Penguin Parade

We were two adults and I have to say, if you have small children, they might not get much out of this and will probably be tired and irritable after dark. That being said, there is a huge parking lot with paths to the visitor center. Inside the visitor center they have a cafe with food and drinks, we also saw an ice cream cart. Also inside the VC they have a ticket counter in case you want to upgrade your ticket to Premium or VIP stands. There is also a kids play area centered around penguins as well as some informational displays about the Little Penguins found here and the 17 other types of penguins. They scan your tickets before you are allowed on the boardwalk to begin your walk towards the beach. Along the way we spotted multiple wallabies and a Cape Barren Goose. After arriving at the seating area your best bet is to go as far down and to the right as you can to get the best view. We saw two different groups come out of the water from our vantage point about 6 rows back. They give you an estimate of when the penguins will emerge but our first ones were about 15 minutes later than that. After about 20 minutes of watch them come out, leave the seating area and head back to the boardwalk. They have low level lighting where you can see the penguins in the sand along with the hatchlings. We also saw an Australian possum. One note, after sunset no photos or videos are allowed and the volunteers WILL come around if they see you either your phone out.

AMAZING!!! The staff are very friendly and many of them were ready to help with any questions. Very knowledgeable staff also. We were on a tour bus and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Well worth paying extra to do penguin plus. I last visited 34yrs ago, it has changed a bit, but it was amazing watching the penguins come in from the ocean. All photos taken in daylight as this is when you can take photos. After dark no photography or video. Staff give you a qr code you can download photos. It is much better to be fully immersed in the experience anyway. The staff were very patient and polite when asking people to put their phones away. I don't understand why people can't follow instructions, as we were told the camera and phones damage the penguins eyes. If you want to visit the penguins then respect the penguins 🐧 and the staff.

A wonderful and educational experience and well worth the visit. The Penguin Parade is incredibly informative, with excellent interpretation and staff who clearly care about conservation and wildlife education. Learning about the penguins’ behaviours, habitats, and protection efforts really adds depth to the experience and makes watching them return home even more special. The viewing areas are well organised, and the experience is respectful of the animals while still allowing visitors a clear and memorable view. Watching the penguins waddle ashore at dusk is genuinely heart-warming and something you won’t forget. Great for families, couples, and visitors of all ages, especially those interested in wildlife and conservation. It’s not just entertaining — it’s meaningful, educational, and thoughtfully run. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area. 🐧 Educational & informative 🌿 Strong conservation focus 🌅 Unique wildlife experience

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Watching the Little Penguins waddle from the ocean back to their burrows is a must-do Australian activity. The planning and organization of the facility are top-notch. The staff is exceptionally well-informed, sharing fascinating insights that make the "parade" even more magical. The main deck is a great hub for families, featuring a well-stocked souvenir shop and plenty of food options. The outdoor viewing sections are perfectly tiered, though I highly recommend arriving at least an hour early to snag a front-row seat. It is a fantastic, educational experience for children and an unforgettable moment for nature lovers.

Overall, this experience sits somewhere between 3 and 5 stars. I am giving 5 stars purely because of the penguins themselves — the parade and witnessing this moment in nature is absolutely extraordinary and truly one of a kind. It is an unforgettable natural wonder, and for that alone, it deserves high praise! However, the service does not match the price or expectations, particularly for VIP tickets. Beyond the closer seating, there is very little added value that truly feels “VIP”. A simple but meaningful improvement would be providing binoculars at VIP seating. This would allow guests to see the penguins clearly without the temptation to use phones or zoom in. Another important point is how the no-photography rule is explained. Simply saying “no photos because of the flash” is not very effective. It would be far more impactful to clearly explain that the issue is NOT ONLY THE FLASH — even without it, phones emit signals when taking photos or videos, which can DISORIENT AND STRESS THE PENGUINS, causing them to lose their sense of direction. When this happens, penguins may fail to return to their nests, meaning their chicks are not fed and can die from hunger. A short educational explanation before the parade would greatly improve understanding and compliance. If people truly understood the impact on the animals, many more would respect the rules.

