Phillip Island Nature Parks

This is one of Melbournes institution and a must do. The Fairy Penguins are just lovely and it is a great place to take the kids too. It is amazing how close you can get to the penguins and the information platform prior to entering will give you an understanding of how hard these little guys lifes are. Go early as this place is crazy busy especially with the international visitors.

We have probably been here 5 times but Im sure there will be more to come. We enjoy bringing our guests from overseas here. Funnily enough it doesnt really get boring watching the penguins parading back to their home despite all our visits.

I feel that general admin ticket is more than sufficient as we have a view of the entire beach, and we still have the opportunity to get close up with the penguins along the boardwalks. If youre lucky you can sometimes even see seals near the shoreline too. Apparently they come in to play with the Penguins!
Dont forget to bring a jacket as it can get a cold down here (youre completely exposed to the ocean). Also, while youre down here dont forget to check out the Nobbies beforehand. Its boardwalk offers some with beautiful scenery, and if you look carefully you may be able to spot some young penguins nesting under the boardwalks as they wait for their parents to come hoe.

I have mixed feelings about the Parade. Overseas visitors rarely go home disappointed because it is a true novelty to get so close to wild creatures doing their instinctual behaviours. I am sure the parade is a part reason why the penguins have been well researched and looked after but I is a very long way to go and can be awfully cold and is expensive and is not a pleasant drive back to Melbourne in the dark. At least the highway is gradually getting better. There is another colony of penguins at St Kilda pier which you can get reasonably near by boat. I also often see penguins up close when I am kayaking on Port Phillip Bay.