[Update Tuesday 31 March 2026] The Tuesday allotment of tix was gone in about 30 minutes! Looks like tix were released for two weeks and went like the proverbial hot chips.
Phillip Island Nature Parks has told TWiSK that from 31 March, tickets for the St Kilda Penguin Viewing Experience will be released exclusively online weekly each Tuesday at 10:00 am AEDT. With school holidays approaching, high demand is expected.
Previously, the free ticket system experienced significant no‑shows. The new weekly release schedule aims to make bookings more current and improve availability.
Important details
- Weekly release: Tuesdays at 10:00 am
- Reminders: Visitors receive a text message on the day to confirm attendance and encourage timely cancellations
- Re‑released tickets: Cancelled tickets return to the booking page for others to claim
The St Kilda Penguin Viewing Experience operates nightly after sunset with two sessions:
- Session 1: Begins ~30 minutes after sunset, timed for penguins returning from the bay
- Session 2: Begins ~1 hour 30 minutes after sunset, focused on colony activity such as interacting and nesting behaviour
What to Expect
This is an intimate wildlife experience, not a structured parade like Phillip Island. While penguin sightings are likely, they are not guaranteed. On active nights you may see several penguins engaging in natural behaviour. The setting also offers picturesque views of St Kilda and the city.
What to expect
TWiSK has attended a viewing session and can report that it can be a wondrous experience and an invigorating reminder that our bay is part of a thriving, magical marine environment.
But it’s not the performance you get at the Phillip Island colony, where masses of birds arrive on parade at sunset.
At St Kilda Pier, you are likely to see penguins, but it’s not guaranteed. On an active night, you might spot a dozen or more – or fewer. They are not parading; they are simply doing their thing.
It’s correctly described as an experience; it’s not a parade.
But the views of the city and St Kilda are very social‑media‑friendly and a little bit magical.
This video is a realistic presentation of what you can expect.
