Wilsons Promontory Southern Circuit, May 1999

We're going way retro on this post, way before digital, so I've had to break out the scanner. I'm a little hazy on the exact date, probably a bit of dementia kicking in.

Almost at the lighthouse, South East Point.

What I do remember is that this was our first walk on the Southern Circuit after the new track from the lighthouse to Waterloo Bay had opened, it was also before the prom had been ravaged by fire and floods in recent years.

Wobblies grazing on the lawns of the Lighthouse.

There was three of us on this walk, Sam and I, and our friend Dave. After parking at Telegraph Saddle we wondered down the fire track to spend the night at the lighthouse. From memory the day was overcast but dry, it was our first time staying in the lighthouse cottages and it was a welcome change to have a hot shower and a soft bed at the end of the 19 kilometre walk.

Looking back to the Lighthouse from the new track over to Waterloo Bay.

Next day we were up early on our way to Refuge Cove, first we had to complete the new section of track over to Waterloo Bay. The new track was a vast improvement on the retrace back up the fire track that we had come in on. We crossed a couple of beautiful streams, followed a bit of a hanging valley, and then topped out looking down on Waterloo Bay. The descent was steep but the track workers had made it as painless as possible with plenty of reinforced rock steps. We also crossed a beautiful stream towards the bottom

Sam and Dave taking in the view over Bass Strait.

Lunch was taken at Little Waterloo Bay, before we headed over to Refuge, the track between Little Waterloo and North Waterloo was a bit of a bitch in those days as it wound in and out of the Tee Trees. It was rough and just a little bit to narrow to get through without your pack snagging all the time, just before North Waterloo the track traversed along the top of some rocks before finally hitting the beach. Nowadays the track sidles the slopes a lot higher up.

Looking back towards Little Waterloo Bay.

Waterloo Bay.

Sam and me on Kersop Peak, the Lighthouse in the distance.

From North Waterloo we headed over Kersop Peak and then down to Refuge Cove. In those days we had to traverse the length of both beaches at North Waterloo before climbing up a steep eroded gully at the northern end of the beaches, the track then took us directly over the top of Kersop Peak, nowadays the track leaves North Waterloo at the rocks halfway along the beach and makes a well graded climb to the saddle below Kersop Peak, where you can leave your packs for the Currawongs whilst you summit pack free. From the top we had a easy ramble down to the sheltered camping area at Refuge Bay.

We didn't have digital but we had timers. On North Refuge Beach.

Looking back at Refuge Cove

Our last day was clear again, we headed around Horn Point where we got our first look at Sealers Cove and Five Mile Beach. After taking in the view we headed down to Sealers for an early lunch. After lunch it was the final leg back to the car at Telegraph Saddle. This has to be one of the prettiest walks in Australia, with kilometres of duck boards through a Jurassic swamp complete with massive ferns and crystal clear streams. Arriving at Windy Saddle we downed packs and had our last break, in those days the views east and west from Windy Saddle were extensive, these days there are no views due to the re growth. An hour later we were in the car and on the way home, satisfied after another good walk.

Five Mile Beach from Horn Point.

The Dirt
The walk as we did was around 56 kilometres, the Lighthouse is a beautiful place to spend a night or two. The new track is now well and truly bedded in and the prom is gradually recovering from all the natural disasters that have befallen it. Parks Vic have a mud map and plenty of info online, as well almost anyone who's written a guide book for walking in Victoria will have included all or some of this walk.

Sealers Cove coming into view from Horn Point.