts on Easter wknd. You cldnt ask for a better operator and this private tour. Total class act!
Five stars doesn’t really capture how good this day was. If you’re considering a private tour to Phillip Island from Melbourne, just book it. We did this as a shore excursion; our cruise ship was docked overnight. We started with a stop at Moonlit Sanctuary, which was a huge hit with my kids. They were able to pet a koala, hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos hopping around us, and see dingoes up close. It felt relaxed and interactive rather than rushed or overly touristy. On the way down we also stopped at a fantastic chocolate shop, which was a fun surprise and a perfect break in the drive. From there our guide (Ben) shaped the rest of the day around the weather, which turned out to be a real skill. Storms were rolling through, but he clearly knew the area extremely well and timed things so we could still see beautiful coastal spots without getting caught in the worst of it. One stop was at a gorgeous bridge overlook with dramatic waves and dark storm clouds rolling in behind it — the kind of view that makes you stop and just take it in. Dinner was another highlight. He recommended a wonderful ocean-front Italian restaurant, dropped us off right at the entrance, and picked us up afterward so we didn’t have to think about parking or logistics. It made the whole evening feel effortless. And then the finale: the Penguin Parade with Penguin Plus seating. This was incredible. We were sitting literally feet away from hundreds of tiny blue fairy penguins coming in from the sea at dusk and waddling across the sand right in front of us. It was one of those rare wildlife experiences that actually lives up to the hype. My kids kept saying “this is so cool!!!!). Our driver was excellent throughout the entire day. The Mercedes van was spotless and extremely comfortable, with reclining seats for the nap late at night on the way home. Ben was a great guide — knowledgeable about the area, the wildlife, and Australian culture. What I appreciated most was that he shared interesting context and stories without talking nonstop. It was exactly the right balance of information and letting us enjoy the scenery. Even with challenging weather, the day felt perfectly paced and thoughtfully planned. If you want to experience Phillip Island without worrying about driving, timing, or logistics, this is absolutely the way to do it. This was our best excursion ever, even beating seeing baby seals and landing on a glacier in a helicopter in Alaska!
Too crowded at wild animal place Should have watched penguins come ashore OR watch them walk to their nests. NOT both!
We had a great day starting with koalas and kangaroos and ending with the penguin parade. Side trips for a beautiful beach and dinner with a view -all in all a fantastic day. Highly recommend!
This tour was absolutely fantastic from start to finish! Camille picked me up right on time from my hotel, and from the very beginning the experience felt thoughtful and well organised. On the way, Camille shared fascinating insights about Australian history, which made the drive both educational and engaging. At Moonlit Sanctuary, he even helped me to film a wonderful video while I was feeding kangaroos — such a special memory that I’ll treasure! When we arrived at Phillip Island, the weather turned stormy, but Camille handled everything brilliantly. He carefully adjusted the route so I could see wildlife in their natural habitat — kangaroos, wallabies, an echidna, and beautiful native birds — all comfortably from the car despite the conditions. It felt like a private safari experience. We also enjoyed a delicious dinner at a lovely Italian café, which was a perfect break during the long day. For the Penguin Parade, Camille made sure we arrived early so I could secure one of the best viewing spots. He gave great advice on where to look to see the penguins clearly, and his enthusiastic storytelling made the experience even more magical. Even though the tour was long (from 1:00 PM until 11:30 PM) and included stormy weather in the afternoon, it never felt tiring. It was engaging, beautifully paced, and full of unforgettable moments. Highly recommend — especially with Camille as your guide!
Very personalized experience. Moonlit was out first stop and we were able to see native wildlife and fed kangaroos, including a rare albino cutie. Then we stopped for dinner on Phillip Island at a seaside Italian restaurant that was very nice (great choice). The drive around the island was very relaxing and beautiful. Ben and his assistant were very informative and accommodating during the whole experience. The evening experience with the penguins was unique watching them exiting the ocean onto the beach then marching up the “penguin highway” in small groups. We did experience a minor vehicle problem, but Ben was quick to provide alternate transportation. We highly recommend this tour
This is a long tour but worth every second. The wildlife park was fun, and Phillip Island is gorgeous. The penguin parade is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Dress warmly though! Our guide Viviana was very sweet, even though we did not get back to our hotel until after midnight on Christmas Eve!
