An overnight hike to the Lightstation in Wilsons Promontory
Find out what it’s like to tackle an epic hike, which takes you right through the heart of Wilsons Promontory National Park, to the southernmost tip of mainland Australia.
Fancy embarking on a challenging hike past rugged bushland, along deserted beaches and through remote wilderness, where you may spot wombats, wallabies, emu and kangaroos?
You should plan a getaway to Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Also known as Wilsons Prom, or just ‘the Prom’, this 505-square-kilometre peninsula is a true treasure of Victoria, located around three hours drive from the heart of Melbourne.
The Prom is home to a wealth of different experiences – but if you’re a keen hiker, you should definitely plan a trip to visit.
And while there are a few options for multi-day hikes on offer, if you’re short on time, you could consider hiking to one of the few accommodation options in the park. The Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse and its historic residences are open for bookings and the only way in and out (apart from helicopter) is by foot.
I’ve completed this gruelling day hike and let me tell you, it’s a challenge! It is however one worth taking if you’re short on time but keen to see the very best the Prom has on offer.
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Your guide to hiking to the lightstation in Wilsons Prom
History of the Prom and the Lightstation
While Traditional Owners for the Prom have not been formally recognised, Aboriginal history dates back around 6000 years, with the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai peoples all claiming links to it. Aboriginal names for the Prom include Yiruk and Wamoon.
The Lightstation was constructed in 1859 from locally quarried granite. While some of the original structures were lost in a fire in 1951, several buildings remain, including a brick residence from the 1920s. There’s also a school that was open from 1880-1880, most amusingly.
The lighthouse itself is still functional; managed now by Parks Victoria and boasting an LED solar-powered light. The lower part of the lighthouse is open to the public as a museum, laying out the 160+ year history of the station (which is hugely interesting and somewhat harrowing).
Parks Victoria offers accommodation at the Lightstation for up to 28 people. Choose from bunk rooms with shared living areas in two of the cottages, two larger cottages that house between 8-12 guests, or one private cottage with a double bed. You can book the cottages for one or two nights. Each cottage has a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, hotplates, microwave, fridge, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery.
We were feeling bougie, so we opted for the private cottage.
The cost of the private cottage ranges between $412 during off-peak season (May/June) and $470.06 from October-April. The shared accommodation prices during peak times are $339.12 for a room with one bunk bed (sleeping two) and $678.33 for a room with two bunks (sleeping four).
Off-peak is a little cheaper. You can also book out the entirety of two other cottages if you’re travelling in a larger group (8-12 people).
The accommodation is a five to six hour hike from Telegraph Saddle Carpark. The keeper’s family lived onsite and you really get an idea of just how remote and isolated a job this would’ve been, in the days before automation.
Here are some quick facts about the walk:
- The Lightstation is only accessible by foot.
- The walk in and out is around 37kms. It will take 5-6 hours on average to complete each way.
- Each cottage can be booked for 1-2 nights. I recommend two if possible; more on that below.
- You must carry your rubbish out with you.
When to plan your trip to Wilsons Prom
The Lightstation accommodation is open for bookings year round.
As mentioned, you’ll save a bit of dosh during the off-season, but the trade-off is probably going to be cooler temperatures. That being said, Wilsons Prom has fairly unpredictable weather in any case. I’ve been there in summer when it’s been 9°C and rainy, and again at 22°C, which somehow feels absolutely scorching. Total luck of the draw.
A winter stay could bring sightings of migratory whales, which would be very exciting. You’ll also have a greater chance of seeing the Aurora Australis, if it deigns to light up the night sky.
Do you need a permit to enter the park?
No permit is needed for access to this part of Wilsons Prom.
If you’re visiting on a day trip, you won’t have to pay a cent – just camping fees if you’re staying at any of the grounds overnight.
How to get to Wilsons Prom
Wilsons Prom is an easy three hour drive from Melbourne, along highways. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, if you need to fuel up your car or belly, or stretch your legs.
Noting there are no service stations in the park. If you need petrol, the nearby town of Yanakie is your best bet.
At the lip of the peninsula, you’ll follow twisty roads down into Tidal River Campground, where the visitor information centre and general store are located.
The walk to the Lightstation starts from Telegraph Saddle, which has its own dedicated car park. However the road there is essentially one lane and is often closed during peak summer season.
If this is the case, you can park at Tidal River Campground overnight and catch the shuttle bus to Telegraph Saddle car park. Noting the shuttle bus only leaves once an hour – just missing its departure is an incredibly frustrating experience.
What to pack for an overnight hike in Wilsons Prom
You can basically pack for a day hike when completing this walk, as you won’t need cooking gear, or bedding if you’re staying in the two-person cottage. For the cottages with bunks, you will need a sleeping bag and towel.
