A Beautiful Phillip Island Day Trip and Penguin Parade

Phillip Island is a stunning destination located in Victoria. Known for its natural beauty and abundant wildlife, Phillip Island is a must-visit for both locals and tourists alike.

To get to Phillip Island from Melbourne, you can take a scenic drive which will take approximately 90 minutes. Alternatively, there are also tour operators that offer day trips from Melbourne to the island, providing convenient transportation options.

When planning your day trip to Phillip Island, it is recommended to allocate enough time to explore all the highlights. One of the main attractions on the island is the famous Penguin Parade. Every evening at sunset, visitors can witness hundreds of adorable penguins waddling their way back to their burrows after a day at sea. It’s truly a magical experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Apart from the Penguin Parade, Phillip Island offers breathtaking natural scenery with pristine beaches and rugged coastlines. On your way there, drop by the Brighton Bathing Boxes, and then the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park where you can encounter native Australian animals such as koalas and kangaroos up close.

Explore other attractions such as The Nobbies Centre which offers breathtaking coastal views and an opportunity to spot seals in their natural habitat. You can also visit Churchill Island Heritage Farm where you’ll step back in time and experience farm life from the 19th century.

For those short on time in Melbourne, visiting Phillip Island should be high on your list of must-see destinations. Its close proximity to Melbourne makes it easily accessible for a day trip while offering an unforgettable experience surrounded by nature and wildlife.

To make your day trip more convenient, consider booking a tour that includes transportation from Melbourne or opt for self-drive options if you prefer flexibility. Plan ahead by checking the timings for each attraction so that you can make the most out of your visit.

So whether you’re interested in witnessing the enchanting Penguin Parade or exploring the island’s stunning landscapes and wildlife, Phillip Island is sure to leave you with lasting memories of your visit to this beautiful part of Victoria.

Brighton Bathing Houses

Moonlit Sanctuary

After a short stop at Brighton’s Bathing Houses. We headed to Moonlit Sanctuary – a unique and exciting destination for animal enthusiasts and nature lovers. This sanctuary offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with a wide variety of native Australian animals.

One of the main highlights of Moonlit Sanctuary, like some others in Australia, is the chance to see koalas in their natural habitat. These adorable creatures can be observed as they sleep, eat, and interact with their surroundings. Visitors can also learn about koala conservation efforts and even have the opportunity to hold a koala under the supervision of trained staff.

Another popular attraction at Moonlit Sanctuary is the kangaroo enclosure. Here, visitors can feed and interact with friendly kangaroos and wallabies. It’s an incredible experience to be able to get so close to these iconic Australian animals.

In addition to koalas and kangaroos, Moonlit Sanctuary is home to a diverse range of other native wildlife such as wombats, dingoes, emus, reptiles, birds, and more. Note that it’s a sanctuary and some animals were rescued and then taken care of here. 

One of the most impressive birds I saw was the Wedge-tailed eagle – I had no idea they were so big! Wires were not used in the walls of this aviary as the wire can cause damage to the birds’ feathers and the cere (nostrils).

The male eagle here was found in Gippsland near Traralgon, in a condition that was deemed un-releasable to the wild, due to his reliance on humans leading up to his rescue and his behavior during the rehabilitation process. The sanctuary was contacted and agreed to look after this rescued eagle for the rest of his life. Same for the female eagle, was taken to a wildlife hospital found near Ballarat and deemed un-releasable back to the wild as she would not be able to hunt and grasp her prey properly.

The sanctuary provides educational talks and feeding sessions throughout the day where visitors can learn interesting facts about these fascinating creatures.

For those planning a visit to Moonlit Sanctuary, it’s recommended to check their website for opening hours and any special events or activities happening during your visit. Comfortable walking shoes are advised as there are plenty of walking trails within the sanctuary grounds.

Visitors should also consider bringing sunscreen, insect repellent, water bottles, and hats for sun protection during their visit. It’s important to follow all guidelines provided by the staff regarding animal interactions for both visitor safety and animal welfare.

Overall, visiting Moonlit Sanctuary promises an enjoyable experience filled with unforgettable encounters with Australia’s unique wildlife. Whether it’s cuddling a koala or hand-feeding kangaroos, this sanctuary offers an immersive wildlife experience that shouldn’t be missed by anyone seeking an authentic Australian adventure.

Cape Woolamai

Phillip Island is connected with the mainland by the Phillip Island Bridge, and Cape Woolamai is just around the corner upon entering the island. The Cape is known for its coastal scenic walk, the home of the famous Pinnacles, and one of Victoria’s best surf breaks.

