Phillip Island is surrounded by surf beaches and bays that attract Melbourne residents and visitors all year round. Located just 90 minutes south of Melbourne, Bunyip Tours operate daily Phillip Island tours (including overnight options) from Base St Kilda every day. A Philllip Island Tour will always include the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade, something you will never forget witnessing!
Bunyip Tours
Small tours are a favourite of mine, they're a great way to meet new people! The tour began quite late (9:30am), which was great for me as I was struggling to get out of bed after last night’s ‘Ladies Night’ at the Base St Kilda bar. I jumped onboard the bus to meet Phil our tour guide and the rest of the group who were just as excited by the lucky weather we were having.
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Moonlit Sanctuary, Koala Conservation Centre, Woolamai
We made our way to Phillip Island as Phil gave us tips and information about the Aussie wildlife residing on the island. Did you know that Koalas sleep 23 hours a day? Soon we arrived at Moonlit Sanctuary which is an open plan wildlife park home to snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, dingos & many more Aussie animals. For $10 we even had the option to get up close & personal with a Koala!
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After feeding some wallabies and finishing our lunch, we ventured to Phillip Island. As we crossed the bridge we were welcomed by stunning beaches and bays on either side of us. The island had a real ‘surfy’ vibe.
Soon we arrived at the Koala Conservation Centre for a short stroll along the boardwalk whilst looking for Koalas in the gum trees above. Next stop? Woolamai Surf Beach to watch some local surfers tackle the 10 foot waves.
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Churchill Island
Churchill Island is a neighbouring island with historic value. We visited a farmstead on the island and viewed a Sheep shearing demonstration. The historic farm had horses, pigs, ducks and of course, sheep!
We continued our drive to the easterly point of Phillip Island and past the Grand Prix circuit. When we arrived at the Nobbies we had the opportunity to see seals and enjoyed a scenic boardwalk along the coastline.
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Phillip Island Penguin Parade
As the sun began to set we made our way to the highlight of the day, the Penguin Parade! 32,000 small penguins live on Phillip Island and each evening you have the opportunity to watch the cute little creatures swim onto the island from the beach and make their way back home... amazing!
You're allowed to take photos, but please don't use a flash!
You can also learn a lot about the penguins at the visitor centre onsite.
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We made our way back to Melbourne before arriving home at 9:00PM. The day was absolutely incredible! Bunyip Tours also offer an overnight tour option which I would definitely recommend for the summer months!
Surf Beaches, Koalas & Penguins – Phillip Island is just 90 minutes south of Melbourne.
All of the pictures in this article were provided by Bunyip Tours. When watching the Phillip Island Penguin Parade please do not use flash photography.
