Thank you for visiting the French Island

Eco Tours, Products & Services Page.

Last Updated January 2007

Please ring or e-mail me if you are desperate for some hard copy info and I will try to help you.

Regards Rod xxxx 61 1300 30 70 54 Phone/Fax or 0429 177 532. (info@frenchislandecotours.com.au)

1. French Island Eco Tours - Products 

  1. Afternoon General Interest Eco Tour (Schedule: November – May: Wednesday and Sunday Afternoons, PLUS January Fridays, June, July, September, October – Sundays only, other days by arrangement) For around $A40 enjoy a 12 minute ferry ride, delicious organic lunch, an award winning, entertaining and informative tour, exploring French Island, its National Park and McLeod Eco Farm & Historic Prison. (Note: You can supply your own lunch and enjoy our sweets as an afternoon tea tour.) Please discuss departure times, as these will vary between 12.00 noon and 12.35pm, depending on the day. Return time approx 5.00pm. Please Note: Ferry fares of around $20Adults,$15 concesion, $5Children are extra.
  2. No Frills tours (ie BYO Lunch etc, etc) by arrangement. (Please Note: We understand the cost of lunch can be too expensive for some groups, so please don't hesitate to ask about our BYO option..)
  3. Tours at other times are by arrangement: PLEASE CONTACT us. 0429 177 532
  4. Scheduled Full Day Tours  Tours are Sunday's commencing at 10 am, exploring the West Coast (Hastings side) and other attractions such as a Pinnacles walk, or visit to the Island's Queen Bee/honey farm, and places we don't have time to visit on our regular afternoon tour. At 12.15 to 12.35 pm we join our regular afternoon tour, with the optional organic lunch etc. Prices start at $80 retail per adult, Concession $75, Children $45. Subtract $10 pp if you want to bring your own lunch.

       v.            Saturday Evening Twilight Dinner Tours During January to Easter, when daylight savings time is in, we will be doing a TWILIGHT SATURDAY evening Organic DINNER and eco-tour. Times are approximately, 6.00 till 11.00 pm. This tour includes the special organic dinner, similar to our daytours, but with more emphasis on entertainment and having a good time. THIS GETAWAY IS GREAT FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR SPECIAL EVENTS. Price around $65 inc ferry, departs around 6.30pm, returns 11.30pm.

     vi.            Special Interest Bird Watching , Wildflower, Nature and Heritage Tours of French Island National Park and surrounds. (Please enquire about times and dates)

  1. School Group Tours Tailored to schools wishes, with an emphasis on nature, tree planting, lifestyles etc. Catering for Primary and Secondary Schools, University, Colleges of Advanced Learning. (Tourism Courses a specialty.)
  2. Seniors and other Club Group DAY Tours (Emphasis on history, pioneer stories etc.)
  3. Guest Speaking (Probus & other mainland Clubs, Subjects - French Island the Mystery Island.)
  4. Schedules & Booking Please ring or email for the latest details.

2. Recommendations

The following section is a list of established accommodation and tour operators who recommend the French Island Eco Tour and/or have included the tour in their advertising material. Where available, links to the home pages of these operators have been established.

3. Accreditation

4. Community Goodwill Tours

---------------------------------------- End of Page Table of Contents ----------------------------------------------------------

1. French Island Eco Tours - Products

a) Afternoon General Interest Eco Tour For around $A40, enjoy a delicious organic lunch, an entertaining and informative tour, exploring French Island, its National Park and McLeod Eco Farm & Historic Prison. (Please note: For $25, you can supply your own lunch but enjoy our sweets as an afternoon tea tour.) Please discuss departure times, as these will vary between 12.00 noon and 12.35pm, depending on the day. Return time approx 5.00pm.

Note: Ferry fares are extra and cost around $20 Adults,$15 concesion, $5Children are extra. The ferry/cruiser is an important part of the French Island day, allowing you time to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the “mainland” and get ready for the “adventure” which lies ahead.

Schedule: November to May: Wednesday and Sunday Afternoons, PLUS January Fridays, June, July, September, October – Sundays only.

Tours for groups, schools are generally organised on other days than those mentioned above, by arrangement.

The tour discusses the threats to French Island, and what is being done (practically) to conserve areas such as French Island in their pristine states, for the benefit of the endangered flora and fauna, and the enjoyment of future generations.

