Phillip Island Tour: Penguins, Wine & Wildlife from Melbourne
Wine, wildlife and penguins in one day without splitting the experience across separate bookings
A small-group guided tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island combines wine tasting at a local winery, wildlife spotting at The Nobbies, and entry to the world-famous Penguin Parade: all in one 12-hour day with a local guide, lunch and sparkling wine included. Groups stay under 15 travelers on a premium coach, and the itinerary moves through San Remo, Cowes and coastal stops, ending as thousands of Little Penguins return at sunset. Children from age 1 are welcome.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Phillip Island wildlife and wine tour
- Meet at Melbourne Arts Centre
- Travel to San Remo coastal village
- Stretch legs and watch pelicans
- Arrive at Phillip Island Winery
- Enjoy wine tasting and grazing boards
- Have wood-fired pizza lunch
- Pass by Phillip Island settlements
- Explore Cowes township freely
- Stop at Phillip Island beach
- Visit The Nobbies at golden hour
- Enjoy sparkling wine and wildlife views
- Experience Penguin Parade with commentary
- Return to Melbourne Arts Centre
- Arts Centre Melbourne 15m
- Phillip Island Winery Entry included 1h 30m
- Nobbies Centre Entry included 45m
- Penguin Parade Entry included 2h
What’s included
- Expert local guide with insider knowledge of Phillip Island.
- complimentary barista coffee at the start.
- premium midi-coach with free WiFi for groups under 15.
- guided wine tasting of six Gippsland wines with grazing boards at Phillip Island Winery.
- wood-fired pizza lunch with sea-salt fries and gourmet salads.
- sparkling wine or beer at The Nobbies during golden hour.
- Penguin Parade general viewing entry with boardwalk and viewing platform access.
- interactive Visitor Centre access at the Penguin Parade.
- return transport to Melbourne Arts Centre or city center hotels.
Times
- Every day 11:00
Before you book
Operated by Local Way Tours
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
Your day starts at the Melbourne Arts Centre with a complimentary barista coffee before boarding the midi-coach. The drive to Phillip Island takes you through Victoria's coastal region, and your first stop is San Remo, where the iconic Phillip Island Bridge marks the gateway to Bass Coast. You'll have time to walk the foreshore, watch resident Australian pelicans, and take in the fishing village before moving on to the island proper.
At Phillip Island Winery, a local guide leads a tasting of six award-winning Gippsland wines paired with grazing boards of Victorian meats, cheeses and artisan breads. Lunch follows: a wood-fired pizza feast with sea-salt fries and gourmet salads served either at the winery or at a partner seaside restaurant, depending on the day. This is where the tour diverges from the standard penguin-only itinerary: you're eating and tasting before the main event, not rushing through a cafe afterward.
Free time in Cowes lets you explore beaches, local shops and the coastal streetscape at your own pace, or head to the conservation reserve to spot koalas. The afternoon builds toward The Nobbies, where you arrive during golden hour: the clifftop boardwalks offer sweeping Bass Strait views, and you'll spot seabirds, wallabies and Australian fur seals while sipping a glass of sparkling wine as the day turns to dusk. The Penguin Parade itself closes the experience: general viewing tickets are included, and you'll have access to the interactive Visitor Centre before taking your place on the boardwalk and viewing platform to watch thousands of Little Penguins return from the ocean at sunset, with guided commentary throughout.
The return to Melbourne happens after the parade ends, with dropoff at the Arts Centre or city center hotels on request. The whole day runs 12 hours from pickup to return.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Phillip Island's full range (wine, wildlife and the famous penguin return) in a single day without juggling separate bookings and timing. The small group size and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together: transport, meals, tastings and entry are all arranged, so you move through the island's highlights without gaps or negotiation.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).
What exactly happens at the Penguin Parade on this tour?
The Penguin Parade is the world-famous nightly return of thousands of Little Penguins from Bass Strait at sunset. Your ticket includes general viewing access to the boardwalks and viewing platforms, plus entry to the interactive Visitor Centre. A guide provides commentary as the penguins waddle ashore, and you can purchase dinner from the onsite cafe if you wish, though it is not included.
What wine and food are included in the tour?
The Phillip Island Winery experience includes a guided tasting of six local Gippsland wines with generous grazing boards of Victorian meats, cheeses and artisan breads. Lunch is a wood-fired pizza feast with sea-salt fries and gourmet salads. At The Nobbies during golden hour, you receive a glass of sparkling wine or beer. Dinner at the Penguin Parade is not included, though the onsite cafe offers options if you wish to purchase a meal.
How many people travel in the group?
Groups stay under 15 travelers on a premium midi-coach with free WiFi, so the experience remains personal and the coach can access smaller coastal roads and stops that larger tour buses cannot reach.
Does this tour include a local guide?
Yes, an expert local guide in English leads the entire day, providing insider knowledge of Phillip Island, highlighting local favorites in Cowes, and offering guided commentary during the Penguin Parade and wine tasting.
What is the difference between the Standard Tour and the Standard Tour + Penguin Plus option?
Both options include all the core experiences: wine tasting, lunch, wildlife spotting and Penguin Parade entry. The Penguin Plus option adds an upgrade to the Penguin Parade experience. Check the option details at checkout to see the specific enhancement included.
Phillip Island Tour: Penguins, Wine & Wildlife from Melbourne
12h · EN
from AU$ 245 per person
≈ US$ 174 in your currency
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