Wilsons Promontory National Park
Visitor Guide
Wilsons Promontory, or ‘the Prom’ as it is affectionately known, is the southernmost tip of the
Australian mainland. From sun-drenched summer beaches to secluded winter walks amongst
rainforest, the Prom is a park for all people in all seasons.
Surrounded by sea on three sides
Staying at Tidal River?
Wilsons Promontory National Park protects
50,460 hectares including pristine beaches, cool
shaded rainforests, cloud soaked mountain peaks
and rugged offshore islands. A remote historic
lighthouse illuminates seas at the southern tip of
the Prom.
Tidal River offers a wide range of camping and
accommodation options. Fees apply.
Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park
(15,550 hectares) in the south and Corner Inlet
Marine National Park (1,550 hectares) in the north
protect underwater rocky reefs, sponge gardens,
seal colonies and seagrass beds.
A rich cultural heritage
For indigenous people, Wilsons Promontory is
part of a spiritually significant land called Yiruk or
Wamoon. Middens (shell deposits) behind many
beaches date back thousands of years,
demonstrating a deep connection between
indigenous people and the Prom’s land and sea.
Things to see and do
Walking, camping, swimming, snorkelling, surfing,
scuba diving, photography, bird watching, nature
study, overnight hikes and simply relaxing are
among the many things to do in this beautiful park.
Visiting for the day?
Day visitor entry to the park is free with the main
visitor facilities located at Tidal River. Please exit
the park before sunset.
Tidal River facilities
Campground facilities include amenity blocks, a
playground, picnic areas, free gas barbecues and
fresh drinking water. Call in to the Visitor Centre
at Tidal River during open hours (8.30am 4.00pm during AEST, 8.30am - 4.30pm during
AEDST) or alternatively phone (03) 5680 9555.
Tidal River General Store stocks basic supermarket
items as well as a range of souvenirs and camping
gear. Hot and cold food is available from the café.
There is no fuel at Tidal River. Fuel is available
from the townships of Yanakie, Fish Creek and
Foster (approximately 30-45 minutes drive).
Camping
There are 484 campsites available at Tidal River,
all beautifully situated near the beach. Twenty of
these sites are powered and pre-booking is
recommended. Toilets, hot showers, dishwashing
stations and laundry facilities are provided.
Accommodation
Looking for a few more home luxuries, or enough
beds for a large group? Choose from one of the
Prom’s Wilderness Retreats, self-contained
cabins, group lodges or huts. Advance booking of
roofed accommodation is essential at all times.
For bookings and enquiries phone: 13 1963 or
(03) 5680 9555.
Access for all abilities
An all-terrain Trail-Rider wheelchair and beach
access wheelchairs are available to use free of
charge allowing mobility impaired visitors access to
many of the Prom’s beaches and walking tracks.
Two self contained accessible cabins are available
for mobility impaired visitors seeking overnight
accommodation. Advance bookings at the Tidal
River Visitor Centre are essential at all times.
Specialised bathroom equipment is also available
to visitors free of charge. For further information on
park accessibility visit: www.parks.vic.gov.au.
Be clean on entry and exit
Introduced marine pests such as the Northern
Pacific Seastar have been found in the Tidal
River estuary. Marine pests prey on native
species and cause changes to marine habitats
and fish populations.
To prevent the spread of marine pests, please
ensure that all equipment including boats,
wetsuits, fishing gear and water toys are:
 clean and dry before entering watercourses
 cleaned in fresh water and left to dry after
exiting watercourses
For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre
on 13 1963 or visit our website www.parks.vic.gov.au
Making the most of your visit
Overnight hiking
Short walks
The Walking at Wilsons Prom park note is available from the
Tidal River Visitor Centre or online at the Parks Victoria website:
www.parks.vic.gov.au. Some of the more popular short walks at
the Prom are provided below.
The Prom provides some of Victoria’s best coastal overnight or
multiple night hiking opportunities. Hikers must be self sufficient
as only basic camping facilities are provided in remote areas.
Carry plenty of drinking water with you and know how to make
untreated water safe for drinking.
1. Squeaky Beach
(300 metres one way from Squeaky Beach car park, easy)
Permits are required for all overnight hikes. Please talk to Parks
Victoria staff before departing.
A short trail leads from the car park to this popular beach walking
location. Take your shoes off and listen to the quartz sand squeak
as you stroll beside rolling surf and wind-swept vegetation. For
those with more energy, a walking track at the southern end of
the beach ascends the headland of Pillar Point and follows Tidal
River back to the main campground.
Hiking trails in the south take walkers past sheltered turquoise
bays, where eucalypts tower over white sandy beaches. Tracks
are well defined and toilets are available at all campsites.
2. Lilly Pilly Gully nature walk
(2.6 km one way, easy)
The northern section of the Prom offers a remote wilderness
experience. Some sections are undefined and hikers must be
proficient in navigation with a map and compass. For more
information refer to the Overnight Hikes park note.
Starting at the Lilly Pilly Gully car park, this walk provides a
glimpse of the Prom’s interior, traversing heath land, eucalypt
forest and a boardwalk through stands of warm temperate
rainforest. Retrace your steps back to the car park.
3. Mt Oberon Summit walk
(3.4 km one way, moderate to hard)
Starting at Telegraph Saddle, follow the summit track gradually
uphill to a 360 degree postcard Prom view from the top of Mt
Oberon. Telegraph Saddle car park is closed during summer and
Easter holidays, Melbourne Cup and Labour Day (March) long
weekends and all weekends from November to Easter. At these
times a shuttle bus operates between Tidal River (Norman Beach
car park) and Telegraph Saddle, running via the Overnight Hikers
car park.
