15 Private Birdwatching Tours in Melbourne Worth Booking

1.1 Day Exclusively Private Tour Of Phillip Island & The Penguin Parade

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $169Our pick

Join guide James Williams for a private, flexible day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. Visit the Koala Conservation Centre, wildlife parks, coastal viewpoints, and the Penguin Parade, with warm blankets and transport included. Optional upgrades include Penguins Plus, Seal Rocks, wineries, and extra attractions.

“DO NOT BOOK. We booked this several months in advance and thought it would be a highlight of the trip. We were never contacted by the tour guide and when we tried calling, we learned that the phone numbers were disconnected. Luckily we were able to find a last-miRead more”

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2.Private custom Penguin Tour with Premium Penguin Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews

Mark’s Private Melbourne Tours takes your group of up to six from Melbourne to Phillip Island in a private vehicle. You’ll see the Little Penguins return at dusk with Premium Penguins Plus viewing, visit The Nobbies, and shape the day around your interests.

“I hesitated because of the cost of this tour but it was 100% worth it!! Mark picked us up on time and his van was very nice and comfortable. Mark is a very good driver and that was much appreciated by me. We stopped at several viewpoinRead more”

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3.Phillip Island Penguins Private Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews

Spend 9 to 11 hours exploring Phillip Island in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a guide such as Andrew. See koalas from canopy boardwalks, visit The Nobbies and Cape Woolamai, then watch little penguins return from the sea. Pickup, water, tea, coffee, tickets, and seating pads are included.

“It was very unique. We got to see Koalas, wallabies, pinguins, cape barren goose, etc. all in one place. Andrew our tour guide was great, very personable, and friendly. He also has very good knowledge of everything you want to know about Read more”

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4.Private custom Tour of Phillip Island With Penguin Parade

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews

Set out from Melbourne at 2:00 pm with Mark, Clare, or another local guide in a private vehicle for up to six people. See Cape Woolamai, the Nobbies, Cowes, and Summerlands before watching little penguins return at dusk. General Penguin Parade admission and bottled water are included.

“We had an excellent day with Clare. She stepped in last minute when Mark was sick and we totally lucked out. She is warm, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. She was attentive to our needs and flexible, even making a slight detour to lRead more”

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5.Puffing Billy Train Wildlife Zoo Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4 reviews · 8 hours

Spend eight private hours with a driver-guide visiting Puffing Billy, Moonlit Sanctuary, and Brighton Bathing Boxes. The open-sided steam train crosses the Dandenong Ranges, while the sanctuary offers kangaroos, koalas, keeper talks, and more. Guides may speak English, Chinese, or French.

“Very very wonderful experience, my son and daughter really love. We saw train and many wildlife. The train tickets are extremely hard to get and our guide Tom helps us to purchase. Thank you team. Highly recommended.”

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6.[Private Tour] “Penguin Parade” Phillip Island Tour.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $645

Travel privately from Melbourne to Phillip Island with a guide such as Francois or Cam, visiting Maru Koala and Animal Park, Churchill Island, Seal Rock, and the famous sunset Penguin Parade. Your day runs about 10 to 11 hours, with transport and entry fees included.

“We had a great time with Francois. He arrived on time and made sure our entire trip was well planned and executed. He was entertaining as well as informative. His tips at the Moonlight Sanctuary and Philip Island were very useful. We skippeRead more”

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7.Phillip Island Private Trip, Penguin and Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3 reviews · 10 hours · from $261

Spend 10 hours exploring Phillip Island with a private driver-guide, visiting the Koala Conservation Reserve, Cowes, the Nobbies Centre, and the Penguin Parade. Pickup is available in Melbourne CBD and nearby suburbs. English and Chinese guiding is offered, and attraction tickets are purchased separately.

“Great tour to see so much wildlife and good insight from our friendly driver.”

