Penguins in Australia
From the little penguin that waddles ashore after sunset to the million-strong king and royal colonies of the far south — meet the penguins of Australia and the wild places to watch them.
Australia is one of the few places on Earth where wild penguins come home at dusk
The little penguin — the smallest of them all — is the only penguin that breeds on mainland Australia, while the remote subantarctic islands hold some of the largest penguin colonies anywhere.
This guide introduces every penguin connected to Australia and points you to the parks, reserves and colonies where you can see them — responsibly, at the right time of year, without disturbing the birds.
About this guide
Every way to meet a wild penguin
The Penguin Parade
Grandstands and boardwalks watch the nightly return of hundreds of little penguins as they cross the beach to their burrows — the classic Australian penguin experience.
Boardwalks & platforms
Raised walkways at St Kilda, Bruny Island, Lillico and Burnie let you watch penguins up close while keeping burrows and nests safe underfoot.
Guided dusk tours
At Low Head, Bicheno and Montague Island, rangers and volunteers lead small groups with red torches, sharing the colony's story without disturbing the birds.
The great southern colonies
On expedition ships to Macquarie Island, king and royal penguins gather by the hundred thousand — penguin-watching at an epic scale.
Wild & free colonies
Some of the best sightings are free and self-guided — a quiet beach at dusk, a red-filtered torch, and the patience to let the penguins come to you.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
The flagship. Tiered boardwalks and viewing stands watch hundreds of little penguins cross the sand each night.
St Kilda Pier
A wild, free colony in the breakwater rocks minutes from the CBD, with a new dusk viewing boardwalk.
Penguin Island
A short ferry off Rockingham inside a marine park. Open in the warmer months; a colony that now needs our care.
Montague Island
The largest little penguin colony in NSW, reached by guided boat off Narooma, alongside fur seals and a historic lighthouse.
Macquarie Island
A World Heritage island halfway to Antarctica, with megacolonies of king and royal penguins reached only by expedition ship.
Bruny Island — The Neck
A free boardwalk on the narrow isthmus where little penguins and shearwaters return after dark.
A few rules keep the colonies safe
Penguins are protected wildlife. Simple habits are the difference between a colony that thrives and one that abandons its beach.