Melbourne Travel Answers

Hi Sirgaw, how's that crusty old parrot of yours? I recall pricing the bus tour a few years ago & it was quite expensive. We didn't do the tour. But in years prior to that, we were driven down there by one of my cousins and enjoyed that very much. It was a fair while ago, but I recall going to French Island and visiting a lovely old house. Being a bird lover, I just loved the fairy penguins, I might try & talk my couz. into taking me back down there in Jan if I make it to Melbourne (plus need to twist his arm to go back to those Yarra Valley wineries and the wildlife santuary out that way)

I have provided tours to visitors but not been on a bus tour. The tour cost and freedom aspect makes me say car. The advantage of the bus is that you do not have to drive back yourself late at night during daylight saving times after a busy day. I guess an overnight stay may remove this issue (unfotunately has not been the case for me in the past).

David If they were going for just the Penguins, i would say, no. I think its long way to go for just that. There are more interesting things to see on Philip Island than the Penguins. I think its overrated and thats coming from born and bred Melbournian. Eggboy

Thanks for the replies so far. Little known is the penguin colony at St Kilda pier. I've walked to that spot but not at a time when the little &^$##'s are coming in. That's free. Yes it is a long way to go and my thought is for short term visitors to Melb NOT to go to see the penguins at PI. I've taken a couple of small groups down there in the cab and think the penguins must talk to the regular tour guides - "Hi George, how's the family?" "Great thanks penguin Sid, ready for another night at the office?"

Good tip for St. Kilda & I promise I won't tell. Wish we knew when we were down last though, we weren't far from St. Kilda pier but had I known there were penguins lurking around I would have given those Akland St cake shops a miss & grabbed my torch instead!

We did a couach tour from Melbourne many years ago. It was VERY touristy, but to me it was really worth it. My opinion might be a little biased though, I ADORE penguins, and have travelled many places specifically to see them. To be fair, I don't think the 'touristy' aspect would be less so if we went by car, as it was the whole set-up by the beach with the stands and the lights that I found a little offputting.

Here's the link for the St Kilda penguins - http://www.stkildapenguins.com.au/ but please don't tell that bird friend of yours

Friend of mine did the bus tour a few years ago. She said it wasn't worth it. She spent hours standing around waiting and then it was difficult to see anything becuase of the numbers of people. Because of her experience I went to Kangaroo Island. Did the 2d/1n Wayward bus tour and then stayed over an extra night on my own to see the Fairy penguins there. Marvelous, marvelous experience. I can highly recommend it! P.S. The return bus and ferry fare for the Wayward tour covered my return the next day too. No extra charge.

I went to the penguins on Philip Island (by car though), and although there were many tourists it was a wonderful experience. BTW The penguins at St. Kilda Pier are no real secret, just little well-known. They have brochures about boat trips to the penguins at the Visitor Centre, that is how I found out about it. They are called Urban Penguins. www.urbanpenguins.com

This is a hard one. It's not my cuppa tea, spending a day out to see the Penguins. I usually tell people to do other options around Melbourne/outer Melbourne for a day rather than go all the way down there. That's just me. I reckon a day at Melbourne Zoo would be more fun!!:)

>They are called Urban Penguins. I have visions of these penguins - sunglasses worn on the top of the head, talking on mobile phones, saying "I'm waddling here", going to nightclubs, trying to hail taxis to get to the next bar etc etc. Damn brain thinking up these sort of things - LOL

Well, I did not go to Philip Island for the Penguin Parade only but also to the Koala Conservation Centre, beaches, villages, etc., and had a wonderful day. But the penguins were a highlight. Before and after, I have never seen hundreds of penguins waddling to their "bedrooms" and nests in the shrubs. I have seen the Little Blues at many places, and we also have them in New Zealand, and I see them on a regular base in the wild - but the experience on Philip Island was unique. A handful of penguins in a zoo does not compare to that. So I keep recommending it - although I would always recommend to do other things as well, as you have the whole day to explore the island until the penguin parade starts. Although I have done the trip on my own, I know that tour companies also offer day trips that cover a lot more attractions than just the penguin parade. Sirgaw, a good one with the urban penguins :-) BTW Have you heard that scientists think that urban birds are becoming less and less attractive to rural birds of the same species, because the urban ones have to be louder to be heard with all the traffic noise etc. This ruins their voices and the song, so rural birds do not feel inclined to choose urban partners ;-)

David, you made me giggle this morning with your vision of the Urban Penguins. Thanks for brightening my Monday Morning.

Sissi wrote: >BTW Have you heard that scientists think that urban birds are becoming less >and less attractive to rural birds of the same species, . . . Sorry in advance for this - IS THIS ANOTHER URBAN LEGEND ?????

LOL No, it is really the result of scientific research. And really, does this not also apply to humans? Don't you know people with voices that make you run away? ;-)

Thank you, Sirgaw-this was very helpful, and brought some other good ideas. Now, I won't have to worry about grounding any penguins first, will I? ;)

Thanks Liz - and Liz is the lady from US that will be gracing our shores and was wondering if she should go to the penguin parade at PI or not. Interestingly on ABC radio today was part of an interview with one of the Parks Victoria people who are involved with keeping a close watch on the little darlings - apparantly they are very healthy this year with lots of fat (good for penguins). Some are fitted with little GPS units and tracked and are found going as far as East Gippsland in search for their tucker. On the grounding comment from Liz - well that's another story from another thread and deals with 3 pin electricity plugs. Anyway Liz just remember we drive on the other side of the road here so when you go to cross a road LOOK LEFT and yes in spite of comments elsewhere, we do speak something like the same language - although some may disagree - LOL

Before someone jumps on me, Liz its look RIGHT first - gawd, I nearly killed the poor girl before she even got here.

In London, they looked after us silly Americans very well -- painted right there on the pavement which way to look before crossing; definitely saved me many times, since those silly Brits seemed to be driving on the wrong side, also... (Y'all have a couple months to get the streets ready for me...)

Now, now DON'T start me off on the debate about left and right hand drive. The "silly" Brits got it right as it is based on important things like leading a horse with the left hand while ready to defend the maidens honour with a sword in the right hand. The Yanks (just to *** off the Brits) decided to copy the French/Germans who followed the traditions based on guiding small boats on rivers. So Brits/Aussies/Kiwis and lots of SENSIBLE countries drive according to roads, the rest, well maybe the water is the right place - LOL

WOW! So I will get defended while Down Under? (Wait, did that not sound too good?)

I went down there from Melbourne a month or so back in a coach and few weeks later by car and stayed overnight. For the coach I used AAATKings (Useful because they pick up just opposite the hotel I was at in Swanston street). You also get the benefit of a guide who passes on lots of info on the way down. I think that if you have the time and penguins are a novelty, its well worth the visit and I think the kids love it. While I was there, several were at their burrows and I swear I heard one say to the other: "yes, we come here every night now for the human parade" Roger

>I heard one say to the other: "yes, we come here every night now for >the human parade" LOL I took a cab load of Americans down to the Penguins and one of the women said, "Those Penguins look just like Japenese tourists, they're all dressed the same, they're little and look at the way they waddle." I couldnt stop laughing all night. BTW the coach stopping place in Swantston Street is being moved to outside the Arts Centre in St Kilda Road - a daredevil cyclist got killed by a coach.

Hey BTW where do the Penguins of St Kilda locate themselves. I was thinking of ttaking the "egglets" to see them. Eggboy