Little Penguin Nightly Parade (Phillip Island) — Bowen Island

About this spectacle

Each evening at dusk, little penguins (the world's smallest penguin species) emerge from the sea and waddle ashore to their burrows in a nightly ritual that has continued for millennia. At Bowen Island near Jervis Bay in New South Wales, a smaller and less-commercialised version of this spectacle can be witnessed, offering an intimate encounter with these charismatic seabirds. Visitors watch in hushed anticipation as the birds gather in the shallows, then shuffle up the beach in loose groups, their blue-grey backs catching the last light of the day. The air fills with the soft braying and chatter of the colony. Unlike the heavily managed Phillip Island venue in Victoria, this site offers a quieter, more raw experience of the natural phenomenon. Flash photography is strictly avoided to protect the birds, leaving visitors to experience the parade in near-darkness, relying on sound and silhouette.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — Feb

Getting there

Nearest airport: CBR. Nearest city: Nowra.

Booking options

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