Little Penguins

A small penguin stands on a sandy beach

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Little Penguins

St Kilda Pier and Breakwater

St Kilda Pier and Breakwater is home to a colony of approximately 1,400 Little Penguins.

During the day the penguins are out in the bay feeding, but they return to the rocks along the pier at sunset to nest.

Our top priority is ensuring the protection of the penguin colony and providing a safe and sustainable way for you to enjoy and learn about them.

You can see Melbourne’s iconic Little Penguins from a viewing platform at the end of St Kilda Pier during nightly free, ticketed sessions.

 

Little Penguin viewing platform

In October 2025, Parks Victoria opened a new penguin viewing boardwalk at St Kilda Pier. The 150-metre viewing platform helps protect the Little Penguin colony at the St Kilda Breakwater while offering a safer and more enjoyable penguin viewing experience for visitors. 

These upgrades were made after growing visitor numbers began to disturb penguin nesting areas. The new boardwalk provides a better way for people to see and learn about the penguins, while reducing impacts on the colony. 

Designed with wildlife protection in mind, the boardwalk keeps visitors at a safe distance from the penguins, uses wildlife‑friendly lighting, and closes each night after viewing sessions.  

Protecting the Little Penguin colony is our top priority. At the same time, the boardwalk allows visitors to enjoy and learn about these special animals in a way that supports their long-term conservation. 

 

Little Penguin viewing experience at St Kilda Pier

You can see Melbourne’s iconic Little Penguins from the viewing platform at the end of St Kilda Pier during free, ticketed evening sessions.

Phillip Island Nature Parks runs the penguin viewing experience at St Kilda Pier. The sessions are free, but bookings are required.  

From the elevated platform, visitors can enjoy great views of the penguins in their natural habitat and learn more about them from knowledgeable Phillip Island Nature Parks guides.

There are two Penguin Viewing Experience sessions each night. To help protect the penguins, each session is limited to 150 people. 

Bookings are essential. Reserve your spot on the Phillip Island Nature Parks’ website.

Little Penguins are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and it is prohibited to interfere with them or their habitat.

If there is a wildlife emergency, please contact the Zoos Victoria Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678.

Things to do

 
Sunset on St Kilda Pier with views of the CBD in the background.

St Kilda Pier and Breakwater

St Kilda Pier and the Breakwater offers panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay, and is a popular destination for a stroll and fishing.
Boats moored in Port Phillip in front of Melbourne's skyline.

Boating and St Kilda Harbour

West of the Pier is a shared windsports zone for kiteboarding, paddle boarding and windsurfing. St Kilda Harbour is a vibrant place offering great experiences for tourists, local residents and recreational boaters.
A couple walks along St Kilda Pier

The Kiosk at St Kilda Pier

The Kiosk, also known as Parer’s Pavilion, is at the heart and centre of St Kilda Pier, offering food and beverages 7 days a week. After a fire in 2003, the newly built kiosk was constructed in accordance with the original plans from 1904. The building is listed on the Victoria Heritage Register since 1984.
A mother and daughter linger at the end of a pier on the Mallacoota Inlet

Piers and jetties

Stroll along coastal piers and jetties or cast a line and fish at popular catchment areas in Port Phillip and Western Port.

How to get there

Little Penguins

Trams 12, 16 and 96 stop at St Kilda Pier and these routes can be caught from Melbourne CBD . Alternatively, a train to Balaclava station and a short trip on the number 16 tram will get you there. The 606 bus, between Elsternwick Station and Fisherman's Bend (Port Melbourne), also stops at St Kilda Pier. Visit Public Transport Victoria for more information. St Kilda Pier is found immediately off Jacka Boulevard and The Esplanade, St Kilda. Limited paid parking is available next to the Seabaths, or along main roads.
St Kilda Pier and Breakwater

When you're there

St Kilda is a lot more than just a pier! Nearby Catani Gardens or the Botanical Gardens are unique and special places, and St Kilda's beaches are usually quick to fill up over the warmer months. Albert Park is also nearby, offering a beautiful lake, walks, golfing, and other recreational activities.

