Bass Strait seals, granite headlands, one-hour wildlife passage
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 2 marine wildlife experiences from 7 reviewed.
Verified partners for Cape Woolamai Cruise tours, free cancellation where available, and instant confirmation on every booking.
1 hr
Sail along Phillip Island's dramatic coastline, spotting seabirds and marine life while savoring refreshments
Reserve
12 hr
Full-day coastal adventure featuring little penguins, koalas, kangaroos, and iconic beach scenery
Reserve
12 hr
Full-day small-group adventure to witness little penguins at sunset plus koalas, kangaroos and coastal vistas
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
Cape Woolamai Cruise tours depart from multiple cities — pick the one closest to where you're staying.
Tours departing from San Remo include round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, bilingual guides, and the option of pickup from a common meeting point or directly from your hotel.
Tours departing from Melbourne include round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, bilingual guides, and the option of pickup from a common meeting point or directly from your hotel.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Cape Woolamai Cruise tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
Towering natural rock formations featuring unique colors and textures formed over centuries.
Cape Woolamai cliffs
The iconic connection between the mainland and Phillip Island, providing a unique vantage point from the water.
Phillip Island Bridge
Frequent marine residents often seen resting on the rocky outcrops near the cape.
Seal Rocks Phillip Island
The cliffs serve as a sanctuary for species like cormorants, gannets, and wedge-tailed eagles.
Phillip Island birdlife
The charming departure point for the cruise and a hub for local fishing activities.
San Remo Jetty
Every Cape Woolamai Cruise tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | From | Duration | Rating | Skip-the-line | Guide | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard Entry Most popular
Cape Woolamai Scenic Cruise from San Remo
|
San Remo | 1 hr | ★ 4.6 | — | — | ✓ | €30 | Book → |
|
Guided Experience
Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Day Tour
|
— | 12 hr | ★ 4.6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €95 | Book → |
|
Guided Experience
Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Wildlife Eco Tour from Melbourne
|
Melbourne | 12 hr | ★ 4.8 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €96 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
The coastal wildlife focus of a cape woolamai cruise complements the land-based penguin observation experience, making it ideal for those seeking broad maritime views and cliffside scenery. Most visitors who prioritize intimate terrestrial animal encounters find the penguin colony the more singular attraction.
| Feature | Top pick Cape Woolamai Cruise | Penguin Parade |
|---|---|---|
Primary focus |
Coastal scenery and marine life | |
Observation method |
Boat — open deck | |
Time of day |
Morning | |
Physical activity level |
Low — seated | |
Wildlife variety |
Seals, birds, and dolphins | |
Weather dependency |
High — wind and swell sensitive | |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose the cape woolamai cruise tours for daytime marine exploration or the Penguin Parade if your primary goal is observing nocturnal bird behaviors with your cape woolamai cruise tickets.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Cape Woolamai Cruise tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
170 Marine Parade, San Remo, VIC 3925
Boarding commences 15 minutes before departure.
Open in Google MapsFree parking is available near the San Remo Jetty. Allow 15-30 minutes for parking during peak seasons.
V/Line coaches travel to Phillip Island from Melbourne. Check timetables for connections to San Remo.
Dress in layers to suit the weather, as temperatures are typically cooler on the water. Comfortable, casual clothing is recommended for your cape woolamai cruise.
Passengers are encouraged to travel with minimal personal items. Please be prepared to present booking confirmation upon arrival for your cape woolamai cruise.
Photography is encouraged throughout the cape woolamai cruise, provided you follow staff instructions regarding drone usage and safety around marine wildlife.
This experience is not wheelchair accessible as boarding the boat from the jetty involves navigating 5-10 steps. Prams and strollers are generally accommodated, but passengers must be able to manage the jetty steps.
Mobile phones are permitted for capturing photos and videos during the cape woolamai cruise. Please ensure your device is secure while on the deck.
The cape woolamai cruise is a family-friendly activity featuring commentary suitable for all ages. Children aged 3 and under may travel free, though they must be included in your booking.
Complimentary tea, coffee, and cake are served during the sailing. A licensed bar is available on board for other beverage purchases.
Pets are not permitted on board the vessel. Only accredited assistance dogs are allowed to accompany passengers on their cape woolamai cruise.
Cruises are subject to minimum passenger numbers and specific weather conditions. Always check for updates from Wildlife Coast Cruises before departing for your cape woolamai cruise.
170 Marine Parade, San Remo, VIC 3925
Boarding commences 15 minutes before departure.
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
September to November offers comfortable temperatures and active marine wildlife. Expect slightly cooler breezes while out on the water.
December to February is the peak season for wildlife sightings. Early morning departures provide the best light for photography.
March to May features calm water conditions and beautiful, clear coastal skies. Ideal for those who prefer avoiding the intense summer heat.
June to August brings opportunities for whale migration sightings. Ensure you bring extra layers for the colder wind.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Cruises can sell out during weekends and school holidays, so secure your cape woolamai cruise tickets in advance.
Since the cruise is weather-dependent, call the operator on the morning of your booking to confirm status.
