Moonlit Sanctuary , Churchill Island Heritage Farm, Koala Conservation Centre, Nobbies Centre & Penguin Parade

A day trip to Philip Island with Bunyip Tours 

We had a spectacular Bunyip Tours to Philip Island to see the Penguin Parade, Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation, Churchill Island Heritage Farm, Koala Conservation Centre and Nobbies Centre.

The tour was excellent and our driver was very informative of the local history all of the area. We enjoyed the smaller, casual tour bus, but the trip was well planned and organized to maximize the day experience. we left around 11am and got back to CBD around 10.30pm. The late return is because the penguins come onshore as it gets dark which was close to 8.30pm.

Information:-
Location : 570, Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Contact   : +613 9650 9680 / +613 1300 286 947
Website   : www.bunyiptours.com

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation 

We wanted to see the Australian wildlife up close and it didn't disappoint. We have the opportunity to see up close and feed some of the wallaby and kangaroos.

We bought wallaby and kangaroos food to feed them while walking on their trail. There are many wallabies interested in the food but we didn't see many kangaroos. Guess they were all sleeping in the day time.

The kangaroos and wallabies are free to roam around a large area and you are able to get up close and personal with them.

 Dingoes

  

Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat

EMU

All the animals were well cared for, active and in clean enclosures spaced among the trees.

By the end of the visit, we were excited to see koala, kangaroos, wallabies, emu, dingoes, wombats, birds and Tasmanian devil.

Information:- 
Website             : www.moonlitsanctuary.com.au
Location            : 550, Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale, Victoria 3912, Australia
Opening Hours  : 10am - 5pm except Christmas Day

Prices: 
Adult (+16)             : $20
Child (*4-15)          : $10 (Children under 4 are free)
Family (2A, 2C       : $53 (Extra child $7 each)

Evening Tour 
Adult (+16)             : $42
Child (*4-15)          : $26 (Children under 4 are $16)
Family (2A, 2C       : $126        

Getting here
By Car 
- Drive from the Melbourne CBD via Monash Freeway (M1) and the Westernport Highway (M7800)

By Day Tour 
- Bunyip Tours


Churchill Island Heritage Farm

After Moonlit Sanctuary, we took the opportunity to visit Churchill Island Heritage Farm with a viewing of the farm house, demonstrations of cow milking, sheep shearing, whip cracking and watching the drovers dog work the sheep. 

Churchill Island just off the coast of Philip Island holds an important place in the history of European settlement in Victoria. The site of the first European agricultural pursuits in Victoria, the island has been farmed since the 1850's and 1872 was purchased by Samuel Amess, former Mayor of Melbourne.

The old farm houses were done up and furnished to give us an idea of what it would have been like to live in them a century ago.

 The gardens were beautiful with some very interesting flowers

 Beautiful area to wander around and have a look at farm life 

 

 

 

 The animals in the nursery includes the sheep, rabbits, Clydesdale, Chickens and few guinea pigs

This is a old farm with the original buildings and equipment displayed 

                                                      So peaceful with ocean views  

 The grounds are really well kept with some very old trees indeed 

Great to see to see the original olive tree which is over 150 years old 

Well, if you ask me, Churchill Island Heritage Farm is a must to visit if you want to be immersed in some history, along with an easy guide to early farming. 

Information:- 
Website             : www.penguins.org.au
Location            : 246, Samuel Amess Dr Churchill Island VIC 3925, Australia
Opening Hours  : Mon - Sun - 10am - 5pm (Open 2pm on Christmas Day)

Daily farming Activities
2.10pm                 Cow Milking
2.30pm                 Sheep Shearing
2.45pm                 Whip Cracking
3.05pm                 Working Dogs
3.20pm                 Sheep Shearing

Getting here
By Car 
- Philip Island is located 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. Turn right just after the Philip Island Visitor Information Centre and follow the road across the Churchill Island bridge. Free car parking on site.

