Small-Group Penguin Parade & Winery Tour from Melbourne

Explore Phillip Island on a shared coach tour from Melbourne with an English-speaking local driver-guide. Travel in a climate-controlled midi-coach with a guaranteed window seat, combining regional food and wine with coastal scenery and the chance to watch little penguins come ashore.

Itinerary

1. Start with a complimentary barista coffee at the Arts Centre Melbourne, then board a midi-coach for Phillip Island. Depart at 10am from April to September or 11am from October to March.
2. Spend 30 minutes in San Remo by the Phillip Island Bridge. Stretch your legs along the foreshore and look for Australian pelicans.
3. Arrive on Phillip Island.
4. Enjoy 1 hour 30 minutes at Phillip Island Winery, with a tasting of Gippsland wines and grazing boards, followed by a wood-fired lunch made with local produce. The menu may change with the season and ingredient availability.
5. Spend 1 hour exploring Cowes independently, with its beaches, local shops, and coastal streets. Alternatively, visit the Koala Conservation Reserve with an optional $15 upgrade, not included in the listed price, to look for koalas up close.
6. Pass through Cape Woolamai, one of Phillip Island's main settlements.
7. Stop at Flynns Beach for a 15-minute guided visit to its sandy Bass Strait shoreline.
8. Explore The Nobbies on a 45-minute guided visit to the clifftop boardwalks. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and Bass Strait views while looking for seabirds, wallabies, and Australian fur seals.
9. Spend 2 hours at the Penguin Parade with guided commentary. Watch for little penguins returning from Bass Strait at sunset.
10. Return to the Arts Centre Melbourne at 9:30pm. Optional drop-off at Melbourne city centre hotels is available on request.

What's Included

• Penguin Parade admission
• Wine tasting with artisan cheese and charcuterie grazing platters
• Wood-fired lunch featuring seasonal local produce
• Barista coffee and a glass of sparkling wine
• Round-trip coach transport with live commentary
• Onboard WiFi and device charging ports

The optional Koala Conservation Reserve visit costs $15 per person, settled on the day and not included in the listed price. Tips and personal expenses are also not included.

Important details

• Children aged 2–17 require an accompanying paying adult.
• Alcohol is for ages 18+ only. Bring valid ID as proof of age.
• This tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.
• Pets are not allowed.
• Do not bring outside food or drinks.
• Do not feed wildlife or engage in activities that damage the ecosystem.
• Arrive 10 minutes before departure.