Wilsons Promontory or "the Prom" as it is known, is the southernmost point of the Australia mainland, located in the South Gippsland region of the state of Victoria. The Prom is protected as the 50,000-hectare Wilsons Promontory National Park and the seas around the southern end are the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. There is another, smaller marine national park in the northern area. The park has about 130 km of walking trails and a number of campsites. The hub of the park is Tidal River where there is a store, visitor center and camping.
Wilsons Promontory was first occupied by Indigenous Koori people at least 6,500 years prior to European arrival. Middens along the western coast indicate that the inhabitants subsisted on a seafood diet.
The promontory is mentioned in dreamtime stories, including the Bollum-Baukan, Loo-errn and Port Albert Frog myths. It is considered the home of the spirit ancestor of the Brataualung clan - Loo-errn. The area remains highly significant to the Gunai/Kurnai and the Boon wurrung people, who consider the promontory to be their traditional country/land.
The first European to see the promontory was George Bass in January 1798. He initially referred to it as "Furneaux's Land" in his diary, believing it to be what Captain Furneaux had previously seen. But on returning to Port Jackson and consulting Matthew Flinders he was convinced that the location was so different it could not be that land. Bass and Flinders recommended the name Wilsons Promontory to Governor Hunter, honouring Flinders's friend from London Thomas Wilson. Little is known of Wilson except that he was a merchant engaged in trade with Australia.
Tourists may choose basic or glam, cabins or camping (powered/unpowered) if they wish to stay inside Wilsons Promontory National Park. Many however choose to stay in accommodation just outside the Park in Yanakie, where they can still view the Wisons Promontory mountains and scenery and be only minutes from the Park's free entrance.
There are overnight hiking tracks with two key circuits, one in the north and one in the south. The southern circuit is more popular with overnight hikers with several camping areas suited to wild camping. Camping is only allowed in the designated areas to reduce damage to the bush.
The Prom is approached along the South Gippsland Highway, turning off at either Meeniyan or Foster. The park entrance is 224 km from Melbourne and 29 km from Foster. It is another 30 km from the entrance to the park center at Tidal River. Take extra care when driving into the Prom at around sunset or night as there are usually a number of animals out on the road at these times.
If you don’t have your own transport, you can take an organised tour from Melbourne or Phillip Island or take the bus from Foster run by Foster Backpackers Hostel. There is also a connecting bus to Tidal River via Fish Creek that meets the V/Line Coach service from Melbourne at Foster on Friday afternoons. A return service operates on Sunday nights connecting with the V/Line coach back to Melbourne, with an extra return service operating on Monday public holidays. Contact Viclink on 131 638 for details or see the Public Transport Victoria website.
There are flights from Melbourne Airport to Yannakie Airport, -38.951822°, 146.28428°. 2021-05-21 However, flights aren't common, and this airport is more used for scenic flights encircling Wilsons Prom.
Entry to Victoria's National Parks is free.
Between dusk and dawn, drive carefully and slowly. Kangaroos and other wildlife will be on the road. Be aware that it is gravel road from the southern bit of C444.
It is quite difficult walking, as it's easy to forget that the distances are long, and despite it looking small on google maps, it's a lot larger than it seems. Victoria is also very cold all year around, and wear a jacket or two if you're walking.
The Tidal River Store sells food and other consumables. Fuel is no longer sold here. The nearest fuel station is at Yanakie.
The Tidal River Store sells food supplies at inflated prices and has a café with takeaways. There are free gas barbecues in car parks at Tidal River.
There are 480 unpowered campsites and toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Bookings are essential for Christmas and January holidays and popular long weekends.
There are self-contained cabins and huts with 2-6 beds and large group lodges.
There are a couple of campsites reserved for foreign tourists that are assigned on a daily basis. If you arrive without a reservation and can prove that you are a visitor (e.g. with a passport) you should be able to get a spot even in high season. Try to arrive as early as possible, as the sites usually fill up well before noon.
Go out the way you came in. If leaving the Tidal River area soon before sunset on a nice evening, stop at the Whisky Bay carpark, take the short walk to the beach to sit on the dunes and watch the sun set behind Norman Island (actual position of setting sun varies with time of year).
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