AU · Victoria · 38.48°S 145.23°E

phillip island

Little penguins at dusk, koalas in the trees and windy coastal walks.

Best time
October–April is milder for the outdoor stops. The penguins come ashore every night of the year, but in June–August it's cold and windy at the viewing stands.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Melbourne in about 8 hours, then it's about 2 hours' drive. Day tours from Melbourne save you a late drive back after the penguins. Victoria is 2 hours ahead of KL, 3 during daylight saving (October to early April).
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AU · Victoriaphillip island38.48°S 145.23°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Little penguins at dusk, koalas in the trees and windy coastal walks.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPhillip IslandAU, Victoria
KLphillip island
≈ 6,430 km from KL, as the crow flies
Nobbies, Phillip Island

Photo: Chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Phillip Island is joined to the mainland by a bridge, about two hours from Melbourne, and it's all about wildlife. Hundreds of little penguins come ashore at dusk, and the day fills easily with koalas, seals and windy coastal walks.

Makan

  1. Fish and chipsA takeaway on the foreshore at Cowes.Map ↗
  2. San Remo seafoodFresh fish and prawns from the fishing town at the bridge onto the island.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Penguin ParadeAfter sunset, little penguins surf in and waddle up the beach to their burrows, right past the viewing stands.Map ↗
  2. Koala Conservation ReserveTreetop boardwalks put you at eye level with koalas dozing in the gum trees.Map ↗
  3. The NobbiesClifftop boardwalks at the island's western tip, looking out to the fur seal colony on Seal Rocks.Map ↗
  4. Cape WoolamaiWalks along pink granite cliffs above the island's surf beach.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book Penguin Parade tickets ahead and bring a warm jacket, even in summer; it's windy by the sea at night.
  • Photos and videos aren't allowed at the Penguin Parade, so leave the phone in your pocket.
  • Halal options on the island are few. Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg is Melbourne's halal strip, good for a meal before or after.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.