French Island

- Reviews French Island Tours - Day Tours, French Island, Australia

Then we were informed that she was not going to jail. Then we were chased back to the jetty by her man, who reeked of pee, and another roller coaster trip! We' re not the only ones who wanted to take the next one! Frenchspeaking island is like a spook city with beverage operators and no insurances and no LAW!

Visiting the French island was always one of the things you would do, but you never got around to it, but the four of us were so happy that we did it at last. Travelling by Frankston to Stony Point by rail is a true delicacy and the brief trip by boat via Westernport Bay to Tankerton Jetty took us to the island.

Actually it is bigger than I thought and there is so much to see with Lois Airs (French Island Coach Tours), who takes the coach and explains the island?s wildlife. Although we did not have the opportunity to visit the McLeod Historical Prison Farm (not enough time), it is a good reason to come back and enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride.

On the downside, the trip back by boat did not collapse with the Frankston to Stony Point and we had to waiting about 1.5 h. The only downside was that the trip back by boat did not collapse. But it is definitely a worthwhile trip and the price is very low. From Melbourne to Stony Point, where we bought a French Island (AUD 24 round trip) shuttle at a Stony Point kiosk.

At the kiosk staff were very kind and informed us that due to the wind some of the ferry trips could be canceled. We' ve chosen to take the chance and left with a 12:00 o'clock ferry to Tankerton. After a short look around at the jetty, Lois, the chief organiser and tour leader of French Island Tours, came to pick us up in a coach.

It was very interesting - we learnt a great deal about the French island's past, present habitat, its people and the ecological way of life (the people use rainwater and their own energy either from collectors or electric generators).

You had the chance to go to a nearby eco-lodge, watch koala and echoidna up close, attend a nearby snowball class with a domestic animal ewe, watch dolphin watching at the other boat station, see an old dairy and try some of Australia's best acones and marmalades ('all made with the best Australian ingredients'), go playing with farming pets and driving around a large part of the island.

Loi's passions and excitement were very infectious and let us look at the island with her own eye. Lois took us back to the terminal at the end of the trip and waiting until we were sure that the boat would not be called off. At 4:30 pm we took the boat back (it was a little late because of the weather) with the promise that we will return to the French island in some time.

This was definitely the best trip we ever did in Australia: enjoy (bus ride), informatively (encounters with nature), inspirational and inexpensive (AUD 25 per person). The French island has a long historic past. This trip leaves us enough to discover the interesting wildlife and vegetation. Have you been to French Island Tours?