Tasmania · Attraction
Bicheno Penguin Tours
Little penguins, up close nightly
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Bicheno Penguin Tours has operated guided nightly walks through a private little penguin rookery for more than 30 years, making it one of Tasmania's most enduring wildlife experiences. Each evening at dusk, small groups accompany accredited guides on a 500-metre walking circuit to watch the world's smallest penguin species return from the sea to their burrows. The tour is EcoStar accredited and runs every night except Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.
The experience begins at the base on Burgess Street in central Bicheno, from which guests are transported by bus to the private rookery where rehabilitation of former farmland has created a protected habitat. Guides share knowledge of penguin biology, behaviour, and the conservation work that has helped grow the colony, all while the birds shuffle past in blissful indifference to their human audience. No flash photography is permitted, and red-filtered torches are used to protect the penguins' night vision.
Pricing varies by season: the breeding season commands a higher rate reflecting smaller group sizes and peak wildlife activity, while the winter off-season offers a more intimate experience, and in late June and July 2026 the tour pairs penguin viewing with the Bicheno Beams light show for an especially atmospheric evening. Adults pay from $56 (winter off-season) to $76 (breeding season), with children aged 4 to 14 paying from $27 to $32 and under-4s going free. Bookings are strongly recommended.
Scenic views
