Wilsons Promontory

Lying at the southernmost point of Australia, Wilsons Promontory or ‘The Prom’ as the locals know it is a stunning peninsula of rugged natural beauty. Indeed, this powerhouse of natural wonder would have to be one of Victoria’s most captivating assets. Defined by magnificent granite peaks that rest on azure beaches of astonishing natural beauty, Wilsons Promontory is the kind of place that gets under the skin — beckoning you never to leave.

Seeing Wilsons Promontory more or less involves staying at the excellent Tidal River Campground run by Parks Victoria. You see, the area is so pristine that outside of this campground there is very little in the way of buildings of any kind. Indeed, this is as nature intended it to be, and what a feast for the senses it is. Situated some thirty kilometres south of the national park’s border; the campground lies deep within the peninsula. With close to 500 camping and caravan sites, this full-service campground has every conceivable amenity you could hope for. There’s also a range of rented accommodation types if camping is not your style.

From the campground, you’re also just a stone’s throw from many of the best attractions the park has to offer. Imagine waking up and strolling down to an immaculately pristine beach with huge granite peaks right beside the sea — some of which have clouds adorning their tops. This is the kind of scenery you can expect to find here.

The following free things to see and do in Wilsons Promontory will see you getting out and about in one of Victoria’s best national parks, with a raft of gob-smacking attractions to uncover. To be sure, this is one place that you’ll want to put on your itinerary as it’s quite special.

In Australia at least, there’s something unique about a beach flanked by a mountain range. Situated within some of the most prominent peaks of the promontory, Norman Beach is one of those beaches where lying on the sand and taking in the views is just as good as going for a dip.

The beach is highly accessible with the Tidal River campground situated just behind the dunes. Many choose the middle section of the beach as it is patrolled by surf lifesavers most days of the year.

Head to the northern (right-hand) end of the beach, and you’ll find a stunning tidal inlet. With plenty of shallow water to splash about in and temperate forest gracing the hillsides, the inlet is recommended for all ages and abilities with kids, in particular, having a ball here.

A short drive from the campground, Squeaky Beach is another popular open-water beach in the heart of Wilsons Prom. As the name implies, the sand squeaks underneath the feet due to the rounded fine quartz sand. In line with the entire area, the beach is incredibly pristine and is a joy to visit for its blissful natural qualities.

Most people hang around the northern (right-hand) end of the beach as this is where the walking trail from the carpark leads. During peak times there can be a fair few people here, but if you’d like a more peaceful setting, it’s a long beach so simply trek up its length and find a spot all to yourself.

With islands just off the coast and pure white sand to enjoy, this is what awaits those who make their way to the natural playground that is Squeaky Beach.

Whiskey Bay is yet another brilliant beach within proximity of both Norman and Squeaky Beaches. The smallest of the three beaches but by no means the least, Whiskey Beach is a gem in its own right.

A stunning feature of this particular beach is the stunning rock formations at both ends of the beach. With some of the best examples of orange-stained rocks in the region due to microscopic algae, they are worth investigating further.

The walk into the beach adds to the overall experience of visiting this beach as it traverses alongside Whiskey Creek before heading over a dune and onto the beach.

With so many alluring beaches to be found in Wilsons Prom, perhaps the best part about Whiskey Beach is that despite being one of Victoria’s best beaches, most people don’t get to this incredible sandy haven. For those that love a beach all to themselves, you may just get your wish here.

As a dominant feature within the landscape of the campground, Mount Oberons grand and overarching presence is a delight to take in during your stay. Should you feel like stretching the legs, the Mount Oberon Summit Walk is the perfect way to take the experience to the next level with one highly rewarding view at its completion.

To say that the views from the top are expansive would be an understatement; with a gob-smacking vista along the Prom’s coast and inland to Mount Wilson and Mount Latrobe, this is one lofty lookout that is most definitely worth the hike.

The trek up the mountain is via a wide and well-formed management trail. The track is a steady incline for the length of the journey, with a section of stairs to reach the rocky outcrop of the summit. It’s a constant uphill slog, but then, the reward is an epic view from the top.

Tip: As the peak can be seen from the campground, check that no clouds are shrouding the summit of the mountain on the day you intend to embark on the hike as visibility at the summit will be zero if cloud adorns the top. A clear day is ideal with the afternoons more conducive to the peak being cloud free.

While many visitors to Wilsons Promontory head off and conquer the bigger hikes the region has to offer, there is a lesser-known walk called the Tidal River Inlet Walk that would have many more people on its trail, had they known about it.

This walk meanders along the tidal inlet located right beside the Tidal River Campground, so accessing this trail couldn’t be easier should you be staying at the campground.

The walk begins on the northern side of the campground and is signposted as the ‘Loo-Errn Track’. The trail crosses the tidal inlet via a quaint footbridge — which is worth stopping at for a short while to absorb the views. As you look over the water and further up the inlet, you’ll be held momentarily in a state of awe as you take in the surrounding mountainscape which provides a most spectacular backdrop. Once over the bridge, turn left and follow the signs to Pillar Point which is the destination for this walk.

Walking along the trail proves to be highly scenic, as the track meanders along the tidal inlet midway up the embankment. As you near the mouth of the tidal inlet, elevated views over Norman Beach and all the way out to Mount Oberon are most impressive. To be sure, for such an easy walk, this is a sensational vantage point to take in the grandeur of this truly unique national park.

If you’re lucky you’ll more than likely find a whole host of wildlife along this trail, so be sure to keep an eye out for many of Australia’s most endearing native species. To be honest, the whole promontory is flush with life, but here there seems to be just that little bit extra by way of vegetation and water that there’s every chance of spotting any number of creatures.

Continuing along the trail, you’ll eventually come to an intersection with trails leading to either Squeaky Beach or Pillar Point. The path to take is Pillar Point, but know that there is a great lookout about ten metres up the Squeaky Beach path. Head up the track to Pillar Point for expansive views of Norman Beach and Mount Oberon at its end. To finish the walk head back the way you came and enjoy taking in the scenery from this different perspective.