Photos And Useful Information About Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilsons Promontory is located at the southernmost point of the Australian mainland and is affectionately known to most Victorians as ‘the Prom’. The drive from Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway is very scenic. Turn right at Meeniyan, Fish Creek or Foster.

How Do I Get To Wilsons Prom? – Approximately 180 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, the easiest way to get there is to follow the South Gippsland Highway through Korumburra, Leongatha and turn right just past Meeniyan. The road is well signed and will then take you through Fish Creek and Yanakie before you arrive at the gateway to the National Park. A relaxed trip from central Melbourne takes about 3 hours. The main visitor facilities at Tidal River itself are 30 km inside the park boundary. See the exact distances from Melbourne, Meeniyan, Foster and Fish Creek below.

The distances on this Vic Roads sign at the entrance to Tidal River.

Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory National Park = 222 km
Foster to Wilsons Promontory National Park = 60 km
Meeniyan to Wilsons Promontory National Park = 74 km
Fish Creek to Wilsons Promontory National Park = 56 km

From the park gateway to Tidal River Camp Grounds is approximately a 20 minute drive with an 80 km/h speed limit.

An alternative route would be to drive past Meeniyan and Stony Creek and continue on the South Gippsland Highway until you get to Foster. The shopping precinct at Foster provides to main supplies for Wilson’s Prom and the surrounding district.

About The Prom – According to records, Wilsons Promontory was declared a National Park back in 1898. The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria and inside it you will find fabulous beaches, winding rivers, cool fern gullies, spectacular views, intriguing rock formations and plentiful sightings of wildlife. It is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. The pictures on this page were taken on a cool autumn day, yet many of the walking tracks were busy with tourists and nature lovers.

Unique Rock Formations – These large chunks of granite (in the photo above) have been eroded by wind and rain over many thousands of years, to form large boulders on the waters edge here at Tidal River. The colours are striking and change at various times during the day according to the light conditions.

Tidal River – The river system here is very special as it has been protected under National Park law for over 100 years and has no introduced fish or aquatic weeds. I read on a signpost, that half of Victoria’s 40 known fish species are found here at Wilsons Promontory. A natural chemical called tannin is released from the decomposing vegetation and causes the water to turn brown. Tidal River is also the name given to the small settlement located in the center of the park.

Darby River – Halfway between the gateway and the Tidal River camping ground is another beautiful river that flows gently under the road. The Darby River flats are host to numerous species of native wildlife and the odd deer or feral cat can sometimes be seen. For more pictures and information, see the Darby River page.

Darby Beach – A short stroll along a smooth track south from the Darby river, takes you to a fairly quiet Darby Beach where it is illegal to pick up driftwood and land title claims that aboriginal artefacts may also be found in this location.

Mount Oberon – The rocky outcrop called Mount Oberon sits high above this national park, attracting walkers and visitors who like to enjoy the spectacular views of the coastline and the offshore islands from it’s summit, some 558 meters above sea level. It’s a popular place to take photographs of magnificent sunsets and the expansive land and coastal wilderness.

Tidal River Camping Ground – Tidal River, 30 km inside the park boundary, is the focus for tourism and recreation. With some 450 camping and caravan sites it is perfectly situated near the beach and the river. Campsites are in great demand and bookings are required for all holiday periods. A ballot is held to allocate sites over the popular summer season. Tidal River has a general store with a good range of supplies, post office, camping gas supplies and a take-away food shop. The open-air cinema and doctor services are available during the summer time. There are also some economical self-contained flats and lodges. The eco-friendly on site cabins are designed to blend into the natural environment.

Pictures Of Wilsons Promontory National Park – Besides the beautiful selection of images you’ll find below, another album is located on the Wilsons Prom Panoramas page.

Native Birds, Plants And Animals – More than 700 native plant species, 30 kinds of mammals and 180 species of birds have been documented in the region. Kangaroos, wallabies and emus graze peacefully together in a clearing on the side of the road, completely unperturbed by the tourists taking photographs. Wombats wandered near the camping facilities. Crimson rosellas and seagulls flock to the picnic areas hoping for a tasty morsel. Friendly ducks paddle happily by the waters edge … and so much more!

Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse – Situated 19.1 km from Tidal River, the lighthouse is only accessible by foot or by boat. This enables those who are capable hikers to experience a real treat while staying in the luxurious comfort of one of the three cottages, each surrounded by breathtaking coastal scenery.

Activities in and Around Wilsons Promontory National Park – You can do almost anything including walking, hiking, abseiling, boat tours, rafting, surfing, rock climbing, spotlight tours and night walks, canoeing and kayaking, Sailing Tours, bicycle touring, camping, 4WD tours, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, photography, bird watching, nature study and simply relaxing in the peaceful and incredibly beautiful natural environment. There are a multitude of Bush Walking Tracks to use at Wilsons Promontory National Park. Then discover which birds, plants, animals and other natural features will surprise you along the way.

Bush Fires and Floods – Most areas of the park have re-opened after the severe bush fires in February 2009 and the floods in March 2011. To see the photographs of the resulting devastation along with the beautiful re-growth, go to After The Fires At Wilsons Prom. You can also see pictures of the fire as it was raging. “After The Floods” pictures will be included in the life games photo gallery soon.

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