Phillip Island was an incredible day out. The scenery, wildlife, beaches and fish & chips were all amazing. The tour ended with tickets to the Penguin march, which we recommend to everyone. Our guide Ben was incredibly knowledgeable, he took extra time to find us some quieter spots away from the larger tourists crowd. His knowledge on the Island and its wildlife was very very impressive.
The afternoon and evening activities were breathtaking. Our driver, Kenny was fun and informative. We had a great day.
Ben was a great tour guide he is very knowledgeable about nature and wildlife in Phillip Island. He showed me all the cool stuff and beautiful views. Feeding the Kangaroos and Penguins were amazing. Ben made my best day in the trip and I truly enjoyed the tour. Hundred percent recommend this company.
Ben is amazing. If you are hesitating to book this trip do not. Book it. Ben is not your average tour guide. He’s truly passionate about connecting with people, is incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife, culture and food and he will make sure the journey is comfortable. Having Ben as our guide was a blessing. He took care of all the tickets we needed, pointed us in the direction of where we needed to go to get the best penguin views and took time to stop and explain different wildlife along the way. He’s not just knowledgeable about the wildlife but he also knows a lot about the local culture and food and provided so many recommendations. It was so nice having a private tour where everything was figured out so we could just enjoy the ride. Ben is not just a tour guide but he’s an incredible person to connect with on a deeper level. He’s so personable and that added touch makes the journey all the more special. Book this trip!
The vendor has good communication about pick up time and locations from the beginning. Our tour-guide Lewi is awesome. He speaks a lot of different languages and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about Australia and its culture in this trip. ( He has good photos taking skills.) We highly recommended this tour if you are first time visiting Australia or Philips Island. The little safari trip is amazing and unforgettable as well. Lewi showed us couple spots with good ocean views.
Wow! 100% recommend the VIP experience! Our family enjoyed a PHENOMENAL day with Logan! Communication with Ben before our adventure was fantastic- he definitely went above and beyond to secure last minute tickets for us!
We had a great time learning all about Melbourne, seeing Philip island and seeing the sites in a clean and safe car
Very personal experience with a very knowledgeable driver. Took us to all the right places and pointed out the things we needed to see. Worth the price and more. Ben was great.
Kenny was very nice and a great tour guide! Best part of the day was seeing the little penguins cross the beach at night. Great views of Philips island!
The tour itself is a must do if you are in Melbourne. You will get back late. Our tour was private. Our driver arrived on time, but the odor in the vehicle made the ride unpleasant. Everything else went well. Ben was the one listed on the tour but he subcontracted the tour out.
Great tour guide (Kenny)! He was friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. My only issue was with Viator (Ben)... horrible customer service!!!
Kenny did a great job showing us around. He was very informative, personable and fun! His recommendations were excellent and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect!
Our guide, Ben, was fantastic. The tour he put together was fun & interesting. Based on our interests, he took us to certain spots which added to the overall experience. He was also a wealth of knowledge - he provided background and history on all the sites we went to and was well versed in navigating the crowds and knew the best viewing spots at the penguin march. Also his personality was kind and warm. He really cared about us having a great experience. This was definitely a 5 star excursion!
Excellent trip, very nice experience to see kangaroo and penguins. Mr. Ben was friendly n recommended private tour guide.
We had an incredible time. The day was sunny, so the Brighton boxes shone brilliantly. Seeing Phillip Island, on both sides, was beautiful and stunningly spectacular, but the tiny penguins were the hit. Ben said the tour would get better and better as the day went on, and he was so right. We had a wonderful time and highly recommend the trip. Well worth the time and money.
We had a private tour with Neil of Australian Luxury Tours. Neil was so knowledgable about the area, the wildlife, and Australian life. We enjoyed some great conversations about food and it’s history, how the Australian government works, among many other interesting subjects! We especially liked the time we spent with Neil at the penguin nesting grounds. It was fascinating!
This a a full day bus excursion from Sydney to Phillips Island to see the "March of the Penguins". These amazing creatures (miniature- not like the penguins in the zoo) literally come out of the of water after its dark,like an army, come up to the shore to bury their eggs and rest after days at sea! We, the very small group of tourists are set far back on a simple bleacher to gaze at the magnificence of unspoiled nature and life before man built up the land. The activity is about an hour- starting after 8:00 pm, when it is completely dark.
Very beautiful experience, top-notch guide. To redo
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