2/16/2024 0 Comments Wilsons prom tidal river cabins![]() This stretch of the trail was unusually green for Australia with its mix of mosses, ferns, and eucalyptus trees. The Southeast Track climbed aggressively from the lighthouse up the mountains and stretched through miles of lush rainforest. Wilsons Prom wombat grazing behind a lighthouse cottage Southeast Track: Lighthouse to Refuge Coveįor us, the southeastern coast of Wilsons Prom was the best (and hardest) hiking of our trip. And almost all of them were willing to tolerate an (annoying) American crawling towards them for some close up pictures and wombat selfies. Dozens of wombats live on the grounds around (and under) the lighthouse cottages. If you’ve visited lighthouses before, the lighthouse tour is nothing special. We shared some laughs, spaghetti, and alcohol with the Australians in our cottage. ![]() hikepaddletravel is a reluctant backpacker, so we booked a night at the lighthouse for a bed and shower (reserve a room in a cottage here). However, we spotted the occasional wallaby in the shrubs and enjoyed a few ocean views from an elevated section of the trail.Ī night in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage was a nice splurge. Much of the track was jeep road, and big swaths of the park’s interior had been charred by bushfires. The park’s main interior track–Telegraph Track–wasn’t as scenic as the coastal track. On day two, we crossed from the northwest coast of Wilsons Prom to the southeastern point of the peninsula. Wilsons Prom Sunset over Oberon Bay Oberon Bay to Wilsons Prom Lighthouse At dusk, we had Oberon Beach all to ourselves as we watched the sun set over Bass Strait. Our deserted campground was sheltered by small trees and a sand dune that blocked the winds off the ocean. We followed the coastal trail for a few kilometers as Little Oberon Bay opened into Oberon Bay. Little Oberon Bay, Wilsons Promontory National Park, AustraliaĪs we rounded a rocky point into Little Oberon Bay, the turquoise waves of Bass Strait washed onto a white sand beach flanked by orange boulders. After heaps of photos, we headed into the forest for a bit before the trail veered west to trace the Prom’s western coast. It took less than five minutes to spot our first wombat. With a late start and limited winter daylight, however, we picked up our hiking permits, snapped a few pictures of Laughing Kookaburras and Crimson Rosellas, and started the Southern Circuit. We had planned to day-hike Mt Oberon before starting our backpacking trip. Here’s a quick overview of our route to help with your trip planning and campsite reservations: Tidal River to Oberon BayĪfter a late start from Melbourne, we arrived at Tidal River in mid-afternoon. In contrast, we backpacked the Southern Circuit counter-clockwise in a ~60 kilometer loop that began and ended at Tidal River. ![]() Many bushwalkers hike the Southern Circuit clockwise in a ~40 kilometer loop that begins and ends at Telegraph Saddle. Wilsons Prom Lightstation to Refuge Cove (18.1 km).Oberon Bay to Wilsons Promontory Lightstation (15.6 km).We opted for a four-day version of Wilson Prom’s Southern Circuit with a night at the lighthouse: The Northern Circuit (map here) is less developed and requires off‐track navigation experience. The most popular backpacking route is the Southern Circuit (map here). (Here’s the link to book campsites online.) The most popular entry-level bushwalk is the out-and-back hike to Sealers Cove (1-2 nights). Southern Circuit–Wilsons PromĪny overnight hike in Wilsons Promontory National Park requires a permit and advanced booking of all campsites. All together, the water, the green, the landscape, and the wildlife make Wilsons Prom one of Australia’s top hiking destinations. The park’s interior grasslands and coastal heath are less dramatic, but they’re home to wombats, wallabies, kangaroos, and emus. The Prom is also home to Mountain Ash trees–the second tallest trees in the world. Australia may be the world’s driest continent, but lush rainforests cover the Prom’s coastal mountains. There’s no shortage of boulder-lined beaches, secluded sea coves, and ocean overlooks along the backcountry trails. Wilsons Prom boasts a strong network of bushwalking trails and backcountry campsites. But the real draw to Wilsons Prom is the backpacking. Many visitors book campsites or cabins at Tidal River to walk the white sands of Squeaky Beach and day-hike Mt. The Prom juts into the temperamental waters of Bass Strait, forming the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. Wilsons Promontory National Park lies about 3 hours southeast of Melbourne, Australia. Watch for wombats, emus, and kangaroos grazing near the entrance to Wilsons Prom
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