In a country brimming with venomous snakes, spiders and even mammals (platypuses are sneaky like that), it’s nice to know we have adorable critters like penguins, too.

Victoria is home to several fairy penguin (also called little penguin) colonies, where the cute-as-a-button sea chickens continue to win over hearts, but there are a few rules to go penguin spotting safely.

Can I take a photo of the penguins?

These little guys are sensitive to white and blue light, so if you’re going to take a photo, be sure to turn your flash off. The same goes for using your phone torch; if you must use it, make sure you put red cellophane over the bulb to minimise the brightness. 

How close can I get to the penguins?

These guys are shy, so stay quiet, still and out of their way so you don’t scare them – keep a minimum of three metres distance.