Wildlife Coast Cruises: Kasey Lee

Inter Island Ferries: George Bass

Tankerton Jetty walk.

FIET’s 22 seat  minibus, 49 seat coach

The tour highlights the amazing environment, fascinating history, unbelievable geology, pioneer lifestyles, combined with the local flora and fauna (including guaranteed sightings of koalas in the wild), together with spectacular scenery and countless Island legends and stories.

“The Lodge”

Scenery Stop

Koala spotting.

Koalas in the Wild

The general interest/discovery tour is tailored as an introduction to French Island, allowing the participant to experience the Island's isolation, beauty and difference of French Island, first hand.

The tour takes in all the sights, discussing the amazing gifts of nature such as the short tailed shearwater, the koala, the echidna, the sea eagle, potoroos, king quail, orchids etc, along with the lifestyles, hardships, and the joys of its 80 human inhabitants.

The Island's features such as geological features, native populations, the water table, industries, and fascinating heritage are also discussed in a fun  and entertaining manner. The tour concludes with a discussion of the threats to French Island, what the “authorities” are doing to preserve French Islan. The trends in population growth, land sales are also discussed.

French Island's "Diamaru"

PERSEVERENCE Primary School

Salt Mine Point Barge Landing

McLeod Eco Farm Dining Room

"Scheduled" Tours depart regularly (subject to bookings) from Stony Point at around 12.30pm.. The tours are arranged to meet train passengers who can catch either the Inter-Island public transport Ferry which departs Stony Pt at 12.00pm or on Weekdays,  the Wildlife Coast Cruises, Kasey Lee will pick you up at around 12.35pm. From Cowes, people can do the tour Sundays and Wednesdays and book with Wildlife Coast Cruises, at the Cowes Rotunda or on 1300 763 739 and depart at 12.15 pm. We are happy to take passengers who are already on French Island,  enjoying overnight accommodation, or choose to take the public transport ferry earlier in the day. Please call me on 0429 177 532

Please ring us about any other time, including Saturdays. We often have tours on Saturdays, but these need special discussion. Please ring if in doubt, we need a minimum of 6 adult participants for the tour to proceed. We can operate with less people, however we may have to charge a little more money to cover costs. Sorry!.

The best phone number to contact me on is 0429 177 532. or 1300 30 70 54

(Please note we have a short break during the wet season in August to early September, to allow us a little to catch up on major maintenance etc.) BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL.

b) Special Interest Bird Watching , Wildflower, Nature and Heritage Tours of French Island National Park and surrounds. (Nominally the last Saturday of the month is a special interest birdwatching tour) Please ring for details.

c) School Group Tours Educational tours cater for all schools with an emphasis on nature, tree planting, lifestyles and French Island's unique environmental culture, we can all appreciate and learn from etc.

All Schools can be accommodated, from Primary, Secondary, University, Colledges of Advanced Learning. eg Tourism and Eco-Science Field days are a specialty.

A special treat is to spend time at Perseverance Primary School (subject to availability and teachers OK), and even help them with some of their exciting projects.

Ring for prices, providing schools have reasonable numbers, it can be surprisingly inexpensive and well worth the extra spent on ferry fares. Times 10am to 4.45pm. Please ring or email for prices and a subject/activities list. 0429 177 532.

Typical activities include: shearwater talk, alternative energy talk, koala viewing and talk, visit to Perseverence Primary School (one of the smallest in Victoria with only 9 pupils), marine life exploring at Salt Mine point , campfire lunch, Billy tea, organic farming talk , and tree planting for the koalas including the presentation of a souvenir certificate.

Alternative Energy

Talking Echidnas

Campfire Billy Tea talk

Tree Planting

School group tours are usually held on weekdays , departing Stony Point jetty at around 10am, returning about 4 to 4.45pm. Assuming the children bring their own lunch, the day costs between $20  to $30 pp depending on numbers (including ferry, trees, tree planting certificate, eco farm entry etc. (Note: 1 adult per 10 children are free) Price depends on group size. FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE RING ROD ON 0429 177 532.

d) Seniors and other Club Group Tours (Emphasis on history, pioneer stories etc.)

