Holiday houses in Walkerville

Located on the western coastline of Waratah Bay, at the southern tip of Victoria, the small coastal village of Walkerville is a popular entry point to Wilsons Promontory National Park — locally known as The Prom — and its 50,000 hectares of white quartz sand, lush eucalypt forests, and soaring granite headlands. The rolling hills and spectacular shoreline surrounding this tiny coastal community draw city dwellers for scenic hiking in the balmy summer months; the area’s signature limestone cliffs offer unrivalled views across the bay and easy access via a short hiking trail.

Once a major part of the local limestone industry, Walkerville’s preserved lime kilns sit along the sand, providing a glimpse of what life was like here up until the early 20th century. Walkerville South boasts a half-moon beach with calm waters for swimming, tidepooling, and spotting abundant birdlife, including fairywrens, while the region’s wineries are celebrated for their pinot noir.

A temperate climate makes outdoor activities in and around Walkersville an option all year round. Mild summers offer ideal conditions for swimming and fishing for tiger flathead, while hiking and boating are popular pastimes in the colder months, provided that you wrap up against chilly winter temperatures and the crisp coastal breeze. Autumn brings a blaze of reds and oranges to the trees — make the two-hour drive north to Walhalla for an explosion of colour — and winter sports enthusiasts flock to Mount Baw Baw to take advantage of the snow further inland.

The wildflowers in Wilsons Promontory National Park are at their most prolific in the spring when high rainfall feeds rushing rivers and local waterfalls. Whale-spotting is another popular activity this time of year, as pods migrate along the coast between May and November. A well-known literary festival takes place in nearby Korumburra each October, while November tends to be the wettest month, so sturdy shoes and waterproof clothing are recommended.

Cape Liptrap Coastal Park

Just 10 minutes from Walkerville, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park stretches from Waratah Bay to the Point Smythe sand barrier, wrapping around the craggy headland and punctuated by the 1951 Cape Liptrap Lighthouse. Salmon and mullet abound in the waters of the Anderson Inlet while birdlife, such as the brown thornbill and straw-necked ibis, fills the park’s wooded areas. Mangrove and banksia sit alongside more than 25 different orchid varieties here.

Walkerville South Beach

Dense bushland gives way to jagged rocks and a curve of soft sand at this sheltered half-moon bay with coral fossils and a former lime kiln. The scenic Limeburners Walk winds around the cliff tops, while, on the ground, Walkerville North is walkable at low tide, and calcarenite Arch Rock draws the eye away from the shore. The surf here is popular for swimming, but caution is advised as the beach isn’t patrolled.

Wilsons Promontory National Park

The national park at the southernmost point of Wilsons Promontory is home to turquoise ocean, sweeping sands, towering boulders, and thriving flora and fauna. Visitors can take the free shuttle bus between Telegraph Saddle and Tidal River in the summer months or on weekends between November and April. Pick a hike from the 130 kilometres of walking trails, spot wombats, watch dolphins off the shore, and admire displays of delicate orchids in the spring.