Puffing Billy Steam Train and Penguin Parade from Melbourne

Little penguins wade ashore every night of the year at Phillip Island.

A full-day tour from Melbourne combines a 1-hour steam train journey on Puffing Billy through rainforest and fern gullies with entry to the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, where you watch hundreds of little penguins return from the ocean to their burrows at sunset. The tour includes a licensed guide, return transport from Melbourne, and time to explore the Lakeside Visitor Centre and clifftop boardwalks at The Nobbies, with views of Bass Strait and Seal Rocks. Dinner is available to purchase at Phillip Island. Lunch and snacks are at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Puffing Billy train and Penguin Parade

• Ride Puffing Billy steam train
• Visit Lakeside Visitor Centre
• Explore The Nobbies boardwalks
• Watch Penguin Parade at Phillip Island

The experience

The day starts with a 1-hour steam train ride aboard Puffing Billy, where you can dangle your legs out of the carriage as the train winds through lush rainforest and towering mountain ash in the Dandenong Ranges. After the train journey, you'll visit the Lakeside Visitor Centre at Phillip Island, a cultural hub with facilities, then head to The Nobbies to walk the clifftop boardwalks. From there you can take in panoramic views of Bass Strait and Seal Rocks, and if conditions are right, watch the blowhole in action.

The main event is the Penguin Parade at sunset, where you watch little penguins, the world's largest colony of them, wade back from the ocean to their sandy burrows. You'll view them from a general viewing platform and boardwalks as they make their nightly return. This happens every night of the year, so the parade itself is predictable. What shifts is the light, the season and the number of birds that come ashore on any given evening.

A licensed guide leads the tour and handles the logistics of moving between Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges, and Phillip Island. The full day runs 12 hours, with most of that time spent traveling between the three locations and exploring each site at your own pace. Dinner can be purchased at Phillip Island if you want to eat there. Bring money for lunch and snacks, or plan to buy them along the way.

What’s included

• Return transport from Melbourne.
• a 1-hour steam train ride on Puffing Billy.
• entry to the Penguin Parade.
• access to the Lakeside Visitor Centre and The Nobbies boardwalks.
• and a licensed guide for the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

General ViewingGuide in English · 12:30

Penguins PlusGuide in English · 12:30Upgrade to Penguins Plus, which offers excellent close-up views from its tiered seating.

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

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 27

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explore Australia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both the steam train and penguin viewing in one day. The guided itinerary locks in both experiences, though expect most of your time in transit between Melbourne and Phillip Island.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4).

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.

Can I dangle my legs out of the Puffing Billy train?

Yes. Dangling your legs out of the carriage is part of the experience on Puffing Billy as it winds through the Dandenong Ranges, a time-honored tradition on the historic steam train.

What time does the Penguin Parade happen?

The Penguin Parade occurs at sunset every night of the year, so the exact time shifts with the season. Your guide will time the day so you arrive at Phillip Island as the little penguins begin returning from the ocean.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, so you'll need to bring money or plan to purchase food along the way. Dinner is available to buy at Phillip Island if you want to eat there after the parade.

What is The Nobbies?

The Nobbies is a clifftop area at Phillip Island with boardwalks offering panoramic views of Bass Strait and Seal Rocks. On clear days you may see the blowhole in action as waves crash against the rocks.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You'll walk the boardwalks at The Nobbies and the Penguin Parade viewing areas at your own pace, and the steam train ride requires no physical exertion.