The best things to do at Wilsons Prom

Three hours south of Melbourne lies one of Australia's most beautiful national parks: Wilsons Promontory, or to use its nickname, Wilsons Prom. Mountains and beaches, stunning coastline and abundant wildlife, it has something to appeal to anyone. One of its beaches was even voted the most beautiful in Australia in 2024! Follow me to find out all about the best things to do at Wilsons Promontory, Australia's southernmost national park.

One of the most beautiful national parks in Australia

Summary

Welcome to Wilsons Prom!
Squeaky Beach
Mount Oberon
The fauna of Wilsons Prom
Getting there and staying at Wilsons Prom

Welcome to Wilsons Prom!

Don’t say Wilsons Promontory National Park, just say Wilsons Prom or The Prom! There are the nicknames given by Melbournians to this very popular and gorgeous park. You won't be alone if you go there in the middle of summer! But that doesn’t make it a less interesting place to visit. Hiking, beaches, camping, not forgetting an abundant wildlife, there are so many things to do at Wilsons Prom.

It is also here that the southernmost point of mainland Australia is located, the aptly named South Point. It can be accessed on foot from Tidal River, the main campsite in the middle of the park, but should be reserved for experienced hikers as you will have to walk almost 20km to get there. This hike is part of the Southern Circuit, a network of trails crisscrossing the wild southeast of Wilsons Prom, with huts and basic campsites for overnight stays. I have never ventured on these paths and I will not talk about them in this article, but you can find more information on Parks Victoria website.

Squeaky Beach

It can be accessed in just a few minutes via a nearby parking lot, but I advise you to walk there from Tidal River. This one-hour stroll is absolutely stunning. After crossing a pretty wooden bridge, you will start by following the river which gave its name to the campsite. You will then climb over the headland separating Norman and Leonard Bays, with fantastic views over the coastline, before gently descending to Squeaky Beach. The panorama on this last part is breathtakingly beautiful!

I'll start with the number 1 highlight of Wilsons Prom: Squeaky Beach. This beach alone is worth the visit. It’s not for nothing that it was voted the most beautiful in Australia by the website Best Australian Beaches in February 2024! Which means a lot in a country with more than 10,000 beaches…

Do you know why Squeaky Beach is called like that? You will have to walk barefoot on it to understand where that strange name comes from! The sand is so pure there that friction with the skin creates this astonishing 'squeak'. Try it for yourself!

I couldn't resist posting this photo of my parents walking on Squeaky Beach when they came to visit me from France in December 2023. Aren't they cute?

Mount Oberon

If you want to get a different perspective over Wilsons Prom, you can also climb to the summit of Mount Oberon, 558m high. This peak overlooking Tidal River is not the highest in the park (that title goes to Mount Latrobe, 754m high), but it is relatively easy to access and offers an extraordinary view. The hike that leads there is a bit boring (6.8km, 2 hours return), but the 360° panorama from the top is worth the effort!

The fauna of Wilsons Prom

Among the other things to do in Wilsons Prom, there is wildlife observation! The park is home to a great diversity of fauna, including a large population of wombats. If you want to observe this large and somewhat grumpy-looking marsupial, look for its excrements. The wombat has the strange characteristic of producing cubic-shaped droppings! If you spend the night at Tidal River, you will almost certainly see a few wandering around the campsite at dusk. Otherwise, you might be lucky to come across one on the Wildlife Walk north of the park, where you can also see kangaroos and emus. You will also spot many species of birds at Wilsons Prom, including kookaburras and crimson rosellas.

Getting there and staying at Wilsons Prom

Wilsons Promontory national park is open all year round and access is free. The entrance is approximately 2 and a half hours’ drive south of Melbourne. Allow another half hour to arrive at Tidal River. No public transport leads there, so you will definitely need a vehicle. The last part of the journey inside the park is beautiful. You will be on a narrow winding road, with at times splendid views of the coast and the Glennie Islands to the west. Be careful though, never drive on this road after dark, or with the greatest caution. The risk of collision with the many animals living at Wilsons Prom is very high.

Given its distance from Melbourne, I recommend spending at least one night at Wilsons Prom to have time to enjoy its many activities. Aside from basic camps and isolated huts in more remote parts of the park, the only place to spend the night will be Tidal River. You will find a very large campground there, with no less than 484 tent and caravan sites, but which is nevertheless very often full in summer. It is likely to be even busier from 1 December 2024, since all these sites will be completely free until 30 June 2025, as in all other parks in Victoria! This is not the case however for Tidal River cabins, lodges or huts, which will still be subject to charges. In both cases, bookings are essential, especially in high season.

Large parts of Victoria can be prone to bushfire during summer. Always check the conditions on Vic Emergency before you go.

Finally, for any additional information on Wilsons Prom, click here to download the Visitor Guide, and here for a global map of the park.

With so many things to do at Wilsons Prom, I'm sure that your next trip there will be amazing! Ready to go?