Phillip Island is just 40 minutes off the southern coast of Melbourne, yet it feels like it’s a million miles away! When visiting Victoria's capital, a Phillip Island tour from Melbourne is a must-do. The island is just 101 square kilometres in size yet has so much diversity it’s become a popular day trip from Melbourne for tourists and locals.
The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit was built in 1952 and is home to the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and World Superbike Championships. By far, the biggest attraction on Phillip Island, however, is much slower moving. People gather at sunset to watch the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade as fairy penguins head home for the day.
Phillip Island is home to some of Australia’s most unique wildlife, attracting visitors worldwide. Phillip Island tours take visitors to Phillip Island Nature Park to wander through world-renowned wetlands and along scenic boardwalks. As the sun sets, the beach comes to life with the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade - an unforgettable sight.
Just like clockwork, the penguins arrive at sunset every night of the year, and visitors can watch the parade from boardwalks and viewing platforms. Those lucky enough to book a special Phillip Island tour can watch from a safe distance in premium underground viewing areas, offering a close-up look at the penguins' antics.
Phillip Island has one of the largest fairy penguin colonies in the world. Also known as little penguins, these charming creatures are a real spectacle as they waddle their way every day from a day’s fishing to their sand dune burrows for the night.
Many come on a Phillip Island day trip to visit one of Australia’s largest colonies of Australian fur seals. Two kilometres off the island is Seal Rocks, where over 20,000 seals make their home.
Boats take day trippers on fascinating wildlife and scenic cruises around the area’s rugged coastline off Phillip Island, to Seal Rocks, around Westernport Bay and across to Wilsons Promontory. The onboard commentary provides interesting information about the local wildlife, their habitat and history, and some little-known facts.
The boat drifts within metres of the fur seals. It is close enough for some fabulous photographs but far enough away to experience the seals in their natural environment, fishing and diving from the rocks, feeding their young or lazing in the sun.
Between May and September, you take a whale-watching cruise and watch these majestic creatures as they migrate to the waters off Phillip Island.
Yes! Phillip Island is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, crossing the bridge from San Remo to the island.
The Western Port Ferry trip takes around 40 minutes and is a terrific way to unwind from the bustle of Melbourne. The ferry leaves Stony Point Jetty on the Mornington Peninsula, stopping at Tankerton Jetty on French Island before arriving at Cowes, the largest town on the island and the perfect place to start your Phillip Island day tour.
Apart from the unique fur seal colony and amazing little fairy penguins, Phillip Island is home to a wonderful array of wildlife. The island has an abundance of eastern grey kangaroos and is home to swamp wallabies, emus, cassowaries, koalas, echidnas, and Tasmanian devils.
Many of these are found at Phillip Island Wildlife Park, which is set on 60 acres and is home to over 100 species of Australian animals. Many migrating birds also visit the island.
Philip Island boasts spectacular coastlines, beaches and bays, excellent surfing and fishing, seaside villages with lovely cafes and restaurants, fun family activities, and world-class motorsports events.
Our team is always happy to help if you have any questions about us or our tours. Fill out our form and we will get back to you soon.
.png)
We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
Powered by EngineRoom
Fill out your details and we will get in touch with you to reserve your place on the tour.
We roll out the red carpet so you can just sit back and relax and know that everything is included in your holiday experience, no surprises, all inclusive!
More on tour inclusions
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20-%20Falls%20Creek.png)
.png)
%20-%20Glenrowan.png)
%20-%20Great%20Ocean%20Road.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20-%20Mount%20Hotham.png)
.png)
.png)
%20-%20Warrnambool.png)
%20-%20Wilsons%20Promontory%20Wilderness.png)
%20-%20Yarra%20Valley.png)
%20-%20Artvo%20Gallery.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20-%20Melbourne%20Laneways%20and%20Arcades.png)
%20-%20Melbourne%20Museum.png)
%20-%20National%20Gallery%20of%20Australia.png)
%20-%20Ned%20Kelly%20Last%20Stand.png)
%20-%20Otway%20Ranges.png)