Fantastic experience watching the little penguins come into shore at sunset, traverse their way through a flock of seagulls, and make their way to their burrows and feed their young. Awesome setup for tourists, good food options on site, and lots of parking available. Try keep warm clothes on hand as it can get cool and windy at night.

We went for the underground viewing for the Penguin Parade. Staffs were friendly and approachable. They were willing to answer any of your questions in relation to the penguins colony. Fully recommended to go for underground viewing as you can meet the incoming penguins with an eye level view as they head back to their home. Most of all, it was much warmer to stay underground than on open viewing platform. However you will need to use the video to catch the action of when the penguins first march in from the seas.

The sight of little blue penguins coming home is incredibly heartwarming and precious. After sunset, groups of penguins waddle from the sea onto the beach, returning home in adorable and funny fashion. The event included a presentation on penguin ecology and conservation efforts, which was very informative. The facility includes walking trails, viewing platforms, parking, and dining options, and the organization was very professional. It can get cold sitting on the beach after sunset, and the penguins sometimes appear later than the schedule posted on the bulletin board, so dress warmly while you wait!

We booked the Ultimate Adventure Tour and are we glad we did! They took us down to a beach that our group had down to ourselves. We all had night vision goggles as the Little Penguins scurried up the beach within feet from us. We also got a chance to walk through the Little Penguin colony back to the main building. Be sure to book early as the Ultimate Adventure Tour may fill up months early! Of our 18 days in Australia, this made the top 3 on our list of anything we did!

This is one of those rather hit or miss types of experience. I remember coming down here as a kid, and getting rather agitated because we were waiting for ages, and then I remember seeing all the penguins coming out of the ocean, and it was like - wow, look at all the penguins. Well, I decided to check it out again, and well, we didn't see any penguins, though if you pay a bit more, you can get a better spot. However, the walk back can be quite fascinating, since after dark, all the penguins suddenly come out for their nests, and start wandering around, which I have to admit is pretty cool.

The Penguin Parade is a very touristy and popular, yet unique, event that happens nightly. The visitor information center has interactive displays and cool facts on the behavior and development of these little penguins. After visiting the information center and buying overpriced souvenirs and food, grab a good seat near the front of the bleachers to watch the little penguins swim ashore after a day's swim and feeding. They're all timid at first, mainly for safety and survival reasons. But once one comes to shore, many more join. I was expecting several crowds of 20+, but the largest group I saw was about 10 penguins. As you walk the boardwalk back to the information center, you can see some of these penguins up close, burrowing into their homes, caring for their young, or even mating. As beautiful as the beach is, and as adorable the little penguins may be, photography is not permitted at all. Dress warmly for the beach, because it does get very chilly at night. There's more to Penguin Island than the Penguin Parade. There's also a Koala Conservation Center where you can get close to koalas and pet them, Churchill Island where you can go on wagon rides and watch sheep shearing and cow milking, or the Nobbles Centre where you can look out for fur seals. Overall, Phillip Island is a great place to spend the day, and the easiest way to get here is by car or through a tour group. Public transportation isn't possible.

A very interesting experience. Watching the penguins coming out of the ocean at exactly sunset is definitely a memorable experience. Getting a good seat is very important to get any visibility though. If possible, get there a bit early and try getting seating in the first row and to the corner. If seated on the left aisle, get a right corner and if seated on the right aisle, get a left corner. The penguin burrows are in the middle of the aisles. If you go with kids, you can make them sit at the very front in the sand. They could see the penguins upclose. The penguins are very small and they come out of the water in groups of 5 or 6 at a time. We saw atleast 30-40 of them in one night. Photography or videos are not allowed.

