Penguins on parade at Phillip Island

My family spent the recent long weekend on Phillip Island.

We had been wanting to take our penguin-loving kids to see the fairy penguins for years so this was a very special trip for our family.

We arrived at the Penguin Parade on the Friday afternoon for a 30-minute Behind The Scenes tour, which run on select school holidays and long weekends.

Straight after the tour we went down to the Penguin Plus viewing platform, which is perched right next to the penguins most popular pathway at the Penguin Parade.

As the kids excitedly waited for the penguins arrival they were treated to a picnic, which included some adorable penguin and ocean cookies made by the girls at Burnt Butter Cakes. Almost too cute to eat!

The Penguin Plus viewing platform. Image via www.penguins.org,au

The Penguin Plus Viewing Platform (image via www.penguins.org,au)

Just before the clock struck 7pm the little penguins started to make their way onto the sand and they were just as adorable as I remember from my childhood.

What an amazing experience it is to see them in their natural habitat. Phillip Island Nature Parks is doing an amazing job protecting these beautiful creatures; we learnt on the night that the current penguin population is approximately 35,000!

What a cutie! image via www.penguins.org,au

The following day we visited the Koala Conservation Centre and the kids loved koala spotting as they adventured along the boardwalks. We spied at least 10 sleepy koalas on our journey, many within arms reach.

The Koala Conservation Centre. Image via www.penguins.org,au

We then picked up some morning tea at MadCowes Café which is on the Esplanade at Cowes. The Sesame Street cupcakes were a hit with my two little ones.

The last stop on our adventure was to the Nobbies Centre to check out the new Antarctic Journey exhibition. What a phenomenal experience! We spent a couple of hours exploring the mulitimedia displays and learning about Antarctica. The kids favourite part was the ‘virtual experience’ which allows you to stand on ‘ice’ and reach out and touch a penguin or seal, or watch a whale swim by.

It was an incredible weekend and reminded me of just how lucky we are to live so close to such a beautiful place, with its precious wildlife and stunning coastline. Phillip Island Nature Parks is doing a wonderful job preserving and protecting all the creatures on the island and I can not wait to return again soon.

www.penguins.org.au