Raymond Island

Raymond Island sits a few hundred metres off Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes, reached by a chain ferry that crosses continuously through the day, free for anyone on foot or bicycle. Koalas were introduced to the island in the 1950s from Phillip Island, and with no predators and plenty of manna gum they multiplied to the point where the population needs active management; the result for visitors is that koalas are easier to see here than almost anywhere in the wild. A signed Koala Trail of about a kilometre and a half loops through the residential streets and bush where they sit. Kangaroos, echidnas and abundant birdlife share the island, and much of it remains undeveloped.

What you actually see

• The koalas - a dense population visible in trees along the marked trail.
• The chain ferry - the short continuous crossing from Paynesville.
• The Koala Trail - a signed loop of about 1.5 km through the streets and bush.
• The lake shores - quiet foreshores and birdlife around the island.

When to go

Year-round; koalas are visible any day, though they are most active at dawn and dusk and sleep through hot afternoons high in the canopy. Winter is quiet and works well. School holidays bring more visitors to a small island.

Honest expectations

The koalas sit high and still, so binoculars help and photographs are often just a grey lump in a fork. The population has been managed by relocation and sterilisation because of overbrowsing, a fact the signage covers. Most of the trail runs along residential streets rather than bush.

Nearby

Paynesville is across the water; the Gippsland Lakes surround the island.