Beach access
Many beaches at Wilsons Promontory are generally unsuitable
for children. For example, Squeaky Beach has a strong undertow,
a rip and a steep, sandy bottom.
Ocean swells or waves can crash along rocky shorelines catching
people unaware. If fishing or walking along a rocky shoreline,
always keep an eye to the sea.
 Norman Beach Close to Tidal River campground, the beautiful
Norman Beach is flanked by Pillar Point to the north and Norman
Point to the south and offers stunning views of Mt Oberon. Surfing
is only permitted south of 5th ramp.
 Squeaky Beach One of the Prom’s iconic locations, the rounded
grains of quartz sand make a ’squeak’ when walked on. Squeaky
Beach can be accessed from the Squeaky Beach and Lilly Pilly
Gully car parks, Picnic Bay or Tidal River. For further information
please refer to the Walking at Wilsons Prom park note, available
from the Tidal River Visitor Centre.
 Picnic Bay Just a short drive from Tidal River, this beautiful
beach has rock formations at both ends of the beach offering a
range of intertidal rock pool habitats to explore. Access is from
the Picnic Bay car park, Squeaky Beach or Whisky Bay.
Roadside Wildlife at the Prom
While travelling the 30km from the park entrance to Tidal River,
you may see wombats, emus, kangaroos and other wildlife,
particularly around dusk and dawn.
Animals are unpredictable. To protect yourself, wildlife and your
vehicle, slow down when passing animals on the road edge.
Pull off the road before stopping to look at wildlife. Do not stop on
bends or where double lines are marked.
Report injured wildlife by calling 1300 094 535.
It is an offence to feed wildlife. It can encourage aggressive
behaviour in animals and is bad for their health.
Friends of the Prom
Everyone loves the Prom! Why not join the Friends of the Prom to
help preserve one of the world’s oldest national parks. For more
information visit www.friendsoftheprom.org.au
Other park notes available
 Walking at Wilsons Prom
 Tidal River Camping and Accommodation Guide
 Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park – Victoria’s Blue
Wilderness
 Overnight Hikes
 Historic Lighthouse and Residences
For further information
Parks Victoria
Information Centre
Call 13 1963
or visit the
Parks Victoria website
www.parks.vic.gov.au
Tidal River Visitor Centre
(03) 5680 9555
7 days, 8.30am - 4.00pm AEST
8.30am - 4.30pm AEDST
Regional Visitor
Information Centres
To find out about other
attractions in South Gippsland
or to book accommodation
outside the Prom, visit
www.visitpromcountry.com.au
or contact the Prom Country
Information Centre
1800 630 704 or
(03) 5655 2233
7 days, 9am - 5pm
Safety and emergency information
For your safety and that of others, please read this information and carry it with you.
Be prepared
In an emergency
 We recommend all visitors have Ambulance
Services membership or insurance that
covers the cost of ambulance transport.
If you require emergency assistance phone 000
for Police, Fire or Ambulance Services.
 Check fire danger and weather forecasts
daily. Fuel stoves may not be lit on days of
Total Fire Ban.
For park related emergencies only (fire, accident/
injury, injured wildlife, significant campground
disturbance and critical maintenance issues),
park visitors can contact the onsite Duty Officer
(24 hours) on 1300 247 594 or from the blue
emergency phone located at the front entrance
of the Tidal River Visitor Centre.
 This park will close on declared Code Red
Fire Danger days for the West & South
Gippsland Total Fire Ban District.
Mobile phone coverage cannot be relied upon
within the national park. Public phones are
located beside Tidal River General Store.
 Petrol and diesel must not be stored on
campsites. Fuel lockers are available at Tidal
River and keys are available at the Visitors
Centre.
At Tidal River
 Fires (including camp fires and solid fuel ‘heat
beads’) are not permitted at any time. Use a
gas or fuel stove for cooking.
Living lightly at the Prom
Help us look after your park by following these
guidelines.
 Firearms, dogs, cats and other pets are
prohibited within the park.
 Use water wisely at the Prom.
 Store all food securely (in your vehicle if
camping) and properly dispose of all rubbish,
including food scraps.
 All plants, animals, other natural features and
cultural sites in the park are protected by law
and must not be disturbed or removed.
 Stay on formed walking tracks at all times.
Valid as of April 2014
Printed on Australian-made
100% recycled paper
.Please do not throw this park
note away. Keep it, return it for
others to use, or recycle it
Boating and fishing
 All methods of fishing are prohibited in
Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet
Marine National Parks
 Recreational fishing is permitted in the
Wilsons Promontory Marine Park. A valid
fishing licence is required
 To prevent the spread of marine pests,
please clean and dry all watercraft and
equipment before and after entering
watercourses
 To protect seal colonies, seasonal
restrictions apply to all watercraft around
Kanowna Island
In the event of a significant emergency
threatening Tidal River, visitors may be alerted
in a number of ways:
 An emergency siren will sound continuously.
Please collect sunscreen, water, suitable
clothing and a torch and calmly make your
way on foot to the Norman Beach day visitor
car park (refer map over page).
 Once at the car park you will be advised by
Police or Parks Victoria staff on any further
action to take.
 Information will be communicated through the
Public Address System, located throughout
the Tidal River Campground.
 Police or Parks Victoria staff will alert visitors.
Under no circumstances should you attempt
to leave Tidal River unless advised by Police
or Parks Victoria staff.
An emergency siren in Tidal River is tested
every Monday afternoon at 4 pm.
Away from Tidal River
You may become aware of an emergency away
from Tidal River, or be notified of an emergency
situation by Police or Parks Victoria staff.
If immediately accessible, collect sunscreen,
water, suitable clothing and a torch. Calmly
make your way to the nearest Emergency
Assembly Area (refer map over page).
Wait at the Assembly Area for further
instructions from Parks Victoria staff or Police.