By Day Tour 
- Bunyip Tours


Koala Conservation Centre 

The Koala Conservation Centre is small well built and provides information on Koalas, the surrounding landscape and very well set up as close to natural environment.

There was a lot of information in the Visitor Centre about Koalas and allows you to read it at your own pace.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the boardwalk through the trees and spotting Koalas sleep during day time. The boardwalk are safe and the park gives you a fantastic view of the Koalas in the treetops. 

Information:- 
Website             : www.penguins.org.au
Location            : 810, Philip Island Road, Philip Island, VIC 3923, Australia

Opening Hours: 
- 10am - 5pm daily (First Sunday in April to First Saturday in October)
- 10am - 5.30pm daily (February 1 to First Saturday in April and First Sunday in October to Christmas)
- 10am - 6pm (Boxing Day to end of January)
- 2pm - 5.30pm (Christmas Day)

Prices:-
- Adult (16 years+)                  : $12.50
- Child (4-15 Years)                 : $6.25
- Family (2 A & 2C)                : $31.25

Getting here
By Car 
- Located 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. Allow a further 10 minutes from the bridge to get to the Koala Conservation Centre. Free car parking on site.

By Day Tour 
- Bunyip Tours
                     

Nobbies Centre 

After the visit to the Koala Conservation Centre, we drop buy to the Nobbies Centre before heading to Penguin Parade in the evening. 

 

The boardwalk allowed us to see inside the nesting boxes everywhere as you may see one sticking its head out if you are lucky. 

 

The boardwalk provide incredible beautiful views to the surrounding landscape along the coast. 

 

 

The weather was comes straight off the Antarctica and cold. You might want to dress up warmly and take your time to walk along these boardwalk and explore nature at it's finest. 

Information:- 

Website             : www.penguins.org.au

Location            : 1320, Ventnor Road, Summerlands VIC 3922, Australia

Opening Hours: 

Nobbies Centre closed approximately 1 hour before sunset each day to protect the native wildlife.

Summer      : 10am - 7pm (Opening at 2pm on Christmas Day)

Autumn      : 10am - 5pm 

Winter        : 10am - 4pm

Spring         : 10am - 6pm

Prices:-

- Adult (16 years+)                  : $18

- Child (4-15 Years)                 : $9

- Family (2 A & 2C)                : $45

Getting here

By Car 

- Located 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. Allow a further 20 minutes drive across the island. Follow the signs - the Nobbies Centre is located 5 minutes drive beyond the Penguin Parade. Free car parking on site.  

By Day Tour 

- Bunyip Tours

Penguin Parade  

*No photos and video from us as the rules not permitted in order to protect and frighten the penguins. 

Tips:-

For the  viewing areas, I would recommend sit as close to the front on the right hand stand on the far left where you can see the penguins walk up the middle on their way home to their  burrows. The door from the information centre usually open at 7pm. Be waiting there ready so you can rush ahead to get those good positions. Be patient as you will come across some pushy people. It is at night and does get cool, so remember to bring your jacket to wrap up. 

Make sure you leave some time to walk around the boardwalks after the parade as you will see penguins are all wandering around and best part was when we got opportunity to walk along side them. There was a fenced and we were on the pedestrian walk way but we could see them waddling back to their burrows. 

Overall, the Penguin Parade is one of the most amazing travel experiences we have ever had and thanks to Bunyip Tours made it a great day. 

Information:- 
Website             : www.penguins.org.au
Location            : 1019, Ventnor Road, Summerlands VIC 3922, Australia

Opening Hours: 
1 hour before penguin arrival time (gate open at 7pm, so be there early)

Prices:-
General Viewing Tickets $25,10 per adult
Penguins Plus Tickets $ 47.20 per adult
Underground Viewing Tickets $60 per adult

Getting here
By Car 
- Located 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. Allow a further 20 minutes from the bridge to get to the Penguin Parade. Free car parking on site.

By Day Tour 
- Bunyip Tours