French Island, Victoria: What are the best walks, tours and things to do?
French Island in Western Port Bay is a great place to see koalas. Top things to do on French Island include the Old Coast Road walking track. Other French Island activities include birdwatching on Fairhaven Beach and national park visits with Naturaliste Tours.
French Island in Western Port Bay tends to get overlooked in favour of the far more famous Phillip Island. But if you’d prefer your Melbourne island escape with much smaller crowds, then French Island is worth considering.
French Island is deliberately undeveloped, and most of it is dominated by the French Island National Park. It’s an off-the-grid place, and unincorporated territory, which means there’s no local council to provide services. Locals essentially fend for themselves.
It’s also one of the bigger islands in Australia, covering nearly 170 square kilometres. The only way to get there is by boat, and most visitors arrive on the Western Port Ferry from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula. There is also a Phillip Island to French Island ferry.
Things to do on French Island, Victoria: Wildlife
Top of the list of things to do on French Island is wildlife-spotting. It is a notorious haven for koalas, and every year a couple of hundred French Island koalas are relocated to boost populations elsewhere in the state. Long-nosed potoroos are also abundante on French Island. But you’ve also got a decent chance of seeing seals, little penguins, echidnas, weedy sea dragons, dolphins and crimson rosellas.
French Island walks
Other things to do on French Island include tackling the walking and mountain-biking trails. Most trails start from the Tankerton Foreshore Reserve, near where the ferry lands. The 5km Old Coast Road walking track heads inland and is probably the best all-round walk on French Island.
But alternatives include the 9.6km West Coast Wetlands Walk, which offers good views of Western Port and Phillip Island from on top of the Pinnacles rock formation.
Birdwatching and cycling on French Island
If shorebirds are your thing, then wander along Fairhaven Beach at low tide.
With a bike, you can cover more ground. The 8km Redbill Manna Gum Woodland ride is the best introductory bike ride on French Island. The 24km Gartsides Ride is more of a full day challenge.
Things to do on French Island, Victoria: Naturaliste Tours
Alternatively, French Island tours are available with Naturaliste Tours. The main trip offered is the Discover French Island tour, which includes short guided walks and 4WDing through the French Island National Park in search of wildlife.
This tour lasts two hours and 40 minutes, and picks you up from the ferry. Naturaliste Tours charges $99 for the experience, and bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
French Island accommodation is available at French Island Cottage.
More Victoria travel
Enjoy seafood with bayside views at The Rocks Mornington.
Drink on the rooftop at the Richmond Club Hotel in Melbourne.
How long is the drive from Ballarat to Bendigo?
Watch jousting contests at Kryal Castle near Ballarat.
Enjoy the changing seasons at the Alfred Nicholas Gardens in the Dandenong Ranges.