Penguin Parade Visitor Centre — Attraction in Phillip Island

The Penguin Parade Visitor Centre prepares you for one of Victoria’s most memorable wildlife evenings the moment you step through its broad glass doors. Inside, interactive displays trace the remarkable journeys little penguins make at sea, while touch screens let children “dive” for fish and discover how the birds navigate. A long picture window frames the dunes and surf so that you can already sense the colony beyond the car park. Staff manage the ebb and flow of visitors with calm precision, guiding anyone with mobility needs to the best boardwalks and reminding everyone to bring an extra layer or two because the temperature drops quickly beside Bass Strait once the sun slides toward the horizon.

As dusk settles the reserve itself becomes almost hushed. From the tiered stands you first hear soft calls, then see small grey heads bobbing through the whitewater. Moments later whole groups shuffle upright, feathers slick, and start their determined trek across the sand. Red‑filtered lights remain low enough to protect sensitive eyes yet bright enough for guests to watch each bird’s progress among the tussocks. Rangers weave in gentle commentary, pointing out juveniles learning the route or pairs exchanging greeting calls, and the audience responds with whispered excitement rather than loud cheers.

After the final birds disappear into their burrows most people drift back to the centre in near silence, pausing to warm up with a hot drink or browse the thoughtfully curated gift shop. Clear signage throughout the evening explains why flash‑free photography is essential for the penguins’ well‑being and volunteers politely reinforce the rule. The entire experience feels carefully balanced between education and wonder, leaving visitors with a deeper respect for these resilient little travellers and a lasting memory of watching nature unfold...

We love visiting the Penguin Parade!! We became big fans after watching the live streams during covid lockdowns.

For the best experience, I highly recommend picking the Penguins Plus category to get right up close and personal with the penguins on the "penguin highway." Make sure to dress warmly. Or if going the budget option, get in nice and early because everyone has to line up for a good spot!

No need to worry if you have low mobility as there is a buggy that is able to transport you a fair distance closer to the experience (however there are stairs in the cheapest tier of seating.)

And remember to pre-purchase your tickets well in advance!!!

This time we paid to do the Guided Penguin Tour, which was excellent if you wanted a small group of ten experience with the very knowledgeable and engaging keepers who all work closely with the Penguins. You get to be nearly as close to the beach near the Penguins Plus for a time but then get led around the boardwalk with lots of facts from your tour guide! So that is better if you're more of a facts person or have never visited and want to ask lots of questions.

Don't forget to look up at the stars!!

It was the low season this time we went (at the start of April), so if I could choose another time to go it would be later in the year after they return from their big feed after completing their catastrophic molt!

The food at the restaurant there is also lovely and about the same price as other restaurants in the area if you want to settle in before heading...

The Penguin Parade is a unique and fun experience — watching the little penguins waddle back to their burrows is a sight to remember. It’s a great nature encounter, especially for families and visitors who’ve travelled hours from Melbourne. That said, there are a few things that could be significantly improved.

The seating setup is quite poor. Unless you’re seated in the front row, or very tall, it’s incredibly hard to see anything. Standing is discouraged, and the flat bench-style seating means visibility is limited — especially for kids. For the price of the experience, and the number of people attending, better thought should be given to seating. Stadium-style or tiered theatre seating would go a long way to ensure everyone can actually enjoy what they paid for.

Another issue is the photography ban. While I understand it may be for the penguins’ welfare, this is not well explained, and many people ignore the rule anyway — snapping photos and videos freely. It feels unfair for those who follow the rules. If there’s a scientific or ethical reason behind it, better communication would help everyone understand and respect it more.

Lastly, while the parade is undeniably captivating, it does raise questions about how much human presence affects the natural behaviour of the penguins. It would be reassuring to know what’s being done to ensure the wildlife isn’t negatively impacted.

All in all, it’s a memorable visit — but with some much-needed...