Wilsons Prom Southern Circuit: Our Full 4-Day Hiking Itinerary

This was my first multi-day hike, and I think Wilsons Prom is a great spot for beginner multi-day hiking. For my 9-5ers, this is a perfect hike to tag onto a long weekend to maximise your annual leave.

Joining a group of more experienced friends, my partner and I in March finally laced up the boots and did it. Four days, three nights, and some of the most rugged, beautiful coastline Victoria has to offer, from the white sand of Little Waterloo Bay to the wild scrub around South Point, the actual southernmost tip of mainland Australia (photographed below).

If you're planning your own hike, this is the exact itinerary we used, and all the info you need to plan your own hike here: where we camped, how to sort permits and parking, what the side quest options are, and roughly when to expect sunrise and sunset if you're chasing that golden light.

Here's a quick overview

📍 Route: Tidal River (via bus to Telegraph Saddle) → Little Waterloo Bay → Roaring Meg → Oberon Beach → Tidal River

📏 Distance: 48km total over 4 days (this route skips Sealers Cove and Refuge Cove; add those in and you're looking at considerably more)

⛰️ Elevation gain: Around 1,476m across the whole circuit, so there's a genuine amount of climbing spread through the four days

⏰ Duration: 4 days / 3 nights (this can be shortened to 3 days by skipping Roaring Meg, or extended to 5+ if you want to add Sealers Cove and Refuge Cove)

🏕️ Campsites: Little Waterloo Bay, Roaring Meg, Oberon Beach

🎟️ Permits: Required for all overnight hikers, booked in advance through Parks Victoria

🗓️ Best time of year: Shoulder season (March-April or September-November) for cooler hiking temps and fewer crowds, though it's walkable year-round with the right gear

🎒 Before you go

Permits and bookings

Every overnight hiker on the Southern Circuit needs a permit, and these get booked online through Parks Victoria's ParkStay platform well ahead of your trip, especially over summer and long weekends when sites fill up fast. You'll check in at the Tidal River Visitor Centre before you start walking, so build that into your morning.

Parking and the bus

Most hikers park at Tidal River and catch the shuttle bus up to Telegraph Saddle to start the hike (it's a solid climb otherwise, so the bus is worth it). Worth knowing: the bus isn't a daily service, it only operates during summer and Easter school holidays, plus weekends from November to April. If you're hiking on a weekday outside those windows, check with the Tidal River Visitor Centre first, as you may need to walk the road from Tidal River instead.

Time of year

We hiked in early March, right at the tail end of daylight saving, and it was a great window: warm days, cool nights, and the worst of the summer crowds gone. Late autumn through winter is much quieter again but the days are shorter and river crossings can run higher, so factor that into your daily distances if you're hiking then.

Sunrise and sunset

In early March in this part of Gippsland you're looking at roughly 6:45-7:00am sunrise and around 7:45-8:00pm sunset, though daylight saving ends in early April so it shifts noticeably if you're hiking later in the month. Worth checking the exact times for your dates closer to the day, especially if you want to catch sunrise from South Point or sunset over Oberon Beach.

Water and food

Little Waterloo Bay and Roaring Meg both have (untreated) water available, so top up your bottles and treat it before drinking. Oberon Beach does not have a reliable water source, so carry in what you need from Halfway Hut. There's no phone reception once you're out on the track, and campfires aren't permitted anywhere on the circuit.

Day 1: Friday - Tidal River to Little Waterloo Bay

Hike time: 2.5-3.5 hours (not including breaks)

We left Melbourne at 6:45am and stopped in Fish Creek around 9-9:15am for an early lunch/breakfast at the local bakery, a good last real meal before the trail. We were back on the road by 9:30am and pulled into the Tidal River visitor parking at 10:20am to check in with Parks Victoria and sort our hiking and parking permits.

Cars stayed at Tidal River and we caught the 11:05am bus up to Telegraph Saddle (there's also a 12:05pm option if you're running behind). Starting the walk around 11:30am, and factoring in about an hour of breaks, we rolled into Little Waterloo Bay by 4:00pm. If you catch the later bus instead, budget for more like a 5:00pm arrival.

The track out of Telegraph Saddle winds through eucalypt forest and low coastal scrub before opening up to your first proper views over Bass Strait, huge granite boulders scattered along the ridgelines, the kind the Prom is famous for. Keep an eye out for wombats and wallabies grazing right beside the track, they're everywhere out here and barely bother looking up. The final descent into Little Waterloo Bay is one of the best payoffs of the whole trip: a long stretch of white sand curving around turquoise water, framed by forested hills on either side.