Heading down to the beach from the wooden staircase I can almost immediately understand why. If you have more time, or if you are driving there yourself, enjoy a stroll along the sheer cliff tops and take in the superb panoramas of the island. The Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk is an easy trail that is suitable for visitors of any age. The walk leads to the highest point on Phillip Island and the cliff is a colony of million shearwaters between October and April annually. The cape here is also one of the most famous surf beaches in Australia.

Upon entering Cape Woolamai, there is an artwork on display – it is designed by Steve Ulula Parker, representing important species on “Millowl” (Phillip Island): Bunjil (wedge tail eagle – the eagle that I saw in Moonlit Sanctuary), Betayil (whale), and Byadin (shearwaters).

The Nobbies

For a short break, Cowes is a small town located in the center of Phillip Island with most of the restaurants, stores, and hotels. Note that it is a small town that probably takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete; walk along Thompson Avenue, enjoy some refreshments, and take some pictures of Cowes Beach and Cowes Jetty.

In the afternoon, head to the westernmost point of the Island at the Nobbies, another scenic spot with a panoramic view of the Bass Strait, the Seal Rocks, and the sunset. The location is at Point Grant, the western tip of Phillip Island. It was known as the Seal Rocks Sea Life Center in the past, it was the largest colony of fur seals and the facility here offers an educational display, managed by the Phillip Island Nature Park.

About 16,000 fur seals live here, with other shore animals like seagulls and geese, we even spotted a wild kangaroo hopping on the cliff! The boardwalk outside the center is an amazing site to view the seal colony up close, and the Seal Rock from afar with the sunset.

So, why “Nobbies”? The Nobbies is named after the large rock knobs sticking out of the water, hence “the Seal Rock”.

Penguin Parade

Finally, the highlight of the day trip is to see the adorable and wabbly little penguins come ashore to the island!

The little penguins are the smallest of all penguins in the animal kingdom and they mainly live along the waters of Southern Australia and New Zealand, including Phillip Island. While they can also be seen at Adelaide Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, National Zoo, and Aquarium in Canberra and Perth Zoo, it’s hard to compare the experience with seeing them in the wild and seeing their natural way of life.

The size of the penguin is merely 40-45 centimeters tall and weighs about 1 kilogram. However, this creature can travel over 1,000 km in the first year of its life! The little penguin is also called the blue penguin because the upper body and flippers have a blueish-grey color. This color helps them to camouflage while in the sea.

The penguins spend most time of the day out at sea feeding and coming back home after sundown; this is what the visitors come here for because every day the penguins will return from the sea, making their way across the Summerland beach to their burrows.

Little penguins, sometimes, can sleep out at sea floating on the water. They come to their burrows for mating, molting, socializing, and attending to their young. There are an estimated 40,000 adult little penguins on Phillip Island, and so it is one of the largest little penguin colonies in the world.

The Penguin Parade is an award-winning visitor center and trying its best to protect the well-being of the little penguin. The boardwalk was built for viewers to observe, without disrupting the home of the little penguins.

Tips and guides of the Little Penguin Parade:

• The penguin parade takes place daily, and usually, happens around sunset from 6 pm to 8 pm.
• having said that, the exact time of how the penguin behaves is unpredictable. At the entrance of the visitor center, visitors can take note of the total number of and the time of the first penguin sightings the evening before.
• There is a food court/restaurant, a souvenir store, and a small exhibition display at the visitor center to “kill time” before the parade – be there a little bit early if you don’t want to miss the penguin.
• Windbreaker is necessary, no matter whether during summer or winter, you may have to sit out in the open for an hour or so and the beach is very windy.
• Some tour groups are in small size so strollers, wheelchairs, prams, or pushers may not be accommodated. it is recommended to self-drive if you have special needs.
• Photography and filming are prohibited at the Penguin Parade – mainly to protect the penguin’s eyesight. I was told that the light of the camera (even with the flash off) may cause damage to the penguins due to their sensitivity to light. I mean… once or twice won’t kill them but imagine millions of visitors every day!
• There are different types of tickets (General / Penguin Plus and PEnguin Plus Underground). I highly recommend going for the “Plus Underground“ ticket. The price of the ticket is slightly higher, but it offers a very important perk – visitors have access to the underground viewing deck with an eye-level view of the penguins. It is very important for the best experience because it will be hard to see anything if you are sitting on the beach.
  The underground deck is much warmer, especially in winter or rainy days. Note that there are only 70 slots available for the underground ticket; more, there is a monitor for viewers to observe what happens when the penguin comes ashore.