Melbourne Penguin Parade Tour & Animal Sanctuary in Melbourne

No trip to Victoria is complete without a visit to the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island! On the way, stop at Moonlit Sanctuary to feed kangaroos before continuing on to Phillip Island to watch the penguins return to their burrows at dusk.

Meet your guide outside your hotel at 12:30 pm. Sit back and relax as we drive approximately 90 minutes to the award-winning Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park in Melbourne. Your visit to Moonlit Sanctuary will be an unforgettable experience with Australia’s diverse wildlife. Explore the enchanting bushland while engaging with over 70 captivating Australian species, including endangered animals.

You’ll get up close and personal with kangaroos and wallabies as you hand-feed them, and will have the chance to pet adorable koalas. Take part in encounters with a variety of colourful birds, mesmerising reptiles, playful dingoes and other fascinating creatures. We will spend approximately 3 hours at Moonlit Sanctuary, which includes time for you to purchase your lunch from the on-site Wetlands Café.

Then, reboard the bus for the drive to Phillip Island, home to Australia’s largest colony of Little Penguins. You will arrive at Phillip Island Penguin Parade in time to head to your viewing area. It can get very cold on the island at night, even in summer, so make sure to bring a warm coat or jacket!

As the sun sets on the horizon, Victoria’s famous Little Penguins will begin to emerge from the sea, hesitant but adorable. Watch as they scurry across the beach, alert for predators, and then pick their way across the sand dunes to their burrowed nests. This nightly ritual is known as the Penguin Parade.

Following the parade, you will have time to purchase and enjoy your dinner from the on-site cafeteria, Shearwater Café, prior to departure.

If you’re interested in even more animal encounters, you may also like our Healesville Sanctuary and Yarra Valley Tour. Should you have any questions about this Melbourne Penguin Parade tour, please don’t hesitate to contact us.