Ten Tips to Experience the Phillip Island Penguin Parade

If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne and surroundings, you’ve probably heard of the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. Phillip Island, an easy day trip from Melbourne, is home to over 30,000 little penguins! They really are little: these cute “fairy penguins” are only 33 cm tall, and weigh around a kilogram.

Every evening at sunset, the penguins waddle out of the sea and into their nests, creating the “parade” that draw thousands of visitors to Phillip Island every day. Visitors support Phillip Island Nature Parks vital research, education and conservation projects, so that the penguins, and the island’s other wildlife, have a secure future.

Local Melbourne guide James loves bringing people to Phillip Island! He joins us today with some tips to get the most out of your visit to this popular Australian destination.

10 Tips to Have the Best Penguin Parade Experience

Upgrade, Upgrade, Upgrade!

When you visit the Penguin Parade, you will get included entry in the 'General Viewing Stand'. The is the main stand, which has a capacity of up to 2,000 people and can get very busy during peak times. However, there are many ticket upgrade options available.

The 'Penguins Plus' upgrade is only an additional $40 per person and gets you to a quieter area with more 'Penguin action'. And the underground option (my personal choice when booking well in advance) is the ONLY location where you will stay dry (if it rains) and is priced at an additional $50.

These can be pre-booked through Nature Parks, or if booking my Phillip Island tour, please just request it when booking, so I can organize the upgrade on your behalf.

Dress for the elements

Even if it is a nice warm sunny day, the weather on the island can often take a sudden turn. The warmer and dryer you are, the more you will enjoy the experience. This is particularly important during the cold, wet and windy winter months. There is a saying that Melbourne has 4 seasons in 1 day. Well the locals here like to say that Phillip Island has 8 seasons in 1 Day! I can provide wet weather ponchos should the need arrive.

Come prepared

It’s a 10 minute from the ticket kiosk down to the Penguin Parade viewing area. Make sure you have everything with you to make your experience as comfy as possible. Items that I provide my guests, which would will enhance your experience, include - a warm blanket (you can be sat still waiting for the penguins for up to an hour), comfy cushion (for the hard concrete floor), binoculars (to view the penguins from afar at the water’s edge) and a bottle of water (there are no refreshment kiosks once you are down at the Parade itself).

Choose the right time to visit

The number of penguins will be significantly influenced by the season in which you visit. The best time of year for numbers is summer (December and January is the Chick Feeding season) so this is where you will see the most activity, and the highest number of penguins.

….And avoid the wrong time!

Weekends are much busier than weekdays. The Victorian school holiday dates from are from Christmas until mid-January and the Chinese holidays (whose dates change annually depending on the lunar calendar) are also very busy times. The months of July and August will see the fewest penguins, as it is the Nest Building and Mating season, so I would also recommend avoiding this time of year if you can.

Spend up big in the souvenir shop!

Wait? What?! That’s right, I encourage you to spend, spend, spend! Normally I’m the first to advise anyone to bypass the dreaded overpriced souvenir shop, but the money you spend here all goes back to animal conservation on the island. Nature Parks, who run the Penguin Parade Centre is a not-for-profit Government Organization who do incredible work on the island. So please, think of the little penguins and don’t feel guilty about giving your credit card a good workout!

Don’t self-drive to the Island in 1 Day

If you are going to drive yourself, I would always recommend staying overnight on the island. Why? You will not leave the Penguin Parade until after dark (which can be as late as 10pm in the summer). So not only will you probably be tired, but for the 90 minute drive back to Melbourne, you will have the first hour in complete darkness. It’s not until you get nearer Melbourne that you will be aided by street lights. Or, you can just let a professional driver who is used to driving in such conditions, take the wheel, and be transferred directly back to your hotel back in Melbourne City Centre, while you relax.

Turn your mobile phone off!

It’s natural to want to take out your phone to take photos and videos these days whilst on vacation, especially at the Penguin Parade. I mean, who can blame you - the penguins are extremely cute. However…the use of phones and cameras is strictly prohibited (even if you have turned the flash off). So the best thing to do is, turn your phone off completely and just enjoy the parade as nature intended it. It will be more memorable without a screen in between you and the penguins.

Ask questions….lots of them!

If you are in attendance with your own guide, or perhaps you have upgraded your ticket to include the Guide Ranger Tour (Max 10 people, cost is $60) it pays to ask as many questions as you can about the penguins. They are an incredible species of animal, with some of the most interesting facts accompanying them.

Don’t miss the presentation by the expert guide

If you have upgraded your ticket, you will be treated to a 15 minute presentation by a Nature Parks Ranger, just before the penguins come in. Here, you will be advised what to expect (conditions change every night) and what to look out for (depending on the season you are visiting in i.e. nest building, mating season).

Want to spend a day on beautiful Phillip Island, then an evening with the penguins? Book James’ full day tour of Phillip Island and enjoy one of the most memorable day trips you’ll ever have.