Those who live around Melbourne, Australia are doubtlessly familiar with the renowned Phillip Island Penguins that can be observed nearby. However, others around the world are not likely to be aware of the incredible penguin spectacle that occurs on Phillip Island every night. Luckily, I will reveal where to view Phillip Island penguins while discussing the penguin parade that can be enjoyed here.
First, let’s talk about the types of Phillip Island penguins visitors can expect to encounter.
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Types of Phillip Island Penguins
If you’re expecting Phillip Island penguins to be a diverse collection of these friendly seabirds, you will be very disappointed. That’s right – Phillip Island is only home to a single species of penguin: the Little Penguin (commonly known as the Fairy Penguin in Australia). So, what makes Fairy Penguins so special, and why are they such an attraction on Phillip Island? Well, let’s explore some Phillip Island Fairy Penguin facts to better understand the significance of these birds.
Phillip Island Fairy Penguin Facts
Fairy Penguins are flightless birds native to New Zealand and Australia. Being the smallest penguin species in the world has made Fairy Penguins massively popular, with many flocking to get a glimpse of these adorable creatures.
If you’ve ever wondered where to see Fairy Penguins, you’ve almost certainly found that Phillip Island is one of the top suggested locations. So, why is Phillip Island considered to be such a great place to view Fairy Penguins? Well, the island hosts the largest breeding colony of Little Penguins in the world, with more than 40,000 Fairy Penguins calling Phillip Island home.
Image attribution: “Angry Blue Penguin is angry” by Duncan is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
When you consider penguins, you probably don’t think of them as subterranean birds, but this is exactly what Fairy Penguins are! That’s right, Phillip Island Fairy Penguins call underground burrows their homes. Here, they lay their eggs and sleep during the night after spending the day fishing in the ocean. In addition to living in underground burrows, Fairy Penguins will nest under buildings, in cavities naturally occurring in the ground, or artificial nest boxes.
Although we’ve now discussed the types of Phillips Island penguins, we have yet to broach the subject of penguin parades. This is surely a much-anticipated topic, so let’s dive right in; what is a penguin parade?
What Is A Penguin Parade?
If you hear mention of a Phillip Island penguin parade, a wide variety of images may come to mind. The penguin parades on Phillip Island are incredibly fun and memorable events, but they are not the traditional parades that may come to mind. Instead, Phillip Island penguin parades are an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Phillip Island Fairy Penguin population! Let me explain.
The penguin parade refers to the time in which the Fairy Penguins return to shore every evening following their day of foraging at sea. You see, Little Penguins forage until dusk, as this gives them the best chance to avoid diurnal predators such as raptors and gulls. Before they come ashore, these Phillip Island penguins gather into sizable groups so they can make the walk home together. Therefore, the return of Little Penguins to their burrows in the evening is a routine and highly anticipated event. This phenomenon is affectionately called a penguin parade, as groups of penguins march from the sea back to their burrows every night.
Image attribution: “Fairy Penguin 1” by Amaury Laporte is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Phillip Island Nature Parks has recognized this special happening and created an assortment of ways to view these adorable creatures as they waddle back to their burrows. These experiences are wildly popular among tourists and birders alike, with more than half a million people estimated to view the spectacle annually. We’ll discuss the exact ways in which people can view Phillip Island penguins soon, but let’s first discuss when people can expect to witness penguin parades.
When To View The Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Those who have read this far into the article are surely curious about when they should plan to view the penguin parade on Phillip Island. Luckily, this unique phenomenon can be viewed at any time of year! That’s right, Little Penguins embark on this daily journey every day of the year. Therefore, you can catch this spectacle no matter when you happen to be visiting the area!
Although the Phillip Island penguin parade can be viewed during any time of year, there are some things to consider before you book your tickets. First, know that August through February is the breeding season for the Phillip Island Fairy Penguin population. This will not impact your viewing of the penguins at dusk as they return to their burrows. However, if you’d like to go birding around Phillip Island, then know that there may be some restrictions in place during Little Penguin breeding season to protect these birds during this sensitive time.
Penguin Parade Pricing
Buying a ticket for one of the many ways to view the penguin parade is your key to getting up close and personal with Fairy Penguins. Fortunately, Phillip Island Nature Parks offers a range of different viewing options and prices to fit almost any budget. Moreover, they’ve made the experience accessible for anyone to enjoy.
I’m going to highlight a few options for viewing the Phillip Island penguins. Keep in mind that visitors 15 years or under can receive a discounted child rate. Otherwise, those 16 years and older will have to pay the rate for an adult. There are also different rates for families and Australian pensioners, but I’m just going to be covering adult and child rates in this brief overview. Lastly, please be aware that the first price that I list will be in Australian dollars (AUD). However, I’ll also list the price in USD after the AUD price.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at a few different ways that visitors can enjoy the penguin parade!
General Viewing – Summerlands Beach
The general viewing option is the option that is the most affordable and the one that offers the most availability. Here, visitors can get a front-row seat on bleachers to prepare for the Little Penguins when they emerge from the water in the evening.
- Adult: $32 ($21.35)
- Child: $16 ($10.67)
Underground Viewing Tunnels
The underground viewing tunnels allow visitors to access an underground walkway that will put them at eye level with their petite penguin friends. Although you will be separated from the penguins by a wall of glass, those who participate in this experience can expect to have penguins waddle right past them as they draw closer to their burrows. Being within mere feet of Fairy Penguins is an unforgettable experience that can be had when visitors buy tickets for the underground viewing tunnels.
- Adult: $90 ($60.04)
- Child: $45 ($30.02)
Image attribution: “Fairy Penguin” by Scott Creswell is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Ultimate Adventure Tour
Night vision goggles and penguins – need I say more? You read that correctly; when you book the ultimate adventure tour, visitors can expect to be guided to a remote area of beach by a ranger where they can get ready for the arrival of penguins. The experience will be enjoyed by a small group of people who will be equipped with night vision goggles to enjoy the penguin parade even after darkness. Best of all, the Little Penguins will be walking within mere feet of you throughout this whole adventure.
- Adult: $120 ($80.05)
If you’d like to learn about the other options that visitors have for viewing the penguin parade, please check out the Phillip Island Nature Parks Activities & Tickets page.