Phillip Island Penguin Parade
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Located 140 km from Melbourne is Phillip Island, Australia. One of the most scenic islands to visit in Australia, it is famous for its wildlife parks and sandy beaches. From watching the penguins to surfing on the blue sea, there is a lot to do on a day trip to Phillip Island from Melbourne! Learn all about Phillip Island Nature Parks, along with what to do and expect from a trip to this gorgeous island.
COVID-19 Safety Measures at Phillip Island
- Phillip Island ensures the safety of its visitors by following the updated health and safety guidelines.
- As per the latest guidelines, most of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions have been removed.
- Visitors are no longer be required to have provide proof of double vaccination or show their vaccination status before entering any venue.
- QR code check in is no longer required at the venue.
- With most restrictions being lifted, visitors are encouraged to wear masks in spaces where maintaining physical distance is not an option.
- To ensure the safety of the visitors, Phillip Island authorities and team members whose roles involve interacting with guests and visitors will continue to wear face masks within all indoor and outdoor environments.
Why Visit Phillip Island?
Located 140 km from Melbourne, Phillip Island is a popular tourist attraction in Australia for many reasons. This gorgeous island is home to over 32,000 Little Penguins. The penguins return to their home every evening and waddle across the beach. This event can be witnessed by the visitors at the famous Penguin Parade. This island is also a paradise for animal lovers, as you can spot wallabies, and koalas; and interact with over 100 different species here.
Apart from the wildlife parks, Phillip Island is also famous for its sandy beaches and clear seas. Taking a break from the hustle-bustle of Melbourne, visitors can enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery here and can indulge in many activities. From enjoying the puzzles and attractions at A Maze’N’ Things theme park to visiting the Churchill Island Heritage Farm, visitors are going to love a Melbourne to Phillip Island tour.
Your Phillip Island Tickets Explained
Phillip Island A Maze’N’ Things Ticket
Enjoy a day at A Maze’N’ Things theme park with your family with some amazing outdoor attractions (Sky Trail, Maze, etc.), interactive displays, optical illusion rooms, and so on.
Validity & Cancellation: The ticket is valid for the entire day of the selected date and cannot be canceled or rescheduled.
Discounted tickets: Kids aged between 4 and 15 years can get discounted tickets for this attraction and those under 3 years can enter for free.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Nature Park Ticket
This ticket gives you entry into Penguin Parade and comes in five different variants. The General Viewing ticket offers you a seat in the general viewing platform, the Penguin Plus ticket gives you closer viewing from tiered seating, and the Underground Viewing ticket provides a close eye-level view from an underground viewing platform. Guided Ranger Tour includes a ranger guide who would take you through the penguin colony while the Ultimate Penguin Tour includes exclusive interaction with the penguins on a secluded beach.
Validity & Cancellation: These tours are valid for the selected date and time & cannot be cancelled or amended.
Discounted tickets: Kids 3 and under go free. However, their tickets need to be booked because of the strict seating capacity. Children aged 4-15 can get discounted tickets as long as they provide a valid ID.
Phillip Island Nature Parks Ticket
With this ticket, you get access to the three nature parks in Phillip Island – Koala Reserve, Churchill Island, and Antarctic Journey. There are three options available in the Phillip Island Nature Parks ticket – General Viewing, Penguin Plus, and Underground Viewing. Depending on the ticket you choose, you can see the penguins from the general viewing area or up-close.
Validity & Cancellation: Visitors can use the ticket for the selected date to visit Penguin Parade. The three parks can be visited within 6 months from the visit to the Penguin Parade. These tickets cannot be cancelled
Discounted tickets: Those aged 3 and under go free. However, their tickets need to be booked because of the strict seating capacity. Children aged 4-15 enjoy can avail themselves of discounted tickets as long as they show a valid ID.
Best Way to Buy Phillip Island Tickets
The best way to buy Phillip Island tour tickets is online in advance. There are lots of advantages of booking your Phillip Island tickets online, including better prices and deals on your tickets.
- Convenience: You don’t need to wait in the queue to buy the tickets which can help you conserve time and energy. You also have enough time to go through the ticket details to select the right Phillip Island attractions ticket for you.
- Advance Booking: By booking the tickets online, you can plan your visit in advance and don’t need to worry about the Phillip Island tickets being sold out.
- Mobile Tickets: By booking your tickets online, through platforms like phillip-island-tours.com, you can enjoy features like instant confirmation on your booking and get mobile tickets, making it easier for you to carry and forget the worries of misplacing them.
Things to do in Phillip Island
Penguin Parade
Watch the adorable penguins of the Little Penguin colony that reside on the island and head back to their home on the beach at night. The penguins spend the day swimming for food and waddle back to their homes at night when the visitors can catch a glimpse of them. There is a penguin viewing area that offers a 180-degree elevated view for the guests to enjoy the penguin getting back home. You can upgrade your seating for a closer look at the penguins by opting for Penguin Plus or Underground Viewing platform.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tickets
Nature Parks
Get access to the amazing wildlife parks at Phillip Island to spend a day with koalas, wallabies, penguins, and other amazing animal species. You can walk along the treetop boardwalks at Koala Conservation Reserve to observe koalas in their natural habitat. Churchill Island Heritage Farm is a 19th-century farm where you can enjoy activities such as walking, cycling, whip cracking, and so on. Lastly, go on a virtual journey from the Southern Ocean to Antarctica to learn about the inhabitants in this region, conservation practices, and so on. Antarctic Journey will expose you to the animals living in the deep blue, sustainable seafood options, Antarctic Chill Zone, etc.
