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Phillip Island Tour: Wine, Wildlife & Views
4.9
207 Ratings
Southbank
Experience the best of Phillip Island with a local guide. Enjoy wine tasting, lunch, and a visit to the iconic Penguin Parade. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
Experience the best of Phillip Island with a local guide. Enjoy wine tasting, lunch, and a visit to the iconic Penguin Parade. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
Duration:
12 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Arts Centre Melbourne - Start your Phillip Island journey with a complimentary Melbourne barista coffee at the Arts Centre. Board a luxury midi-coach and join fellow travelers for a personalized small-group tour through Victoria’s stunning coastal region to Phillip Island.
- San Remo - Welcome to San Remo, where the iconic Phillip Island Bridge…
- Arts Centre Melbourne - Start your Phillip Island journey with a complimentary Melbourne barista coffee at the Arts Centre. Board a luxury midi-coach and join fellow travelers for a personalized small-group tour through Victoria’s stunning coastal region to Phillip Island.
- San Remo - Welcome to San Remo, where the iconic Phillip Island Bridge greets you at Bass Coast. Take a stroll along the foreshore, observe the resident Australian pelicans, and capture your first coastal photos of this renowned Victorian fishing village.
- Phillip Island - Welcome to Phillip Island, home to a small community of 15,000 that grows significantly during peak holiday seasons.
- Phillip Island Winery - Visit the boutique Phillip Island Winery for premium cellar-door wine tasting featuring award-winning Gippsland wines. Enjoy a guided tasting of six local wines, accompanied by generous grazing boards of Victorian meats, cheeses, and artisan breads, followed by a wood-fired pizza feast with sea-salt fries and gourmet salads.
Note: On select days, meals are served at our partner Phillip Island seaside restaurant with the same high-quality menu.
- Cape Woolamai - Pass by one of Phillip Island’s three main settlements as we head to Cowes.
- Cowes - Discover Phillip Island’s main township with beaches, local shops, and a relaxed coastal streetscape. Your guide will highlight local Cowes favorites before allowing free exploration time.
- Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Reserve - This is an optional extra (+$15 on the day) instead of your time at Cowes. Upgrade to walk elevated boardwalks for guaranteed koala sightings, and see wallabies and native Australian birds in their natural Phillip Island habitat.
- Flynns Beach - Visit this pristine Phillip Island beach for golden Bass Strait sands, crystal-clear waters, and refreshing Victorian sea air.
- Phillip Island Nature Parks - Penguin Parade - Experience the world-famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade with general viewing tickets. Explore the interactive Visitor Centre, enjoy dinner from the onsite cafe if you wish, then take your place to witness thousands of Little Penguins return from Bass Strait at sunset, with guided commentary as they waddle through. Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction. Penguin Plus viewing upgrades (+$55) available for an extra-special experience to see the penguins at eye level.
- The Nobbies Centre - Arrive at The Nobbies’ clifftop boardwalks during golden hour. Spot seabirds, wallabies, and Australian fur seals from spectacular Bass Strait views while enjoying a glass of celebratory sparkling wine as day turns to dusk over Phillip Island.
- Melbourne - Return to Melbourne after a fulfilling day of nature, wildlife observation, and wine. Drop-off is available at the Melbourne Arts Centre or city center hotels upon request.
What's Included
- Koala Conservation Reserve upgrade available (+$15pp) - see koalas up close in their native habitat
- Gourmet wood-fired lunch with seasonal sides and premium Victorian ingredients
- Penguin Parade tickets - witness Australia’s Little Penguins return home at Summerland Beach sunset
- Cowes township exploration - free time in Phillip Island’s charming…
- Koala Conservation Reserve upgrade available (+$15pp) - see koalas up close in their native habitat
- Gourmet wood-fired lunch with seasonal sides and premium Victorian ingredients
- Penguin Parade tickets - witness Australia’s Little Penguins return home at Summerland Beach sunset
- Cowes township exploration - free time in Phillip Island’s charming main town
- Melbourne barista coffee on departure - start your day with quality local coffee
- Premium luxury coach transport - comfortable midi-coach with WiFi and charging ports
- Phillip Island wine tasting with generous grazing platter at boutique local winery
- Sparkling wine at sunset - toast the day with bubbles and Bass Strait ocean views at The Nobbies
- Locally guided, genuine small-group - maximum 15 people with guaranteed window seat for each booking
What's Not Included
- Dinner
- Koala Conservation Reserve
- Dinner
- Koala Conservation Reserve
Additional Information
Experience the ultimate Phillip Island tour, perfect for those seeking more than just the Penguin Parade. Delight in local cuisine and wine, observe native wildlife, and enjoy the stunning views of the island’s hidden gems.
The adventure begins at the Melbourne Arts Centre, where guests meet their local guide and board a premium midi-coach. The tour is…
Experience the ultimate Phillip Island tour, perfect for those seeking more than just the Penguin Parade. Delight in local cuisine and wine, observe native wildlife, and enjoy the stunning views of the island’s hidden gems.
The adventure begins at the Melbourne Arts Centre, where guests meet their local guide and board a premium midi-coach. The tour is conducted in small groups, with a maximum of 15 participants.
The first destination is the coastal sanctuary of San Remo, the entrance to Phillip Island.
Guests will then savor a wine tasting and grazing experience at the renowned Phillip Island Winery, followed by a shared-plate lunch by the bay.
Next, visitors can explore the quaint town of Cowes at their leisure, with opportunities to stroll along beaches, browse boutiques, or visit the koala conservation reserve.
