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PENGUIN
PARADE |
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The Penguin Parade is located on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia, only 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. It is part of Phillip Island Nature Park. The area is a reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of Little Penguins (previously called Fairy Penguins). Travel from Melbourne on the South Eastern Freeway (toll way) for appx 45 minutes. After you pass signs indicating Dandenong just keep going, a few kilometres straight on and you will see large green freeway signs clearly indicating a turn off from the left lane to Phillip Island. You are now on the start of the South Gippsland Highway which will take you all the way (another hour appx) to a large roundabout with very clear signs indicating "turn right at roundabout" to Phillip Island. From then on its straight ahead, through San Remo fishing village, over the bridge and you are on Phillip Island. About a kilometre (appx. 5 mins drive) onto the island, the Phillip Island Information Centre will appear on your left, just past a roundabout. Here you can buy tickets to the Penguin Parade, and the place is open till late in the evening, saving you the possibility of having to queue up at the actual Penguin Parade. Get back on the road (its the only one!) and keep going straight, the way you were heading before. This is the Phillip Island Tourist Road, and you stay on it till you hit a 100km speed sign, not long after which a very obvious fork in the road appears. You want to turn left here, the signs clearly state to go left for the Penguin Parade. Now you're on Back Beach Road, follow it all the way to the end. At the end (a T-intersection) turn left. This road will take you through one roundabout, and at the next roundabout you will have no doubt where you are - the Penguin Parade itself. Turn left into the carpark, get out, stretch your legs and let the fun begin! What times? The Parade is open every day of the year. The best time to visit is at sunset/dusk if you wish to see the actual "penguin parade". This is when the penguins cross Summerland Beach to return to their sand-dune burrows. After a day fishing for food in the waters surrounding Phillip Island, the penguins make their way across Summerland Beach in groups. This delightful event is commonly known as the "penguin parade". This unique "parade" can be experienced from environmentally friendly observation boardwalks and viewing stands. Ticket Prices and details Phillip Island Nature Park is the semi-government body that manages on behalf of the community our world famous Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre, Seal Rocks and Churchill Island. Tickets to any of these locations do not need to be pre-purchased except in busy holiday periods such as over Christmas and New Year. Tickets are available for purchase from Phillip Island Information Centre which is about a kilometre (5 minute drive) on your left just after you cross over the bridge from San Remo onto Phillip Island. Tickets can be also bought at each attraction. If you wish to pre-book a ticket by credit card, you can call the Penguin Parade, the central organising body for the Nature Park, on (03) 5951 2800 within Australia, or +613 5951 2800 from outside Australia. All enquiries are welcome!
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Penguin Parade
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