We've had many people say to us "we never knew all of this was here!"

Easily understood. French Island is a landscape with no power poles, no sealed roads, and no shopping centres. The 75 full time and 35 part-time residents live under very special circumstances. There is no local government, no churches, no mains electricity or water, therefore self-sufficiency is a necessity. We're not connected to the mainland like Phillip Island is, and ferry companies carry all incoming and out-going traffic.

So why come at all?

French Island is 70% National Park and has beautiful flora and fauna, rarely seen elsewhere, that flourishes here. We have the most dense disease-free koala population in the world. And there are 260 bird species, 600 plant species, and 100 native orchids. We are listed in the Register of the National Estate, and have received the highest rating from the National Trust, a classification reserved exclusively for parts of the physical environment considered to be essential to the heritage of Australia.

If you love nature you'll love French Island.

Getting to French Island:

Getting to McLeod can be an adventure in itself! Easily accessible from Melbourne by car or public transport, Passenger ferries leave from Stony Point (near Crib point and Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula), or Cowes on Phillip Island. There is also a barge service that operates from Corinella, near the Bass Highway, to transport vehicles onto the island.(phone: 0428 880 729)

Our courtesy transport meets two ferries daily (arrangements a must!) at Tankerton jetty. During the 20-minute drive to the farm visitors pass through undulating hills being grazed by sheep, cattle, and horses. Passage through the National Park almost always offers views of Koalas, birds and the occasional echidna.