The journey continues to The Nobbies for golden hour, offering expansive ocean views and wildlife, complemented by a glass of sparkling wine.
The day concludes at the iconic Penguin Parade, with general viewing entry included.
Location
Arts Centre Melbourne
Saint Kilda Road
- Meet outside Protagonist Café at Arts Centre Melbourne (100R St Kilda Rd) - look for the giant spire.
- Easy access via trams in Free Tram Zone.
- Just 5 mins from Flinders St Station or 5–10 mins walk from most city centre hotels.
- Post-tour we can dropoff to city-center hotels upon request.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(207 Ratings)
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V3831nits
Apr 7, 2026
Phillip Island small-group tour with wine, lunch, and penguin parade. - We enjoyed our coffee, lunch, and stops at the koala center, Phillip Island winery, the nobbies, and the penguin parade. The group was small (4 from Melbourne), but Yuri was enthusiastic and made sure we enjoyed our time at each stop. Best for a variety of things to do on the island if you want an all-day experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eleanor_k
Mar 20, 2026
Wonderful 😃 - This is a great tour! It had it all wildlife, scenery, wine and cheese!!! Ned was a fantastic guide friendly and knowledgeable, he offered snippets of information about history, flora and fauna.
Review provided by Viator
Traveler24740780198
Mar 1, 2026
Phillip island and wine tour - Excellent
The vineyard was fantastic, the food was fantastic, the penguins were adorable and great experience, the coach was lovely, and the host/ tour guide Mike was fabulous. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mobile22986344046
Feb 27, 2026
Relaxed Small‑Group Nature Tour with Local Taste - The tour was guided by Mike, who was young yet impressively kind, knowledgeable, and flexible. His professionalism and warm attitude made the experience feel very well organized and enjoyable. The schedule included wine tasting and a late lunch, timed between lunch and dinner—perhaps to avoid crowds. The tasting was at a small winery, offering 5–6 varieties of wine. While the condiments were simple, they were local and delicious. Lunch of pizza, salad, and fries was tasty, with reasonable portions, and the restaurant had a beautiful view of the sea.
Although only a few penguins appeared due to the late sunset, the evening was memorable thanks to the stunning starry sky and the clear view of the Southern Cross. It was also pleasantly warm, so waiting for the parade was comfortable despite the late hour. Joining as a solo traveler, I appreciated the small group setting, which felt relaxed and stress‑free. For those traveling alone, the chance to sample wines and share food is especially valuable. Considering the content, the tour felt very reasonably priced and highly worthwhile.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon
Feb 19, 2026
Great Day Out - This tour was a big day, but included lots of interesting stops. Mike was friendly and down to earth and provided lots of tips and tricks in relation to sighting wildlife and penguins. The tastings at the winery included some really good wines and an awesome charcuterie board. Lunch was amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathydx1852bv
Feb 13, 2026
Philip island 🏝 - Absolutely amazing experience. Yuli our tour guide was very welcoming. Great shopping, coastal drive, great cafes and restaurant's. It was a beautiful experience seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juan_v
Feb 10, 2026
100% Fun Day - What an awesome day. It is long day, so be aware of it. You do have a number of times to eat. We left Melbourne at 11:00 and came back at midnight. It was worth every minute! Our driver Yuri was the best. He is extremely friendly, helpful, gave us tons of information of the history and facts as we drove along. Awesome person. I did the wine option by mistake since I am not a wine drinker, however the tasting was fun and informative. The other option is to go on a short cruise which is what I recommend if you are not into wines. It was my own mistake that I chose the wrong option. Local Ways Tour company was an excellent choice for tour operator.
Review provided by Viator
Abby_m
Jan 27, 2026
Animals in natural habitat, come hungry - We really enjoyed our day trip to Phillip island, and our guide, Mike was amazing. He was professional, accommodating and ensured the needs of the group were met. The coach was clean and safe, and the usb charging ports were a nice bonus. There was plenty of space for everyone.
The highlights were definitely the koalas (worth the fee) and penguins. The shopping plaza at the penguin parade pavilion had lots of nice souvenirs from indigenous people, among other expected items. We enjoyed our wine tasting and charcuterie board. We took our pizza to go and enjoyed it later in the day with the champagne at sunset after being quite full from the beautiful grazing board at the wine tasting. The Nobbies were breathtaking, and we enjoyed seeing nature and the wildlife in its native home.
The downside was it’s a very long day because you are on the penguins’ schedule. Haha. They didn’t walk until around 21:10 and is related to sunset timing. As such, we weren’t back in Melbourne until after midnight, so plan accordingly. Also, I would recommend skipping the stop in San Remo and allowing people more time to explore Cowes. It would feel less broken up that way, and we would have had more time to enjoy the beach.
Bring lots of water, a hat and sunscreen! You can leave your day pack safely on the bus.
Overall, the tour is very professional and very well done, and I would recommend for a nice day trip getting outside the city if seeing these creatures is your thing!
Review provided by Viator
Ann_h
Jan 29, 2026
Penguins were great but... - Penguins were great but not enough time at the viewing site. We also spent a lot of time picking people up. Felt rushed.
Review provided by Viator
Mark_c
Feb 6, 2026
More notice needed if you cancel a tour. - Although I understand that a tour may need to cancel due to low attendance, advising me at 4pm the day before lest no time find alternatives as many operators had closed off their diaries for the next day by that time.
Review provided by Viator
