Puffing Billy Steam Train & Phillip Island Penguin Parade: Full-Day Scenic Tour from Melbourne CBD

Embark on a full-day scenic tour from Melbourne CBD to experience the Puffing Billy Steam Train and witness the magical Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. Book now!

Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre - Puffing Billy and Lunch
    Ride Puffing Billy Emerald Lake Park to Belgrave. Enjoy this iconic steam train ride through the glorious Dandenong Ranges. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria. You will have the opportunity to purchase your own lunch at the picturesque Emerald Lake. Time…
What's Included
  • Ride on the historic Puffing Billy Steam Train from Belgrave to Emerald Lake
  • Watch the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade
  • Access to the beautiful Emerald Lake Park
  • Comfortable travel with in-vehicle air conditioning
  • Visit The Nobbies for stunning coastal views
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

Embark on this full-day tour with a comfortable air-conditioned ride from a readily accessible location in Melbourne CBD. Begin your journey with a stop at the scenic Emerald Lake, nestled in the stunning Dandenong Ranges, where you can take a tranquil walk around and buy your lunch. Next, get ready to board the renowned Puffing Billy Steam Train that…

Location
Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre
Emerald Lake Road
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(208 Ratings)
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469helen
Jan 18, 2025
Puffing Billy and penguin parade - Was a great tour. The train ride was very nice. Even though it’s summer we needed our jackets for the evening penguins. Arriving winds are cold. Special thanks to Marty for taking us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tam_n
Jan 16, 2025
Fun trip for the family - I bought the tickets for my family from US and Brisbane . They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had lots of fun. They also commented that they would recommended it to their friends.
Review provided by Viator
Trish
Jan 14, 2025
Great Family Outing - A wonderful experience. Stress free way to enjoy the sights with a knowledgeable and helpful guide. It was a late night for the kids which I was worried about but the tour was engaging enough to make up for it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_k
Jan 12, 2025
A magical experience - A fantastic day out Saw a lot of penguins Our tour guide Mars was wonderful Lovely scenery on the drive and on puffing Billy
Review provided by Viator
Rachelle_g
Jan 6, 2025
Adorable penguins - Our tour guide Mars was very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. The pen were magnificent. Highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Cyril_f
Jan 12, 2025
Penguin March - Long trip but worth it , so many people at the viewing point and so few penguins Best part was the penguins coming up and under the board walk
Review provided by Viator
Peter_b
Jan 10, 2025
Good trip , but not enough time to observe the penguins. - Departed Melbourne 2:30pm. Puffing billy was a worthwhile experience. Then off to Phillip Island. Nobbies Cafe was closed but not bothered about that. Board walk was good. Got to see a baby penguin in its hole in the ground ,nest. Then off to see the penguin parade. The penguins have their own timetable , some started coming ashore about a quarter past nine. They were a fair way away. Waited to see more . We had to leave to catch the bus at 10pm. Did not have much time to see them making their way to their nest. There were crowds of people lined up at the board walk fence so there was not much opportunity to get a glimpse. Did manage to see a couple further along the board walk where the crowds thinned out, scurring along back home to their nest while we were rushing back to the bus. It would have been good to have an extra half an hour or so to observe them without the pressure of time especially after travelling all that way. I must say Tom was a good driver and told us the necessary information but very little along route.
Review provided by Viator
Williamhh4410ke
Jan 18, 2025
No experience - Tour company failed to pick us up at meeting place. Did not go on tour. We want a full refund. Disappointed, waste of our time, waited over 2 hrs. Concierge at hotel had no info either, asked numerous times, they emailed& called. Unable to contact tour company. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniela_n
Jan 8, 2025
Tour cancelled without notice - Our tour got first delayed 5h and then cancelled. Very disappointing if you visit Melbourne just a few days and you wasted 1 complete day.
Review provided by Viator
Carlyra4021nr
Jan 6, 2025
Overall Poor Experience - I am disappointed to say this was the worst tour experience we had in Melbourne. Puffing Billy was canceled due to extreme heat, which was out of the company's control, but the communication about this change was less than professional. We arrived to find out the tour had been altered with no prior notice. A text or call to passengers would have been appreciated. Instead of Puffing Billy and Lake Emerald, we were taken to a beach, which was said to be "making up for this change." The stop was ill-planned for accessibility, with no bathrooms, and my mother, who has a spinal condition, couldn’t manage the stairs, so we only stood for a few minutes. The bus ride was uncomfortable, with poor air conditioning throughout the trip, and we spent 27 minutes in Melbourne waiting for missing passengers who never showed. This meant we were behind schedule for the trip. My family moved seats three times trying to find cooler air. The bus was bumpy, making the ride even worse and at times it felt unsafe due to the noises at the back of the bus. The penguin parade was the highlight of the tour and saved the experience, 100% recommend seeing the parade. On the way back, the air conditioning, which had been poor throughout the trip, completely stopped working. It became uncomfortably hot, and despite asking for it to be turned up, the driver only suggested opening the windows, which was inadequate in extreme heat. We were offered an apology upon arrival, but it didn’t make up for the discomfort. Emily, the guide, was friendly and did her best, but the tour itself was poorly organised. The bus was outdated, the communication was lacking, and overall, the service didn’t meet expectations. Wouldn’t recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
January 2025
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