In order to cram in a full days hiking, we set the alarm for 06:00hrs, and found ourselves, alone, inside the National Park at Wilsons Promontory, by 08:00hrs. During the drive from the park entrance to the base of Oberon Peak, we found ourselves under close scrutiny from emus, wallabies and kangaroos from either side of the road. We then hiked to the summit at 585m, hoping to catch sight of koalas on the way up in the tall eucalyptus forest. While we did not see any koalas, the views from the summit, bathed in sunshine, were adequate recompense.
On the way back down to Tidal River, we discovered the road to be almost completely blocked by a rock fall, with roadworks erected preventing anyone else from going up to Oberon peak. We did thankfully manage to squeeze past the rock fall, and considered ourselves very fortunate to have made the early start, as we would not have any other opportunity to ascend the mountain.
At Tidal River, we parked the car, and then embarked on the 2nd hike of the day, along Lilly Pilly Gully nature trial. This took us deep into wilderness that was savaged by bush fires in 2009; along with much of Victoria. However, Nature has been working overtime ever since, with the blackened tree stumps now covered in new lush greenery, and the forest floor carpeted in 3ft high ferns and grass trees. We also caught sight of many different bird species, though their song was hard to discern from the deafening buzzing from innumerable Cicadas.
On return to the car park at Tidal River we consumed lunch, before then heading off on our third hike – this time to Pillar point; the most southerly point on the mainland. The views there of the rugged coastline either side of the headland are breathtaking, with the Bass Sea still looking menacing, despite the benign weather. The waters also looked rather cold, despite the calm azul appearance; an impression boosted by the knowledge that the only land mass south of this point is Antarctica.
Following quick coffee break back at Tidal River, we then drove to Five Mile Road car park for yet another trek; this time to visit the most southerly mangrove swamp in the world at Millers Landing. On the way, we caught site of more wallabies and also yellow-tailed black cockatoos. Finally, at 18:30hrs, having covered total of 26km on foot, we left the nature reserve and returned to our log cabin for a well earned dinner and early night sleep.
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