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8.Phillip Island Penguin Parade Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3 reviews · 10 hours

Travel from Melbourne in a private luxury car, Mercedes van, or minibus with an English or Hindi-speaking guide. Visit Moonlit Sanctuary, wildlife parks, coastal sights, and the Penguin Parade. Guide Filal has earned praise for attentive service and thoughtful sightseeing suggestions.

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9.Melbourne to Puffing Billy and Yarra Valley Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 10 hours

Spend 10 hours with an English-speaking driver-guide, including Faysal when available, on a private trip from Melbourne or the airport. Ride Puffing Billy, visit Yarra Valley wineries and the Chocolaterie, and travel in a luxury car or Mercedes van with WiFi and water.

“Activity as per plan, but places were boring and far too expensive for what you get”

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10.Private Tour to Dandenong Ranges & Puffing Billy Steam Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $460

Spend a private day with an English-speaking guide such as Russel or Francois in the Dandenong Ranges. Ride Puffing Billy, stroll through Sassafras and Olinda, visit William Ricketts Sanctuary, stop at scenic lookouts, and search for wild kangaroos before returning to your Melbourne hotel.

“Our guide Russel was so friendly, professional and kind. We started off for a long drive to see wild kangaroos then took the puffing billy train. After that our guide took us to a delicious bakery and ordered takeaway. After that he took us to the dandenong range, where we saw stunning views and beutiful flowers. By now we were pretty tired, so our guide took us on a drive through the Brighton beach, which was NOT on the itinerary. He then took us to a few famous areas of Melbourne and finally back to the hotel. It was awesome.”

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11.Melbourne Private Penguins Koalas TOUR-Melbourne City Tour JEWELS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Join Jake and his team for a private day from Melbourne to an Australian animal attraction with fairy penguins, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus and more. Feed free-roaming kangaroos, visit the Shrine and Botanic Gardens, then finish at Melbourne Skydeck.

“It was exactly the kind of tour we were after.”

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12.Phillip Island Penguins and Moonlit Sanctuary Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $304

You’ll travel from Melbourne in a private vehicle for one to four people, with pickup at your accommodation. The day combines Brighton Beach Boxes, Moonlit Sanctuary, Phillip Island beaches, Cowes, The Nobbies, and the sunset Penguin Parade. Sam may guide the trip, with tickets and transport included.

“The tour was a great way to visit Phillip Island and some of the most scenic and breathtaking views. The penguins parade is a must-seen. A careful driver, following the schedule and enabling us to enjoy all the parts of the experience.”

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13.[Private Tour] Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife & Puffing Billy Steam Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $502

Travel privately from Melbourne with an English or French-speaking guide to Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy Railway. Guides such as Russel and Francois add humor and practical help, while included tickets, hotel or port pickup, bottled water, and a flexible schedule keep the day simple.

“Amazing experience.The places are scenic. Thanks Russel for explaining everything with humor which makes our day even funnier”

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14.Puffing Billy Private Tour – Up to 11 pax

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 8 hours

Travel from Melbourne to Belgrave in a private air-conditioned vehicle, then ride Puffing Billy to Emerald Lake. Your English or Hindi-speaking driver can tailor time in the Dandenong Ranges, with optional stops at Mount Dandenong, Olinda Falls, or the National Rhododendron Gardens.

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15.Phillip Island Private Tour with Penguin Parade

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 10h 30m · from $688

Travel by private luxury vehicle from Melbourne to Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island with guide Adam. Feed kangaroos, spot koalas, enjoy coastal stops, dinner, and sunset Penguin Parade viewing, with Penguins Plus seating available when offered.

“We had the most amazing experience with the private driver luxury car tour to Phillip Island! From the moment we were picked up in Melbourne, everything felt seamless and first-class. The car was spotless, super comfortable, and stocked with water and snacks — a perfect touch for the scenic drive. Adam was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. He shared interesting stories and local insights along the way, and even made a few great photo stops that weren’t part of the usual tour routes. The flexibility of having our own private guide made the whole day feel so personal and relaxed. Phillip Island itself was absolutely stunning — from the coastal…”

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