Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne: My Go West Tours Review
Is a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne Worth It?
A Phillip Island tour from Melbourne is absolutely worth it if you want an easy way to see several famous Victoria attractions without renting a car or driving back to Melbourne late at night. My tour with Go West Tours included the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary, The Nobbies, Southpoint Lookout, and the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
Overall, I highly recommend Go West Tours. The pickup was on time, the bus was comfortable, and our guide, Maddie, was knowledgeable and easy to talk to throughout the day. The only part of the tour that disappointed me was the actual Penguin Parade experience. Seeing the Little Penguins come ashore was incredible, but the crowds made it feel much more commercial than I expected.
If you are looking for a simple, well-organized Phillip Island day trip from Melbourne, this tour is a great option. Just know ahead of time that the Penguin Parade is a major tourist attraction, not a quiet wildlife experience.
Phillip Island Tour - Table of Contents
- Is a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne Worth It?
- About My Go West Phillip Island Tour
- Book a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne
- Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes
- Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary
- The Nobbies
- Southpoint Lookout
- What to Expect at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- My Honest Review of Go West Tours
- FAQ About Taking a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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About My Go West Phillip Island Tour
After taking the Great Ocean Road tour the day before, I was happy that this Phillip Island tour from Melbourne had a later pickup. My pickup was at 11:55 a.m., which gave me time to sleep in and recover from the previous long day of touring.
I ended up sitting in the spacious front seat of the tour bus, which made the ride comfortable and gave me a chance to talk with our guide, Maddie. She was friendly, professional, and clearly knew a lot about the area. I always appreciate when a guide can explain the places we are visiting without making the tour feel scripted.
The itinerary was well planned and included a nice mix of scenery, wildlife, and coastal viewpoints before ending with the Penguin Parade. For me, the best parts of the tour were actually the stops before the Penguin Parade, especially Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary and The Nobbies.
Book a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne
I took my Phillip Island tour with Go West Tours and had a great experience with the company. Go West also ran my Great Ocean Road tour, and after two full days of touring with them, I can confidently say they are one of the better tour companies I have used.
Below are several Phillip Island tour options available through Viator. I am an affiliate partner, so I may earn a small commission if you book using one of my links, at no extra cost to you. If you prefer to book directly with Go West Tours, I completely understand, but I will not receive a commission.
Prices and tour inclusions can change, so I recommend checking the current details before booking.
Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes
Our first stop was the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, one of the most colorful and recognizable stops near Melbourne. These bright little structures line the beach and date back to the 1860s, when they were originally used as changing rooms.
Today, the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes are privately owned and have become famous landmarks. Each one has its own color scheme or design, which makes the area a fun stop for photos. Some are simple, while others have designs like kangaroos, waves, or Australian flags.
We had about 20 minutes to walk along the boardwalk, take pictures, and enjoy the view of the Melbourne skyline across the bay. It was a quick stop, but it was a nice way to begin the tour before heading farther out toward Phillip Island.
Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary
The next stop on my Phillip Island wildlife tour was Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary. Admission was included with the tour, and this ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day.
There were opportunities to pay extra for certain animal encounters, including hand-feeding kangaroos or getting closer to koalas. Since I had already visited Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, I did not feel like I needed to do every extra experience. I was happy just walking around, taking photos, and enjoying the animals.
Birds at Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the first things I noticed at Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary was the number of birds. As I walked along the path, I saw several types of cockatoos, including a Gang-gang Cockatoo, a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.
This was a nice surprise because I expected the sanctuary to mostly be about kangaroos and koalas. Instead, there was a good variety of Australian wildlife throughout the park.
Koalas at Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary
The koalas were another highlight. During my previous koala experience in Sydney, most of the koalas were asleep, which is pretty normal. At Moonlit Sanctuary, one koala was wide awake and looking right toward me, which made for a much better photo.
I would not say this section alone is enough reason to book the tour, but it definitely added to the overall Phillip Island day trip experience.
Kangaroos at Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary
The kangaroos were much larger than I expected, especially when standing upright. Even though they were big, they were calm and gentle around visitors. I was able to get close to the kangaroos, pet one, and even give one a quick hug. That was one of those unexpected travel moments that I will always remember.
Other Australian Wildlife
In addition to koalas and kangaroos, I also saw dingoes, a wombat, and a Wedge-tailed Eagle. I accidentally wandered back into the kangaroo area and missed one of the animal demonstrations, but I still felt like I had enough time to enjoy the sanctuary.
I also stopped at the cafe and had a chicken schnitzel burger with chips. Since this is a long tour, having food available at Moonlit Sanctuary was helpful.
The Nobbies and Phillip Island Coastal Views
After about an hour of driving, we reached Phillip Island and stopped at The Nobbies. This was one of the most scenic parts of the tour and felt much more peaceful than the Penguin Parade area.