If you are sensitive to sea movement, take preventative measures before boarding the vessel.
The bow area is restricted to passengers taller than 1 meter for safety during the cape woolamai cruise.
Plan your day to ensure you are back at the jetty by 12:00 PM to catch the local pelican feeding event.
Bring a polarized lens for your camera to reduce glare from the water during your cape woolamai cruise.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Famous for daily pelican feeding held at 12 noon.
Iconic structure connecting San Remo to the main island.
Known for rugged coastline and excellent surf conditions.
Offers scenic hiking trails and diverse coastal views.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
For cancellations up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, guests receive a full refund of the 49 AUD fare. Cancellations within 24 hours of the departure time or no-shows result in a total forfeit of the booking price.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Historic coastal hotel with local pub facilities.
Convenient apartment-style lodging in Cowes.
Several affordable motel options available in San Remo.
Cape Woolamai's granite headland rises 113 metres above Bass Strait, marking the southern edge of Phillip Island's exposed coastline. The cape takes its name from an Indigenous term for the grey seal colonies that still occupy the offshore rocks and ledges.
European mariners charted these waters in the late eighteenth century, noting the treacherous reef systems and seasonal seal populations that drew sealers and whalers into the strait. By the 1820s commercial sealing had decimated Bass Strait colonies, but protection measures introduced in the mid-twentieth century allowed populations to recover. Today the cape's intertidal platforms and sea caves shelter Australian fur seals and occasional New Zealand fur seals, with haul-out sites visible from the water during calm conditions.
The cape woolamai cruise phillip island operates from San Remo's Marine Parade wharf, a sheltered anchorage on the mainland side of the Phillip Island bridge. Wildlife Coast Cruises, the licensed operator, runs one-hour wildlife passages that round the cape's southern tip before tracking north along the island's ocean-facing cliffs. The route passes Pyramid Rock, a basalt outcrop that serves as a major seal breeding site, and continues past stacked granite formations shaped by millennia of wave action. Skippers navigate within fifty metres of haul-out ledges when sea conditions permit, allowing close observation of seal behaviour and pup-rearing activity. The vessel carries hydrophones to amplify underwater vocalisations, and naturalist commentary covers seal biology, migratory patterns, and the strait's role as a marine corridor between Tasmania and the mainland.
Phillip Island's southern coastline records some of Victoria's highest wave energy, with winter swells generated by Southern Ocean storm systems travelling unimpeded across Bass Strait. The cape woolamai scenic cruise operates year-round but schedule frequency varies with seasonal demand and weather windows. Autumn and winter passages often encounter rough water, while spring and summer offer calmer conditions and increased seal activity as pups are born and juveniles learn to forage. The cruise departs at 10:45 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings, with boarding opening thirty minutes prior to allow time for safety briefings and seat allocation. The one-hour passage returns to San Remo wharf by midday, making it possible to combine the cruise with afternoon visits to Phillip Island's penguin colony or koala conservation reserve.
"The hydrophones amplify underwater vocalisations, revealing the acoustic world beneath Bass Strait's surface."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Cape Woolamai Cruise tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at 170 Marine Parade thirty minutes before the 10:45 departure, allowing time to park and collect your boarding pass from the Wildlife Coast Cruises kiosk.
The crew briefs passengers on life jacket locations and viewing protocols before the vessel clears San Remo's sheltered harbour and enters the open strait. Within fifteen minutes you round Cape Woolamai's southern granite cliffs, where the first seal haul-out sites appear on wave-cut platforms below the headland. The skipper throttles back and drifts within viewing range, giving you time to observe seals basking on ledges and juveniles testing the water.
The vessel continues north past Pyramid Rock, where dozens of seals occupy the tiered basalt shelves. The naturalist points out pups born earlier in the season and explains the colony's social structure. You hear seal vocalisations through the onboard hydrophones — guttural barks and high-pitched calls that carry through the water column. The return passage tracks the coastline's stacked granite formations and sea caves, with the skipper identifying landmarks and explaining the geological forces that shaped the cape. By 11:45 you are back at San Remo wharf, with the rest of the day open for exploring Phillip Island's interior reserves or returning to the mainland via the bridge.
You should arrive 15-30 minutes before your scheduled departure time for boarding at the San Remo Jetty.
Yes, the cape woolamai cruise is family-friendly and children 3 and under travel free.
Unfortunately, the vessel is not wheelchair accessible due to the jetty steps.
Complimentary cake, tea, and coffee are provided on the cape woolamai cruise, and a licensed bar is available on board.
If the cruise is cancelled due to weather, you will be offered a full refund of your 49 AUD fare or the opportunity to reschedule.
Yes, there are facilities available on the vessel used for the cape woolamai cruise.
You can book your cape woolamai cruise tickets directly via the official Wildlife Coast Cruises website.
No, pets are not allowed on the cape woolamai cruise, although accredited assistance dogs are welcome.
We recommend dressing in layers to stay warm, as it can be breezy while you enjoy your cape woolamai cruise.
