Phillip Island Nature Park - Penguin Parade

I'm amazed people love this so much.. Last time I went the penguins walked around the lights, the most excitement came during the two seconds one would accidentally stumble into view before quickly scurrying away. It's expensive. Venue is nice but not nice enough to justify this lol.

Go climb down near the nobbies in breeding season, you'll see babies in their nesting boxes. Wayyyyy better.

Large commercial tourist complex exhibiting Little Penguins (aka"fairy") on Phillip Island Vic
Although this is a "must do" for Melbourne tourists, birdos may be over-whelmed with this much hype.
We arrived early to look around the venue while still quiet - the gatekeeper tried to charge entry fees for the entire party just to look at the shops! (this was prevented only after long detailed explanations and supervisor intervention)
After that we had fun making fun of kitch/retro penguin-themed stuff
There are many quiet places in Victoria for excellent bird watching, seeing birds in the wild is kinda better
TIP: always check for stray penguins under the car before you leave the venue!

Approximate cost: $118

Its an awesome experience to see Penguins marching from sea to their homes. Its bit expensive. It gets bit messy as people tend to stand & block the vision for others behind them. The management needs to work on this.Rest it is a best exp.

Approximate cost: $100

You simply can't leave Phillip Island with out going to the penguin parade. They are so cute, but the camera flash's do scare them a bit so it takes a while for them to come in from the beach.

Approximate cost: $23.80

It's a real shame that some of the tourists can really ruin this experience for everyone by taking photos and scaring the penguins back into the water. It also gets very very cold and quite windy, so you need to dress warmly. I loved seeing the penguin parade, I'm really looking forward to taking my son to see the penguins and learn about them.

We did a lot of research into the best viewing and decided on the 'Penguin Plus'. they only allow 190 people in this seating area and it is the closest you will be to the penguins as they arrive ashore for the evening. Although the value is excellent, it was expensive.

We got there early to choose our seats as once the penguins arrive the Rangers ask for no talking and no moving about.

The Rangers were incredibly knowledgable and friendly too!!

There is a cafe, a gift shop, plenty of restroom facilities.

A must see that you will not see anywhere else in Australia. Absolutely brilliant!!

The penguin parade was awesome. The area at the beach is great and the park rangers explain what's happening which the kids loved. It was also great when you walk back from the beach and watch the penguins coming back to the shore. It gets quite cold sat waiting so I'd recommend taking layers. The chance to buy return passes is also great if you want to go back again. It's a must for all visitors to Vic we loved it.

The Penguin Parade is a MUST!! especially if you have young children. We had our photo taken which was quite reasonably price to mark the occasion. There is also a café which we really didn't find appetising (but maybe we were just all very excited!!) it also had a couple of gift shops and a beautiful long boardwalk down to the beach where you could witness the Penguins coming in for the night. The children were all very excited and the Park Ranger was fantastic filling in the time talking about Penguins and their behaviours which was great for the children!

Great tourist place. I love the penguins. They are always doing improvements and expanding. I love it in summer. Great cafe too and gift shop. Well worth it.

great for tourists, range of animals and things to do while hanging around (the penguins are the cutest!) and decent cafe and gift shop, which are a bit overpriced but understandable given that it's a tourist attraction

Well worth every cent you pay and then some. The Tiny Penguins are so endearing as they waddle past you to find their homes in the scrub.

The people who work there are wonderfully helpful, accommodating and knowledgeable, they are happy to answer any questions you have.

You do need to be there to get great seats and Take a cushion as it is cold and the seats are hard as you are sitting for some time.

Inside there is a display about the penguin predators, habitat and everything about them. There is gift shops that are full of lovely things for you to remember your trip and all proceeds for to fund the center and habitats for the penguins.
We had our photo taken among the penguins inside the center, shot on a green screen and then superimposed into a beach seen, I loved it, it turned out really well.

Heaps of parking, there is a few disable parking spots, but if you are disable get there early as there is about 6 of them near the entrance. There is also for the disables a little cart that will take you to and from the setting if needed, also seating in the front that you can walk into that has rope across, so you do have to ask someone to allow you to pass please.

We bought a 3 parks pass = Koalas and Churchill Island Heritage Farm for one discounted price. Penguin Parade Experience.

It is also called a PIE pass and there is a few to choose from some get you onto a boat ride to see the seals, So choose carefully.
PIE = PHILLIP ISLAND EXPERIENCE

We went to the penguin parade last night and all I can say is WOW.
It was the most amazing experience and I will encourage any guests to the melbourne area to take the trip down to Phillip Island to see these amazing little creatures.
There was a large cement area right on the beach where you sit and watch them come in (1st penguin was about 9:15pm) and make their way up the beach and into the vegetation. I would definetly recommend bringing a coat - it was a very hot day but still freezing as the sun went down.
The real unexpected treat is making your way back up the boardwalk and seeing all the little penguins making their way back to their burrows. The little babies also come out and cry for their parents. The penguins aren't afraid of the masses of people either and just kind of stare at you.
The staff are fantastic and very knowledgable - there was golf buggies available for our elderly relation who has trouble walking to be taken down to the beach & back to the information centre.

Penguin parade is really fantastic and a must see if you are in the Melbourne area. (2hr drive from cbd)

Approximate cost: $25

We were amazed at the changes that have occurred at the Penguin Parade since we last visited quite a few years ago.
There is now a big, new state-of-the-art visitor and information centre, with a cafe, viewing areas, educational information area and souvenir shop.
You buy tickets here (or pre-book) and then take the raised boardwalks that lead down to the beach-front, where the penquins come in at dusk. They advertise approximate arrival times (these are wild animals, so don't get upset if they aren't on schedule!), and it is suggested you arrive an hour beforehand, so you can be seated and ready. Rug up, it can be cold and windy!
But, the wait is worth it. Watching these beautiful animals darting through the waves, and finally waddling up the sand and into the sandhills is fascinating.
You can then walk back along the boardwalks and watch them waddle up underneath the walkways to their nests. You are often only a few feet away from them here, and can get a good view of them, without disturbing them.
Check out the penguin information area on your way in or out, its very interesting. There are even a couple of penquin nests under the centre, where they have put glass windows so you can view them going into their nests.
The souvenir shop has some really good quality items, not just junk. Nice shirts, jumpers, soft toys etc.
Admission prices start at about $22 for adults, pensioners $15.40, children $11 and a family ticket for about $55.
Some will say its now too over-commercialized. But, how else can funds be raised to preserve and protect these animals and their environment?
I think its all done well, with the animals safety and protection remaining top priority, while giving people the opportunity to enjoy the experience, and hopefully become more conservation-aware.

Approximate cost: $11 to $22.

My family and I went to see the Penguin parade in February 2012 and we were told to get there very early to get a good spot. We got there so early that we had to wait for 3 hrs (so probably too early as it was daylight savings time). They go out at dawn.

We got a good position and waited for all those little cute penguins to waddle up the beach. They were very cute.