Phillip Island Nature Parks Tickets
Amaze’N Things
Spend a day at A Maze’N’ Things theme park with your friends and family. There are lots of amazing attractions to explore at this theme park including optical illusions, interactive displays, and so on. Play a game of golf, beat your fears at Sky Trail, or find your way through the Maze. This attraction is perfect for all ages and a must-visit on Phillip Island.
A Maze’N’ Things Tickets
Chocolate Factory
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory is one of the top attractions to visit for chocolate lovers. Learn how the chocolate is made through fun workshops, demonstrations, and games. Visitors also can enjoy an unlimited supply of chocolate samples here while discovering the history of the Phillip Island chocolate factory. After exploring the exhibitions here, visitors can buy some souvenirs from the on-site gift shop and café. From chocolate fondue to white truffle, there are a lot of delicious treats to try out here.
Things to do in Phillip IslandPlan Your Visit To Phillip Island
Koala Conservation Reserve is open daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
(Last entry to the boardwalk is 4 PM; last entry to treetop boardwalks is 30 minutes before the closing hours).
Churchill Island is open from 10 am to 4:30 pm during the weekdays and from 9 am to 4:30 pm during the weekends (last entry is at 4:00 pm). Daily activities start at 10:30 am everyday. If you arrive early enjoy the views of the beautiful farm, walk around, see the farm animals and take photos.
With penguins arriving daily at sunset, Phillip Island Visitor Center currently opens daily at 5 PM. It is recommended that guests reach the attraction at least 1 hour prior to the penguin arrival time. Please check the timings on the penguin calendar for details regarding the penguin arrival time during the month of your visit.
Please note that the time mentioned on your confirmation voucher is the last check-in time to get ready for Penguin Parade.
Nobbies Centre (home of the Antarctic Journey) follows the following timings:
- Weekdays: 10 AM to 4:30 PM
- Weekends: 10 AM to 6 PM
Please note that access to the roads leading to the Nobbies Centre are closed before sunset.
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory are open to visitors from 10 AM to 5 PM every day. (Last entry 4 pm)
A Maze’N’ Things theme park at Phillip Island is open from 10 AM to 5 PM every day (last entry at 3.30 PM), including the holidays.
- Air: Phillip Island has its own airfield that can be used to reach the island in 30 minutes. You can take a helicopter charter service from any suitable landing location in Melbourne to Phillip Island.
- Bus: Visitors can get V/Line bus services from Melbourne to Phillip Island’s towns such as Cowes, Newhaven, and Cape Woolamai. There are no direct buses to Penguin Parade so, you will need to change the bus at the bridge.
- Car/Taxi: The drive from Melbourne to Phillip Island takes 90 minutes. You will take another 20 minutes to reach the Penguin Parade from the bridge. Once you reach, you can get free parking on site.
- Ferry: Another interesting option for reaching Phillip Island is to take a ferry from Stony Point Jetty in Frankston to Cowes Jetty at Phillip Island. You can take a suburban train from Melbourne to Frankston and then the ferry to Cowes Jetty. The entire journey will take you 2 hours.
The best time to visit Phillip Island from Melbourne is between the months of September and May. The weather is mostly pleasant and warm in these months and there are more penguins visible during these months. Visitors will be able to enjoy the outdoor attractions more during these months.
If you are planning to cover all the attractions and parks at Phillip Island, then you would need approximately 2-3 days at this island.
Visitor Tips
- Since Phillip Island is a popular attraction, plan your trip on a weekday to escape the crowd of tourists.
- As Phillip Island Nature Park is a popular attraction, buy your Phillip Island Penguin Parade tickets online to book your slots in advance to avoid the concern of tickets being sold out.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you may be required to walk quite a bit around the island depending on your ticket.
- You can visit Phillip Island throughout the year but do carry a raincoat. Penguin Parade is conducted outside and you might need protection from the rain if it rains.
- Enjoy the ultimate views from the famous blowhole lookout point that is located along the Nobbies boardwalk.
- Visiting hours for the nature parks are subject to change so make sure you check the official website of the attraction before you leave from home.
Phillip Island Tickets: FAQs
There are three different types of Phillip Island Nature Parks tickets available for the visitors: Phillip Island A Maze'N Things Tickets, Phillip Island Penguin Parade Ticket, and Phillip Island Nature Parks Tickets.
Yes, Melbourne to Phillip Island Tour is fun. There are a lot of Phillip Island attractions to cover on this trip such as Sky Trail, Koalas Conservation Reserve, Penguin Parade, Churchill Island, and so on.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Nature Park Ticket is the best option for your Phillip Island Nature Parks visit as it is a fun and exciting attraction.
The best Phillip Island Nature Parks ticket for kids is the Phillip Island Nature Parks ticket, as it lets them interact with different animals, combining education and entertainment.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade and Phillip Island Nature Parks ticket are the best options for couples.
No, visitors cannot cancel or reschedule the tickets to their Phillip Island Nature Parks.
You can drive, take a flight, or take a V-line bus to get from Melbourne to Phillip Island.
Although you can plan your visit to Phillip Island Nature Parks throughout the year, the best time to visit is during the autumn and spring season. The weather is pleasant and not too chill for enjoying the outdoor activities.
There are lots of fun things to do at Phillip Island such as visiting the cottages, surfing in the blue water, exploring the wildlife parks, and more.