Puffing Billy Railway & Penguin Parade private tour

Steam train through the ranges, then little penguins waddling ashore at dusk

A private full-day tour from Melbourne that combines two of Victoria's signature experiences: a scenic ride on the heritage Puffing Billy Railway through the lush Dandenong Ranges, followed by the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, where little penguins return from the sea at sunset. The tour includes all entry fees, air-conditioned transport, bottled water and a live English-speaking guide, with flexible pickup and drop-off from your Melbourne hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Puffing Billy Railway1h
2. Penguin Parade2h 30m · entry included

Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade Tour

• Pickup from Melbourne hotel
• Visit Melbourne UGG showroom (optional)
• Travel towards Puffing Billy Railway
• Walk around Emerald Lake
• Ride Puffing Billy steam train
• Drive to Phillip Island
• Visit the Nobbies coastal area
• Watch Penguin Parade at sunset
• Return to Melbourne hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your Melbourne hotel in a luxury vehicle and driven toward the Dandenong Ranges, where the day's first stop is the Puffing Billy Railway. This heritage steam train has run since 1900, and the journey takes you through forest canopy and open viaducts with views across the ranges. You ride in open carriages, so the air and the sound of the engine stay with you the whole way. The ride is roughly an hour, and you have free time at the station to browse the gift shop or grab a hot or cold drink. Those are your own cost. A short walk around Emerald Lake breaks up the drive before you board.

After Puffing Billy, the tour heads south toward Phillip Island, a drive of about an hour through Victoria's countryside. You stop at the Nobbies, a headland on Phillip Island's western tip where the cliffs drop to the ocean and the views stretch across the water. There's time to walk the boardwalks, take photos and grab dinner before the main event, but dinner is your own expense. As the sun sets, you move to the Penguin Parade viewing area. Little penguins, no taller than your knee, come ashore in groups after spending the day at sea. They waddle across the beach and disappear into the dunes toward their burrows. The parade lasts roughly an hour, and the timing shifts with the seasons, so the operator coordinates the schedule to catch it. The return to Melbourne takes about ninety minutes, and you arrive back at your hotel in the evening.

The tour runs as a private booking for your group alone (whether that's two people or eleven), so the pace and stops stay under your control. A live guide travels with you throughout the day and speaks English and Turkish. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water is provided. All entry fees to Puffing Billy and the Penguin Parade are included in the price.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport with pickup and drop-off from your Melbourne hotel.
• entry to Puffing Billy Railway and the Penguin Parade.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• WiFi on board.
• a live guide speaking English and Turkish.

Options for this experience

3 options

Party of 1 to 3 peopleUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Turkish · 12:30Kia Carnival or Hyundai Staria; includes pickup

Party of 4 to 7 peopleUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English or Turkish · 12:30Kia Carnival or Hyundai Staria; includes pickup

Party of 8 to 11 peopleUp to 11 per booking · Guide in English or Turkish · 12:30LDV 11-seater bus; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:30

Book up to1d before

AgesFrom age 3

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by G&E TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want both attractions in a single day without arranging your own transport between them. The private format means your group sets the pace at each stop. You can linger at Emerald Lake or the Nobbies as long as you like, and the guide adjusts the schedule around the Penguin Parade's sunset timing, which shifts with the season.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Turkish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the steam train ride on Puffing Billy Railway?

The Puffing Billy Railway journey through the Dandenong Ranges takes roughly an hour, with the train passing through forest and over open viaducts. You ride in open carriages, so you're exposed to the air and the sound of the heritage steam engine throughout.

What time does the Penguin Parade start on Phillip Island?

The Penguin Parade timing shifts with the seasons because the little penguins return to shore at dusk, which changes throughout the year. Your guide coordinates the tour schedule to arrive at the viewing area when the penguins are coming ashore, and the parade itself lasts roughly an hour.

Can I stop for dinner during the tour?

Yes, there is time for dinner before the Penguin Parade at the Nobbies area on Phillip Island. Dinner is your own expense and not included in the tour price, so you can choose where and what to eat.

Is the Emerald Lake walk part of the tour?

Emerald Lake is a short walk in the Dandenong Ranges that breaks up the drive before you board the Puffing Billy Railway. It gives you a chance to stretch, breathe the forest air and take photos before the steam train ride.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes private air-conditioned transport from your Melbourne hotel, entry to both Puffing Billy Railway and the Penguin Parade, bottled water, WiFi on board and a live English-speaking guide. Souvenirs, refreshments, dinner and shopping are your own cost.

How many people can book this tour together?

The tour is private to your group, and you can book for one to eleven people. The operator offers three group sizes at checkout: one to three people, four to seven people, or eight to eleven people, each priced per group rather than per person.