And whilst I wasn’t there for very long, my first experience in this outdoor wonderland was hiking the Tongue Point trail.
Located a short 10-15 minute drive from the entrance to the park, the Tongue Point trail starts along the Darby River section accessible either by the river car park or the saddle car park.
For the purpose of this blog, I started the trail from the Darby Saddle car park which is located on the opposite side of the main road to the trailhead.
The initial stages of this near-on 12km, Grade 3-4 hike are like so many other coastal walks in the sense that you are surrounded by gums.
In the case of Tongue Point, you are well covered which could be seen as a hindrance as there’s no clear view of the rest of this stunning area.
However, that’s about the only downside to this day adventure as there is only upside from here (apart from that bastard of a hill when you’re returning to the start!)
The first highlight of Tongue Point at Wilsons Prom is Sparkes Lookout which is also the first opportunity to get incredible views of the surrounding area.
Off the main trail, it’s a 250m gentle incline to the top with a couple of rocky platforms for you to use for your viewing pleasure. It is a special place to rest for a while and take in the views around you.
Once you’re done, simply go back along the trail you came and take a right at the junction to continue along to Tongue Point.
The trail then begins to gradually ascend and its crescendo is at a spot with the apt title – Lookout Rocks. Arguably not nearly as good as Sparkes Lookout, but it certainly adds to the overall enjoyment of the trail.
From here, you begin to make your way down and further onto the Tongue Point lookout section.
At this point, the coastal gums won’t cover you as much as they have previously on the trail and therefore the views to the ocean and beaches on either side are far more visible.
It’s also worth noting that you’re heading down a fairly steep section here, and as it’s a return hike, you’re going to have to come back up.
I’m not too bad with hills but this one actually felt like it went on forever when coming back up later on in the day.
Eventually, the path will lead you to a junction of sorts where taking a left for 1.5kms will lead you to Tongue Point, and a right for 2.6kms will lead you to Darby River.
You’ll remember that at the start of this blog, I mentioned you could access Tongue Point via two locations – this is where the Darby River section meets the trail.
Take a left and follow the nice open, sandy path for 1.5kms and it will take you to Tongue Point.
There’s an incredible collection of boulders across the other side of the point which are inaccessible but still contribute to the overall enjoyment.
This is certainly a nice spot to stay awhile and take in all there is to take in; particularly with decent weather.
Overall, the Tongue Point Trail is but a glimpse of what you’d expect venturing into Wilsons Prom but certainly worth the effort all the same. Best of all – it’s not one of the most popular hikes in the park so you won’t encounter too many people when you’re there.
I’d recommend it for those with a decent base level of fitness and those who have some hiking/bushwalking experience.
I think for the most part I would rate this as a Grade 3 hike but can’t help but feel those steep sections tip it into Grade 4 territory.
As always, if you wish to follow my recording of the Tongue Point trail, you can do so here via WikiLoc.
The Stats – Tongue Point Trail, Wilsons Promontory
Length (km): 11.76km (according to WikiLoc)
Time: 2hr 29mins
Moving Time: 2hr 5mins
Difficulty: Moderate (Grade 3/4)
Maximum Elevation: 282m
Accum. elev. uphill: 530m
Accum. elev. downhill: 530m
Return/Circuit/One Way: Return
