Things to know about camping at Wilsons Promontory and Cape Liptrap in Gippsland
Wilsons Promontory is one of the state’s most popular national parks to pitch a tent or take the caravan, and one expert park ranger shares his camping hacks to make the most of the region.
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South Gippsland is known for its spectacular coastal walks, great surf and fishing spots.
There’s plenty of places to pitch a tent or take the caravan, with two major parks Wilsons Promontory and Cape Liptrap worth visiting this summer break.
South Gippsland district manager Gerard Delaney shares his tips on the best places to stay, things to do and some of the warnings that come with camping in the region.
Via South Gippsland Highway at Leongatha or the Bass Highway from Inverloch.
BEAR GULLY CAMPGROUND
Level: Basic
Closest town: Walkerville, 10km.
Drawcard: Fishing, rockpooling, whale watching, close to town if you need supplies.
Phone reception: Limited.
Facilities: Modern vaulted toilets, fire pits (BYO firewood), accessible by car.
When to visit: Popular at Easter, Christmas and the New Year holiday period, but best visited over a weekend in spring or autumn.
Things to do: A rocky reef at the foot of Bear Gully Campground is great for rockpooling and fishing.
It’s also a short walk along the rocky peninsula to Cape Liptrap’s working lighthouse.
Adventurous hikers can spy whales while walking the coast between Venus Bay and Waratah Bay, but Mr Delaney warns the tide could impact sections of the walk.
“Hikers should commit to camping if they do this walk and will need to know the tides to get around certain points,” he said.
Walkerville South’s cove is also quite calm for swimming and usually packed during peak holiday periods.
Advice: Come to Cape Liptrap well prepared as the facilities are basic, all sites are unpowered, and you’ll need to bring cooking and drinking water.
Weather during the spring and autumn is milder than summer.
Mr Delaney said water off the coast was great for surfing, but visitors should be cautious when swimming in the area. “Be aware that water conditions can change quickly,” he said.
Venus Bay and Waratah Bay at Sandy Point are patrolled beaches.
WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK
Via Wilsons Promontory Rd
TIDAL RIVER CAMPGROUND
Level: High
Closest town: Yanakie, 35km.
Drawcard: Laundry, flushing toilets, hot showers, Tidal River general store, great walking tracks, accessible to the beach.
Phone reception: Yes, but patchy at times.
When to visit: Popular over Easter, Christmas and the New Year holiday period, outside of this time it’s more accessible.
Facilities: There are 20 powered sites from 485 camping and caravan sites at Tidal River. There’s also the option of staying in one-bedroom units, cabins, huts, group lodges or in safari-style tents as part of Wilderness Retreats. Mr Delaney said camping at The Prom in summer was: “a different camping experience, as it becomes a little town.”
Things to do: There’s a range of walks from half-hour to overnight in duration, including the 7km trek to Mount Oberon or the multi-day walk to the Wilsons Promontory eastern coast that’s not vehicle accessible. There’s also a 20km walk each way to the lighthouse at the most southern point of Wilsons Promontory. Squeaky Beach is popular for all tourists (because of its namesake after the sounds the sand makes when you walk on it).
Walking between Tidal River and Squeaky Beach is also popular, while experienced surfers can tackle great swells at Norman Bay.
Advice: Tidal River can be very popular in summer and a ballot is required to secure campsites over busy periods including Melbourne Cup, Easter and Christmas.
Young families should stay closer to Tidal River to use kayaks, boogie boards or stand up paddleboards, while surfers should stick to the southern end of the promontory.
And if you run out of supplies, there’s a general store at Tidal River that stocks the essentials.
STOCKYARD CAMPGROUND
Level: Mid-level
Closest town: Yanakie, 7.5km.
Drawcard: Closer to town, very good facilities, hot showers, flat campground terrain, access to Tidal River and Corner and Shallow inlets for fishing.
Phone reception: Yes, but patchy.
When to visit: Popular over Easter, Christmas and New Year. Outside of this period is more accessible.
Facilities: Showers, flushing toilets, unpowered sites.
Things to do: Corner and Shallow inlets are perfect for fishing, according to Mr Delaney.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing are also popular in Shallow Inlet, while Tidal River has more beaches suitable for swimming.
Animal lovers could see emus, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, hog deer and birds as well. Licensed tour operators in the region organise cycling, kayaking, fishing charters and winery tours.
The 74km Great Southern Rail Trail between Leongatha and Port Welshpool is quite popular for tourists.
MORE NEWS:
CAMPING HOT SPOTS NEAR PORTLAND, NELSON
WHERE TO CAMP ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
HIGH COUNTRY ACCOMMODATION TO TRY
Advice: Mr Delaney warned visitors to be prepared for all weather conditions, regardless of the time of year. “Make sure you have (camping) equipment for all weather — even in summer,” he said.
“You might need jackets and summer storms are known to impact the coast.”
