Raymond Island
Raymond Island
4.5
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Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Ell
    Norwich, United Kingdom20 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit for Koala trail!
    Worth a visit if in the area, especially for the Koala trail. Regular ferry to and from the island. Free if on foot, charge if in vehicles. Best to visit on foot if going for Koala trail. Advise to bring food, drink and mosquito repellent. No shops or cafes on the island. There is a toilet just by the ferry port. Can hire a bike around the island but best way to see is on foot. We saw quite a few koalas up in the trees, have to look carefully.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 March 2023
  • Traveller
    Melbourne, Australia15,759 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We saw dozens of Koalas and Black Swans
    My wife and I visited this place during our recent holiday in Lakes Entrance, where we stayed in an apartment for 5 nights at The Esplanade Resort and Spa. Raymond Island, well-known for its large koala population, is only 200m off the coast, across from the town of Paynesville. The Raymond Island ferry between Paynesville and Raymond Island departs every 20 minutes for most of the day, and every half hour in the evenings. The best koala spotting is on the 1.2km Koala Trail which starts near the ferry arrival point in Raymond Island. The Koala Trail leads us among the gum trees through residential streets, along a wooded area, and return along a boardwalk. Raymond Island is also a place for bird watching, with many different local and migratory birds that frequent Raymond Island. Birds that can spotted in Raymond Island include Swift Parrot, the Great Cormorant, Little Raven, Black Swan, Maned Duck, Eurasian Coot (dark grey with a white bill and white forehead shield), Australian Pelican, Tree Martin (small, swallow-like bird), Magpie and Gray Teal (a common duck in many waterways, forming enormous flocks). We saw around 20 Koalas, including one which had a baby Joey in its pouch. We also saw a few dozen Black Swans and cygnets during our walk on various trails.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Heather C
    Gippsland, Australia15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do for seeing Koalas if you are visiting the area of Paynesville to Lakes Entrance
    I was lucky enough to live on the Island for one year, the ferry ride for foot passengers is free, cars cost $13. The short ferry crossing takes about 5 minutes, ferry runs on a half hour turn around time, finishing at 11pm. Best to go over on foot as you will need to walk around and peer up into trees to see Koalas, you may encounter some on the ground moving to another tree. Don't touch them they are wild. Lots of kangaroos to see also as well as echidnas. Take mosquito spray, lots of mozzies there due to many areas of stagnant water.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 July 2023
  • Rosieg30
    87 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful place
    Raymond is a must visit for families and it would be worth a day trip to Paynesville and Raymond Island. The free ferry goes back and forth every 20 minutes and arrives straight at an area with toilets and large playground. We were lucky enough to see a Koala in a tree right beside the wharf. Beautiful area.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 October 2023
  • christophe s
    Lyon, France162 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best place to see Koalas
    This is the best place if you want to see koalas. Small island, can be done in half a day. Ferry to go to the Island by var. But we have done it walking, this would be my advise. Let you car and take the ferry as pedestrian (free).
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 29 October 2023
  • eudele
    Auckland Central, New Zealand227 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of koalas!
    On a road trip in South East Australia coast and looking everywhere for koalas in the bush? We have and saw none. But on seeing advice about seeing them on Raymond Island at Paynesville we did a detour to see. We got the free ferry for the five minutes crossing to the island. Walked around the Koala Trail for about an hour and saw 9 koalas up in the trees! Got some nice pictures. Very worth the drive. They were mostly sleeping in the late morning sun. Do this if you can!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 November 2023
  • Barbara V
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommend this gem of an island
    Oh my goodness what an amazing gem this was to experience. Little ferry ride over, free for pedestrians with pushbikes and a small charge if you take your car over. Ferry only takes around 5min. Once there follow Koala trail to find Koalas but in all honesty you see them everywhere. It was amazing we even got to see baby swans. I would highly recommend taking your bikes over, we walked and being a hot day did not get to see the whole island also we didn’t know there were no shops so make sure you take food, water etc.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 December 2023
  • Robyncakes
    Melbourne, Australia242 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing!
    Amazing place, the ferry across is free if you are on foot, the departures are every 20 mins it only takes a few minutes to get to the other side. There is no shops on the island so bring mozzie repellent and any drinks etc you want. You can take a car or bike on the ferry for a cost. We bought a dog on a leash. We saw over 20 koalas on the koala walk. Definitely recommend walking it rather than a bike or car. You need your look carefully to find some of the koalas. Totally worth it!!
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 December 2023
  • Eliza
    Sydney, Australia39 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Koalas are everywhere
    We parked our car to the ferry pier and took the ferry to Raymond Island. It is free of charge for passengers. The ferry only took 2 minutes and it offered continuous service during peak hours. We could easily spot koalas on the trees. Some were sleeping while some looked like very curious about the visitors,
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 January 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles392 reviews
Excellent
251
Very good
108
Average
29
Poor
4
Terrible
0