Here’s what I packed for the overnight hike.
The essentials
- Daypack – I use an Osprey Sirrus 24L
- 3L hydration bladder
- Water bottles – I carry a Lifestraw bottle
- Garbage bag
- First aid kit
- Snake bandage
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitiser
- Sunscreen
- Electrolytes
- Meals and snacks
- Sleeping bag (if needed)
- Fast-drying towel or sarong (if needed)
Clothing
- Shorts or pants
- Merino shirt
- Rain gear, if needed
- A light fleece
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Pjs
- Underwear
- Merino socks
- Sock liners – recommended guard against blisters
- Hiking boots
- Gaiters
Optional (but recommended)
- Walking poles
- Nature journal
- Pen
- Camera
- Kindle or book
Preparing for the hike
Let me just say this outright. This is not an easy hike.
I consider myself to be moderately to fairly fit depending on the week, and I found this hike incredibly challenging. There’s lots of walking uphill and walking downhill, along tiny paths, across a beach which sounds romantic but in reality is tough, and in very exposed conditions where you’re at the mercy of the sun.
I recommend getting a bit of preparation in before attempting the hike – maybe a couple of moderate day hikes, to build up your stamina.
Am I glad I did the walk? Yes. Did I enjoy it at the time? I’m… not sure?
One thing I do recommend is, if possible within the constraints of time and money, is to give yourself two days at the Lightstation.
That way you can make your way there, have a nice hot shower and dinner, and sleep in a bed. Then, you’ll have a full day to recover, before you head back along the track. A full day to eat, read, relax and enjoy the views. Bliss.
I will say something. Injinji sock liners might be the smartest investment I’ve made as part of my hiking wardrobe.
I haven’t suffered a single blister while wearing them. Unlike my poor hiking buddy, who was wracked with them after day one, and then had to walk back on them the next day.
I also quite recommend investing in or bring a pair of walking poles. I don’t usually hike with them, but I reckon they would’ve come in handy during the last portion of the walk, when I was so sore and tired that I just wanted to give up on life.
Navigating the trail
The trail is pretty straightforward to navigate.
The quickest way in is from Telegraph Saddle, which follows the path of the old telegraph line that connected the lightstation to the rest of the world.
It’s a bit of a boring walk to begin with, following a gravel road. Then it turns into a single-track through rainforest.
The last 700 metres or so to the lightstation, plain suck. It’s basically a steep climb up concrete, right when you’re ready to give up. I was so grateful to be wearing my day pack and not my 65L multi-day monster.
On the way back, I recommend taking the slightly longer route via Waterloo Bay. We had the beach entirely to ourselves – crashing crystal blue waves and white sand.
You’ll walk along some interesting trails and see some cool rock formations, before you make your way back onto the highly dull gravel path.
Staying safe in Wilsons Prom
Wilsons Prom is kinda wild. I saw a redback spider in the dunny at Tidal River and snake sightings are common.
Consider wearing long hiking pants or gaiters over thick socks, for extra protection.
Make sure you bring plenty of water with you (around 4L on a hot day is great), as you won’t be able to fill up again until you reach the lightstation.
Bring toilet paper or a pee rag just in case. There are toilets located along the walk, as you pass a couple of campsites, but they’re infrequent. I found myself having to take a bush pee on a few occasions.
What else can you do in Wilsons Prom?
I mean, there are plenty of other adventures to be had at Wilsons Prom. If you’re on your way out and want to fill your cup, here are a couple of options.
Head to Norman Beach right near Tidal River Campground, the popular Squeaky Beach or Whiskey Bay.
For views, Whiskey Bay Lookout offers views of Whiskey Bay and Picnic Bay.
Big Drift gets many suggestions as a place to visit, but I’m going to gently suggest you don’t, as it’s reportedly a place of significant cultural importance for local Indigenous peoples.
Where to go after visiting the Prom
If you’re heading back to Melbourne after your time at the Prom, you may want to drop into Fish Creek, Meeniyan or Loch. All lovely small towns of Victoria in their own right.
Inverloch and Venus Bay are both excellent places to visit, if you have an extra day to spend in the area
Or you might continue in the other direction, extending your exploration of eastern Victoria into the Gippsland Lakes.
All in all, the walk to the Lightstation in Wilsons Prom is an epic adventure that I daresay you won’t forget in a hurry.
Have you visited Wilsons Prom and attempted this hike? (Or any others in the park?)
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An extensive guide to hiking the Jatbula Trail
Wilsons Promontory National Park is located on Aboriginal land. I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.
