Puffing Billy Tour and Penguin Parade from Melbourne

About this tour

Combine two of Victoria's iconic experiences in a single day: ride the Puffing Billy steam train through the Dandenong Ranges' fern-lined valleys, then head to Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade. The morning journey takes you across the historic Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge with time to explore Emerald Lake Park. After lunch in Melbourne, you'll watch little penguins return to shore at dusk from the clifftop boardwalks. Runs 14–17 hours with hotel pickup, guide included, small group of up to 24.

Highlights

• Dangle legs over open-sided steam carriages through towering ash forest
• Walk the Nobbies clifftop boardwalk at golden hour
• Watch wild penguins wade ashore to burrows at nightfall
• Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge crossing and lake-side exploration
• Afternoon free time to eat and rest in Melbourne city
• Air-conditioned coach with WiFi between attractions

What to expect

Your day starts early with hotel pickup and a one-way journey aboard Puffing Billy—a heritage steam train that climbs through deep gullies where fern canopy closes overhead. You'll have an hour or two at Lakeside to walk quiet trails or sit by the water before returning to Melbourne. After free time for lunch, you'll board a coach to Phillip Island's southern coast. At the Nobbies, a wooden boardwalk edges the cliffs; then you move to the Penguin Parade viewing area. As light fades, hundreds of little penguins emerge from the ocean in small groups, shaking off water and waddling across sand to their burrows inland. It's a natural spectacle—no staged performance.

Good to know

No photos allowed at the Penguin Parade. Leave large bags, prams, and strollers behind—only small bags permitted. Wear layers; clifftop evenings are cool. Bring your own food or budget for meals in Melbourne during the break. Service animals welcome on both train and coach.