Eliza
Sydney, Australia39 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
We parked our car to the ferry pier and took the ferry to Raymond Island. It is free of charge for passengers. The ferry only took 2 minutes and it offered continuous service during peak hours. We could easily spot koalas on the trees. Some were sleeping while some looked like very curious about the visitors,
Written 5 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shep
Cardiff, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
2nd time and just as good 👍🏼 Definitely worth taking the time out to visit, 1st time 5yrs ago, then this year, taken my mother to visit family in Metung, which isn't far away. Koalas up in the trees, Rozallas everywhere, a must for any Gippsland visitor ❤️🇦🇺🐨
Written 30 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robyncakes
Melbourne, Australia242 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
Amazing place, the ferry across is free if you are on foot, the departures are every 20 mins it only takes a few minutes to get to the other side. There is no shops on the island so bring mozzie repellent and any drinks etc you want. You can take a car or bike on the ferry for a cost. We bought a dog on a leash. We saw over 20 koalas on the koala walk. Definitely recommend walking it rather than a bike or car. You need your look carefully to find some of the koalas.

Totally worth it!!
Written 26 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbara V
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Oh my goodness what an amazing gem this was to experience. Little ferry ride over, free for pedestrians with pushbikes and a small charge if you take your car over. Ferry only takes around 5min. Once there follow Koala trail to find Koalas but in all honesty you see them everywhere. It was amazing we even got to see baby swans. I would highly recommend taking your bikes over, we walked and being a hot day did not get to see the whole island also we didn’t know there were no shops so make sure you take food, water etc.
Written 5 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

eudele
Auckland Central, New Zealand227 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
On a road trip in South East Australia coast and looking everywhere for koalas in the bush? We have and saw none. But on seeing advice about seeing them on Raymond Island at Paynesville we did a detour to see. We got the free ferry for the five minutes crossing to the island. Walked around the Koala Trail for about an hour and saw 9 koalas up in the trees! Got some nice pictures. Very worth the drive. They were mostly sleeping in the late morning sun. Do this if you can!
Written 15 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

76mariadelmard
London, UK20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Definitely worth a trip . Seeing koalas and kangaroos living amongst people in a small island was amazing. It was a lovely walk and managed to see at least 12 koalas and group of kangaroos. Some different birds too.
Ferry crossing is extremely easy .
We loved!
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

christophe s
Lyon, France162 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
This is the best place if you want to see koalas. Small island, can be done in half a day. Ferry to go to the Island by var. But we have done it walking, this would be my advise. Let you car and take the ferry as pedestrian (free).
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rosieg30
Victoria, Australia87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Raymond is a must visit for families and it would be worth a day trip to Paynesville and Raymond Island. The free ferry goes back and forth every 20 minutes and arrives straight at an area with toilets and large playground. We were lucky enough to see a Koala in a tree right beside the wharf. Beautiful area.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather H
Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
Take aerogard the mossies are vicious. The path is well signed and the koalas are plentiful. So many to sight it makes your neck ache lol
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather C
Gippsland, Australia15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Solo
I was lucky enough to live on the Island for one year, the ferry ride for foot passengers is free, cars cost $13. The short ferry crossing takes about 5 minutes, ferry runs on a half hour turn around time, finishing at 11pm. Best to go over on foot as you will need to walk around and peer up into trees to see Koalas, you may encounter some on the ground moving to another tree. Don't touch them they are wild. Lots of kangaroos to see also as well as echidnas. Take mosquito spray, lots of mozzies there due to many areas of stagnant water.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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RAYMOND ISLAND: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Raymond Island


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