The penguins only come in little batches of max of 10 so a little disappointed (It's not really a parade) T_T not sure if it's always this way or because we came in the end of November. The first penguin didn't come out until around 8:45pm. Weather is not too cold (~13c) but wear layers and bring blankets. Sit on the very edges where the ropes are, not middle to see the penguins closer. You can also sit on the sand (most front) even if you come late. We arrived around 7pm and tons of people are already lining up for the gate to open by the gift shop (open around 7.15pm). I believe there's another gate from outside viewing area based on the announcement. The penguin plus section was sold out by the time we arrived but I feel like if you come early enough, the general viewing has similar, if not better view. Unfortunately there's no photography allowed, and no standing. The Rangers are very strict about it. You'll actually have better & closer view on the pathway back to the visitor center. So maybe just stay 20min by the beach then go up to pathway. People mostly start Leaving their seats around that time so if you came late, now it's your chance to move up to beach. Overall, it's a little underwhelming. But still one of the things you have to check off your tourist list when you visit Melbourne (just get general seating).

If you are in Melbourne, you HAVE to travel to Phillip Island! Where you'll pet a koala, watch the Penguin Parade, and hand-feed a kangaroo. This is a UNIQUE and remarkable experience. Needless to say, They are all adorable! Phillip Island 's memories: Penguins: Phillip Island has the largest little penguin colony in the world! Because penguins are protected, you'll be waiting for them on a viewing platform. As the sun sets, hundreds of wonderful, little fairy penguins will emerge from the ocean.You'll watch them struggle to waddle up on the beach sand, and you'll hear them squabble with each other. You don't want to miss that. Pro tips: - You cannot disturb them; so photos are not allowed. - It is cold ocean air at night, bring a blanket or a sweater. - The show takes between 30-45 minutes. koalas: You'll have a "close-up encounter" with a koala. TAKE PICTURES! They are truly fascinating creatures. I had my photo taken with an amazing koala. They are the cutest and laziest animals ever. Did you know they sleep almost 20 hours a day! Kangaroos: You may hand feed and pet the roaming Kangaroos in the wild. Need more reasons to go to Philip Island? I don't think so Five Yelps.

Ok, I realize that I am going to come off as a penguin's Ebenezer Scrooge here, but someone has to bring a spark of reality to this oh so sugary sweet oh touristy traps....if for nothing else, than the poor schmuck whose girlfriend convinces him that this will be a good idea. So let's get to some basic facts: 1) it is cold as Hell!!! If you're down there in July and August, blend in with a Walrus costume, because it is the only way to survive. 2) Don't bring your camera and don't sneeze! Seriously, they do not allow photography or talking above a whisper for fear that it might scare the poor fairy penguins back into the sea. Ugh except for a Sloth in Costa Rica, this was the only time I was told that I couldn't take a picture of wildlife. Even when I explained that I didn't need a flash with a night setting, I was told no. I'm sure the panting of hundreds of March of the Penguin fans made way more noise than my camera..at least the Sloth had an excuse, something about camera shy to the point of a heart attack. 3) there is a lot of waiting! And more waiting! For what is pretty much anticlimactic hooey. Ok, this may be a bit harsh, but you wait 45 min in the freezing cold for what basically amounts to a bunch of birds making their way toward their burrows. You know why? Because it is freezing cold people!!!! 4) Expect to be surrounded by rabid penguin aficionados. For some people this penguin pilgrimage ranks up there with an audience with the Pope. So be careful what you say. Two blue-haired ladies from England were tearfully clutching each other when one looked at me and said, "Young man, isn't it just breathtaking?" I responded, "I guess so, but I can think of something that might spice it up.." She eyed suspiciously, and I informed here that a hungry Rhodesian Ridgeback would add a bit of the circle of life to the event . Let's just say that I barely avoided that Mary Poppins beat down, so be careful out, my friends. 4) it is a long ride back with an empty camera. For most people, the evening will entail heading back to the city, an hour long ride at least to realize that you had been invited to the penguin party with little to show for it. However, In the park's cafe, I did have a tasty chicken or squab which look suspiciously similar to the fairy penguins in size and shape..obviously, some penguins may have found their way to the warm embrace of the plate. With all due penguin respect, if this is your thing, it probably ranks 5stars. However, if not, it is more like 2 stars. I think you'd be better off having a VB and calling it a night.

