Puffing Billy And Phillip Island Penguin Parade Bus Tour
Overview
Available languages
After being picked up from a convenient central Melbourne CBD location in air-conditioned comfort on this full-day tour, your first stop will be in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges to ride the world-famous Puffing Billy steam train. Next stop is The Nobbies Lookout via the scenic route through the Dandenong Ranges. You will see Seal Rock and the Blowhole, then it’s off to watch the penguins emerge from the rolling waves and make their way home into their burrows.
Description
Durations: 11 hours
Location: Summerlands, Victoria
Summer
- Pick Up times range from: 12pm – 2.30pm
- Return to Melbourne approx: 11pm- 12pm
Winter
- Pick Up times range from: 10am – 11am
- Return to Melbourne approx: 9pm- 10pm
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Emerald Lake and Lunch: Take a leisurely walk around the picturesque Emerald Lake where you will have the opportunity to purchase your own lunch.
Puffing Billy: All aboard this historic steam train for a ride on Puffing Billy from Emerald to Belgrave. Enjoy this iconic ride through the glorious Dandenong Ranges, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria.
Nobbies:
- Tourist Information Centre: Here you will be able to find out all you need to know about the Nobbies Blowhole and Seal Rock precinct.
- Lookout And Boardwalk: Take on the glorious views of the Nobbies and Seal Rock region from this spectacular lookout. Then walk the boardwalk with ocean views to the Nobbies blowhole and Seal Rock and enjoy the stunning surrounds.
Phillip: Island Penguin Parade And Dinner: After purchasing your dinner at the venue you will be ready to witness the world-famous Penguin Parade. Watch the penguins emerge from the rolling waves and make their way across the sand to their burrows.
Please note: ALL babies/toddlers/children up to age 15 must purchase a CHILD ticket.
* Please be aware outside of summer months we may not always be able to visit The Nobbies due to reduced daylight hours.
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Items to bring:
Water
Please bring your own water, we encourage the use of reusable water bottles.
You will also have opportunities to purchase water on your tour.
Clothing
Our weather can change very rapidly so please check forecasts prior to coming on tour, bring an umbrella if rain is forecast.
Maybe bring a jacket as a backup and flat sealed shoes are recommended.
Luggage
A small day pack bag is all that is permitted on the bus due to space constraints.
Please bring your headphones to listen to our audio via your device.
* Please be aware outside of summer months we may not always be able to visit The Nobbies due to reduced daylight hours.
What‘s Included
All the above is included in ticket price except lunch and dinner.
Lunch & Dinner
Meeting points
Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring St, Melbourne.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 5 days in advance of the start date of the experience.
Reviews
387 reviews
Highly recommend
diegorJ6325JJ,Jul 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had an awesome time despite the terrible weather. Big props to our guide and driver Simon for keeping everything lively and on schedule. Surprise highlight for me was the Puffing Billy Railway. Made me feel like a kid again.
Awesome
Santi S,Jul 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a very great experience. I truly enjoyed the ride. The only thing is I couldn't sit on the bridge side
Best Tour Guide in Australia – Professional, Friendly & Respectful
atuldas66,Jul 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I wanted to take a moment to say a big thank to our guide Mr.Martin (Marty). He was have been one of the best tour guides we’ve ever had — extremely professional and genuinely friendly throughout the day. The trip to Puffing Billy and then on to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade was wonderful, and he made it even better. Unlike other guides who keep talking non-stop just to stay “engaged,” he struck the perfect balance. He gave us our own space and time to quietly enjoy the scenic drive and the beautiful views, while still sharing all the important information and interesting trivia at the right moments. It made the whole experience so much more relaxing and memorable. Martin, Thank you for your excellent guiding style — we really appreciated it! Wishing you all the best, Atul
Puffing Billy and Penguins
Ruth A,Jul 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Be prepared for the massive amount of tourists at the penguins. Take noise cancelling headphones. My coach driver was the nicest fellow and very pleasant. Loved how the puffing Billy was mostly run by volunteers who were all so happy and helpful. Beautiful scenery and our tour guide went out of his way to help make it memorable.
Simon the bus driver and...
Arvind P,Jul 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Simon the bus driver and guide was amazing. It's was a cold day but we did see some penguins at the end. Simon did take us on small detour to see kangaroos in the wild which was amazing surprise addition to tour.
This was a brilliant...
Zoe L,Jul 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a brilliant experience, great value for money and would recommend to everyone. Especially since the activities are a fair ways out of Melbourne, it was really convenient to have them combined into a tour with transport provided. Our guide, Marty, was amazing and brought good energy for the whole day!
Amazing experience
T9730RMdanaw,Jun 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I recently took a tour with Martin, and he was fantastic! His kindness and patience made the experience enjoyable. One memorable moment was when he stopped the bus so we could observe a family of baby geese. Martin’s passion for his role and his ability to engage with guests truly enhanced our journey. He’s a valuable asset to the company, and I highly recommend his tours!
The guide was friendly,...
David H,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide was friendly, informative, and well organized throughout the tour. The itinerary was enjoyable, with enough time at each stop to explore and take photos. Everything ran smoothly, and it was definitely time well spent. I would happily recommend this tour to others visiting Melbourne.
Amazing Day Trip From Melbourne
RuthK865,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We recently joined the Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade tour departing from Hotel Windsor in Melbourne CBD and had a very enjoyable experience overall. A special mention to Terry, who was highly organised from the start. He efficiently checked passengers in, assigned seats, and ensured a smooth departure. Throughout the day, he carefully conducted head counts before leaving each stop, helping everyone feel well looked after. One area for improvement is the amount of commentary during the coach journey. Terry was clearly knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the information he shared was interesting and informative. However, the commentary began soon after departure and continued for much of the trip with only brief pauses. As the drive from Melbourne CBD to the first stop is over an hour, some passengers may appreciate longer breaks from the microphone to relax, enjoy the scenery, chat with others, or simply rest. At times, it was difficult to hold conversations, and even passengers wearing headphones could still hear the commentary. While I appreciate Terry’s efforts to keep guests informed and engaged, incorporating more quiet travel time between commentary segments could make the journey more comfortable for a wider range of passengers. That said, the tour was well organised, the attractions were excellent, and Terry’s closing remarks on the return journey to Melbourne were warm, engaging, and a great way to end the day. Overall, we had a positive experience and would recommend the tour to others. Thank you to Terry and the team for an enjoyable day.
Long drive...
Kripa A,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Long drive Small group Bit rushed, did not get time to see around the areas like the station. But fitted in 2 iconic spots in Melbourne in a day. That was nice
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