Wine Hop And Coastal Tours Phillip Island Wildlife And Brighton Beach Boxes Bus Tour

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A full day tour from Melbourne to the Brighton Beach Boxes, a wildlife park and Phillip Island, ending with the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.

Days

Full day, into the evening

Age

All ages

Group size

Small group, max 24

Start / finish

Melbourne / Melbourne
Melbourne CBD, approximately 10pm to midnight

Return

Melbourne CBD, approximately 10pm to midnight

Transport

Air-conditioned coach with Melbourne CBD hotel pick-up

Meals

No meals are listed as included; dinner is bought at the Penguin Parade

Route

Map of Wine Hop And Coastal Tours Phillip Island Wildlife And Brighton Beach Boxes Bus Tour

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Included experiences

Brighton Beach Boxes — photos on the beach with the city skyline
Moonlit Sanctuary — koalas, kangaroos and other native animals
The Nobbies — lookout and boardwalk to the blowhole and Seal Rock
Phillip Island Penguin Parade — penguins coming ashore at dusk

Wine Hop And Coastal Tours Phillip Island Wildlife And Brighton Beach Boxes Bus Tour

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Itinerary

Map

MORNING: BRIGHTON BEACH BOXES

After pick-up from your central Melbourne hotel, the first stop is Brighton on Port Phillip Bay, where 82 brightly painted bathing boxes line Dendy Street Beach. The oldest date back more than a century, and today they change hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars, though none has power or running water. Walk the sand with your guide, take photos, and look back across the water for a view of the Melbourne city skyline. Pick-up times change with the season, so the morning may be later in summer.

MIDDAY: MOONLIT SANCTUARY

Next is Moonlit Sanctuary, a wildlife conservation park in the bush near Pearcedale, on the way to Phillip Island. You have free time to wander among kangaroos and wallabies, see koalas up close, and meet other native animals. The park runs breeding programs for threatened species, and many of its residents are nocturnal animals that are hard to see in the wild.

AFTERNOON: THE NOBBIES AND SEAL ROCK

The coach crosses the bridge at San Remo onto Phillip Island, which sits in Western Port, so by now you've seen both of Victoria's bays. At the western tip, the Nobbies Centre tells the story of the coast. From the lookout and boardwalk you see the Nobbies blowhole and, offshore, Seal Rock, home to Australia's largest colony of fur seals, numbering in the thousands.

EVENING: THE PENGUIN PARADE

Buy your dinner at the Penguin Parade visitor centre, then find your place by the beach as the light fades. The little penguins here are the smallest penguins in the world, about 30 cm tall. After a day fishing at sea they gather in the shallows and then waddle in groups across the sand to their burrows in the dunes. People have been coming to watch since the 1920s. After the parade, the coach heads back to Melbourne, reaching the city late in the evening.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from your choice of Melbourne CBD accommodation; time and location are confirmed 24 hours before the tour. Solo travellers or those booking the day before may be asked to meet at a central location.
Departure time: Seasonal: between 11am and 12pm in summer, and 9am to 9:30am in winter. Your pick-up time is shown when you choose your date.
Finishes: Late evening, approximately 10pm to midnight.
Suits: All ages. Because of the walks and vehicles, the tour cannot take guests in wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

What to bring

Water (reusable bottle)
Hat
Sunscreen
Camera
Warm clothing and a jacket for changing weather
Umbrella if rain is forecast
Flat sealed shoes
Small day pack only

What is included

Pick-up and return from your Melbourne CBD hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, with audio in several languages
All entry and admission fees
Brighton Beach Boxes
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Nobbies centre, lookout and boardwalk
Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Not included

Lunch
Dinner (bought at the Penguin Parade venue)
Other food and drinks

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

We had an awesome time on the Brighton bathing boxes and Phillip Island tour. It was well planned and the guide was friendly and responsible.

Alicia Liu Verified· Travelled 16th November 2024

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