This is quite an experience with a beach set up with grandstands so you can see the smallest (about a foot tall) penguins come in from the ocean after sunset. You will see hundreds of penguins cross the beach and scurry up the hill. After watching a few groups cross the sand you walk on elevated boardwalks with occasional lighting to see the penguins interact with each other and if it is the right season with their furry chicks. The only real bummer is there is no photography or video taking allowed at all now because tourists couldn't contain their flash photography at some point. I have to admit it is better to see the bigger penguins in the Falklands or Argentina or Antarctica where you get closer in daylight with many more, but this is still worthwhile.

The penguins are soo adorable but im sad you can't take pictures of them (for obvious reasons of course). The premium or penguin plus definitley had more penguin traffic but regardless you can catch them wobbling back to their burrows, sprawled across the whole vicinity, you'll definitely get to see them upclose. People started taking photos using thier mobile phones, people with go pros even took videos, of course these were all discreetly done! Staff tried their best to reprimand the daring.   As you would imagine, It was very cold and windy BRING A JACKET/JUMPER! They have an educational room, a theatre, 2 gift shops, a restaurant, and 2 cafés, one is located outside before the viewing deck. Theres a restroom inside and out by the cafe. There is also a place where you can have your pictures taken on a green screen, with penguins. I believe 1 6×6 photo costs $18. Oh and let's not forget about the seagulls....they were every where! Great experience,  would definitely do it again!!!

We are Americans in Australia for the first time. What a trip seeing the little penguins pop out of the water and waddle up their path to nest for the night. After seeing them appear, make sure to go back to the boardwalk and walk along side of them. It is funny. Taking photos is not allowed as the flash can blind the little birds. Don't be that person who is sneaking photos or videos. We found the rangers polite and willing to answer questions. Also note there are a several other places to eat on the Island, so you may want to do that before arriving.

Awesome little penguins but not sure it's worth it if you are driving 2 hours from Melbourne just for this + the expensive ticket. If you bundle this with a stop at the Moonlit Animal Sanctuary then it might be worth the drive. Tips: 1. You are not allowed to take photos at the parade as the light and noise can scare the penguins. Of course, people will try and sneak photos and it kind of becomes a distraction. Be a good global citizen and leave your camera in the car. 2. It can get cold and windy, so wear layers. 3. The penguins come up in small groups and slowly work their way up paths carved along the hills, often taking long breaks. After getting your fill of watching the penguins appear out of the waves, make your way back up the board walk and watch the penguins waddle their way up the hills to their burrows. 4. As you walk back to the building, you'll walk right alongside one of the major penguin paths and will be able to see many penguins just a couple of feet away.

I had been looking forward to seeing the Phillip Island Penguin Parade from the moment I booked tickets to Australia. Every travel site, guide book and Melbourne pamphlet highlighted the fabulous march of the penguins. Maybe all that hype combined with the fact that I love animals contributed to a major letdown. First off, getting to Phillips Island is worth consideration. Should you join a tour group, rent a car, take a bus/taxi, etc.? Regardless of which option you choose, it takes around 2 hours to get there. There are plenty of things to do on the island, so if you make it a full day outing, it's totally worth it. Second, I thought arriving early would be a good idea, but it's not really necessary since they don't open the doors to the viewing platforms till an hour before the penguins are expected to arrive. For us, that was around 5PM. A large group of people will gather in front of the door and it becomes a mad "march of the people" to get ideal seating at the beach. Little does everyone know, the best seats are reserved for the people who fork out the big bucks for a VIP experience. On a side note, it's quite a long walk from the visitor's center to the beach, so if you're with someone slightly impaired, I'd send someone out front to save seats. The penguins will literally arrive when they feel like it, which means you'll have a long wait in the cold. The sunset is gorgeous and the beach is stunning, but sitting on a cold concrete step trying to defend your personal space against opportunistic Chinese tourists is anything but my idea of fun. When the time is nigh, you'll be told to put your cameras/phones away so as not to scare the penguins back into the water where they could possibly be gobbled up whole. The tiered seating area is so huge that I wonder why the penguins would even bother to keep coming back when there are literally hundreds of eyes staring at them from the beach as they emerge from the waves. No wonder they don't so much march as scurry frantically in groups straight up into the bushes. If you're an unlucky/stingy non-VIP like I was, forget about even getting a good look at them--they'll look like vaguely penguin-shaped dots from where you're sitting. After a certain point, there's another mad rush as people leap out of their seats to cram the boardwalks in search of the perfect penguin photo opp. The poor little guys are bombarded with camera flashes and the sounds of kids and tourists pushing and shoving to get a glimpse. If it was an unpleasant experience for me, I wonder how the penguins must feel. And the worst part is, there doesn't seem to be much/any protection on the part of the workers. Shouldn't they be protecting the penguins from excess stress? I didn't bother fighting the crowds. Instead, I headed back up to the visitor's center, sat through the barely informative video, and browsed the gift shop before leaving. Was it worth the admission price? No. Is it an over-hyped tourist trap prioritizing maximizing the number of visitors over the penguins' safety? In my opinion, yes. Penguins = 5 stars, people watching the penguins = -2 stars.

