Wilsons Promontory and East Gippsland

Your 6 day walking holiday includes:

• Fully supported walk with no overnight packs to carry
• Cruise to explore Wilsons Prom Marine National Park
• 2 nights at A Promontory View Beach House
• 1 night at Bridges on Argyle, Traralgon
• 2 nights in Orbost Motel, Orbost
• Celebratory Winery Lunch on day 3 at Waratah Hills Winery
• 6 delicious walkers lunches to enjoy whilst walking
• 5 superb dinners served with Australian wine
• 5 x hot / cold breakfasts
• Fresh fruit and trail mix to enjoy while walking
• Professionally guided by local guides – Our guides are locals who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information
• Transfers to and from Melbourne CBD
• Optional tour of Buchan Caves
• National Park Fees

• Medium Grade

TRAIL DETAILS: 10kms. 3 hours walking. Grade: Medium with hard section to Mount Bishop (optional).

TERRAIN: Gentle walking on a steep, narrow path. Early sections are relatively easy-going, on a wide track, which becomes narrower, rockier and more challenging as you make your way to Mt Bishop. Elevation gain of 286m. Medium grade.

ITINERARY: After a hot and cold breakfast, we enjoy a morning transfer to our cruise boat to explore the spectacular protected Marine National Park of Wilsons Promontory. We cruise to the southern tip of Wilsons Promontory discovering small islands along the way including impressive Skull Rock. This area is home to an Australian Fur Seal Colony and it is always a delight to see them frolicking in the sea or lazing on the rock. At different times of the year, we may also encounter bottlenose dolphins and migrating whales. Afterwards, we commence our walk which takes us into the Promontory’s forested interior.  From Tidal River we make our way through one of Australia’s southernmost warm temperate rainforest listening out for the birdlife along the way. From here we ascend through stringybark forest to the summit of Mount Bishop. The views from the top, over the Prom’s coast and offshore islands, are simply breathtaking. Afterwards, we return to our accommodation for a wonderful dinner accompanied by local wines.

TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 2hr transfer from hotel to the start of the walking track. Afternoon: 2hr transfer from the end of the walk to Buchan. After exploring Buchan we’ll continue on to Orbost with a 1hour transfer.

TRAIL DETAILS: 7km /2.5hrs Mitchell River Gorge Track incl. Den of Nargun and Billy Goat Bend Lookout Walk. Optional 3km. 1.5hr Spring Creek Walk or Buchan Cave tour. Medium Grade

TERRAIN: Hiking experience and a good level of fitness required. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. The trail is rugged in parts and has several uphill and downhill sections.

ITINERARY: This track passes through some spectacular scenery with rocky gorges and rainforest gullies. Giant kanooka trees are found in the vicinity if the Den of Nargun, our first stop. Aboriginal legend has it that the ‘Nargun’ was a mysterious rock-bodied creature that drags the unwary into its den. The den is a shallow cave beneath a waterfall on Woolshed Creek, a tributary of the Mitchell River. Further on a large loop in the river is named Billy Goat Bend where a lookout provides views of large, spectacular, semi-circular red cliffs known as The Amphitheatre. After lunch we’ll drive to Buchan where you’ll have the opportunity to choose between going on a Buchan Cave tour or enjoying the Spring Creek Walk. Explore this superb walk that splits into the higher Tea Tree Track and the lower Kanooka Track with both routes meeting at the Spring Creek Falls viewing platform. Set off down the track and witness the changing rock types on your left, where the grey Buchan Caves limestone gives way to the older Snowy River volcanic rock. Please be aware that the track has some steep areas on its way up to the falls. Take the lower Kanooka Track on the way back down. Walk the track that criss-crosses the creek and pass through beautiful ferns and kanooka trees. Keep an eye out for lyrebirds, Gippsland water dragons, kookaburras, king parrots and other wildlife as you go. At approximately 5:30pm we’ll make our way to Orbost Motel, our accommodation for the evening. Tonight we’ll enjoy a lovely dinner served with local wines at a restaurant near our accommodation.

TRANSFER TIMES: Morning: 1hr transfer to Lakes Entrance. Afternoon: 4hr transfer from Lakes Entrance walk to Melbourne.

TRAIL DETAILS: 5km. 2.5hrs walking The Entrance Walk, Lakes Entrance 

TERRAIN: An easy walk on a mix of sealed paths, raised boardwalks, bush tracks, beaches and rock platforms.

ITINERARY: After breakfast and checking out of our accommodation we’ll drive an hour to Lakes Entrance to enjoy The Entrance Walk. This is an amazing, short and easy walk along the shores of Lake Cunningham, to the actual Entrance of the Gippsland Lakes. Perfect for this morning before the long drive back to Melbourne. We’ll cross the Footbridge from the middle of Lakes Entrance, and enjoy the gentle walk to the Entrance where many seals (and sometimes dolphins) love to hang around to catch fish on the incoming and outgoing tides. A very scenic spot. We’ll walk back along the beach arriving at the Surf Lifesaving Lookout tower. Many of the old houses along the Lake are still in excellent condition and are privately owned, so please respect their privacy. After our final walk we’ll head to a celebratory lunch at Wyanga Park Winery, a family owned and operated winery and restaurant located 10km from the township of Lakes Entrance. Here we’ll enjoy heart warming, comfort food and a bit of wine tasting in a relaxed bush setting. Afterwards, we return to Melbourne which marks the end of a wonderful journey.

FINISH TIME: Arrive back at the Grand Chancellor Melbourne at 5.30pm