NATIONAL and international exposure on the hit TV show The Block has helped crowds surge at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade this year.
From mid-year when the renovation show started on air from Phillip Island, visitation is up 14 per cent versus the same period last year.
Based on current trends, visitation to Phillip Island Nature Parks in 2024-25 is on track to exceed pre-pandemic visitor numbers of one million visitors per year.
The Melbourne Cup long weekend saw sell-out crowds from Friday to Monday enjoying the Penguin Parade experience. Given it is still early November and with only a few hundred tickets available between the holiday period December 23 to January 2, the coming summer period promises to be a big one.
Phillip Island Nature Parks Tourism General Manager Mark Anderson said having more than one million people watching The Block most nights of the week introduced the lovable little penguins to big national and international audiences.
“While it is a building and renovation show that has been great for Phillip Island, we like to think our little penguins are the true reality stars.
“It’s hard not to fall in love with little penguins and that’s certainly inspired TV viewers to come and see them on their nightly trek up the beach back to their own homes on Phillip Island,” Mr Anderson said.
“In August and September, the Penguin Parade was sold out on 23 nights, which is incredible at this time of the year and great for the overall Bass Coast economy,” he said.
“While The Block has contributed to strong domestic growth, our world-class reputation has continued to reinforce our growth in international visitors with the Penguin Parade recently featuring on a Top 10 natural experiences for tourists to visit around the world. Visitors from China, Singapore, USA, Malaysia, Germany and the UK have all visited the Penguin Parade in large numbers over the year, retaining our strong reputation around the world as a must-see ecotourism experience."
Mr Anderson expects the strong growth to continue with a $5 million upgrade of the boardwalk and viewing stands opening in time for the Christmas holidays along with an upgraded Penguins Plus premium stand.
