Wait for the little penguins to line up and head home—Melbourne’s Phillip Island counts down every day until they arrive!

▲ Every evening after sunset, the little penguins swim back to shore and waddle home in groups. (Photo / Courtesy ofPhillip Islandofficial website)

Reporter Lin Yuling / Comprehensive report

Melbourne’s Phillip Island (Phillip Island, also known as Penguin Island) is home to the world’s smallest species of penguin, the little penguin. Every evening after sunset, these adorable creatures swim back from the sea and waddle in orderly lines back to their burrows. The Penguin Island sanctuary employs staff who count down the penguins’ arrival time and tally their numbers daily, attracting many visitors who come to witness this heartwarming spectacle. No matter how chilly the sea breeze may be, seeing this incredibly cute scene is totally worth it. However, because the little penguins have very sensitive eyes, the sanctuary has a strict“no photography”policy—even without using flash.

Standing about 30 to 40 centimeters tall and weighing only around 1 kilogram, this tiny penguin species has a limited global population, found only in Melbourne, Australia, and New Zealand. Both countries have established dedicated sanctuaries for them. The Penguin Island habitat is currently home to about 30,000 little penguins. In addition to research and educational purposes, the main goal of the sanctuary is to protect these little lives and their environment, ensuring that the penguins can return safely to their burrows every day.

Life isn’t easy for little penguins. They spend their days foraging for fish in the sea and only return to shore after sunset, one by one, to engage in nesting, incubating eggs, and raising their young. They choose to return at night mainly to avoid diurnal bird predators that suffer from night blindness. The penguins float ashore one by one, assess safety, and then move collectively from the beach back to their burrows.Their round bodies waddling in orderly lines make for an incredibly heartwarming sight!

▲ Penguin Island attracts large crowds of visitors who buy tickets every day to witness this event—everyone wants to welcome the little penguins home. (Photo / Courtesy of Phillip Island Nature Park official website)

And Penguin Island draws large numbers of visitors who buy tickets daily to witness this spectacle.Staff members post the “countdown time” for the penguins’ arrival on the internet every day,but long before sunset, the area is already packed with people braving the chilly sea breeze, intently watching the beach as they wait for the penguins to come ashore. Once the tiny figures appear, visitors on the wooden boardwalks excitedly follow their progress from behind fences, cheering them on as they make their way home.

Since little penguins spend so much time in the sea, their eyes develop a membrane that almost renders them useless, yet they still rely on them to navigate. Therefore, in penguin sanctuaries in both Melbourne and New Zealand, “all photography is strictly prohibited”—even without using flash. Some camera sensors emit a red light that can harm the penguins, and taking photos of their burrows or touching them is also not allowed.Otherwise, if their fragile eyes are exposed to flashes or red light, the penguins may become frightened and suffer injuries, impairing their ability to navigate.

▲ Watch the little penguins head home with your eyes—no photos allowed. (Photo / Courtesy of Phillip Island Nature Park official website)

▲ Little penguins in their burrows. (Photo / Courtesy of Phillip Island Nature Park)

▲ Nest boxes built by volunteers for the penguins. (Photo / Courtesy of tripadvisor.com)

Phillip Island, Melbourne, Australia—
Phillip Island Nature Parks
Address: P.O. Box 97 Cowes Victoria 3922
Every evening at sunset, the penguins reach the beach. Be sure to check the penguin arrival calendar in advance to know when they’ll come ashore. The penguin sanctuary recommends arriving “one hour early.”
Official website:www.penguins.org.au