Have you ever thought about visiting Wilsons Promontory National Park, located at the southernmost point of mainland Australia? If you answered no, I hope to change your mind by the end of this post. And if you answered yes, you’re in the right place! In this blog post, I cover how to hike Tongue Point Wilsons Prom and give you 10 helpful tips to make your hike absolutely amazing!
Where is Wilsons Prom?
Wilsons Prom (or “The Prom” as locals call it), is a large national park in Victoria, Australia covering 500km2 with many options for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, swimming and wildlife spotting. If you have never visited before, or if you have but it’s been a while, it can be tricky to know which area of the park to explore first and which areas will cater to your outdoor activity needs.
Wilsons Prom is a quick 3-hour drive from Melbourne.
Why Visit Wilsons Prom?
Wilsons Prom is a stunningly beautiful marine park located about three hours southeast of Melbourne. It is known for its rugged granite mountains, bushwalking tracks and abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, emus and wombats, that roam freely throughout the park. If you have never seen these native Australian animals in the wild, keep both eyes open while exploring the park (I was lucky enough to see 3 wombats in the span of 4 short hours during my last visit to Wilsons Prom)!
Coastal views from the Tongue Point walking track, not too shabby!
Why Hike Tongue Point Wilsons Prom?
If you’re looking for beautiful coastal views and easy to moderate terrain, the Tongue Point hike should be at the top of your hiking list! This hike lets you see the beauty of Wilsons Prom without having to commit to a multi-day or overnight hike.
Planning a day hike can be overwhelming and it’s hard to know what to bring, what gear to wear, and the best route to take if you’ve never visited the area before! I want to break it down for you and keep things simple so that you can spend less time planning your hike and more time enjoying it.
If you’re wondering how to hike Tongue Point Wilsons Prom, I got you covered! I’m giving you my top 10 most valuable tips to make your hike amazing, memorable and stress-free. Now let’s dive in!
How to Hike Tongue Point Wilsons Prom
The hike is 8km return (starting and ending at Darby River car park) and has an easy-moderate grade with a well-maintained footpath. The hike takes between 3-4 hours to complete, depending on how fast you walk and how many photos you stop to take (there are picture-perfect vistas every couple hundred metres, so you may take quite a few).
Tongue Point, Wilsons Prom is one of the best day hikes and is perfect for hikers of all levels.
Start from Darby River Car Park
The Darby River car park is easily accessible from Wilsons Prom main entrance and is located 11.5km (or 12 minutes drive) along a paved access road that runs through the national park. Wildlife is easily spotted along this road, so watch out for them while driving!
Once you reach the car park, you will find parking and a public toilet. Follow the signs for “Tongue Point” and “Fairy Cove” that lead you away from the car park and along a gravel footpath that marks the start of the trail.
Look for these signs in Darby River car park to start the Tongue Point hike.
The path is quite steep for the first 20 minutes of the hike but it soon levels off and you are rewarded with your first glimpse of the Bass Strait and Tongue Point to the southeast. The view is stunning.
10 Helpful Tips to Make Your Hike Amazing
To make your walk as enjoyable as possible, I have put together a list of 10 helpful tips for you!
Check the weather in the morning.
Check the weather before you set off for Wilsons Prom and dress accordingly. I always bring a rain jacket, an extra jumper and sunglasses (just in case). It’s almost always windy so bring extra layers.
I got absolutely soaked in a downpour but kept smiling and pushed on anyway!
Bring plenty of snacks!
The hike takes about 1.5-2 hours each way. The footpath includes plenty of uphill/downhill sections and some rugged spots. Snacks will help keep you energized and motivated along the tougher sections.
Bring plenty of water.
Aim to drink 0.5L of water for every hour spent hiking. A 2L bottle of water should cover you for the full 4 hours.
Use the toilet at the car park.
Take advantage of the drop toilet, set just off to the side of the car park, before setting off on the trail. There are NO toilets along the trail (but plenty of bushes if needed).
Bring extra toilet paper/tissue and hand sanitizer with you.
Better safe than sorry, especially with hygiene. Bring extra toilet paper/tissues and hand sani with you.
The Tongue Point footpath was very clean and well-maintained- carry all your rubbish out with you!
Bring an extra bag with you for rubbish.
Wilsons Prom has a “carry-in, carry-out” policy and doesn’t have waste bins along the walking paths. To keep the area clean, take your rubbish with you when you leave Wilson Prom, don’t leave it in the car park!
Plan to arrive early at Wilsons Prom (before 10 am)!
To get the most out of your Tongue Point hike, arrive before 10 am. Groups and day tours from Melbourne arrive around midday. I got to Darby River car park at 9:45 am and was on the trail by 10 am. I had the trail all to myself for the first hour. The trail started to get busier when I was on the return track from Tongue Point back to the car park (around midday) and there were several larger groups on the trail as well.
Download the “Prom Country” app.
Download the app before starting the Tongue Point hike, to make your life easier. This free app has heaps of useful information for visitors and includes walking and cycling routes, events, information on the surrounding towns, scenic drives and even an interactive map for hiking trails.
Wear comfy shoes with a good grip (no trainers).
Tongue Point hike has sections with exposed rocks, which can get slippery if it rains. During the first hour of my hike, it rained quite heavily and the rocks were slick. I was grateful for my Solomon hiking shoes with extra traction!
Don’t miss Fairy Cove!
There is the option to take a small detour and check out Fairy Cove along the way to Tongue Point. I highly recommend doing this. At low tide, you can walk along the beach at Fairy Cove and check out the amazing red rock formations. In the summertime, Fairy Cove is a popular swimming hole.
Sign for Fairy Cove, just over halfway between Darby River car park and Tongue Point.
Tongue Point Wilsons Prom: Alternate Route Option
One last suggestion for an alternate hiking route: If you plan to hike with friends/family, plan a car shuffle and drop one car at Darby River car park and the other at Darby Saddle. This allows you to complete a slightly longer route (9.5km instead of 8km) and take two different routes (with two different views)! I didn’t do this, because I was hiking solo, but it is worth considering if you have a second person to arrange a car shuffle with.
View from hiking trail looking towards Tongue Point.
Final Bits of Advice for Tongue Point Wilsons Prom
- There is limited mobile reception throughout the entire park, so plan accordingly.
- Bring an external battery pack for your mobile phone, as the spotty mobile reception drains your battery quickly.
- Consider bringing a paper map if you’re unsure of where you’re going.
- Peak season at Wilsons Prom goes from September – April, so if you’re planning to visit during these months expect it to be busy.
- Low season at Wilsons Prom is from May-August, so if you’re planning to visit during these months it will be less busy. There may also be closures within the park for maintenance, etc.
- Always check the official Wilsons Prom website before visiting, to stay up to date with park changes and closures.
That’s all from me guys! I hope this post has given you some useful tips and information for your Tongue Point hike at Wilsons Promontory National Park. If there’s anything you think I’ve missed or if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below!