Languages

2026 Eltham High School France tour

During the Easter school holidays, from 7 April 7 to 20 April, a group of 35 enthusiastic students of French and 5 staff embarked on a truly magical journey through France: an adventure filled with culture, history, and unforgettable moments.

From the sparkling lights of Paris to the grandeur of Palace of Versailles, students were immersed in the beauty and elegance of French heritage. A visit to Giverny brought Claude Monet’s gardens to life in a haze of colour, while the fairytale castles of the Loire Valley captured imaginations at every turn. In Lyon, renowned as the gastronomic heart of France, students delighted in rich culinary traditions, before travelling south to Nîmes, where ancient Roman ruins offered a breathtaking gateway to Provence.

More than just a tour, this experience became a powerful moment of realisation for many students, a genuine “lightbulb” moment.  Beyond the sights and experiences, the journey opened students’ eyes to the vast opportunities offered by the French-speaking world. From future travel adventures to pathways in international study and global careers, students began to see French not just as a subject in the classroom, but as a living language that can connect them to communities and opportunities across continents.

Immersed in the language and culture each day, they began to see French come alive, opening their eyes to the richness and possibility of the French-speaking world. 

For many, it sparked new ambitions: to travel more deeply, to study abroad, or to one day pursue careers that connect them internationally. It was a rare and wonderful opportunity that shifted perspectives and will continue to shape their futures long after the journey has ended.

CATHERINE CONSIDINE French teacher / Tour Organiser 

Our tour to France was nothing short of amazing, it was so eye-opening to see just how the French live and now knowing that French is more than just a subject at school, it’s a form of art. I loved getting to experience the culture of France and seeing all the famous monuments in all their beauty. From the streets to the sky everything in France was stunning!

I also thoroughly enjoyed getting to practice my French daily, really getting to immerse myself in the language.  I now feel my French has improved significantly and I can now speak, listen and read in French with greater confidence than ever before.

When I first stepped into Paris, I felt a wave of happiness rush over me. It felt like I had just stepped into my dreams; and the excitement didn’t stop. Some of my favourite memories, include La Tour Eiffel, Montmartre and Versailles, were top of my list, with the day we explored the castles and Monet's Gardens also spectacular! It was truly such a special experience that I will forever cherish, I hope I can go back to France in the near future!

Charlee Doherty, Year 10

We had a great day driving around the Loire Valley after we left Paris. We started the day in Tours, and watched the sun rise from the balcony, before we left onthe coach with Maxime. The valley’s characteristic fog was in full effect as we arrived at Clos Lucé, the last residence of Leonardo Da Vinci, and the place he died. We spent the best part of the morning exploring Da Vinci’s grounds and interacting with models of things like the Fighting Vehicle, the Parachute and the Flying Machine. After that, we got back on the bus to Chateau Chenonceau, a 16th-century castle later used as a medical hub during World War II, famously inhabited by Catherine de’ Medici. 

After an extravagant lunch, we embarked the coach once more to visit the most famous chateau of all the luxury we’d seen that day. We arrived at Chateau Chambord in the early afternoon and had plenty of time to explore both the castle and its grounds. After a fun (although outwardly obnoxious) interaction yelling greetings to each other between the roof and courtyard, the time seemed to fly, and we were on our way back to Tours. That night, we went out to a local restaurant and enjoyed some traditional Loire Valley cuisine, in a tiny side room that we barely all fit into. Overall, the two nights we spent in Tours were my personal favourite part of the trip, and we all made memories from the north to the south that we as a group will never forget.

