Penguins on the Central Coast: Little Legends of the Sea
When you think of penguins, you might picture Antarctica, snow, and ice – but did you know we have penguins right here in Australia? And yes, they’ve even been spotted around the Central Coast! These little seabirds are regular visitors, and when they do show up, they create a real buzz.
Let’s dive into the world of Little Penguins, the smallest (and cutest) penguins in the world – and the ones who visit our coastline.
What kind of penguins live here?
The penguins seen along the Central Coast are called Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins). They grow to about 30–35 cm tall, have dark blue feathers on their backs, white bellies, and a funny little waddle when they walk on land.
They’re excellent swimmers and spend most of their time out at sea feeding, only coming to land to rest, moult, or breed.
Where can you see them?
Little Penguins are common on the Central Coast. Most of them live and breed at Lion Island or further south – like Sydney’s North Head, Manly, or Montague Island near Naroomaand to our North at Port Stephens.
Occasionally, one may turn up - Often popping their heads up when you are swimming in the ocean like at Blue Bay:
Resting on rocks around Norah Head, Avoca or Terrigal
Injured or tired on a beach after rough weather
Floating offshore or spotted by lucky boaties and kayakers
Because they’re small and spend most of their time at sea, they’re hard to spot, but if you do see one, it’s a special sight!
What do they eat?
Little Penguins are carnivores, and they love:
Small fish
Squid
Krill and other tiny sea creatures
They hunt underwater, using their flippers to “fly” through the water like little torpedoes. They can dive up to 60 metres deep but usually stick to shallower areas near the coast.
Do penguins nest on the Central Coast?
Sort of. They do breed on Lion Island in Broken Bay, Central Coast which is a protected island, but they may come ashore to rest or moult (when they shed old feathers and grow new ones).
During their catastrophic moult, penguins stay out of the water for several days and can look scruffy – but it’s a normal part of their life cycle.
It’s not normal to see a penguin on land that looks healthy but isn’t moving much. If it looks injured or in danger, call Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast.
How to help protect penguins
These little legends face plenty of threats – even when they’re just passing through. Here’s how we can help:
Keep dogs on leads near the beach, especially around rocky areas
Don’t leave rubbish or fishing line – they can get tangled or mistake it for food
Give them space – if you see one, enjoy from a distance and don’t try to pick it up
Supporting Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast who care for seabirds and protect breeding areas
Penguins are a magical reminder of the wildlife we share our coastline with.
If you're lucky enough to spot one, it’s a moment to remember – and a reason to keep our beaches clean and safe for all creatures, big and small.