Holiday houses in Wilsons Promontory

Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area dials up the natural drama with white-sand beaches, granite mountains, a marine reserve perfect for surfing, and plenty of kangaroos, emus, and wombats to keep your camera busy for days on end. Covering the state’s southernmost peninsula — which also happens to be the most southerly point of mainland Australia — Wilsons Promontory National Park’s 123,500 acres are webbed with hiking trails, some of which lead to the famed Squeaky Beach. Others take you through dense native forest and mountaintop lookouts. Before entering the park, stop in the tiny gateway town of Yanakie to stock up on provisions, or else buy supplies inside the park at Tidal River Campground.

Wilsons Promontory is a year-round destination, though it really comes alive in summer (December through February). The weather never gets too hot here, with daytime highs over the holiday season around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature can drop to around 52 in winter (June through August), when rainfall is also at its highest. The shoulder seasons of spring (September through November) and fall (March through May) signal fewer people and comfortable temperatures (daytime highs 55 to 65). Visit in spring to see the hillsides blanketed by wildflowers.

Even when the sun is shining, the promontory can be windy (particularly on clifftops, mountain peaks, and boats), so come prepared with layers and windproof jackets.

Watersports

Divers come to Wilsons Promontory to explore the offshore Marine National Park (the state’s first and largest), with its wondrous underwater granite cliffs and deep reefs. If you prefer to stay dry, take in the sea from the comfort of a cruise, unique birdlife overhead, and noisy seal colonies along the shore. Get your camera ready for Skull Rock, an enormous granite monolith that juts out of the water.

Mount Oberon Summit Hike

The promontory’s network of 80 hiking tracks covers leisurely, family-friendly day strolls to more strenuous overnight hikes. A favorite is to the top of Mount Oberon, a two-hour round-trip trek from the Telegraph Saddle car park, culminating in panoramas over Tidal River, Bass Strait, and offshore islands.

Squeaky Beach

A short walk from Tidal River Campground or Lilly Pilly Gully car park is Squeaky Beach, a long stretch of powder-white sand so rich in quartz that it squeaks when stepped upon. Enormous granite boulders covered in orange lichen hug the northern headland, creating a maze of passages and caves for adventurous travelers to explore. Be sure to end your visit with a dip in the turquoise sea.