Mount Oberon in a day from Fed Square

About this experience

The day starts at the Federation Square bus and coach zone on Russell Ct, in the centre of Melbourne. The Prom is about three hours' drive away (Parks Victoria), so roughly 6 of the 12 hours are spent on the road and about 5 to 6 in the park. That is the honest trade of any day tour here, and for most visitors without a car it is still the simplest way in. Entry to the park is free anyway; the tour covers the transport, the guide and the planning.

One stop on the listing cannot run as written right now. The Big Drift sand dunes walk and the Stockyard car park are closed for Parks Victoria's Prom Sanctuary works, with no reopening date posted. Expect the guide to swap in another stop; ask what it is when you book if the dunes were your reason to pick this tour. The rest of the plan is unaffected: a bush hike, Tidal River, the Mount Oberon summit (558 m), Squeaky Beach and the wildlife area.

The listing calls the last stop Wilsons Prom Wildlife Park. Inside the park, that is the area of the Prom Wildlife Walk, a flat 2.3 km loop through open grassland where Parks Victoria says you can see kangaroos, wombats, wallabies and emus. There are no toilets there (the nearest are 5 km away at Darby River). The tour is not suitable for children under 7, and the Oberon climb is steady uphill, so come with walking shoes and some fitness. It is a new listing with one review so far, a five-star one.

• The Mount Oberon summit, 558 m above Norman Bay
• Squeaky Beach and its quartz sand
• Tidal River, where the tea-coloured river meets the sea
• Kangaroos, wombats and emus on the wildlife walk
• Separate guide and driver, snacks and soft drinks included

How the day runs

1. Early morningFederation Square, Russell Ct

   Meet at the bus and coach pickup zone on Russell Ct. Bring a hat, hiking shoes, sunscreen, a jacket and, if you need it, motion sickness tablets.

2. About 3 hoursSouth-east to the Prom

   The drive runs through Gippsland farmland to the park entrance at Yanakie, then 30 km of park road to Tidal River.

3. MorningBush hike

   A first walk through coastal bushland to stretch your legs after the drive. Big Drift, listed here, is closed for Prom Sanctuary works.

4. MiddayTidal River and Mount Oberon

   Time at Tidal River, then the climb to the Mount Oberon summit for the view over Norman Bay and the offshore islands.

5. AfternoonSqueaky Beach

   Walk the white quartz sand that squeaks underfoot. Paddle if you like, but Parks Victoria advises against swimming here: the rips are persistent and the beach is not patrolled.

6. Late afternoonWildlife walk, then home

   Kangaroos, wombats and emus on the grassland near the park entrance, then about three hours back to Federation Square.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Pack lunch or cash for the general store at Tidal River. The listing covers snacks and soft drinks, not a meal.
• Wear real walking shoes. Parks Victoria grades the Oberon summit walk moderate to hard, about 2 hours return from Telegraph Saddle.
• Bring a warm layer even in summer. The summit and the beach are often windy, and the weather can change quickly.
• See the best walks at Wilsons Prom for what else you could fit in on a second visit.

Read next:

• Day trip from Melbourne
• Best walks
• Squeaky Beach & Tidal River

Frequently asked questions

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