What species are the Phillip Island penguins?

The penguins on Phillip Island are little penguins. This is the smallest species of penguin – and the only one that lives in Australia.

To skip the information, and just book tickets for the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, head here. To book a day tour from Melbourne, look this way.

The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island is justifiably one of Australia’s greatest tourist attractions. Every evening dozens of penguins emerge from the sea and waddle home to their nests.

There’s an undeniable “awwwww” factor in watching the penguins heading home. But what species are the Phillip Island penguins?

5 Phillip Island experiences to book before arriving

The legendary Penguin Parade – watch dozens of little penguins waddle home from the sea.
Seal-watching cruise – visit Australia’s largest fur seal colony.
Phillip Island helicopter tour – fly above the beaches and dramatic sea cliffs.
Whale-watching cruise – with dolphins, seals and rare sea birds on the way.
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory tour – with more than a touch of Willy Wonka.

Name of the Phillip Island penguin species

If you see the Phillip Island penguins described as little penguins, that’s not just because they’re small. The little penguin is the name of the species that lives on Phillip Island.

There is some debate over whether the Australian little penguin is a separate species from the New Zealand little penguin, and exactly how many penguin species there are. But the little penguin is the smallest penguin species.

The little penguin is the only penguin species that lives in Australia. It is sometimes known as the fairy penguin.

Which Phillip Island tour from Melbourne should I choose?

For wildlife: Small group tour including Penguin Parade 🐧, Moonlit Sanctuary and Brighton Beach bathing boxes.
For koalas: Phillip Island Penguin Parade 🐧 trip including Koala Conservation Reserve 🐨.
For value: Full day tour including Penguin Parade and seals at the Nobbies Centre.

How big are the Phillip Island penguins?

The little penguin is very short by penguin standards. The Phillip Island penguins are generally around 30 to 33cm tall, and weigh about 15kg.

Tickets for the Phillip Island Penguin Parade cost from $30 per person, and can be booked online. If you’ve not got your own wheels, the easiest way to get there is on a day tour from Melbourne. There are several tour options, but a good bet for wildlife-lovers is the day tour that stops at the Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife reserve on the way.

This tour costs $149, and you can book low hassle, mobile-friendly tickets.