Lachlan Evans, Year 10 

The highlight of the French trip for me had to be Southern France. It had a very different feel to Northern France and felt a world away from Melbourne. When we were driving from Lyon to Nimes, the countryside began to look very different from Northern France. It was a lot drier and there were vineyards everywhere. The Romans left their mark in the areas we were visiting and just before arriving in Nimes, we visited the Pont du Gard, a 2000-year-old Roman Aqueduct that went over a river. It was gi-normous! When arriving in Nimes, the architecture was really cool and had a Mediterranean feel also, with all the walls of buildings being pastel colours. Our hotel was in the centre of town and right near a Roman Colosseum! The town centre of Nimes was pretty with winding laneways that had really cute shops. The following day we visited Avignon and Arles. Avignon used to be the residence of the Pope in the 1300s and has well preserved city walls. In Avignon, we visited a bridge, Le Pont d’Avignon, which has a song written about it called ‘Sur le pont d’Avignon.’  We then took the coach to Arles and visited a Roman Amphitheatre, another Colosseum and a Roman Crypt that was used to store food and other supplies. It was fascinating to see all the Roman ruins in person! The cherry on top for me was when we were leaving Nimes and returning to Paris, we took a bullet train and got first class seats!! The South of France and France as a whole was absolutely spectacular and I’ve made some amazing memories that I will never forget.

Harry Stow, Year 10

I really enjoyed the communal dinners and breakfasts. I liked how we could mingle with everyone and make new friends. One of my highlights was Leonardo Di Vinci's house because we got to go outside and explore the gardens by ourselves. Another favourite was the Musee d’Orsay, and I think I would have enjoyed the Louvre Musee more if we had a guided tour. I would have also liked to walk around the city at night more and get a chance to see the Eiffel tower sparkling up close. Saying this, the night-time bus tour was one of my absolute highlights and I would recommend doing it again in later years. Moving around the Metro was also super fun as it allowed us to get a glimpse of what real Paris life was like. The top of the Eiffel tower was such a one-in-a-lifetime experience and was amazing. I liked how we got the freedom to explore by ourselves and find hidden parts of the city. Nimes was my absolute favourite place, and the weather was amazing. 

Maeve Thomas, Year 9 

I enjoyed Monet's Gardens and the greenery around France. Seeing all the difference in culture was interesting, I enjoyed staying in Nimes and looking around the city.

Ravyn Kristof, Year 9 

The views in France were amazing. Sightseeing was certainly one of my favourite things we did; I had lots of fun tediously trying to get the perfect framing for every photo I took. Shopping was also a highlight, I enjoyed buying souvenirs for my parents, I tried to test myself by attempting to get the best possible gifts for them. I'd like to say I succeeded, but I did end up talking the ears off anyone who would listen to me talk about them (sorry about that). But my no.1 highlight had to be the Louvre. We were allowed to walk around in our own groups, which made the experience even better for me, as I was able to take my own time to look at every painting. It was amazing, and I even managed to find my favourite painting, 'The Death Of Marat'. Overall, the trip was a once in a lifetime experience, I will never forget.

Alyssa Tate, Year 9 

The French trip was amazing because there was so much to see. Some major highlights during it were going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph and the Louvre. A weird thing that happened was seeing random smoke after coming down from the Arc de Triumph. Thanks, Madame Considine, for planning this entire thing, it was a once in a lifetime experience. 

Tom Stevens, Year 9 

The French trip for 2026 was a wonderful journey. A personal favourite of mine was visiting the Louvre and getting to the top of the Eiffel tower. I loved eating all the good food and macarons. 

Ryder Booth, Year 9 

I enjoyed my trip to France because it was an exciting and unforgettable experience. I loved the different cities, especially the famous landmarks such as the Eiffel tower or the Notre Dame. The food and shops were also amazing, with lots of different French food. I also liked learning the culture and history of France, as well as spending time with my friends. 

Ivy McVicar, Year 9 

I really enjoyed the French trip; it was so amazing to experience the different culture and food. My favourite parts were probably seeing all the monuments and getting closer with my friends. Thank you so much, Mademoiselle Considine, and all the other teachers that helped, to plan, and make the trip possible.

Jasmine Ernest-Tamblyn, Year 9