On arrival, the rangers directing the traffic were extremely rude. After I parked in a lined parking spot, I was told to move over and park so close to another vehicle, the passenger could not get out. When I asked as a small bus pulled in next to me, "can you guide them in so they don't hit my car?" The ranger replied "there is over 2000 people coming tonight, I can't guarantee your car wont get hit, it's a busy night." When I requested to move car spots he rolled his eyes. Fortunately, my car was not damaged. The centre is nice, but not a lot of information on where to go for the actual seating for the penguin parade. You're not allowed to take any form of photography there at all, I understood why flash photography would be banned, but when I asked one of the rangers inside why this policy existed, she said "to protect the little penguins" I enquired further about non flash photography, she shrugged her shoulders. The penguins come in to shore in small groups, so I saw about 10 penguins all up for the night. So was a little disappointed. But understand this is the way the animals do things, just wish it wasn't sold as a "parade" Happy the ticket sales go towards the conservation of these beautiful creatures, unfortunately I did not have a happy experience with the staff there.

First things first: this place smells like birds. Lots of birds! Which makes sense because penguins are birds. Heaps of tourists which is great because it funds the conservation in the area. Waiting for the penguins to "march" was very underwhelming. Mostly because the guides were not good at communicating w/ said tourists and it made for awkward viewing for English speaking customers. Best moment of the tour was leaving; we took the long way back and encountered a fairy penguin up nice and close. Come once; you probably won't want to do it twice.

I'm not usually a sucker for hyped-up, overpriced, meet-the-animals experiences, but the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island really delivers. Starting at sundown, it's a wonderful way to end a day on the island. To sum up, thousands of these smallest of penguins come ashore to their burrows each evening under cover of darkness where they reunite with their mates, and stick around for three days or so until they get hungry for fish again. There are several different tour options, and I'm lucky enough to have gone twice, once with General Admission tickets, and more recently as part of the somewhat dearer Penguins Plus experience. In a nutshell, the more you're prepared to pay, the less people you have to elbow your way through to look at the oh-so-adorable Little Penguins. On a very cold day, it may well be worth shelling out even more for a Sky Box, but other than that if you rug up you should be okay. As far as I could tell, any upgrade from General Admission gets you a free drink, MP4 player (that's partly useful but mostly preaches about the environment), and discounted green screen photos with penguins. Up to an hour before sunset is the best time to arrive, especially if you've opted for General Admission tickets. This will give you an opportunity to check out the centre, which... well, the taxidermy albatross could use less cobwebs, but is pretty informative, and you can even see actual penguin burrows with real, living penguins nesting in them. There are also several gift shops with loads of predictably penguin-themed gear. Whatever your tickets, the best place to be is as far off to the side as possible, especially if you're in General Admission. When the penguins come ashore, they waddle in ohmigodineedtocuddleyousomuch groups of varying sizes along the pathways either side of the boardwalk. If you manage to get Penguins Plus seats, try to sit on the far right, and up front if possible, for the best view of the rafts of penguins. Expect to hang out for up to an hour, and do not hesitate to ask the staff any question that may pop up as they are extremely knowledgeable about all things penguin. The highlight of the night was when a group of penguins had to negotiate a rabbit in their path. After much deliberation, one brave little one waddled past, and the others followed suit. Apart from nearly dying from cuteness, I also enjoyed seeing species interact with one another in their natural environment. I mean, how often do you see rabbits in with penguins at the zoo? Pro tips: - Unless you've purchased a ticket upgrade, the MP4 players are $5 to rent and not worth the money unless they're for someone who does not speak English, as they come programmed in several different languages. - After seeing the rafts of penguins come ashore, move to the side of the boardwalk to watch them, don't just sit there facing the water because you'll be missing out on a great deal of cuteness. This is especially true if you have crappy seats or are stuck behind people. - The cafeteria is overpriced and the food is awful, and you'd better believe they police the tables for outside food. - Unless you're on a budget, you won't regret upgrading your tickets. And hey, good cause. - Because of idiots who can't turn off their flash, photos are no longer allowed during the Penguin Parade. Respect this or suffer the consequences. You can buy photos of penguins from the gift shop for not much money, and for what it's worth, some of them look like you took them. - Don't stick your hand in the bag of wool at the gift shop. It is infested with moths.

