The Wilsons Promontory National Park, also known as 'The Prom', sits on a peninsula southeast of Melbourne and quite literally is a natural paradise on earth. With an abundance of hikes available, it is impossible to see the entire park in one day. That's why I will help you get the most out of your time there.
In this article, I will give you the scoop about how to get to The Prom, where to stay, what hikes to do and what to watch out for while exploring the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland.
Most likely, you will consider visiting The Prom as a day or weekend trip from Melbourne or along a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney or vice versa. Since we are all about road tripping and campervanning here at RTE, we, of course, include The Prom as a road trip stop. Coming from Port Campbell at the Great Ocean Road (about a 6-hour drive), we had a half-day to stretch our legs there before we called it a night to experience a spectacular sunrise the next morning.
This article covers days 4-5 of our 18-day road trip itinerary along the southern East Coast of Australia. Click on the yellow 'Show Entire Route' tab on the top left, to view our in-depth guides to each stop for an even greater insight for your own road trip through Australia.
How to get to Wilsons Promontory
Coming from Melbourne it is about a 3-hour drive from the CBD to the Tidal River Visitor Center. When passing by the Port Phillip Bay with stops in St. Kilda and Brighton, you will take about 3.5 hours. For us, it was a 6-hour drive leaving the Great Ocean Road after a chilly yet magnificent sunrise at the Twelve Apostles.
The park entrance is about 30 km north of the Tidal River Visitor Center. Be sure to fill up on gas, water, and groceries, as you will only find a small General Store next to the Tidal River Visitor Center.
Be extra careful when driving along the Wilsons Promontory Road towards the Tidal River Campground, as you will encounter wildlife. It might be Wombats, Wallabies, Echidnas, or Emus.
Already the road offers magnificent views and is the dream of any road tripper!
About halfway in, you will pass by the Prom Wildlife Walk, an open grass area to the left. If time permits, take a short walk to get a close up with some wild animals. It is best to do the Prom Wildlife Walk in the late afternoon as the animals, especially wombats, are way more active during this time of the day, and this gives you a higher probability of spotting them.
Following the road, you will get the chance to stop at several lookouts, and depending on how much time you have, take a detour to the Whisky and Picnic Bay beach coves. Be careful where you step at Whisky Bay, especially when you are barefoot. When my sister was there, she saw many Portuguese Man of War (poisonous jellyfish) along the beach, and they might really hurt you if you touch them.
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Your final destination for the day, at least with your campervan, will be at the Tidal River Campground.
Where to stay at Wilsons Promontory
The best place to stay overnight with your campervan is by far the Tidal River Campground in the heart of The Prom. Be sure to book your ticket in advance to secure yourself a spot and also pay for the National Park permit at the same time. With AU$64.60 for an unpowered campsite for one night, it is quite pricey, compared to other campgrounds along the coast, but it is totally worth it.
There are no designated campsites, and you can choose your spot upon arrival. This is the only campground we stayed at without a boom gate, and we got to enter after closing hours of the reception. There is a notice board at the reception that will provide you information on how the campground works. If you will be arriving late, be sure to call ahead of time to inform them of this.
The campground is split into two parts, the Tidal River and the Norman Beach one. From our experience, the area closer to the Tidal River is more popular with families. We chose a spot close to Norman Beach.
Best short hikes at Wilsons Promontory
We recommend you two hikes close to the Tidal River Campground, to make the most of your stay.
Tidal River Walk to Pillar Point Lookout and Squeaky Beach
For the afternoon, explore the area of the Tidal River. Cross the footbridge and head through the forest to the Pillar Point Lookout and Squeaky Beach. It is 7 km / 4.5 miles and will take you about 2 hours, including stops.
If you don't want to do a 2-hour hiking tour or you don't have the time for it, you can also just cross the campground to the footbridge at Tidal River and then walk along the river to Norman Beach. You will get the chance to spot the orange-colored granite rocks and small natural swimming pools.
