Welcome to a forgotten corner of the ancient forest.
It was a big weekend for The Green Man. It was the 60th birthday party of a friend and the lighthouse at Wilsons Promontory was chosen for the celebration. With a combination of optimism and stupidity that is normally more associated with teenagers I agreed to go.
Wilsons Promontory (known locally simply as "the prom") is the most southerly point on mainland Australia. The prom sticks out into Bass Strait and consequently is, at times, subject to appalling weather. It is a 18km walk from the road into the lighthouse and as you can see from the photo we were blessed with some rare good weather.
The walk starts at Telegraph Saddle car park and descends steadily for about 2kms to sea level. It is interesting that on the way there it did not seem to matter that all this going down would be going up on the way back.
Lunch was had at a campsite called Halfway Hut. This is a cruel misnomer since, not only is it not nearly half way, all the hard stuff is yet to come. So, ignorant of these facts, The Green Man entertained such thoughts as "Half way hey, I am not as out of condition as I thought I was. This is going to be a breeze."
On the map on the below you can see the details. For those of you of foreign persuasion, there is a little inset map show where Wilsons Prom is in Victoria. (If you don't know where Victoria is you really should get out more often.)
From Halfway hut it was a long climb up to a saddle in a mountain range that some malicious creator had placed between me and the finish line. Still it was not a great problem and I made it to the saddle without undue exhaustion. We are now at a decision point, do we stay on the main track or go bush. It was far to practical and sensible to stay on the main track down and so, naturally, we headed off down a side path.
Those of you who are not Australian may not be aware of the propensity for understatement in Australia. Thus when one of group who had been this way before described it as "a bit sloppy" you may not realise that this meant that it was a quagmire and so it was. We arrived at Roaring Meg camp site muddy and ready for a good sit down.
Nature is a wonderful thing, the fit and cheery members of the group were saved from slaughter because none of the rest of us had enough energy left to do it.
It was still two hours to the lighthouse but it is amazing how you keep going when there is no alternative. Still at last our final destination was in sight. It would of been beautiful at any time but was made all the more so by a desparate need for a good sit down.
Day one of the walk was completed with a massive sting in the tail. The lighthouse is situated on an rocky outcrop and there is an incredibly steep 200 foot climb to reach the chair and cup of tea that awaits you on arrival at the lighthouse keepers accomodation which had been converted for bushwalkers.
Evening celebrations saw the consumption of two litres of white wine and a Moroccan Lamb casserole that had contributed 5 kilograms to the weight of my pack on the way in. Just as well they liked it, there was no way I was carrying it back out again. By 9:30pm we had decided that the night was old enough, as indeed we were, to call it bed time.
Next morning I climbed out of bed on legs that were telling me that they were not happy about the amount of use they had had the previous day. Still after a while they loosened up and we commenced the days activities with a climb of the lighthouse itself.
Then it was on with the packs and off. The rest of day two, of course, was day one in reverse, only this time with sore legs. Boy that climb up to the car park at Telegraph saddle was a killer, not to mention the 2.5 hour drive back to Melbourne. How do I manage to always get the job of driver.
Bushwalking is like banging your head against a brick wall. It feels fantastic when you stop!
There are many jewels hidden amongst the leaves in this forgotten part of the ancient forest. Spend some time browsing and you are sure to find some. Click here or continue your search below
or read the most recent entries here.That looks like a beautiful place to walk. Sounds like fun! (except for the mud)
Posted by: Jonathan at October 6, 2003 11:42 PMDo they have food at the Lighthouse Cottages and would you happen to have contact details of the Lighthouse Accomodation. Happy 60th Birthday and I love the photos.
leigh
Posted by: Leigh at May 26, 2004 05:20 PMYou have to take your own food but there are full cooking facilities with pots, plates and cutlery so you only need to take the food itself.
booking details are by phoning Parks Victoria on 1800 350 552.
Visit their website at http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1process_details.cfm?place=109
Posted by: GreenMan at May 27, 2004 07:23 AMHi Mr Greenman & Friends,
I have sent this link to my canadian brother he did the walk with me when we were 15 years old and he carried my pack all the way on the way back. What a CHAMPION, I read your comments to my Dad who used to be a Queen Scout Wayne Dixon, and He said you must be a very experienced walker- Is this true, or could a novise like me do this. I am thinking of doing a walk to the lighthouse for the experience and also for fundraising for an orphanage we support through our church. We are trying to send over 10 people to visit the beautiful kids we sponsor.
Thanks for the humourous web site it was very funny and brought bck alot of memories, Can you tell me how long the walk takes and whether I could do it in the next winter months, its ok if it is cold I will rug up!
Leigh
Posted by: Leigh at June 8, 2004 12:41 PMHi Mr Greenman & Friends,
I have sent this link to my canadian brother he did the walk with me when we were 15 years old and he carried my pack all the way on the way back. What a CHAMPION, I read your comments to my Dad who used to be a Queen Scout Wayne Dixon, and He said you must be a very experienced walker- Is this true, or could a novise like me do this. I am thinking of doing a walk to the lighthouse for the experience and also for fundraising for an orphanage we support through our church. We are trying to send over 10 people to visit the beautiful kids we sponsor.
Thanks for the humourous web site it was very funny and brought bck alot of memories, Can you tell me how long the walk takes and whether I could do it in the next winter months, its ok if it is cold I will rug up!
Leigh
Posted by: leigh dixon at June 8, 2004 12:47 PMYes I am an experienced bushwalker but you don't need to be to walk this. It is 17kms so you have to be able to walk that far but, if you stick to the road and take your time, it is quite achievable. Be sure to take some water and energy food, this is one of the best excuses for eating chocolate known to man.
You will need to take wet weather gear, it invariably rains, and some warm stuff too but it is a great walk. It takes 5 - 6 hours, start at approx 9:00-10:00am and you will get in before dark even at this time of the year.
This is one of Victoria's great walks and a must for anyone of moderate fitness.
Posted by: GreenMan at June 8, 2004 02:50 PM
Stumble It!