Phillip Island Seal Cruise And Penguin Tour

Yuri was fantastic! Very knowledgeable about everything we saw and did. Picture stops were perfect, and advice given to fully experience the penguin parade was right on target.

Long ride out and back! Sue, our driver and guide was great. I definitely recommend her. Things I loved: The cruise and the dusk drive through the Nobbies. We saw thousands of seals, a pod of dolphins, tons of wallabies and geese. Just gorgeous. Things I did not love: San Remo stop was too short. We were told to grab lunch if we were getting on the cruise and we did which left us with no time to watch the pelicans. We were there around 40 minutes. Cowes was just yucky. Construction everywhere, lots of places were closed, and the weather was super cold. Pick a day that’s not in the winter if you really want to have a nice day. Things that were just okay: The penguin parade is crowded and I felt bad for the little guys. Not many people follow the rules and it’s hard to enjoy yourself. However, they are as cute as can be and I’m glad I got to see them. All in all, I would do this again but on a longer, sunny, spring or fall day. Sue really did make the best of it for us and I absolutely appreciated her.

The experience with Sue was absolutely amazing. Who doesn’t like a tour guide who introduces you to the attractions you're passing and shares useful tips about spotting different animals and wildlife along the way? Sue was knowledgeable, engaging, and very considerate of everyone’s lunchtime, making sure the schedule was well planned and comfortable for the group. She provided interesting insights throughout the tour and kept the atmosphere fun and enjoyable with her great sense of humor. Her enthusiasm and professionalism made the entire experience memorable. Highly recommended!

Excellent with Michael!!’n thank you. Was inolvidable… we en joy very much …. The whole tour very well organized….

Michael our guide was fantastic. He was informative and our visits to various locations wonderful. Loved seeing Koalas in the wild, the tiny penguin experience was outstanding. Loved the day.

Well coordinated long half day trip picked up at 11:00AM, got back to Melbourne at 12:30AM the next day. Boat ride was cancelled by the third party involved but my credit was instantly given. Driver was our tour guide, Yuri. He did a great job. Penguins were scarce, we saw two groups come in, about 20 penguins. It was fun to watch though and listening to the baby calls from the nesting holes was impressive.

Everything was on time . Ned our driver and guide was very helpful and informative . The seals cruise was phenomenal. His tip to take the lateral seats and upgrade to the penguin plus tickets was very helpful. Kids enjoyed the day trip. Would recommend for any one wanting to go to Phillip island.

Absolutely beautiful experience. Our driver Yuli was very welcoming and had a great personality. This tour is a great way to experience Philip Island. You get to see wildlife in it's natural habitat. It's a must! The shopping, cafes, restaurants are great. People are very friendly and beautiful coastal views. The penguin parade is a must see! It's a beautiful day out and beautiful memories that will stay with me forever

Had a fantastic full day trip to watch the seals by cruise, and bus tour to watch the penguins and other wildlife on the Island.

I would probably rate this 4.5 only because we had a couple snafus but the day was so great I hate to nitpick. Bc of the AO there was tons of traffic leaving Melbourne. This shortened our time in San Remo. We would have grabbed lunch but were only there 15 min. From there we headed to a winery which was unexpected and not on my itinerary. We had booked the seal cruise and luckily the driver was able to get us there just before the boat left. (Again leaving us no time to eat). The seal cruise was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Absolutely breathtaking. The crew did a magnificent job keeping us close to the seals. We went directly to the koala conservation. Wow! So cool! Worth the admission. The Nobbies park had my favorite views in Australia. We saw penguins and other wildlife. From there we went to the penguin parade, (we finally got to eat!) a bit disappointing bc the temp dropped and it rained. We got soaked but got to see the little guys. A bit too much hype but cute. All in all an amazing day and tour.

This was an incredible experience. Ned did a fabulous job of explaining details of our trip and pointing out wildlife. We chose to stay in Cowes rather than take the cruise and it is a cute town to explore. The Koalas and penguin parade were the highlights. Can’t say enough about this tour. Fantastic!

