Looking for St Kilda Penguins ? Just a short stroll from Beachcomber along St Kilda Pier, one of Melbourne’s sweetest night-time experiences unfolds after sunset — watching wild Little Penguins come home to the breakwater. Pair your St Kilda Penguins visit with dinner, Happy Hour or a late dessert by the bay and you’ve got a night that feels properly local.

St Kilda Penguins — Melbourne’s urban colony

The famous St Kilda Penguins are Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) — the world’s smallest penguin. Around 1,400 live in the rocks of the St Kilda Breakwater. By day they’re out fishing in Port Phillip Bay. Around dusk the St Kilda Penguins return in small groups (“rafts”) to burrows nestled in the volcanic rock, right beside the pier.

It’s free, wild and surprisingly close to the CBD — and because Beachcomber sits at the St Kilda Sea Baths , you’re perfectly placed for a meal before or after your St Kilda Penguins session.

How to see the St Kilda Penguins

St Kilda Penguins viewing is run by Phillip Island Nature Parks . Sessions are free but ticketed , and numbers are capped to protect the colony — so booking ahead is essential.

• Session 1 — about 30 minutes after sunset, when St Kilda Penguins begin coming ashore.
• Session 2 — about 90 minutes after sunset, when the colony is more settled and chatty on the rocks.
• Watch from the elevated boardwalk / viewing platform at the end of St Kilda Pier.
• Ticket availability for St Kilda Penguins sessions opens every Tuesday at 10am AEST for the following week.

Book St Kilda Penguins Tickets

St Kilda Penguins + dinner at Beachcomber

A simple plan that works beautifully for a St Kilda Penguins night out:

1. Book your St Kilda Penguins session first via the official Phillip Island Nature Parks booking page.
2. Dine at Beachcomber before or after — and on Penguin Parade nights, show your ticket for 20% off your bill .
3. Wander the pier for your ticketed St Kilda Penguins viewing on the breakwater.
4. Optional: come back for a nightcap or dessert if your session wraps early enough.

Quick tips for visiting the St Kilda Penguins

• Stay on the designated walkway — never climb the rocks or approach burrows.
• Use low / amber light only; bright white torch light can disturb the St Kilda Penguins.
• No pets on the breakwater.
• Dress warm — bay breezes after dark can be chilly even in summer.
• Allow walking time from Beachcomber / Sea Baths along the pier to the St Kilda Penguins viewing platform.
• Bring your Penguin Parade ticket to Beachcomber for the 20% off offer on parade nights.

Cosy by the Coast. Beachcomber Cafe, St Kilda Sea Baths — minutes from the St Kilda Penguins colony on the pier. Offer available on Penguin Parade nights with a valid ticket; terms apply. Book St Kilda Penguins sessions via Phillip Island Nature Parks.