If you’re visiting the Melbourne area and want a fun, memorable half‑day outing, the Phillip Island Penguin Parade is a standout choice. Along this small stretch of Southern Australia’s coastline, the world’s smallest penguins have become the region’s biggest attraction. These tiny birds spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land each night to rest and feed their young. They come ashore after sunset, when predators have poorer visibility, making their nightly “parade” both predictable and safe.