Absolutely loved the tour to Philip. Island and it was worth the approx. 2 hour each way minibus journey. When booking the tour, I had selected the option of a a 2 hour cruise but this became unavailable due to high winds (notified the day or so before). I was quite glad actually as the sea was very choppy on the day. I then opted for the wine tasting instead. However this became unavailable for some reason that I’m not quite sure of. So, in the end, the only option was the meal at a restaurant in Cowes. Clearly, it wasn’t my first preference but it was ok and this time provided an opportunity to get to know some of my fellow travellers on the tour as we shared our backgrounds and experiences. The main reason for choosing the tour was to go to the Koala Sanctuary and the Penguin Parade. Neither of those experiences disappointed. We had an hour to go around the Koala Reserve at our own leisure which was just about the right amount of time needed. We saw several Koalas as well as some other wildlife and learned about them as a species and the threats they face. We then travelled a short way to The Nobbies where we alighted the minibus and spent another hour walking the boardwalks at the top of the cliffs overlooking the rugged coastline where penguins come ashore. With a strong wind blowing, it was an exhilarating experience. After that, a short ride to the Penguin Parade. We had time to explore the visitor centre and have something to eat before walking down and taking a seat and wait for the penguins to come ashore, which they did over a period of about an hour or so (8:45 to 9:45). This attraction is very popular and therefore very busy. However, the crowds are well managed and didn’t detract from the experience. I don’t think I was alone in falling asleep for part of our two hour journey back to Melbourne. Our driver / guide, Yuri, was very good, keeping us well informed of everything along the way on the day and drove safely all the way. A very worthwhile tour.

Absolutely fantastic tour. We did the fur seal cruise, koala reserve, walk at the nobbies, and penguin parade. Mike was our tour guide and he really made our day. The pickup was super convenient, and we stopped for lunch when we got to the island. You have maybe 30 mins for lunch so a quick sandwich is the best option. The chicken schnitzel sandwich from Sunny Bakehouse was really good. The fur seal cruise was amazing they were so playful and the island and cruise was gorgeous. Koala reserve was amazing too, you observe them living their natural lives, no touching or feeding, and we saw maybe 8 koalas. The nobbies walk was also gorgeous along with the drive. You have time for dinner at the cafe at the penguin center which was pretty good. The penguin parade of course was incredible. So cute, and very well regulated. Overall fantastic day tons of wildlife and Mike was an absolutely incredible guide providing us with commentary, and overall super friendly and great to talk to. Really made our day special. Highly recommend this tour, it was the highlight of our time in Melbourne. Thank you Local Way!

An amazing experience, made even better by Mike, our tour guide for the day. Mike was awesome and very knowledgable about absolutely everything! He ensured we all had a great day

We loved every bit of this tour. Our only comment is that we wanted to spend more time in San Remo. The tour guides (one in training) were fantastic. They made sure to make us feel comfortable and informed throughout the day. The spots were wonderful. There was a problem with the Hop on Hop off in Cowes but they substituted the Koala Reserve. It was perfect. I even had time to dip my toes in the water at Cowes. The penquin parade was great and more that we had hoped for. Loved Local Way Tours and totally recommend them.

Disappointed with the tour company. Late for pickup, no organised time for meals (travelling with kids and diabetic), consistently rushed, bus broke down, and a lack of communication to advise of the issue and plans for the day. Definitely recommend going on the seal cruise (independent company) and the penguin parade (also independent company). The tour guide doesn’t accompany you, so guide is basically a driver.

Our tour to the Penguin Parade was absolutely fantastic – especially thanks to our guide, Yuri. He’s truly the kind of tour guide you wish for: friendly, patient, and helpful in every situation. When our new penguin beanie got blown away by the wind, Yuri went above and beyond to get it back for us. And since we were traveling with a baby, he even guided us all the way to our accommodation at the end of the tour – which was incredibly helpful at such a late hour. The penguins were unbelievably cute, and the whole experience was beautifully organized. Phillip Island, especially around The Nobbies, is an incredibly stunning place. Thank you so much for this wonderful day, Yuri!

The Phillip Island trip was awesome had a very knowledgeable driver in Iuri who is a top bloke. The trip wasn’t rushed we had plenty of time at our stops. The boat ride out to see the Seals was good, it was a-bit choppy on the water. The Penguins were awesome but I left a bit earlier as I was getting angry at the disrespect by other tourists with their phones scaring the penguins away when you’re not supposed to have them out at all on the parade. So if you go please adhere to the rules.