Honesty one of the most memorable moments of my six week Aussie Adventure! It's just such an enjoyable experience with the exception of some of the tourist around you that just can't seem to follow the rules. Here's how it works, you arrive at the museum prior to sunset, take a seat in the stadium around next to the coastline and wait for the penguins to come out of the water and back to thier nests before the sun sets. It's quite a sight to see, the peguins are adorable. You aren't supposed to take pictures but they sell high quality photos in the gift shop along with the typical postcards and such. It's a bit pricey and crowded and totally tourity but such a unique experience that it's worth it.

PENGUINS! the museum itself is a great educational experience...but we all know everyone goes to watch baby penguins they will *waddle* right past you~ just make sure you dress warmly because it doesn't start happening until around midnight...and that sea breeze is CHILLY!!! so cute and loads of fun~

What an upgrade gets you: 1. Front row seating on the beach 2. Binoculars 3. Headset so you can hear the ranger 4. Pad to sit on when at beach 5. Access to both locations...regular and premium Downfalls: 1. If you take a tour to get there, no time to wander gift shop before and after 2. Don't get much time to spend in the premium location ( mainly because having to make it back to the tour bus) 3. Expensive Good points: 1. Informative-history, where to look for penguins 2. Good seating on beach-reserved section So is it worth it? Maybe if you have time to spare and have an undying love for penguins...and if you want to know why they cluster together when they reach shore, who their predators are, or how to identify a baby penguin from an adult. Also, after penguins make it to shore. .. you can see them walk throughout the park from walkways as they make their way back home. So, if you don't upgrade, it's fine because you can see them after they reach shore.

4 stars - if you are in Philip Island, definitely worth checking out. However you will need to get here early to get the from row seats. The penguins come home shortly after sunset and sometimes in the dark it can get hard to get a good look if you don't have the best seats. It is somewhat pricey but definitely worth doing.

People may be more familiar with the regal emperor penguins from watching the Discovery Channel or African penguins from the colony living at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences. However, I dare anyone to withhold their "ooohs" and "awwws" after watching scores of adorable fairy penguins, the world's smallest and cutest penguins, coming home to roost. I bet there would even be some melted hearts. My sister and I got to sit on the beach. We were early enough that we got a prime viewing spot, up front, right next to the rope border. After about a 30 minute wait, the penguins started body surfing onto the beach. I could never really spot them in the surf, even with binoculars. The beach was empty (except for the tourists) and the next thing I knew, these tiny flightless birds would pop out of the water quite suddenly. Afterwards, we walked back towards the souvenir shop on the elevated boardwalk and watched the birds waddle back to their burrows in the dunes. The only downer, besides the crowds, was the loudspeaker blaring out instructions and educational tidbits. It kind of ruined the magical atmosphere.

