French Island (Victoria)

French Island is a large island in Western Port, Victoria, Australia, known for its extensive native bushland and protected coastal wetlands. At about 170 square kilometres it is the largest coastal island in Victoria and most of its interior is reserved for conservation.

The island is valued for wildlife viewing, particularly birdwatching and koala sightings, and for low-intensity recreation such as walking, cycling and informal camping. Much of the coastline is shallow mudflat and saltmarsh that supports waders and waterbirds; there are limited visitor facilities concentrated near the main settlement areas.

Traditional ownership lies with the Boonwurrung people and European settlers developed pockets of farming and grazing in the 19th and 20th centuries. Large areas were later protected under state conservation measures and parts of the island are managed to conserve native vegetation and fauna.

Geographically the island lies in Western Port Bay off the southeastern coast of Melbourne, about 50-60 kilometres from Melbourne’s central business district by road and ferry. The nearest mainland access point is Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula.

• Area: Around 170 square kilometres, making it the largest coastal island in Victoria.
• Koala population: Home to one of Victoria's healthiest koala populations, partly because the island has no fox population and much native vegetation remains intact.
• Access: Served by a vehicle barge and small passenger boats from the Stony Point/Hastings area on the Mornington Peninsula; there is no road bridge to the mainland.

What to See #

• French Island National Park: Covers much of the island and protects heathland, swamps and coastal reserves; the park contains walking tracks and low-impact visitor facilities that highlight the island's native vegetation and birdlife.
• Western Port wetlands: Part of the Western Port wetland system which is recognised for its birdlife and intertidal habitats, with saltmarshes and mangroves important for migratory and resident species.