Looking to do an excursion from cruise port in Melbourne. Would like to see Koalas and Penguin march.

[eddieg07410]

I have seen a number of tours of this type but none that leave the cruise port. We have 11 hours in port so more than enough time to see the sites.

[buchhalm]

The penguin march is AT NIGHT, so you probably have to forget about that one. Google Phillip island penguin tours. 

 

[arxcards]

Rarely, and I do mean rarely, a cruise will call at Cowes, Phillip Island. They are able to have a late departure for the penguin parade, with only a short cruise to Melbourne overnight. We have been on a cruise that called there, and several hundred were on buses to see the penguins. 

 

From Melbourne, not possible. For Koalas though, check out Healesville Sanctuary. That is doable.

https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/

[eddieg07410]

8 hours ago, arxcards said:

Rarely, and I do mean rarely, a cruise will call at Cowes, Phillip Island. They are able to have a late departure for the penguin parade, with only a short cruise to Melbourne overnight. We have been on a cruise that called there, and several hundred were on buses to see the penguins. 

 

From Melbourne, not possible. For Koalas though, check out Healesville Sanctuary. That is doable.

https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/

I saw comments that the zoo was not so special. Most of the animals are asleep and not very visible. Any other recommendations for Melbourne as we will be their a long time.

[lyndarra]

Perhaps go to an Australian football game. Australian football is fast and exciting, especially live. Seaon starts in March.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_AFL_season#Round_1

 

 

[buchhalm]

I recommend a tour to the Great Ocean Road. It is really lovely. Do this ONLY via the ship. It is s LONG day. Organised day tours from Melbourne take 10 to 12 hours (or more). These tours pack many sights into the day (with enough time at every stop). They tend to cost around AUD 120 p.p., as a comparison against ship prices.

And I say ship's tour, because of the distance travelled and the knowledge that the ship will wait for its own tours.

[OzKiwiJJ]

2 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

I saw comments that the zoo was not so special. Most of the animals are asleep and not very visible. Any other recommendations for Melbourne as we will be their a long time.

Daytime temperatures are often hot in Australia at that time of the year. Our native animals have evolved to sleep during the heat of the day and are more active at dawn and dusk when it's cooler. Koalas, like cats, sleep 20 or so hours a day and are mostly nocturnal.

[arxcards]

2 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

I saw comments that the zoo was not so special. Most of the animals are asleep and not very visible. Any other recommendations for Melbourne as we will be their a long time.

Yes, we have lazy native animals.

[Docker123]

12 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

I have seen a number of tours of this type but none that leave the cruise port. We have 11 hours in port so more than enough time to see the sites.

What date will you be in Melbourne?

 

Major roadworks are taking place which would preclude outings going west 

 

[valantine80]

My sister who lives in Melbourne would often take visitors to St Kilda beach, which is quite close to cruise terminal, to see penguins but I think it may be closed at present. Maybe someone from Melbourne can confirm this.

[boeckli]

54 minutes ago, valantine80 said:

My sister who lives in Melbourne would often take visitors to St Kilda beach, which is quite close to cruise terminal, to see penguins but I think it may be closed at present. Maybe someone from Melbourne can confirm this.

 

From what I can find the penguin viewing at St Kilda is closed while the pier is redeveloped. It sounds like a 2024 completion ...

https://www.facebook.com/stkildapenguins/

[Bubbeh]

Penguins are out as per others posts, koalas sleep all day at the top of trees so that's not exactly an exciting option. 

 

For my money (not sure when you're here) and given that you're visiting basically the city of huge culture and sporting importance, why not go to either a game (footy / cricket / tennis) ? Or take a tour of the MCG - https://www.mcg.org.au/things-to-do/mcg-tour - or Melbourne Park - https://www.tennisworld.net.au/tours/.   Even a visit to one of the museums - https://museumsvictoria.com.au/.

 

Something I love to do in Melbourne is sit and watch the people, I always try to find someone wearing colour - Melbournians seem to delight in wearing black for some reason.

 

There is so much to see and do in Melbourne, seriously, it's one of my favourite cities in the world rivalled only in Australia by Canberra - in my opinion, but then I am a bit of a political tragic.   

[icat2000]

Maybe go to the Melbourne Zoo. That easy to get to from the port to do by yourself. Catch the tram into the city and change onto another tram and it stops outside Zoo. When are you going to Melbourne. Depends on what month cause certain months there be plenty of stuff to do.

 

Or you can go to Fed Square. Art Gallery across the road. Plenty restuarants along the Yarra River. Take a cruise up the River.  Botantical Gardens just down the road from Art Gallery along with Shrine of Rememberance.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by icat2000

[icat2000]

19 hours ago, Bubbeh said:

 

Something I love to do in Melbourne is sit and watch the people, I always try to find someone wearing colour - Melbournians seem to delight in wearing black for some reason.