A long day, filled from start to end with expert guides & activities, local history/ information. . Great way to see Philip island & native wildlife. Small group size. Friendly. Brilliant, a must for visitors.

The Philip island visit along with the Penguin parade is a must do activity, if you're visiting Melbourne. Give a day for this activity, and it would be worth it. Ned was a great host. He is a very friendly guy, and did his best in sharing his knowledge about the history of Melbourne and the places we visited. We would recommend this activity to anyone looking forward to do a some fun activity in Melbourne. The penguins were the best part of the trip. The only thing to be aware is that the cruise trip may get cancelled anytime, due to many different reasons. Ours got cancelled just the day before the activity and was informed that it was cancelled from the cruise team. But, the "local tours" team compensated for it by various other activities. We were offered Vineyard visit with wine tasting, lunch, and Koala reserve center visit, and a 15 AUD per person refund. We had a lot of expectations for the cruise trip, as we had traveled a long distance for the experience. So, while booking the package, beware that the cruise trip is not a guaranteed one. But, the "local tours" is a great team. They will make your trip memorable.

Apart from noisy trip home Tour was excellent & Michael was a great guide, very enjoyable day seeing the seals & penguins

Our day started well with an amazing tour guide, Rob. We were also blessed to have perfect weather for the day, which enabled us to see a lot of wildlife. Rob was very informative and friendly and our day was well organised. Lunch stop was yummy.

Don’t forget to use your free coffee voucher at the cafe like we did! Communication 5🌟 Prompt & trustworthy, from booking to tour guide. It’s really nice when we’re kept in the loop as to what’s going on and options available to us along the way. Price 5🌟 Considering the time involved, this tour was great value for us, plus the generous drop off service at the end of the night was really appreciated for two women. Highlights: 🌟 We were lucky enough to get retired drama teacher Rod who put on an epic show, entertaining us on the drive to and from the island. Rod was enthusiastic & patient with us all, creating a vibe that made the trip relaxed & friendly. My 69 year old mum felt included & I got all my queries answered. 🌟 Sunset drinks at Flynn’s beach: what a lovely time watching surfers sipping on champagne, enjoying an iconic Aussie beach scene before the penguins. 🌟 Tips provided: thanks to Rod, we fit in fish and chips, went penguin burrow hunting for baby penguins (we saw lots of babies, wallabies, native birds) landed a great spot to see penguins without having to upgrade and didn’t get lost back to the bus. Meanwhile, Rod is a globe trotter so make sure to squeeze him for tips on other places to visit in Australia & overseas. 🌟 Overall, I can see how this tour and its operators are winning all the awards. Well done guys, 👏👏👏 we loved the whole experience and would recommend you to our friends. Ps The cruise part to seal island was bumpy but well worth seeing baby seals. Take sea sick tablets. The cruise crew were young, professional & friendly which was refreshing.

It was a great day. It was fully packed with activities, but well organised by the Guides. If you want to see a lot in one day, you should do the Tour. But if you can, split it in two days in Order to have more time at every place.

Yuri our tour guide was fabulous, explained the history of many landmarks and ensured we arrived at our destination safely.

Our guide Yuri is professional, knowledgeable and very friendly! Excellent service and patient too! Weather was amazing for our day out, sea was calm for our boat trip. Amazing fur seals and cute little penguins, we took loads of photos! Group was small enough for dedicated attention. Highly recommended!!

Trip booked through Tripadvisor and facilitated by local tours! Rod, our guide, was amazing and kept us all entertained! The weather was against us but he turned what could have been a drab trip in to an adventure! Seal Rocks well worth a visit!! Little penguins are sooo cute!!

It was amazing time. I was lucky to see two whales in the cruise. There are a lot of seals as well in the Seal rocks. I haven’t seen many seals before. It was very impressive. Thanks to Russell. He gave me many information during tour.

Overall, it was an amazing day, and both staff members were really lovely and attentive.I had an amazing time.Both seal watching and the pengun parade were awesome.

