Raymond Island is one of those places you may not have heard of right away, but many travelers still make a stop here during a road trip through southern Australia. The island lies close to the small village of Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes region and is known for one thing: spotting koalas in the wild.
We came here during our road trip from Wilsons Promontory. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating at all. It rained so heavily that after five minutes we were already completely soaked. Still, we decided to take the ferry to Raymond Island for the famous Koala Trail. And despite the pouring rain, we eventually spotted eight koalas and even two owls. That still made it a surprisingly fun stop.
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Where is Raymond Island located?
Raymond Island is located in the Gippsland Lakes region in the Australian state of Victoria. The island lies directly opposite the small coastal town of Paynesville and is especially popular with travelers doing a road trip through southern Australia.
Many people combine Raymond Island with destinations such as:
- Wilsons Promontory National Park
- Lakes Entrance
- The Snowy Mountains
- The Great Alpine Road
From Melbourne it takes about 3.5 hours to drive there. We personally came from Wilsons Promontory and made a stop here before continuing our journey toward the Snowy Mountains the next day.
Taking the ferry to Raymond Island
One of the nicest things about Raymond Island is that you can only reach it by a small ferry from Paynesville. The ferry runs throughout the day and usually departs every 10 to 20 minutes.
The best part: the ferry is free. The crossing only takes a few minutes, so before you know it you are already standing on the island.
You can bring your car on the ferry, but many visitors simply leave their car in Paynesville and cross on foot. The island is small and the main attraction is located right next to the ferry.
As soon as you step off the ferry, the famous Koala Trail basically begins immediately.
Spotting koalas on Raymond Island
Raymond Island is mainly known for its large population of wild koalas. Unlike many other places in Australia, you do not have to hike for hours through a national park here just to see one.
The chance of spotting koalas here is actually surprisingly high.
The Raymond Island Koala Trail
The Koala Trail is a short walking route of about 1.2 kilometers. The walk partly runs through a eucalyptus forest, but also through a quiet residential area.
That may sound a little strange, but that is exactly why the chance of seeing koalas is high. They simply sit in the trees along the street, sometimes even right next to the houses.
The trees are not extremely tall, but you do need to look up carefully and slowly scan the branches. Once you know where to look, you suddenly start seeing them everywhere.
Our experience: spotting koalas in pouring rain
We visited Raymond Island on a day when the weather was truly terrible. Rain had been forecast, but in the end it rained so heavily that our shoes were already soaked within minutes.
Still, we started the Koala Trail with good spirits. From the moment you step off the ferry, you are basically already on the route.
Because we really wanted to search for koalas, it eventually took us almost an hour. Normally you would probably walk this route faster, but we often stopped to scan the trees.
And successfully: we eventually saw eight koalas and even two owls.
The funny thing was that some koalas were simply sitting close to the houses. You expect them deep in the forest, but here they sometimes literally hang in a tree in someone’s front yard.
Because of the rain, the koalas looked a little pitiful. They curl up in the tree and try to keep sleeping while slowly getting soaked.
After a while the rain became so heavy that we were done walking. Our shoes were completely soaked and we decided to head back to the ferry. Fortunately the sun usually shines here – we simply had bad luck with the weather.
How likely is it that you will see koalas?
Raymond Island is known as one of the most reliable places in Australia to see koalas in the wild. Many visitors spot several koalas during a single walk. We even saw eight, despite the rain.
A few tips to find them more easily:
- Always look up at the branches of eucalyptus trees
- Walk slowly and scan the trees carefully
- Watch for other people looking up
- Look for round grey shapes between the leaves
Once you have found the first one, it often becomes easier to spot more.
What else can you do on Raymond Island?
To be honest: most people mainly come here for the koalas.
But on Raymond Island you can also:
- Cycle around the island at a relaxed pace
- Spot birds
- Walk along the waterfront
- Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere
The island is small and quiet, which makes it a pleasant short stop during a road trip.
Staying overnight in Paynesville
Most travelers do not stay on Raymond Island itself, but in the town of Paynesville. This village lies right next to the ferry and offers several campsites and accommodations.
We personally stayed at Paynesville Holiday Park. A simple but pleasant campsite with good facilities. After our wet walk, a long hot shower here was more than welcome.
Combining Raymond Island with a road trip
Raymond Island is mainly a nice stop during a longer road trip through Victoria or southeastern Australia.
We personally drove from Wilsons Promontory to Paynesville and continued our journey toward the Snowy Mountains the next day.
Many travelers combine Raymond Island with:
- Wilsons Promontory National Park
- Lakes Entrance
- The Snowy Mountains
- The Great Alpine Road
A rental car is basically essential if you want to explore this region.
Practical tips for Raymond Island
- The ferry from Paynesville is free and runs every 10–20 minutes.
- The Koala Trail begins immediately after you step off the ferry.
- Bring a camera with a zoom lens for wildlife.
- Walk slowly and look carefully up into the trees.
- Most people spend about 1 to 2 hours on the island.
With a bit of luck, you will spot several koalas during a short walk. And even if it rains like it did for us, it can still turn out to be a surprisingly fun stop.
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