Wilsons Promontory

The southernmost tip of mainland Australia, with granite coastline, white sand that squeaks underfoot and wombats everywhere; Victoria's most popular national park and hiking destination.

Wilsons Promontory National Park lies in southeastern Victoria at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. It is one of Victoria's oldest and most popular national parks, affectionately known to locals as “the Prom.” The park is a mix of granite peaks, white-sand bays, temperate rainforest and dunes, with wombats, kangaroos and emus everywhere. Most visitors base themselves at Tidal River. Along the west coast are Norman Beach, Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay, Picnic Bay and Pillar Point; short walks include climbing Mount Oberon for sunset and exploring the Lilly Pilly Gully rainforest. In the north are the Big Drift sand dunes and the Wildlife Walk. In the east, Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove, Waterloo Bay, the lighthouse and the southernmost point of the mainland are reached on foot; the classic Southern Circuit is about 60 km and takes 3–4 days. Outside the park, you can also stop at Cape Liptrap Lighthouse and Agnes Falls. The best season is November to April: you can swim in summer, while autumn brings lighter winds and fewer people; winter is windy and wet, but wildlife is active. Entry to the park is free, but campsites, cabins and lighthouse cottages must be booked on the Parks Victoria website, and spots are almost impossible to get over the Christmas and Easter holidays. It's about a 3-hour drive from Melbourne, with no direct public transport; allow 2–3 days. Much of the park has no mobile coverage, and rip currents are common on the beaches, so swim only at patrolled areas.

Top sights

• Tidal River – The only holiday camp and visitor centre in Wilsons Promontory National Park. The river is stained tea-coloured by tea-tree tannins, and wo…
• Squeaky Beach – Fine, rounded quartz sand that squeaks underfoot, with huge orange-red granite boulders at either end framing bright blue water.
• Mount Oberon Summit – The park's classic summit hike. It takes about an hour to reach the 558 m top, which overlooks Norman Bay, Tidal River and distant islands.
• Norman Beach – A long, curved beach a few minutes' walk from the Tidal River campground. It is the most convenient and family-friendly swimming spot in th…
• Little Oberon Bay – A secluded bay about 1.5 hours on foot from Tidal River along the coastal track, with turquoise water and white sand that rival a tropical…
• Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse – A granite lighthouse completed in 1859, standing on a headland near the southernmost tip of the mainland. It can only be reached by a rough…
• Sealers Cove – A crescent-shaped bay on the east coast with golden sand backed by dense rainforest. It is the park's classic destination for a day hike or…
• Waterloo Bay – One of the most beautiful bays on the Southern Circuit, with snow-white sand and clear turquoise water that earn it the nickname “tropical…
• Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk – A loop track through temperate rainforest and eucalyptus forest, with tall tree ferns and lilly pilly trees, where wombats and birds are of…
• Whisky Bay – A small bay surrounded by huge orange-red granite boulders with unusual rock formations. It is a photography hotspot beyond Squeaky Beach.
• Picnic Bay – A quiet little bay beside the main road, where the combination of granite, white sand, and distant islands makes it a pleasant place to pau…
• Pillar Point – A headland lookout about half an hour from Tidal River, offering a view of the bays on both sides, including Squeaky Beach and Norman Beach.
• Big Drift – A large area of shifting dunes near the park's northern entrance. Rolling sand hills resemble a small desert, and you can climb the dunes f…
• Darby River & Darby Beach – An estuary area along the main road, with a track leading to a wide beach and riverside wetlands, where wombats and emus are often seen.
• Tongue Point – The end point of a coastal track starting from Darby Saddle, where a granite headland juts into the sea with views of Skinners Island and t…
• Refuge Cove – A natural shelter on the east coast of the Southern Circuit, where sailboats often anchor. The beach campground is surrounded by forest.
• South Point – The southernmost point of the Australian mainland, marked on a rocky headland. It is a must-visit for walkers on the Southern Circuit.
• Prom Wildlife Walk – A short loop across the open grasslands of the park's north, where kangaroos, wombats, and emus are almost always seen. It is the best plac…
• Cape Liptrap Lighthouse – A coastal conservation area in the northwest of the park. A small lighthouse stands on steep sea cliffs, with views across the water to the…
• Agnes Falls – One of Victoria's tallest single-drop waterfalls, at about 59 m, located in a conservation area in the hills of South Gippsland.

Where to eat

• Tidal River General Store & Café – The only food outlet in the national park, at the Tidal River campground, selling takeaway fish and chips, burgers, pie…
• Yanakie General Store – A general store in Yanakie village just before the park entrance, selling freshly ground coffee, pies, salad rolls, and…

Itineraries

• Mornington, Phillip Island & Wilsons Promontory – A loop southeast of Melbourne connecting the Mornington Peninsula coast, the Penguin Parade, and the wildlife-rich Wils…
• Grand Victoria Loop – Loop around Victoria, covering the coast, mountains, goldfields, high country, and Wilsons Promontory in one go.
• Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive – Drive south along the Princes Highway, connecting white sand bays, a historic whaling town, and the penguin parade