Seniors or Club tours are usually held on weekdays , departing Stony Point jetty at around 10am, returning about 4.30 pm., timed to catch the train departing Frankston at 9.05pm and the return train departing Stony Pt. at 5.07 pm.

The tour includes a FREE morning tea, West coast tour, short walk to Fairhaven beach, barge landing visit, McLeod Eco Farm for lunch, prison and farm tour, plus coach return.

Due to the popularity and quality of the food available at McLeod Eco Farm, most clubs are choosing to have the buffet style organic luncheon of stress free killed meats, home made breads, organic vegetables and salads freshly picked on the day of the tour.  This costs around $30 to $40 dollars pp, plus ferry fares around $15.

If the group bring their own lunch, and have a delicious afternoon tea, the day costs between $35 to $45, including GST, ferry, morning and afternoon teas, and eco farm entry. Note: Price depends on group size. FOR BOOKINGS PLEASE RING ROD ON 0429 177 532.

e) Guest Speaking (Probus & other mainland Clubs, Subjects - French Island the Mystery Island., Tourism - The Next Millinium) Please note: These talks are basically free of charge, however, a small financial contribution to our out of pocket expenses would be appreciated.

f) Schedules & Booking

"Scheduled" Tours depart regularly (subject to bookings) from Stony Point at around 12 to 12.30pm returning just after 5pm. The tours are arranged to meet train passengers who can catch either the Inter-Island public transport Ferry which departs Stony Pt at 12.00pm.

On Weekdays, the Wildlife Coast Cruises, Kasey Lee will pick you up at around 12.35pm. From Cowes, people can do the tour Sundays and Wednesdays and book with Wildlife Coast Cruises, at the Cowes Rotunda or on 1300 763 739  departing at 12.15 pm. We are happy to take passengers who are already on French Island, enjoying overnight accommodation, or those who choose to take the public transport ferry earlier in the day. Please call me on 0429 177 532

Schedule: November to May: Wednesday and Sunday Afternoons, PLUS January Fridays, …… June, July, September, October – Sundays only …August Closed

Please ring us about any other time, including Saturdays. We often have tours on Saturdays, but these need special discussion. Please ring if in doubt, we need a minimum of 6 adult participants for the tour to proceed. We can operate with less people, however we may have to charge a little more money to cover costs. Sorry!.

The best phone numbers to contact me is mobile 0429 177 532.

2. Recommendations

2a. Tourism Awards from Tourism & Business Organisations

2b. Tourism Operators.

The following section is a list of established accommodation and tour operators who recommend the French Island Eco Tour and/or have included the tour in their advertising material. Where available, links to the home pages of these operators have been established.  

a) MOTELS

b) BED & BREAKFAST's

c) BACKPACKERS HOSTELS, YOUTH HOSTELS, ETC

d) TOUR OPERATORS (Including Bus Companies)

e) BOOKING AGENCIES

f) INFORMATION CENTRES

g) CONFERENCE ORGANISERS

h) STATE/REGIONAL TOURISM ASSOCIATIONS

i) LOCAL TOURISM ASSOCIATIONS

2c. Customers.

We have countless customer referrals, often who say "This is the BEST TOUR we have been on and we have experienced many".  A "testimonial" list is currently being compiled. Please ring or email if this is of interest.

3. Accreditation

1. French Island Eco Tours are an Accredited Bus, Coach and Tour operator (#AC00856), under the Victorian Dept Of Infrastructure.

2. French Island Eco Tours are accredited with the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria under the Better Business Accreditation Program.

3. French Island Eco Tours are avnaced ecotourism accredited members of the Ecotourism Association of under the NEAP Program. This standard has been the basis of the International "Green Globe 21" World wide standards for eco-tourism operations and it is expected Green Globe 21 accreditation will follow.

4. French Island Eco tours are Parks Victoria, Licenced Tour Operator No PV 1525

4. Community Goodwill Tours

  1. Frankston Susono Friendship Association - May 1995
  2. Victims of Chenobyl - Childrens Tour May 1998
  3. Frankston Susono Friendship Association - Childrens Tour August 1998
  4. Victims of Chenobyl - Childrens Camp and Tour May 1999
  5. Australian Koala Foundation September 1999
  6. Victims of Chenobyl - Childrens Goodwill Tour - June 2002