Where to See Wild Penguins in Melbourne and Victoria
Victoria is home to several colonies of wild penguins, with viewing opportunities ranging from organised evening experiences to free coastal lookouts. Watching penguins emerge from the sea at dusk and make their way to their burrows is a wonderful wildlife experience for families.
The penguins found along the Victorian coast are Little Penguins, also known as Fairy Penguins. They are the smallest penguin species in the world, standing approximately 33 cm tall. They spend much of the day at sea feeding and generally return to their nesting areas around sunset.
Some locations have specially designed viewing platforms, while others offer only occasional sightings. This guide explains where to go, the best time to visit, whether bookings are required and what you can expect to see.
Melbourne
St Kilda Penguins (St Kilda)
Location: St Kilda Pier, Pier Road, St Kilda
Best time: Evening, after sunset
Cost: Free, but advance bookings are essential.
One of Melbourne's most surprising wildlife attractions is the colony of approximately 1,400 penguins living among the rocks of the St Kilda Breakwater.
A new 150-metre elevated viewing platform opened in October 2025, providing a dedicated area where visitors can watch the penguins without disturbing their nesting habitat.
Phillip Island Nature Parks operates two free guided viewing sessions each evening. The first session provides an opportunity to watch penguins returning from the water, while the later session focuses on activity around the colony after dark.
Each session is limited to 150 visitors. Tickets are released every Tuesday at 10am Melbourne time for the following week's sessions and can book out quickly.
This is an excellent option for families wanting to see wild penguins without travelling far from Melbourne. Photography without flash is permitted, but torches and other bright lights are prohibited.
Phillip Island
Penguin Parade (Phillip Island)
Location: 1019 Ventnor Road, Summerlands, Phillip Island
Best time: Sunset, throughout the year
Cost: Paid admission, with several viewing options.
The world-famous Penguin Parade is Victoria's best-known penguin viewing experience and one of the most reliable places to watch penguins return to shore.
Every evening, penguins emerge from the ocean at Summerland Beach and make their way across the sand towards their burrows.
General Viewing provides tiered seating overlooking the beach, while premium experiences offer smaller viewing areas or different perspectives. Elevated boardwalks also allow visitors to watch penguins moving through the colony.
Allow plenty of time for the experience. The operator recommends arriving approximately one hour before the predicted penguin arrival time.
Advance bookings are essential, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
Important: Photography and video recording are prohibited after sunset at the Penguin Parade.
The Nobbies (Phillip Island)
Location: The Nobbies, western end of the Summerland Peninsula, Phillip Island
Best time: Daylight hours
Cost: Free access to the outdoor boardwalks.
The Nobbies is a spectacular coastal attraction with boardwalks overlooking rugged cliffs, offshore rocks and the ocean.
It is also possible to spot penguins resting in burrows beneath or near the boardwalks. Look carefully around the sheltered nesting areas while remaining on the designated paths.
Unlike the Penguin Parade, sightings are occasional and cannot be guaranteed. The Nobbies is best regarded as an opportunity to spot penguins during a scenic coastal walk, rather than a dedicated evening penguin viewing experience.
The Nobbies is particularly worthwhile for families who want to enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery and watch for wildlife without paying for admission.
Great Ocean Road
Twelve Apostles (Port Campbell National Park)
Location: Great Ocean Road, near Princetown
Best time: Shortly after sunset
Cost: Free.
The Twelve Apostles is famous for its towering limestone stacks, but it is also home to a colony of approximately 800 penguins.
The penguins return to the beach below the cliffs around dusk and can sometimes be observed from the designated clifftop viewing areas.
They generally begin emerging from the water shortly after sunset, with more birds arriving as darkness approaches.
Because the viewing platform is high above the beach, the penguins appear quite small. Binoculars are strongly recommended, and sightings can be difficult in poor light.
This is a wonderful opportunity to combine one of Victoria's most famous coastal views with wildlife watching, but it does not offer the close-up experience of the Penguin Parade.
London Bridge (Port Campbell National Park)
Location: Great Ocean Road, west of Port Campbell, near Peterborough
Best time: Shortly after sunset
Cost: Free.
London Bridge is another excellent place along the Great Ocean Road to watch wild penguins returning to shore.
A smaller colony of approximately 80-100 penguins nests on the beach below the cliffs.
Although the colony is smaller than the one at the Twelve Apostles, the elevated viewing platforms at London Bridge provide a closer vantage point.
Arrive before sunset and watch the beach below as the penguins begin returning from the ocean.
The viewing platforms remain well above the beach, so binoculars are useful. Take extra care around the coastal lookouts as darkness falls.
Other Penguin Colonies in Victoria
Middle Island Penguin Project (Warrnambool)
Location: Middle Island, offshore from Stingray Bay, Warrnambool
Penguin viewing: Not available. Middle Island is permanently closed to the public.
Middle Island is famous for its colony of penguins and the Maremma guardian dogs used to protect them from foxes. The conservation program inspired the Australian film Oddball.
Although the island is an important penguin habitat, visitors are not permitted to enter it, including when a sandbar is exposed at low tide.
Families interested in the story can join the Middle Island Penguin Project Experience, also known as Penguin Protectors Warrnambool, on selected dates. The educational experience explains the conservation work and introduces visitors to the role of the Maremma guardian dogs.
This is a conservation education activity, not a penguin viewing tour, and participants should not expect to see wild penguins.
Which Penguin Viewing Location Is Best?
- Best organised penguin experience: Phillip Island Penguin Parade - dedicated viewing facilities and a reliable opportunity to see penguins returning to shore.
- Best free viewing experience near Melbourne: St Kilda Pier - free guided evening sessions, but advance bookings are required.
- Best chance of a daytime sighting: The Nobbies - penguins may be visible in their burrows, although sightings are not guaranteed.
- Best free coastal viewing locations: Twelve Apostles and London Bridge - watch for penguins returning to the beaches below the cliffs at dusk.
- Best educational conservation experience: Middle Island Penguin Project in Warrnambool - learn about penguin protection without visiting the colony.
Tips for Watching Wild Penguins
- Check sunset times: Penguins generally return to shore around dusk, although arrival times vary with the season and weather.
- Dress warmly: Coastal viewing areas can be cold and windy, even during summer.
- Bring binoculars: These are particularly useful at the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge, where the penguins are viewed from clifftops.
- Stay in designated areas: Remain on boardwalks and viewing platforms. Never enter nesting areas or approach burrows.
- Do not touch or feed penguins: They are wild animals and must be left undisturbed.
- Avoid bright lights: Never use flash photography or shine torches towards penguins. Photography rules vary between locations, and all photography is prohibited after sunset at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
- Book ahead: St Kilda's free sessions and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade both require advance reservations.
- Be patient: Penguin numbers and arrival times vary, and sightings at locations without organised viewing cannot be guaranteed.
Web Links
→ Family Animal and Zoo Locations in Melbourne and Victoria
→ Where can you Pat Kangaroos and other Native Wildlife?