 

Because its a grey depressing city to work in. Though you get some variety on the Black theme. Grey or Blue.

[buchhalm]

10 minutes ago, icat2000 said:

Because its a grey depressing city to work in. Though you get some variety on the Black theme. Grey or Blue.

They are in mourning because Dan is still in power.

[icat2000]

Just now, buchhalm said:

They are in mourning because Dan is still in power.

Started wayyyy before Dan. I've worked in Melbourne CBD since 2000. And it was black back then.

[Docker123]

44 minutes ago, buchhalm said:

They are in mourning because Dan is still in power.

It is probably anti-mourning colours.

 

Dan’s number of seats actually increased.

 

[cruiser3775]

I would not write off Healesville Sanctuary because of some ill informed comments. Yes, nocturnal animals do not make best viewing during daytime. But there are many places at Healesville where you can see our native animals and birds in natural settings, including koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats and emus. Healesville is not a conventional zoo. It is a rural sanctuary on 78 acres of land (32 hectares) in a beautiful natural setting in the Yarra Valley. It is about a 1.5 hour drive from the port, so you also get to see some of the countryside around Melbourne.  

At the Sanctuary, there is a daily spectacular Birds of Prey display, there are talks by the keepers, and you can visit the Australian Wildlife Health Centre where sick, injured or orphaned wildlife are rehabilitated.

[Hogbay]

16 hours ago, Docker123 said:

It is probably anti-mourning colours.

 

Dan’s number of seats actually increased.

 

So too the numbers leaving . Don't bother trying to call for a  Ambulance ....

[eddieg07410]

21 hours ago, icat2000 said:

Maybe go to the Melbourne Zoo. That easy to get to from the port to do by yourself. Catch the tram into the city and change onto another tram and it stops outside Zoo. When are you going to Melbourne. Depends on what month cause certain months there be plenty of stuff to do.

 

Or you can go to Fed Square. Art Gallery across the road. Plenty restuarants along the Yarra River. Take a cruise up the River.  Botantical Gardens just down the road from Art Gallery along with Shrine of Rememberance.

We are going to be there late February 2023. We already have plans to visit the Steve Irwin zoo. Is this one worth seeing as well.

 

 

[icat2000]

2 hours ago, eddieg07410 said:

 

I've never been to Steve Irwin Zoo - doesn't interest me cause I dont like crocs.

 

Here the link to Melbourne Zoo - https://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/ 

 

https://www.shrine.org.au/

 

https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/search/from-2023-02-01+to-2023-02-28 That what happening in Melbourne in February.

[eddieg07410]

1 hour ago, icat2000 said:

I've never been to Steve Irwin Zoo - doesn't interest me cause I dont like crocs.

 

Here the link to Melbourne Zoo - https://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/ 

 

https://www.shrine.org.au/

 

https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/search/from-2023-02-01+to-2023-02-28 That what happening in Melbourne in February.

How much would a cab ride cost to the zoo? And how much is admission?

[cruiser3775]

43 minutes ago, eddieg07410 said:

How much would a cab ride cost to the zoo? And how much is admission?

Not much at all, as it is just outside the central city in Parkville. Note that it is a conventional zoo with many exotic animals, but does have an Australian animals section. Admission is $A42 adult

Edited December 23, 2022 by cruiser3775

[possum52]

14 minutes ago, eddieg07410 said:

How much would a cab ride cost to the zoo? And how much is admission?

The link for Melbourne Zoo icat2000 gave you above will help, but here is a link directly to the admission prices - Admission Prices Melbourne Zoo.

 

As for a taxi /cab to the zoo, where are you taking it from? Station Pier? Or the city? From Station Pier, it would be around $30 each way. 

 

The tram from the city is easy to do and drops you off at Stop 26 which is a short walk to the zoo gates. 

 

You could also catch a train from any of the five city railways stations - the zoo/Royal Park railway station is across the road from where you would enter the Zoo if taking the tram.

 

For both tram and train you would need a Myki card. Myki Card

You may be able to buy a Myki card inside the cruise ship terminal. I haven't cruised since before Covid from Melbourne so am not sure if they are still doing that. I believe you can also buy a Myki at the tram stop a couple of hundred metres from the pier.

 

 Getting to Zoo

 

 

[Docker123]

Leigh has given good public transport detail to the zoo. For variety you could consider tram one way and train the other. 
 

Admission to the zoo must be done online, not at the gate. 
 

It is a very good general zoo. Modern exhibition spaces and nice grounds. 

 

On a different orientation, if you are into sport the MCG tour and Australian Sports Museum are certainly worth considering.  Either a nice stroll from the city centre, or short tram ride. 
https://www.mcg.org.au/things-to-do/mcg-tour

Edited December 23, 2022 by Docker123