Wilson's Prom

I have just spent a few days at Wilson's Prom which really does rate as one of the most beautiful and interesting spots I have ever been to.  Most visitors to Melbourne will head west out of the city to see the amazing Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles.  The locals know that if you go south east, about 160 km away from Melbourne, you will come to Wilson's Promontory or "The Prom".  

Wilson's Prom is the most southerly part of the Australian mainland and is a spur that juts out into the Bass Strait.  It once connected mainland Australia to the island of Tasmania.  

The Prom is a national park and is Victoria's most popular national park.  The main campsite gets packed in summer but there are plenty of walking tracks and opportunities for bushcamping and the park is so big that it is easy to escape the crowds.  You will see from my photographs that there was hardly a soul in sight this weekend, despite it being school holidays.   The rocky coastline is interspersed with beautiful sandy coves and lovely sheltered bays.  All this is set against a backdrop of stunning granite ranges.  

The Prom was named in 1798 by George Bass and Mathew Flinders, the navigators, after Thomas Wilson - a friend of Flinders. It is believed to have been occupied by Indigenous Australians at least 6 500 years ago.  At over 50 000 hectares, it is one of the most diverse national parks you will find.  It has fantastic beaches, great views, cool fern gullies, rock formations and abundant wildlife. You can walk through eucalypt forest, rainforest, woodlands, heath, grasslands, swamps and coasts, all on the one day.

Accommodation options in the park include camping and caravan sites, cabins and 'Wilderness Retreat' tents which are definitely the choice for lazy campers who like a bit of luxury and en-suite bathroom facilities (see photograph).  They are not ultra luxurious but are equipped with beds and furniture and are definitely comfortable.  Or you can stay in one of the nearby settlements outside the park which offer a wider variety of accommodation.

There are numerous walking tracks which are well marked out and graded according to difficulty.  They range from a twenty minute walk which is suitable for wheelchairs to a three day hike.  The park is home to numerous wildlife including kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, emus and a many small marsupial species.  There are also many interesting birds - I saw Oystercatchers and various Rosellas.

Several of the beaches offer safe swimming and some good surfing.  The Prom Surf School operates during the summer months and provides all equipment.  The beautiful Squeaky beach has pure quartz sand that is indeed squeaky underfoot.

In February this year a bush fire started at Wilson's Prom when lightening struck the extremely dry vegetation.  It burnt nearly 50 percent of the park and caused the park to be closed for several months.  I was interested to see how the park is regenerating after the fire.  The park's own website gives excellent information and photographs of the fire. A lot of native plants have developed strategies to cope with fire - some have woody fruits to protect the seeds which will then be released after burning.  See photographs.

The park has an excellent information centre with helpful staff and a lots of booklets on the various walks, wildlife etc.  There is also a cafe and small supermarket as well as an outdoor cinema for campers.

For anyone visiting my part of Australia, Victoria, I would thoroughly recommend a visit to this wonderful place where you can have a true bush experience, spot some fascinating animals and also enjoy some beautiful beaches.

For further information and to book park accommodation:

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=217

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/3promfire.cfm

http://www.promaccom.com.au/  - this website lists private accommodation around the park.