Phillip Island Retreat
The Penguin Parade at dusk, the Nobbies boardwalk and the seal colony offshore — about ninety minutes from Melbourne, with the car waiting between stops.
Discover Phillip Island Retreat
Phillip Island works best as a late-afternoon-into-evening tour, because the Penguin Parade starts at sunset and sunset moves through the year. We book the day backwards from that time, so nobody is rushing the earlier stops or sitting around waiting.
Before dusk there is the Nobbies boardwalk above the Seal Rocks colony, the Koala Conservation Reserve boardwalk, and Churchill Island Heritage Farm. Cowes is the usual stop for a coffee or an early dinner.
The drive home afterwards is the part people forget when they plan this themselves. It is dark, it is roughly ninety minutes, and the car park empties all at once. With a chauffeur it is simply the end of the day.
Tour Highlights
- ✓The Penguin Parade at dusk
- ✓The Nobbies boardwalk, above the Seal Rocks colony
- ✓Koala Conservation Reserve boardwalk
- ✓Churchill Island Heritage Farm
- ✓Coastal driving and the island's beaches
- ✓Cowes township for a coffee or an early dinner
- ✓Door-to-door chauffeur service from your Melbourne address
What's Included
- ✓Private vehicle and professional chauffeur for the full day
- ✓An itinerary built around the Penguin Parade start time
- ✓Penguin Parade and attraction tickets booked ahead on your behalf
- ✓Child seats fitted on request, free of charge
- ✓Tolls and GST in one fixed price, quoted before you book
- ✓Entry tickets, attraction fees and meals are not included — you pay those on the day
Reserve Your Phillip Island Retreat Tour
Every MPJ Australia tour is private — your group only. Tell us the date and who is travelling, and we will come back with a fixed price and the pick-up time that fits that night's sunset.
Get a QuoteOther days out from Melbourne
Easily combined with Phillip Island, or a gentler day on its own.
The other great coastal drive, west instead of south-east.
Forest and gardens, and a shorter day if you are travelling with small children.
An evening in the city — laneway bars, rooftop views and dinner, with nobody driving home.
Tour Essentials
- Duration
- 10–12 hours, door to door. Phillip Island runs later than most: the Penguin Parade is at dusk and the drive back is after dark. If your day runs longer, the additional time is charged at your vehicle's hourly rate.
- Departure Time
- Agreed with you when you book. Pick-up is set backwards from the Penguin Parade start time, which shifts with sunset through the year. Daylight hours change through the year, so we set the pick-up time to suit the season and your itinerary rather than fix it in advance.
- Vehicle & Capacity
- Matched to your group: Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 for couples; Toyota Alphard, Alphard 40, Mercedes-Benz V-Class or Kia Carnival for families and small groups; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for larger parties. Tell us the group size and roughly what luggage you have, and the vehicle is confirmed with your quote.
- Included
- Private vehicle and chauffeur for the full day, tolls and GST. One fixed price, quoted before you book — no surge pricing and no per-kilometre extras.
- Not Included
- Entry tickets, tastings and activity fees are not included. Meals and drinks are not included. On this route that includes Penguin Parade tickets and the Koala Conservation Reserve. We book them ahead for you; the cost is yours. You pay these directly on the day, so you decide where you eat and what you spend.
- Child Seats
- Baby capsules and booster seats are supplied free of charge on request. Tell us your children's ages when you book so the right seats are fitted before pick-up.
- Payment
- Payment in full confirms the booking. Major credit cards and bank transfer accepted.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation more than 24 hours before pick-up. Within 24 hours, 50% of the fare is charged. Tours run in all weather. If a tour cannot go ahead on the day because of an official closure, we reschedule it at no cost.
Full terms, luggage guidance and payment detail: Booking Information. Common questions are answered in our FAQs.
Sunset, Then Someone Else Drives Home.
The parade finishes in the dark and everyone leaves at once. Your car is already waiting, and the ninety minutes back to Melbourne are not your problem.