The boardwalk at The Nobbies winds through coastal scenery with views of the ocean, rocky cliffs, and penguin burrows. Many of the burrows were empty during our visit because the penguins were out at sea, but I did see a few Little Penguins peeking out from their homes.
Our guide explained that this area has an important conservation history. As development increased on Phillip Island, efforts were made to protect the Little Penguin colony and preserve the land around the burrows.
The Nobbies gave me about 30 minutes to walk around, take photos, and enjoy the coastline. While we explored, Maddie collected our Penguin Parade tickets, which made the transition to the final stop easy.
Southpoint Lookout
Before going to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, we made a quick stop at Southpoint Lookout. This was a short stop, but the views were excellent.
The waves were crashing against the rocks, and the late-day light made the coastline even more dramatic. Unlike the Penguin Parade, this area was quiet and uncrowded, which made it one of the better photo stops of the day.
We only had about 10 minutes here, but that was enough time to take a few pictures and enjoy one final coastal viewpoint before heading to the main event.
What to Expect at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
The Penguin Parade was the part of the tour I was most excited about, but it was also the part that surprised me the most. When we arrived, the area was packed with tour buses and visitors. The visitor center was large, busy, and filled with penguin-themed merchandise, displays, and a cafe. It felt more like arriving at a major attraction than entering a quiet nature reserve.
I had a Penguins Plus ticket, which gave me access to a better viewing area than general admission. I was glad I had the upgrade, but even Penguins Plus still felt crowded.
Penguins Plus vs. General Viewing
For my visit, Penguins Plus felt worth considering because I had a better viewing area than I would have had with general admission. However, it was still crowded, so I would not expect a quiet or private wildlife experience.
Penguin Parade Crowds
The biggest issue for me was the crowd behavior. Before the penguins arrived, the rangers clearly explained the rules: no photography, no standing, and silence after sundown to protect the penguins.
Unfortunately, once the first penguins came out of the water, many people ignored the rules. There were camera sounds, people talking, and rangers repeatedly reminding visitors to stop taking photos.
Seeing the Little Penguins come ashore was amazing, but the crowd took away from the moment. I found myself more distracted by the people around me than focused on the penguins.
Can You Take Photos at the Penguin Parade?
No, you cannot take photos during the Penguin Parade. This rule exists to protect the penguins, especially from bright lights and camera flashes.
I followed the rule and did not take photos of the penguins during the parade. The photos I have from this stop are from before the penguins arrived, including the visitor center, walkway, and viewing area.
My Honest Review of Go West Tours
I really enjoyed most of this Phillip Island tour from Melbourne, and I highly recommend Go West Tours. The pickup was on time, the bus was comfortable, and Maddie was an excellent guide. The itinerary was also well planned. I never felt rushed at the major stops, and the tour included a good mix of beaches, wildlife, coastal scenery, and the Penguin Parade.
My only disappointment was the Penguin Parade itself. That had nothing to do with Go West Tours. The Penguin Parade is operated separately, and my issue was with how crowded and commercial the experience felt.
Even with Penguins Plus, there were a lot of people in the viewing area. Between the crowds, people trying to sneak photos, and rangers constantly correcting visitors, the experience was less peaceful than I hoped.
My final recommendation is simple: I definitely recommend this tour, but know what you are getting with the Penguin Parade. It is a famous and worthwhile attraction, but it does not feel like becoming one with nature.
After taking both the Great Ocean Road tour and the Phillip Island tour with Go West, I think they are the real deal. Both guides, ScoMo and Maddie, were professional and knowledgeable, and the buses were comfortable. I have taken a lot of tours around the world, and Go West gets my highest recommendation.
FAQ About Taking a Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne
Is a Phillip Island tour from Melbourne worth it?
Yes, a Phillip Island tour from Melbourne is worth it if you want an easy way to see Brighton Beach, Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary, The Nobbies, and the Penguin Parade without renting a car. I especially liked the tour logistics and the wildlife stops. The only downside was that the Penguin Parade was much more crowded than I expected.
What is included on a Phillip Island tour?
Most Phillip Island tours include several stops before the Penguin Parade. My tour included the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary, The Nobbies, Southpoint Lookout, and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
Is the Penguin Parade crowded?
Yes, the Penguin Parade can be very crowded. Even with a Penguins Plus ticket, there were still a lot of people in the viewing area during my visit.
Is Penguins Plus worth it?
For my visit, Penguins Plus felt worth considering because I had a better viewing area than I would have had with general admission. However, it was still crowded, so I would not expect a quiet or private wildlife experience.
Can you take photos at the Penguin Parade?
No, photos are not allowed during the Penguin Parade. I recommend following the rule because it helps protect the penguins and keeps the experience better for everyone.
Should I book a Phillip Island tour or drive myself?
A tour is the easier option if you are staying in Melbourne and do not want to drive back late at night. Driving yourself gives you more flexibility, but the tour made the day simple and stress-free.
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