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French & Phillip Island Wildlife Expedition

Wild koalas by 4WD, then thousands of penguins marching at dusk.

The two-island wildlife day from Melbourne: ferry to French Island for a guided 4WD search for wild koalas, then Phillip Island for the Nobbies' seal colony and the Penguin Parade at dusk. Small group, big day.

⭑ 4.9 718 Google reviews 📍 Melbourne ⏱ 11 Hours 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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$239 AUD

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4.9 from 718 Google reviews

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Overview

Most Phillip Island tours do one island. This one does two, starting with the one almost nobody visits. French Island has no bridge, few residents and one of Australia's healthiest wild koala populations, and you explore it by guided 4WD after a ferry crossing where seals and pelicans often see you off.

A seasonal farm-gate lunch or afternoon tea on the island keeps it local, then it's across to Phillip Island for the famous half: free time in Cowes for the shops and cafés, the Nobbies Boardwalk with its sea bluffs and seal colony, and then the main event, the Penguin Parade at Summerlands Beach, as the world's smallest penguins pour out of the surf at dusk and waddle home past the viewing stands. General entry is included; upgrades like Penguins Plus are available.

It's a small-group day with expert guides, coach transport from Melbourne, and a long, worth-it runtime, grab dinner at a local venue before the penguins clock on.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Wild koalas by 4WD

  2. 2

    French Island, the one nobody does

  3. 3

    Penguin Parade at dusk

  4. 4

    Nobbies seal colony boardwalk

  5. 5

    Seasonal farm-gate lunch

  6. 6

    Small group from Melbourne

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Return ferry crossings to/from French Island
  • Guided 4WD tour on French Island
  • Farm-gate lunch or afternoon tea (seasonal)
  • General entry to the Penguin Parade
  • Professional tour guide
  • Round-trip coach transport from Melbourne

✕ Not included

  • ✕Dinner (available for purchase at local venues)
  • ✕Beverages and snacks (available for purchase)
  • ✕Optional Penguin Parade upgrades (Penguins Plus, Discovery, Guided Ranger tour)

Common questions about this trip

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellations more than 48 hours before departure are eligible for a refund. Inside 48 hours a 100% cancellation fee applies, and failing to board counts as a late cancellation. Date changes must be requested at least 48 hours before departure and are subject to availability. Inside 48 hours a change may not be possible and may be treated as a cancellation. If the operator cancels a tour, you are offered an alternative date or a refund. Refunds are not generally given for rain, cold, heat, wind or other conditions where the tour can still run safely. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

The operator's track record

4.9 on Google · 718 reviews

Review excerpts below are from Tripadvisor.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"French Island is wonderful and full of cute koalas. The Nobbies is a wonderful surprise, very nice to come there during the golden hour and get nice photos of the roaring sea and rocks. We also saw some nocturnal animals like the possum and bandicoot."
A

ALEX29561

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"We had seats in the Penguin Plus area for the sunset parade of penguins returning from the sea to feed their young in hillside burrows. It was certainly a grand parade to observe and it totally made our trip to Australia!"
j

jaye591

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Wonderful trip! We didn’t have great weather but tour guides helped us make the most of it. Wild animals, fabulous lunch, history of the area. Enjoyed the day."
K

Karrie T

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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