Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory National Park sits at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, in the South Gippsland region of Victoria. The park covers a granite peninsula jutting into Bass Strait, with Tidal River as its main visitor hub.

The drive from Melbourne to Tidal River takes around three hours via the Monash Freeway and South Gippsland Freeway. There is no fuel available at Tidal River, so the last reliable refuel stop is at Yanakie before you enter the park.

Day entry to Wilsons Promontory National Park is free. Fees apply only if you book camping, cabins or other overnight accommodation through Parks Victoria.

Tidal River is the main visitor hub of the park, located 30km south of the park entrance. It has the visitor centre (open 9am to 4pm daily), a general store, the largest campground, cabins, and is the launch point for many of the most popular walks and beaches.

Squeaky Beach is made of rounded grains of pure quartz sand that rub together as you walk, producing a distinctive squeaking sound underfoot. The carpark sits right at the beach, making it one of the most accessible swimming spots in the park.

The Mount Oberon Summit Walk is 6.8km return and takes about 2 hours, starting from Telegraph Saddle Carpark. Parks Victoria grades it as Grade 4, with a steady uphill climb through eucalypt forest and a final 100m of timber and granite steps to a 360-degree summit view over Tidal River and the offshore islands.

Norman Beach sits right at Tidal River and is the easiest swim, while Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay and Picnic Bay are all short drives or walks away. The four-beach coastal walk linking Norman Beach, Tidal Overlook, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay covers around 6km one way.

Tidal River Campground has 484 camping and caravan sites and is booked through Parks Victoria. Summer peak season (roughly mid-December to late January) is allocated by online ballot, with a 7-night minimum and 14-night maximum stay and Friday-only arrivals and departures.

Wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, emus, echidnas and rosellas are all commonly seen, particularly around Tidal River campground and the Prom Wildlife Viewing Area near the park entrance. Parks Victoria asks visitors to observe wildlife from a distance and never feed them, as human food is harmful and habituated animals can become dangerous.

Summer is best for swimming but extremely busy, with Tidal River, Norman Beach and Squeaky Beach often full by mid-morning on holiday weekends. Spring and autumn are quieter with mild weather, and autumn mornings are good for wildlife and for spotting Humpback and Southern Right whales migrating north.

The Southern Prom Circuit is a 3 to 5 day overnight hike from Telegraph Saddle through warm temperate rainforest to the eastern beaches of Sealers Cove and Waterloo Bay. Hike-in campsites must be booked in advance through Parks Victoria, with a maximum of two consecutive nights and group size of 12.

The Prom is the Country of the Gunaikurnai, Bunurong and Boon Wurrung peoples, who have maintained connection to this landscape for tens of thousands of years. The Gunaikurnai name for the peninsula is Yiruk and the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung name is Wamoon, and Parks Victoria manages the park in partnership with the Traditional Owner corporations.