Mount Oberon Summit Walk
An absolute highlight of your day at The Prom will be watching the sunrise from the summit of Mt. Oberon.
Start your morning off by getting up early and slowly driving to the Telegraph Saddle Car Park. It will take you about 10-15 minutes. Remember to drive carefully, as there might be a higher amount of wildlife roaming around at this time of day.
Park your van at the Telegraph Saddle Car Park and find the beginning of the Mt. Oberon Summit trail (when you pull up to the car park, you will find it on the right side).
The trail is more like a wide walking pass, where a car could technically fit. So don't expect a small trail passing through tight bushes. The walk is delightful and peaceful, as you will be walking in the darkness surrounded by the sounds of the forest.
Close to the summit, the wide trail will end, and you will need to climb up some steps and granite rocks for the last part. You will find the summit itself on large granite rocks. Next to the wildlife, forest and beaches, these are another trademark of The Prom.
From there, you will have postcard-perfect views over the west coast of Wilsons Promontory, overlooking Little Oberon Bay, Norman Bay, Leonard Bay, Picnic Bay, Whisky Bay, and as well as several small islands in the Bass Strait.
The walk is 6.7 km / 4.2 miles roundtrip and will take you about 1.5-2 hours. Of course, plan on spending some time on the summit for watching the sunrise and enjoying the breathtaking views.
For making it on time to the summit before the sun pulls up, plan to leave the campground minimum 1.5 hours before the time of sunrise.
Our Experience of the Mount Oberon Summit Walk
This is one of the most peaceful spots we encountered in a long time, overlooking the forest of this National Park and the ocean as the constant waves crashing on Norman Beach. We felt like we had found a peace of natural paradise literally at the end of the world.
After returning to our campsite after the morning hike, we decided to dip into the ocean on Norman Beach. There were only a couple of surfers with wetsuits out there. Anyways we put on our swimsuits and were ready to jump in until we actually touched the water with our feet.
Now I am no chicken and love to jump into ice-cold mountain lakes or swim without a wetsuit during a triathlon while everyone else is wearing one. That morning, however, we passed on jumping in, as it was really chilly, and there was no warm sun to warm us up. We waited to taste the Australian ocean until we got further up north for warmer air and water temperatures.
Instead, we took a quick shower and continued our road trip to Lakes Entrance as a next overnight stop.
Telegraph Saddle Free Shuttle Bus
When the Wilsons Promontory is expected to be too busy, e.g., during summer, Easter school holidays, and on weekends from November to April, the Telegraph Saddle car park gets closed. Instead, a free Shuttle Bus from the Tidal River Visitor Center is offered. You can find the timetable posted at the Visitor Center and expect it to run, usually every 30 minutes. The road only gets closed after sunrise, so you will still have the option of driving up to the car park for the sunrise hike.
What to wear for hiking the Wilsons Promontory
Being at the most southern tip of mainland Australia, The Prom is not necessarily a bikini destination. Visiting in April, we not once wore a t-shirt and shorts but layered up. The windier it is, the chillier it will feel.
Hiking up to the summit of Mount Oberon was a lot warmer than expected for the early morning hours. The surrounding forest protected the trail, and hence it was very mild. Be sure to pack warmer layers for the summit, though, as there you will be exposed to wind and won't move much - plan on spending 20-30 minutes on the summit.
Watch out for wildlife while driving through Wilsons Promontory
While the abundance of wildlife in Wilsons Promontory is pretty cool, it also demands extra careful behavior.
Please never feed wild animals and leave no food or trash outside on your campsite. Also, be extra careful when driving, as you will encounter wildlife on the side of the road or crossing the road, during day and nighttime.
For the short stretch that you will drive in the dark to start your sunrise hike, drive particularly slow and careful. We passed by Wallabys and Wombats, and believe me; you don't want to hit a Wombat! For the Wombats and your own sake.
Do you have any questions about your visit to The Prom? Let us know in the comments below and we will find the answer for you.
