Is it worth visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in winter?
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the disclaimer for more information.
The Phillip Island Penguin Parade is a hugely popular attraction that took us 7.5 years to visit with our son despite living only 2 hours away!
Why did it take us so long? Because during summer, when the weather is best, the penguins don’t start coming in until around 8.00 pm or as late as 9.00 pm. This just seemed too late with a child and driving home afterwards would make it even later.
We considered going to the Penguin Parade in winter, but thought the cold, wet weather might dampen the experience. But we went in winter and it was marvellous!
There is strictly NO PHOTOGRAPHY at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade on the sun sets. All photos of penguins in this blog post are courtesy of the Phillip Island Nature Parks website which has an image library if you wish to see more photos.
Benefits of visiting the Penguin Parade in winter
This post is specific to visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in Winer. I have a separate post dedicated to planning a visit to the Penguin Parade including how to get there, when to arrive, food options and more.
Reason 1: Penguins arrive earlier in winter
The Little Penguins return from ocean feeding at sunset but won’t leave the water until they feel it is dark enough to do so safely. Even a full moon can provide unfavourable light conditions and scare the Little Penguins from waddling up the beach!
Arrival times are available on the Penguin Parade website, but generally during the summer months the penguins won’t be visible until around 8.00 pm and can be as late as 9.00 pm. This makes it a later night.
However, in late autumn and winter (April through to August), the Little Penguins arrive around 5.30 pm – 6.00 pm. September can also be a good time to visit, but try and avoid the school holidays.
LEARN | The penguins at Phillip Island were previously called Fairy Penguins – but this was considered politically incorrect – so now they are Little Penguins
Reason 2: Less crowds
Late spring and summer are the peak periods for the Phillip Island Penguin Parade (along with school holiday and public holidays), but the number of visitors drops in winter. You will have better viewing locations and more room to move around watching the Little Penguins along the boardwalk.
EXPLORE | There is so much beauty in the Gippsland region with more articles on the main destination page.
Reason 3: Accommodation is cheaper
Whilst the ticket price for the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is the same all year, the accommodation on Phillip Island is generally cheaper over winter.
EXPLORE MORE | Book a tour from Melbourne that combines a visit to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade with the iconic Puffing Billy Train in the stunning Dandenong Ranges.
Advice for visiting the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in winter
So you are thinking you will avoid the crowds, get cheaper accommodation and have an earlier night? Here are some tips to ensure you have a wonderful visit.
Bring something to sit on
You are not allowed to stand in the seating area. So even if the seats are totally saturated from rain you will have to sit down. Which means a very wet and cold bottom!
Rug up
The seating area is exposed to the wind and the temperature drops quickly so bring warm clothes and layer up.
Have a positive attitude
No point going in winter and then complaining about the cold! Embrace the seasons!
Strollers/pushers must be left at the top of seating
You can’t bring a stroller/pusher down into the seating area, they have to stay at the top. You can either leave the stroller and bring bubs with you to sit down, or stand with the stroller and still have a view of the beach.
This might be an inconvenience if you were planning to use the weather covers etc on the pusher but you don’t want to stand up.
Walk around
You start by sitting in the seating area to watch the Little Penguins make the dash from the water to the safety of the sand dunes. Once several “rafts” of penguins have made the dash you can leave the seating area and walk around the boardwalks. Here you will see them scurrying through the vegetation and hanging out near the burrow entrances.
Walking the boardwalks is much more engaging for smaller children too.
Walking around will also help you stay a bit warmer as the wind can be really cold at the seating area since it is facing the water.
Check the weather forecast
Check the weather for Phillip Island here.
Since the Penguin Parade isn’t as busy at this time of year you won’t need to book too far in advance. I still recommend pre-purchasing tickets to avoid disappointment, but 1-2 days in advance should be enough.
PLAN | Phillip Island is the state of Victoria which has a varying climate. Read about the best time to visit Victoria here.
Stay the night
Leaving the Penguin Parade and going back to accommodation in Cowes to warm up and snuggle-down for the night is bliss!
Plan your visit
For further information please see the post dedicated to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade which covers costs, food options, tips for visiting, how to get there and more.
Is it worth visiting the Penguin Parade in winter?
A visit to the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in winter can be very enjoyable provided you rug-up and prepare for the weather. Crowds are lower in winter and the penguins arrive earlier which makes it an earlier night.
Obviously, if it is raining heavily the night might not be as enjoyable, but check the forecast before you go and you should have a wonderful evening!
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
Would you like to chat about this article? Join me over on Facebook or Instagram or send me an email!
Join the mailing list for more inspiration, tips and travel advice.
