hero media

Watch St Kilda’s penguins up close thanks to a new elevated boardwalk

Rachael ThompsonBy Rachael Thompson
Prime viewing opportunities of these adorable birds are now possible thanks to a new elevated viewing platform.

We’d argue the best thing to do in Melbourne is go penguin spotting. Every evening – rain, hail or shine – you can spot adorable little penguins on the shores of this coastal suburb – one of the only places in the world where you can see penguins in their natural habitat, so close to a major city. And now, you can view the little penguins for free from the newly upgraded Penguin Viewing Experience . 

a little penguin on the rocks at St Kilda
True to its name, the little penguin is the smallest penguin in the world.

Standing at just 30cm tall, these sweet birds have lived on the St Kilda breakwater since the 1970s, when the rocks created perfect nesting sites for them. The penguin parade occurs each evening at sunset, when a colony of approximately 1400 little penguins emerge from the ocean after a day hunting fish. The world’s smallest penguins return, waddling across the beach to feed their chicks and rest amongst the rocks. 

The natural phenomenon draws in kids, animal lovers and tourists alike, and the recently renovated 150-metre elevated boardwalk provides accessible, close-up views of the penguin colony as well as views across Port Phillip Bay. 

The new Penguin Viewing Experience boardwalk
The new boardwalk features warm lighting.

Member for Albert Park Nina Taylor shared her enthusiasm for the opening. “We are thrilled to welcome back family and friends to visit our penguin colony right in the heart of St Kilda. It provides a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else in Melbourne."

The opening marks a major milestone in the Victorian Government’s $53 million St Kilda Pier upgrade, which includes the curved walkway, warm lighting, tiered seating, revamped community spaces and upgraded amenities near the kiosk.

The new Penguin Viewing Experience boardwalk
The project is part of the Victorian Government’s $53 million St Kilda Pier upgrade.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos highlighted that the new experience will boost visitors to the city. “The free penguin experience at St Kilda will bring families up close to these iconic animals and draw in thousands of visitors to our city each year."

The birds are protected by Earthcare St Kilda, a volunteer group working with Parks Victoria, and Penguin Rangers patrol to ensure everyone’s safety. The colony was given time to adjust and get comfortable with the new experience before it was opened to the public.

Little penguins on the rocks at St Kilda
The birds are protected by Earthcare St Kilda

Earthcare St Kilda president Lana Austin emphasised their dedication to the well-being of the birds. “Earthcare St Kilda has been watching over this special colony of little penguins for almost 40 years, and we’re thrilled to be able to carry on that legacy and share the joy they bring to people from around the world." 

There are two different one-hour viewing sessions for visitors: One that starts at dusk when the penguins return from the sea, and another that starts when it’s completely dark and the penguins are active and settling into their burrows. 

Each session is run by knowledgeable guides who share fascinating stories and insights on the small birds and their home. Visitors are encouraged to respect the penguins by avoiding flash photography and loud noises keeping to designated viewing areas. Bookings are essential and can be made up to six months in advance.

Make an evening out of it by booking a table at one of St Kildas best restaurants. 

Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
See all articles
Full moon over Surfers Paradise
Australia

A Snow Moon is rising over Australia this weekend – here’s where to spot it

On Sunday 1 February, a Snow Moon will shine above Australia. We've rounded up the best spots to see this extra-bright full moon in every state.

Read more
The ultimate guide to summer festivals around Australia
Australia

The ultimate guide to summer festivals around Australia

These are the summer festivals you’ll be talking about long after the season ends.

Read more
Greenly Beach, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Australia

Australia’s most remote and unknown beaches have just been revealed

The wild, little-known shores most travellers never reach.

Read more
Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca-Moama, Vic
Australia

What’s on around Australia in February 2026

February is full of fun – if you know where to look.

Read more
hero media

This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
    Continue
    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.