Things to do in Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory, also known as “the Prom” is one of the most popular road trip destinations amongst Victorians.

It’s taken me well into adulthood to finally visit, but I received so many recommendations from friends on things to do in Wilsons Prom, I felt really well equipped for our trip.

Unfortunately, with time constraints, I couldn’t do it all.

But honestly? Wilsons Prom is one of those places where if you visit once, you definitely want to return again.

So I know I’ll visit again and will be updating this post with even more awesome advice!

Melbourne to Wilsons Prom Drive

If you’re not used to long-distance driving, the drive from Melbourne to Wilsons Promontory National Park can be really long.

It takes approximately 4 hrs, but if you take breaks it’s closer to 4.5 hrs.

Most of the route to Wilsons Prom is along freeways, so there are plenty of places to stop for petrol, snacks, and toilet breaks. We found the route to be pretty busy, especially since you’ll pass Phillip Island on the way, which is a popular weekend trip for Melbournians.

My recommendation for long drives is to get a good night’s rest beforehand and start early so that you can take your time and aren’t rushed. It can be easy to feel tired on a long drive like this, so frequent stops are important so that you can keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Where to stay in Wilsons Prom

There are 2 main options on where to stay when visiting Wilsons Prom.

The most convenient would be to stay in Wilsons Promontory National Park. Managed by Parks Victoria, you can camp right in the heart of the Prom, choosing from powered and unpowered camp sites. There are also a handful of cabins at Tidal River, make sure you book early if you want to stay here!

If camping isn’t your thing (or if the sites are fully booked) the closest town, Yanakie is your best bet! Located a short drive from the entrance of Wilsons Prom, Yanakie has a wide variety of accomodation options.

We stayed at the Eco Glamping Tents at Promhills Cabins, and loved hearing the sounds of nature with the convenience of having private ammenities like a shower, toilet and kitchen.

Things to do in Wilsons Prom

1. See the sunset at Mt Oberon

Visiting Mt Oberon Summit was one of my highlights of Wilsons Prom.

The views here of the coast are incredible, and especially beautiful at sunset! You’ll get to see the sunset right before your very eyes.

The hike starts at Telegraph Saddle car park and is 2 hr, 6.8km return. It is mostly uphill and via a gravely path, so bring comfortable shoes! When visiting for sunset, make sure you bring a torch or form of light as you will be hiking down in darkness.

Tip: when driving through Wilsons Prom at dusk or evening, make sure you look out for wildlife. Wallabies and wombats are particularly active at this time, and the lights definitely confuse them. You might find the odd wallaby who will actively try to jump in front of your car or stop in front of it, so be careful!

2. Visit Squeaky Beach

Squeaky Beach is the most visited beach in Wilson’s Prom. It’s famous for – you guessed it – squeaky, pristine white sand and the giant orange-coloured boulders that sit on the beach.

3. Marvel at secret sand dunes at the Big Drift

The Big Drift is home to giant sand dunes, that’ll make you feel like you’ve landed on Tatooine or a planet far far away.

They’re best visited at sunrise or sunset, as the light makes the sand glow. If you can’t make it during these times, it’s still worth a visit as the sand dunes are still an incredible sight.

The hike to the dunes is a 2 km, 45 min hike from the Stockyards Camp and is mostly flat. Right before the Big Drift, is a very steep, sandy uphill. If you’re able bodied, this is do-able, but if you struggle with stairs or steep inclines, it might be worth giving this a miss.

Tip: when you make it to the Big Drift, take mental note of where you entered! There are no signs here and after a while one sand dune looks like the other. You definitely don’t want to get lost here!

4. Spot some kangaroos at the Wildlife Walk

For wildlife lovers out there, visiting Wilsons Prom is super exciting because you get to see so much native wildlife.

If you’re short on time or want to increase your chances of seeing some kangaroos or wallabies, the Wildlife walk is a must.

During our visit, we saw lots of wallabies and kangaroos. They were really easy to photograph (just make sure you keep your distance). Other visitors have also reported seeing wombats here too!

The best time to visit is at sunset or dusk, as that is when native wildlife is most active. The walk is a 2.3 km return, easy and flat loop walk.

The Wildlife Walk begins at the Wildlife Viewing Area, located on Promontory Road on the left-hand side as you drive from the park entrance.

5. Go on one of the many other Wilsons Prom hikes

Depending on how much time you have and your preferred hike difficulty, there are endless hikes in Wilsons Prom to choose from.

In addition to the hikes already listed here, I’d also recommend the Tidal River Overlook Circuit for beautiful coastal views and the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk for a rainforest walk.

6. Go Whale spotting during winter (or on a wildlife cruise during other times of year)

Fun fact: during winter, whales migrate to Wilsons Prom and you can see plenty of them on a wildlife cruise!

Unfortunately, we just missed whale season, but can’t wait to return during quieter times and hopefully see some whales in Wilsons Prom.

During other times of the year, you can still take a wildlife cruise and see seals or dolphins. Just make sure you book ahead, especially during the school holidays as the cruises can get booked out. Wildlife Coast Cruises and Pennicott Wilderness Journeys are the main cruise operators in Wilsons Prom.

7. Visit a secret beach, known as Refuge Cove

Refuge Cove is only accessible via 3 day hike or on a boat cruise. This makes Refuge Cove pretty isolated and special!

Wildlife Cost Cruises stop at Refuge Cove on their 9 hr Wilsons Prom Cruise and you can go for a swim or paddleboard.

Otherwise, if a cruise isn’t your thing, you can take a 2-3 day hike to Refuge Cove. Doing this requires some planning and you’ll need to book your campsite with Parks Victoria in advance. This is also a really helpful guide to the trail to Refuge Cove.

There are so many fun things to do in Wilsons Prom. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or just want a relaxing holiday with your family, there’s so much to choose from. This post has listed all my highlights and favourite things to do here, I can’t want to update this when I visit again!

Have you been to Wilsons Prom? Let me know what your favourite things to do are in the comments!