Once at camp, we filled up on water at the Little Waterloo Bay campsite (remember to treat it) and had dinner sorted by 7:00pm. This is a genuinely stunning first-night spot, tucked behind the dunes with the beach a short walk away.

Day 2: Saturday - Little Waterloo Bay to Roaring Meg

Hike time: 4.5-6.0 hours (not including breaks)

The longest day of the trip. We were up around 7:00am, had breakfast, and were packed up and moving by 8:30am. The track climbs up along the coastal ridge before dropping down toward the historic Wilsons Prom Lightstation, where we stopped for lunch around 1:00pm and got moving again by 2:00pm. This stretch is where the scenery really earns its reputation: sweeping clifftop views back over Waterloo Bay, glimpses of the Bass Strait islands on a clear day, and long sections where the track hugs the coastline closely enough that you can hear the waves the whole way. It's worth lingering here if you have time; the lighthouse and keeper's cottages are a genuinely wild, remote spot at the very tip of the peninsula, with 360-degree views out over open ocean.

From the lighthouse we continued on to Roaring Meg, arriving around 4:30pm. We set up camp and refilled water at the campsite, then dropped our bags to knock over the South Point side quest, the actual southernmost point of mainland Australia, an out-and-back that takes roughly 2 hours return. The track to South Point cuts through dense coastal heath before ending abruptly at a rocky outcrop with nothing but ocean between you and Tasmania, genuinely one of the most memorable spots on the whole hike, and a great photo stop if you time it for late afternoon light. Doing this without full packs made a big difference after an already long day. We were back at camp for dinner by 7:00pm.

Day 3: Sunday - Roaring Meg to Oberon Beach

Hike time: 2.0-3.0 hours (not including breaks)

A shorter, easier day. Up by 8:30am, breakfast, and packed down by 10:00am. The track follows the Telegraph Track inland, a nice change of scenery after two days of coast, cutting through fern-filled gullies and shaded bushland, and we stopped at Halfway Hut around 12:00pm to refill water, since Oberon Beach doesn't have a reliable supply. As the track turns back toward the coast, the views open up again over Oberon Bay's sweep of sand and impossibly clear water. We arrived at Oberon Beach around 3:00pm, which left the whole afternoon free to relax on what's genuinely one of the prettiest beaches on the whole circuit, and our favourite campsite of them all. After a very refreshing swim, we settled down for dinner by 7:00pm and an early night.

Day 4: Monday - Oberon Beach to Tidal River to Home

Hike time: 2.0-3.0 hours (not including breaks)

Last day (so sad!). We were up around 7:00am, breakfast, and packed up by 8:30am for the final stretch back to Tidal River. This last leg takes you past Little Oberon Bay and Norman Bay, more gorgeous stretches of coastline, with Mount Oberon rising up ahead of you the whole way in, a nice reminder of how far you've walked by the time you spot Tidal River below. We arrived around midday, checked back in at the Visitor Centre, walked to the overnight car park, and were on the road by 12:45pm. Budget 3-4 hours back to Melbourne. We then had to take a flight back to Brisbane so it was a long day, but we came home feeling fulfilled and accomplished.

Side quests & extension options

If you want to build on the classic 4-day route, here's what's worth considering:

South Point. The out-and-back to the southernmost point of mainland Australia from Roaring Meg, roughly 2 hours return. Do it with a light daypack after dropping your main bag at camp.

Wilsons Prom Lightstation. Even if you're not staying overnight, the lighthouse and keeper's cottages are worth the stop on Day 2. You can also book to stay in the historic residences here if you'd rather swap a night of camping for a bed.

Sealers Cove and Refuge Cove. For a longer 5+ day version of the circuit, you can add these two campsites onto the eastern leg before Little Waterloo Bay, both known for secluded, postcard-worthy beaches. Sealers Cove has had partial track closures in the past, so check current conditions on the Parks Victoria website before you build it into your route.

Shorten it to 3 days. Cut Roaring Meg out and camp at Little Waterloo Bay for two nights instead, or route straight through to Oberon Beach on Day 2 if you're comfortable with a bigger day.

The Southern Circuit is one of those hikes that earns its reputation. The wild coastline, walking along the beach in some sections, it's quite something. Book your permits early, watch the weather, and give yourself the extra hour at the lighthouse. You won't regret it. Happy hiking :)

Gear recommendations

Osprey Aura Womens 65L backpack

Compact portable camping stove

On Track Meals Heat and Eat Meal Pouches

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