We did the Ultimate Adventure Penguin tour which grants you private beach access on the opposite side of the island and it was the best choice we could have made. While the cost is about $40AUD higher than the general admission, the group is limited to 10 people and you are provided with a custom tour, warm weather gear, night vision googles, a chair for the beach (you are still on the ground), and obscured access with the penguins. Our guide was so friendly and knowledgeable. We started with a brief overview of the penguins and the area and then we walked out to the beach. The beach at sunset was beautiful enough, and we set up chairs. As soon as dusk hit, we could see the penguins in the waves waiting to come in. Soon enough they were waddling up the way in groups of 5-10. We stayed on the beach 30 minutes while the guide did a count and we saw approximately 150 penguins!! They were adorable. Falling over uneven sand and walking quite close. No pictures are allowed and no talking, but the entire experience was quite phenomenal. To think about where you are at that moment, witnessing nature at work. As we headed back to the park, we saw dozens more penguins, walked right past them and saw baby chicks come out of the nesting boxes. You would be remiss to remiss to book any other excursion for the Penguin Parade. Plus bonus: 16 y/o and older only.. so it really is quiet! And quite romantic being on the beach at dusk too! A perfect date night!

There is a medium-sized waiting area slash "museum" to hang out before the clock counts down to the penguin arrival. You won't be let out onto the boardwalk until about an hour before the estimated penguin arrival. Once you are allowed outside along the maze of elevated boardwalks along the dunes, you look out into the cove and await a mass arrival of fairy penguins. There seems to be "premium" seating in the stadium area, but this is really only for seeing the arrival. The penguins do a few back and forth emergences from the ocean and shyly go back into the water. It can take some time, so make sure you have brought adequate clothing. Eventually, you will have a large parade of little penguins running underneath the boardwalks and through the dunes. At this point, there is no reason to be in the stadium area as you can see the penguins right below your feet. Like all major tourist attractions, a few idiots can ruin the experience by chasing after or harassing the penguins. Definitely find the nearest staff if you see any of this behavior. WARNING: When you go to leave the compound, there will be penguins running around willy-nilly in the parking lot (a major environmental impact oversight in my opinion). So check under your car or you could be in for a very bad penguin day. Overall, it is good that the area is protected and well-organized vs. the alternative of there being no amenities and just a bunch of tourists not behind railings and leaving trash all over the beach. It is a once in a lifetime experience, and I think it is very well worth the trip out here from Melbourne.

If you are seeing this as an adult pay the extra money and take the private night tour!!! No bleachers, no noise, no circus environment! If you're visiting Oz from The States you've already blown your budget anyway. Once in a lifetime - Do It! There were maybe 7 of us who showed up ready to rock. We watched a short video about the island, and then attended a short lecture about Island etiquette, penguin etiquette - or something. Penguin protocol? Anyway, you know what I mean. Then we suited up in rain gear and complete with night vision goggles and headsets hiked a few miles down onto a secluded beach. We sat in the sand, listened to the waves, and quietly waited under a beautiful moon. Then we saw them, the first "rafts" of penguins floating in, their tummies stuffed with fish for their chicks. We heard the chicks calling out for their supper as each penguin waddled it's way back to the nest. We remained as still as statues as the little penguins passed by just a few short feet away! It was magical and I became completely lost in the moment. I feel extremely fortunate to have experienced this and if you are ever in Melbourne take a side trip to Phillip Island and enjoy the gorgeous beaches and the fairy penguins!

The penguins are amazing, the bleachers are perfectly set up, and the beaches are pretty nice if you get there early. I know they don't allow photography, but I think they should at least allow you to take pictures without flash, especially in the age of the smartphone. It's worth the drive out from Melbourne, but it's worth combining with something else (we did the Victoria market in the morning, the 1000 steps hike in the early afternoon, and ended up at Phillip Island in the evening).

Great showing last night. Crusty seagulls challenging the cautious penguins as they surfed to shore. In the end, the penguins bravely formed a defensive flank after being chased back to the wafer several times and waddled into their burrows. So interesting to watch them hang out in their community after making the trip back to shore too.

The Penguin Parade was so much fun and a true highlight of a trip to Australia. Only bummer was that due to the short time for tour bus leaving, and a crowded gift shop with a long line, I was unable to get any postcards. Really wanted at least one since photos are not allowed to be taken. My tour bus driver assured me that postcards would be available at the Queen Victoria market, but couldn't find any there...or anywhere. Anyone have anywhere online I could order some????