Where to see penguins near Melbourne

Yep, you can find wee flippered friends just six kilometres outside the CBD. The St Kilda colony live in the breakwater – the rocky outcrop at the end of the pier, past the kiosk. Standing on the boardwalk will give you the best view, and definitely don’t go on the rocks, as it scares the penguins nesting beneath them. Photos are permitted (no flash), and visitors are asked to obey the instructions of the volunteer penguin guides. St Kilda even has an upgraded penguin viewing area.

If you want to get really up close to penguins and don’t care whether they’re in the wild or not, head to Sea Life Melbourne. The aquarium runs ‘penguin passport’ experiences, where you can join king and gentoo penguins in their icy, sub-zero enclosures. The experience also shows you where the penguins’ food is prepared and includes all-day entry to the rest of the aquarium.

The penguins of Middle Island (near Warrnambool) were made famous in the 2015 movie Oddball, which tells the story of how the colony was saved by introducing Maremma sheepdogs to protect against foxes. Because the penguins are still under threat, humans are not permitted on the island; however, you can visit their canine protectors during summer and donate to the conservation effort.