70-Minute Guided Beach Walk
A 70-minute guided walk of roughly 500 m to watch little penguins come ashore near Bicheno on the East Coast.
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Tasmania Penguin Tours: Bicheno, Low Head, Prices And Season
Two guided penguin tours compared side by side by departure point, coast, duration, rating and cancellation terms.
- $53lowest per-person from-price on the roster
- 40 cm, 1 kgAdult little penguin · the smallest penguin in the world (NRE Tasmania)
- 20 minutesBruny Island ferry crossing · Kettering to Roberts Point, 365 days a year
- Burnie + LillicoFree volunteer viewing · no entry fee, donations welcome
Tasmania: Bicheno Penguin Tour
Often sells out
from $53 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site.
- Duration
- 70 minutes (about 500 m walk over 50 min)
- Cancellation
- Cancel this Bicheno penguin tour free of charge.
- Run by
- Bicheno Penguin Tours
Tasmania Penguin Tours: Numbers To Know
110,000-190,000
Tasmanian breeding pairs (past estimates) · mostly on offshore islands, under 5 percent on the mainland (NRE Tasmania)
3 m
Minimum distance from burrows · never block a burrow, never walk through the colony
~35 days + ~8 weeks
Egg to fledgling · incubation then chick-rearing (NRE Tasmania)
40 penguins
Bicheno colony low point · early 1990s, before habitat restoration (Bicheno Penguin Tours)
~500 m, ~50 min
Bicheno tour walk · short bus ride to the private rookery first
Tasmania Penguin Tours, By Coast
North coast
Small Group With Launceston Transfer
A three-hour trip from Launceston with hotel transfer, including about an hour of guided penguin viewing at Low Head.
Check availabilityCompare Tasmania Penguin Tours Side By Side
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| Tour | Length | Meets | From | Rating | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70-Minute Guided Beach WalkBicheno Penguin Tours | 70 minutes (about 500 m walk over 50 min) | Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) | $53 | ★ 4.826 reviews | Check availability |
| Small Group With Launceston TransferCoach Tours Tasmania | 3 hours total (about 1 hour of guided penguin viewing) | Low Head Lighthouse and Penguin Colony | $83 | ★ 5.022 reviews | Check availability |
| No tours match those filters. Clear the duration or category filter and the listings will reappear. | |||||
Tasmania Penguin Tours, Month By Month
Breeding Activity
Moulting
Free Volunteer Guiding
- Reported or just starting
- Present
- Building or consistent
- Common or peak
- Not named
- This month
January
Breeding Activity: Peak Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
February
Breeding Activity: Present Moulting: Present Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
March
Breeding Activity: - Moulting: Present Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
April
Breeding Activity: - Moulting: Present Free Volunteer Guiding: Present (Lillico)
May
Breeding Activity: Begins Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: -
June
Breeding Activity: Begins Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: -
July
Breeding Activity: Present Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: -
August
Breeding Activity: Present Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: -
September
Breeding Activity: Peak Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: Begins (Lillico)
October
Breeding Activity: Peak Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
November
Breeding Activity: Peak Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
December
Breeding Activity: Peak Moulting: - Free Volunteer Guiding: Both present
Open The Full Table
| Month | Breeding Activity | Moulting | Free Volunteer Guiding (Burnie, Lillico) | Bicheno Tours Depart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peak | - | Both present | 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
| February | Present | Present | Both present | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| March | - | Present | Both present | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| April | - | Present | Present (Lillico) | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| May | Begins | - | - | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| June | Begins | - | - | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| July | Present | - | - | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| August | Present | - | - | 5:00pm to 7:30pm |
| September | Peak | - | Begins (Lillico) | 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
| October | Peak | - | Both present | 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
| November | Peak | - | Both present | 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
| December | Peak | - | Both present | 7:30pm to 9:30pm |
Where To See Penguins: Bicheno Vs Low Head Vs Bruny Island Vs Lillico Vs Burnie
| Bicheno | Low Head | Bruny Island (The Neck) | Lillico (Devonport) | Burnie | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Guided bus ride and ~500 m walk at a private rookery, about 50 minutes | Guided night tour at the Low Head Coastal Reserve, up to about an hour | Dusk viewing platform and boardwalk, self-guided | Volunteer-guided public platform | Volunteer-guided public observation centre and boardwalk |
| Cost | From $53 per person | From $83 per person with Launceston transfer | No entry fee listed; ferry fare extra | Free, donations welcome | Free, donations welcome |
| Season and timing | Nightly, departures follow dusk | Every night just after sunset | Dusk, no scheduled guiding | Generally September to April | Guides nightly 1 October to 31 March |
| Booking | Advised, tours can sell out weeks ahead | Book with the operator or a Launceston transfer | None | None | None |
| Light and camera rules | No flash photography | Operator supplies red and yellow lights, no personal torches | Red light only, no flash (NRE guidelines) | Guides supply red torches, no visitor torches or flash | No flash, red cellophane on torches |
| Getting there | Shop at 1/70 Burgess St, no accommodation pickups | Transfer from central Launceston at extra cost | Kettering ferry about 20 minutes, then drive | About ten minutes west of Devonport | Boardwalk from the city centre |
Tasmania Penguin Tours And Viewing Sites, On The Map
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Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Viewing Sites
- 70-Minute Guided Beach Walkfrom $53
- Small Group With Launceston Transferfrom $83
- Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St)Viewing Sites
- Low Head Lighthouse and Penguin ColonyViewing Sites · 156 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- The Neck, Bruny IslandViewing Sites · 173 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- Lillico Beach Penguin Platform, DevonportViewing Sites · 185 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- Burnie Penguin Observation CentreViewing Sites · 220 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- The Nut, StanleyViewing Sites · 279 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- HobartGateway Towns · 138 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- LauncestonGateway Towns · 109 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- DevonportGateway Towns · 179 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
- Kettering Ferry Terminal (Bruny Island ferry)Ferry Terminals · 164 km from Bicheno Penguin Tours (Burgess St) in a straight line
What Visitors Say After A Penguin Tour
The traveler reviews shown here are published by the tour operators' booking platforms; this site did not collect, write, or edit them, and they are quoted as published.
