French Island Cycling Day Trip by Train + Ferry

Join me for a full-day cycling trip to French Island, travelling by PTV train and Western Port Ferry with our bikes.

We’ll meet outside Arbory Bar & Eatery near Flinders Street Station at 5:45 am, then head to Platform 7 together. The plan is to catch the 6:09 am train, change at Frankston, continue to Stony Point, and then take the 8:15 am ferry to French Island. The ferry crossing is currently listed as about 15 minutes, so we should arrive at French Island around 8:30 am.

Once on the island, we’ll spend the day cycling and exploring. There are several possible cycling routes on French Island, and the exact route or combination of routes will be decided closer to the event date based on weather, track conditions, ferry timing, and the group on the day.

Parks Victoria lists several official ride options, from shorter rides such as the Redbill Manna Gum Woodland Ride, to longer options such as Link Road, Mount Wellington and Gartsides. French Island can have sandy and wet conditions, so a mountain bike is highly advised. A repair kit is essential.

This is not a beginner ride. Reasonable fitness is required, and participants must be comfortable riding at least 50 km at around 15 km/h on mixed island conditions.

We’ll take the 6:00 pm return ferry from French Island back to Stony Point, then travel back by train. We should arrive back at Flinders Street at around 9:00 pm, depending on connections and any delays.

You’re welcome to come solo. This will be a practical, low-pressure day out, but please come prepared for a long day with early transport, ferry logistics, and off-road cycling conditions.

Links

• Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fVuZ2fGtg799Uyk27
• French Island visitor guide and route map: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/visitor-guides-and-publications/french-island/french-island-visitor-guide.pdf
• Western Port Ferries timetable: https://www.westernportferries.com.au/Prices-Timetable/Timetable
• Western Port Ferries fares: https://www.westernportferries.com.au/Prices-Timetable/Fares
• Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8XuwGPai0I

Rough timeline

• 5:45 am — Meet outside Arbory Bar & Eatery near Flinders Street Station
• Around 6:00 am — Head to Platform 7 together
• 6:09 am — Catch the train from Flinders Street
• Morning — Change at Frankston and continue to Stony Point
• 8:15 am — Ferry from Stony Point to French Island
• Around 8:30 am — Arrive at French Island
• Morning to afternoon — Cycle and explore French Island
• Lunch — BYO lunch break somewhere suitable on the island
• Afternoon — Continue riding, route depending on conditions and group pace
• 6:00 pm — Return ferry from French Island to Stony Point
• Evening — Train back toward Melbourne
• Around 9:00 pm — Expected return to Flinders Street Station

Tickets
Attendees must book their own ferry ticket online in advance, including bicycle fare.

Due to limited storage for bicycles, Western Port Ferries recommends booking online if bringing a bike. Current listed return fares are $33.00 for an adult and $10.10 for a bicycle, but please check the official ferry fare page before booking because prices may change.

The ferry is not a myki-ticketed service, so ferry tickets are separate from PTV train travel.

Note: I haven’t booked my own ferry ticket yet. I’ll update this text once I’ve booked it.

What to bring

• Roadworthy mountain bike
• Helmet
• Front and back lights
• Puncture repair kit
• Spare tube or tubeless repair supplies
• Lunch
• Enough water for the day
• Snacks
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Any medication or personal first-aid items you may need
• Myki or payment method for train travel
• Pre-booked ferry ticket including bicycle fare

What to expect

• Distance: Around 50 km expected, depending on the final route
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging due to distance, early start, transport logistics, and possible sandy or wet conditions
• Pace: Around 15 km/h average riding pace
• Vibe: Friendly, practical, adventurous, and low-pressure, but not a beginner ride

Important notes
This event is weather dependent and will not go ahead if rain is forecast.

This event also depends on PTV train availability and may need to be cancelled if there are bus replacements, major timetable changes, or other disruptions. Transport Victoria allows bikes on trains, but only folding bikes are allowed on buses and metropolitan rail replacement buses.

Please check transport and ferry updates before the event. Western Port Ferries notes that weather, sea conditions, and tidal variations can affect operations, and passengers are encouraged to check operation times on the day of travel.

Medical assistance is limited on French Island, so please ride within your ability and come prepared.

Please be ready for a long day out. The early start is important because we need to make the ferry connection.

Other info
The final route will be decided closer to the date based on weather, track conditions, and who is attending. If conditions are poor, the ride may be shortened or cancelled.

Please only RSVP if you are confident with the distance, terrain, bike setup, and full-day timing.