Melbourne

Posted on: October 08, 2008 at 2:37PM

If you are in Melbourne and are interested in seeing the fairy penguins, you don't need to pay for an expensive tour to Phillip Island to see them. Most tourists pay for a bus tour to Phillip Island where they have to stand behind a rope and get a very poor view of the cute penguins. There's a rock pier in Mornington (please confirm the location with a local) where a small colony of the penguins live. They are accustomed to people watching them and you can get up close to them. The best time is to go is about midnight or later, when they are returning to feed their young. We stayed till 2 AM watching them walk around within just a few feet of us! Again, please check with a local, I'm not sure the penguins are there year round. We got our information from a waiter at a restaurant (it never hurts to ask!). report a problem