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PHILLIP ISLAND | The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is one of Victoria’s premier tourist attractions. Every day at sunset, anywhere between a few hundred to several thousand penguins march across the beach to return to their burrow homes on the Summerland Peninsula’s sand dunes.
The Summerland Peninsula is home to an estimated 32,000 little penguins – one of the largest colonies in Australia. Native to Australia, these penguins are the smallest of their species at just 33 centimetres tall. Do bring warm clothing when you visit as even during the summer, it can get quite cold on the beach once the sun goes down.
Also do be aware that if you don’t see many penguins during the parade itself, there’s still a chance to see penguins. As you walk along the boardwalk back to the visitor centre, you’ll see the penguins close up, walking along, underneath, and to the side of the boardwalk as they find their burrows. It’s quite the experience.
The Penguin Parade might be the main reason that visitors come down here, but there’s a lot more to do while down in Summerlands. The Nobbies Centre, which opens at 10:00am each day, is home to a number of interactive and educational experiences, such as the augmented reality Antarctic Journey. Just outside the centre, the Nobbies boardwalk provides stunning views of the coastland, and allows visitors to see some of the penguins in their burrows. Most of them, however, are out swimming. The little penguins leave their burrows about an hour before sunrise and swim up to 100 kilometres each day before returning at dusk.
Penguin Parade
1019 Ventnor Road
Summerlands
Victoria 3922
Australia