How to watch the Phillip Island Penguin Parade livestream in the UK

Livestream to run nightly for the foreseeable future and feature expert commentary from Phillip Island Nature Parks rangers
David Child25 August 2020

Australia's famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade is now on show to the world, with nightly live streaming offering viewers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of a colony of frolicking, friendly fairy penguins.

Phillip Island Nature Parks has rolled out the technology to bring the animals into living rooms around the globe and circumvent restrictions which mean visitors remain shut out from the tourist hotspot amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

During the nightly parade, about 3000 little penguins emerge from the Bass Strait and make their way up the beach to their burrows after a day out at sea hunting for fish. Typically, they are watched by crowds of tourists.

So, here's what you need to know about the livestream:

When is the penguin parade livestream taking place?

The livestream of penguin parade started on Tuesday at 6pm local time (9am GMT) and ran for 30 minutes.

Moving forwards, the livestream will run nightly for the foreseeable future and feature expert commentary from Phillip Island Nature Parks rangers.

“Our rangers who work at the penguin parade will be providing some live commentary on the penguin characters,” CEO of Phillip Island Nature Parks, Catherine Basterfield, told Melbourne’s 3AW radio station.

“I think at the moment penguins just put a smile on everyone’s faces, and that’s what we need right now.”

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio meanwhile praised the move to showcase the Penguin Parade online.

"It’s fantastic this wonderful daily display of nature right here in Victoria is now going to be seen in the loungerooms of people around the world,” she told Australia's 7News.

“I have no doubt the livestreaming will delight those who’ve never seen these little penguins in action and encourage even more people to visit Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction when it’s safe to do so.”

How can I watch the livestream in the UK?

Brits hoping to get a glimpse of the penguins can tune in to the livestream via Phillip Island Nature Parks' Facebook and Youtube pages, here and here.