We were a family of 5 - 3 adults and 2 kids - with ages ranging from 77 y/o to 5 y/o. We had landed in Melbourne a day before and this was the first tour we had planned for our 4 week trip. We were the only customers that day, so it was like a private tour for us and we had an incredible time. Sue, our tour guide was very warm, friendly and knowledgeable. She made the entire tour much more fun and memorable. The complimentary coffee / hot chocolate at the start of the tour set the tone for an incredible day ahead of us. Sue's uncomplaining unscheduled stop to rest my fathers legs at a rest stop, when he suffered leg cramps in the bus at the start of the journey was very touching. We saw the Pelican Feeding and had an incredible lunch of fish & chips and oysters (at the Co-op recommended by Sue). We saw wallabies in their natural habitat at very close range. We got an accidental upgrade for 2 members to the much more expensive and incredible Penguin Plus - which the kids used. Sue's tips ensured we got front row seats on the beach for spotting the penguins at the Penguin Parade. We also got some delicious cookies and a glass of bubbly each. Sue shared many anecdotes and background about several locations. We got ample time at each spot to cover all the sights. And we also got dropped off at our hotel door (not the pick up point which was 20 mins away), which was very thoughtful of Sue and made the trip even more comfortable with us considering ages of some of our group. Overall a very enjoyable experience made better by Sue. Would 100% recommend! Unfortunately, on account of the weather conditions, the wildlife seal cruise was cancelled. However Sue made it up to us by taking us around several other points of interest which were not otherwise on the itinerary. And we were given a full refund for the portion of the price we paid for the seal cruise - which was processed by Filip very fast.

Perry, our driver was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He ensures that we are on time for each activity and is always smiling and friendly. He drives safe and it was an absolutely a lovely trip. We had loads of fun! Highly recommended as it is a small group tour and comfortable seats.

We had a wonderful trip with Sue Verhey on this tour. She was very informative, responsible and enthusiastic- going above and beyond to ensure we had an enjoyable and memorable day. Would strongly recommend this tour with Local Way Tours and with Sue as your guide you will be guaranteed and excellent time!

We did the Phillip Island tour with Russell, who was great at keeping us entertained with facts and conversation. We got to see a lot of wildlife, and thought the experience was very good. A couple days later we did the Great Ocean Road tour with Russell and Shelton, who both were incredible. Great people! The stops along the way to the Twelve Apostles were nice, and a highlight was the Wildlife park. Would definitely recommend!

Really wonderful trip. Mike , our guide, was knowledgeable and entertaining and the small group really seemed to click. I admit I was expecting to be underwhelmed by the koalas and penguins, but it was extremely enjoyable. Mike was sure to point out where to sit to maximize the penguin experience and when to leave the beach and where to go for a view of them going thru the dunes to their nests. We opted for seeing the Koalas vs going to Cowes. The Australians in the group went to Cowes as they said koalas would sleep all day. However we found them active and entertaining. A bit over an hour is enough time It was a long ride in the bus but it was VERY nice to have someone else drive back to Melbourne

Amazing day! The day's activities were very well planned, and Jordan was a great guide. Loved all of the wildlife! Highly recommended!

Amazing, small group experience. Met in front of Melbourne coffee shop. Confirmation included voucher for a free coffee. Great beginning. Mike was an exceptional guide, who tailored our time to best fit the group’s preferences. He also gave important insights into how to best watch the penguin parade. The night ended with a glass of Australian bubbly.

The views were amazing took heaps of photos, the Seals were awesome and watching the Penguins was amazing the Pelicans at San Remo was cool

The activities themselves were very good and what we expected. However, the tour we were on was actually two or more tours being driven together and the timing of it was not great. Our driver was nice, but we almost missed our wildlife cruise as he had the wrong departure time. We made a few stops that seemed unnecessary or really too short to be worthwhile. Seems like you need to leave earlier in the day to get everything accomplished. It was not a very good experience overall. Also dinner stop was stressful as most restaurants opened at 5 pm.

Great small group excursion. Local Way Tours were very proactive in organizing 2 great activities (wine tasting and visit to the koala sanctuary) as a replacement for the cruise, cancelled due to the winds. The parade of little penguins was the highlight of the evening, not to be missed. Dress warmly! Finally, our guide Ned was charming, helpful and helpful throughout the day.

A pleasant and nice day trip with a nice guide / driver. Great with small exclusive group. Good nature experiences/animal life. Can be recommended.