Nearby Fitzroy Street has a wealth of food and shopping choices to discover. Famous Luna Park is right around the corner, offering a day of fun for families and individuals with rides and a carnival-like atmosphere!

Rakali

During your visit, you may be fortunate enough to spot a Rakali! The Rakali is a native water rat, found at some piers, jetties and other structures along the coastline of Port Phillip and our waterways. They appear at all times of the day, but are very shy creatures and are usually tucked into the dark corners of structures and flora. The Rakali are known to eat various marine life, such as fish and crustaceans. Like all Australian wildlife, you should not attempt to touch or handle the Rakali and keep a reasonable distance away.

Need to know

Little Penguins

Accessibility

Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.

Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.

Frequently asked questions about visiting the penguins


  • Can I still see penguins at St Kilda?
    Yes, you can still see Melbourne’s iconic Little Penguins at St Kilda Pier. The Little Penguin viewing area has reopened as part of the redeveloped St Kilda Pier. You can enjoy watching the colony from a new 150-metre elevated boardwalk during nightly free, ticketed sessions.
  • How many penguins live at St Kilda
    St Kilda has a colony of around 1,400 Little Penguins. Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguin in the world.
  • What time do the penguins usually come out at St Kilda Pier?
    Penguins typically come ashore just after sunset, but their arrival time can vary with the season and weather.
  • When can I visit the penguins?

    The one-hour viewing sessions run nightly from Wednesday 29 October 2025, with two free sessions each evening:

    • Session one is at sunset. You can watch the little penguins begin their journey home from the water to their burrows nestled in the breakwater.
    • Session two is after dark when the breakwater fills with the chatter of penguins settling in for the night. You can enjoy an up-close view of these fascinating animals interacting in their natural habitat.

    Session times for each night will be regularly updated on Phillip Island Nature Parks’ website, and will depend on when the last light of the day is.

    You can reserve your spot at a viewing session on Phillip Island Nature Parks’ Bookings page. 

  • Where is the viewing area?
    The new elevated platform is located at the end of St Kilda Pier, next to the breakwater.

Protecting the penguins

  • Why were the upgrades needed?
    There has been a large increase in visitors to the penguins in recent years. Previous visitor access had unintentionally disturbed nesting sites. The new design provides a safer, more sustainable way to view and learn about the colony.
  • How are the penguins protected?
    The boardwalk design keeps visitors separated from the colony, wildlife-sensitive lighting is used, and the area closes each night after viewing sessions. Visitor numbers are limited to 150 people per session to reduce stress on the penguins.
  • Can I take photos?
    Yes, but flash photography, bright lights, and phone torches are not permitted as they can startle the penguins. Please follow the directions of staff on the night.
  • Can I touch or feed the penguins?
    No. The penguins are wild animals and must not be touched, fed, or approached.
  • Who can I contact if I see a sick or injured penguin?
    Please call the Zoos Victoria Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678.

Similar experiences

 
A couple looks on at a Wombat on Wilsons Promontory National Park,

Wildlife viewing

Get up close and personal with some of Australia's shy native wildlife or look up to spot tree-dwelling mammals and flocks of colourful birds,
Up close and personal with a Grey Headed Flying Fox in Yarra Bend Park.

Grey Headed Flying Fox

Entry to the Grey-headed Flying‐fox walking trail and access to the viewing platform is via Bellbird Picnic Area.Visitors to the trail will learn about the flying-foxes through interpretive signage and experience the animals in their natural environment.Grey‐headed Flying‐foxes can be seen roosting in the park during the day and at sunset they create a unique spectacle when they "fly‐out" in large numbers.
Two men discuss the formation of the crater at Tower Hill.

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

Explore this massive volcanic feature by taking one of the five self-guided walks. Each has a different theme. Enjoy a picnic, spot some local wildlife and learn about the Aboriginal heritage of the area at the Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre.
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