“Dave, who drove us, was fabulous. Great sense of humor and really prepared us for what to expect. His tip on asking questions was spot on. The guides at the experience were amazing.”
“We thought we might maybe see half a dozen penguins but we saw so many. We even saw a chick being fed.”
“Our driver Dave was excellent. He was engaging, knowledgeable and genuinely great guy. The guides at the actual tour were also excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our evening.”
“David, our guide, provided invaluable information on our journey to the penguin experience.”
Where To Stay For Tasmania Penguin Tours
Beachfront At Bicheno
Bicheno town centre
seasonal Tasmania rates; check live dates on the booking page
Check ratesDiamond Island Resort
Tasman Highway, Bicheno
seasonal Tasmania rates; check live dates on the booking page
Check ratesBicheno By The Bay
Bicheno
seasonal Tasmania rates; check live dates on the booking page
Check ratesTasmania Penguin Tours FAQ
Which penguin tours in Tasmania can I actually book?
Two guided options are listed on this site. The Bicheno Penguin Tour on the east coast runs for 70 minutes, including a walk of about 500 m, and is operated by Bicheno Penguin Tours.
When is the best time of year to see penguins in Tasmania?
The breeding season runs from September to January, and this is when activity at the burrows peaks, with adults returning each evening to feed their chicks. From February to April the birds moult, staying ashore for longer stretches while new feathers grow.
Are these penguin tours suitable for children and families?
Nothing in the tour details rules out children. Both experiences are quiet, low-key evenings: viewing happens after dark, with minimal movement and dim red light, so children who can sit calmly and stay quiet will get the most from them.
Can I watch penguins for free at Burnie or Lillico Beach?
Yes. Both beaches have free public viewing areas where little penguins come ashore at last light, and no booking or ticket is needed.
What is the Bicheno penguin colony and why is viewing guided?
Bicheno supports a colony of little penguins at a private rookery reached by a short bus ride on a guided evening tour. Because the birds are easily disturbed, viewing runs as a guided experience with Bicheno Penguin Tours, whose guides control light, noise and positioning so the penguins can come ashore and feed chicks without stress.
What should I wear and bring on a penguin tour?
Dark clothing is the rule: penguins spook at light and movement, so leave the white jacket behind. Dress warmly for an evening standing still on a Tasmanian beach, even in summer.
Tasmania Penguin Tours Guides And Answers
Guides
- Best Time To See Penguins
- Best Time To Visit
- Bicheno Penguin Tours
- Bicheno Vs Low Head
- Burnie Penguins
- East Coast Itinerary
- Free Penguin Viewing
- How To See Penguins On Bruny Island
- Lillico Beach Penguins
- Little Vs Fairy Penguins
- Low Head Tours
- Parade Vs Tasmania
- Penguin Town
- Photography Rules
- Stanley Penguins
- The Nut Stanley
- Things To Do
- Things To Do In Bicheno
- Tour Costs
- Tours From The Cities
- What To Wear
- Where To See Penguins
- Wildlife Tours
Answers
- Bicheno Tour Cost
- Bicheno Worth It?
- Bruny Island Fame
- Burnie Penguin Times
- Can I See Penguins On Bruny Island?
- Days For Tasmania
- Hobart To Bruny Drive
- Low Head Tour Length
- Penguin Dusk Timing
- Penguin Photo Rules
- Penguin Timing At Bicheno
- Penguin Town Verdict
- Penguins In Devonport
- Penguins In May
- Penguins In Tasmania
- Penguins Near Launceston
- Penguins Without A Tour
- Stanley Penguin Season
- Touching Fairy Penguins
- Tours For Seniors