Wilson Prom
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2008
1
34
60
Trip End
Feb 08, 2009
Tidal river,
Victoria,
Australia
Monday, December 22, 2008
The scenery immediately changed, before we were driving through Melbourne and its suburbs for a good 70km and then it was just barren or fields as far as the eye could see, but as we entered 'The Prom' (as it is commonly referred to as) we were immediately greeted with luxurious but temperate vegetation
Arriving at Wilsons
. As we drove through the prom towards Tidal River (the only settlement/camping in the park) admiring the vegetation we also caught glimpses of the wildlife. The further we went into the prom the more we saw and beyond the white and yellow cocatoes that you can see around most of Australia we also started seeing shying, rarer creatures starting off with Wallabies (look like small kangaroes). We came across a few but as the car approached they dived off into the bush. Then we saw a Wombat, a strange shy creature that you hardly ever come across due to their timid nature. Stopped took a few fotos and continued driving. I took a few videos while driving along and just as a stopped filming we went around a corner and saw two impressive eagles in a a tree just next to the road and as we approached they started to majestically fly off... never seen eagles so close before - actually cant remember the last time I saw some. They were more impressive than the condors in Peru but I think its just because I was a lot closer to the Eagles here than the condors in Peru.. Anyway continued on the road towards Tidal River and just before we came across a signpost and a small road for 'Squeaky beach' and decided to turn off and check it out. Beautiful beach (wait to you see the photos) and on top of that when you walked around it would squeak under your feet (got a video of this as well). Got back tot he car as dusk was well on its way and the car didnt start. Now the car didnt start before in Melbourne for the past few days but we added some distilled water to the battery (due to recommendations from a friend otherwise we were just going to buy a new one) and it worked fine but Greg had forgotten to turn the lights off
Beach at Tidal river (where we stayed)
. Tried push starting it on the flat but that failed miserable so we then started pushing ti up a hill backwards and tried 3 times from there but it still didnt want to start. Fortunately some people arrived and jumpstarted our car. We finally arrived at Tidal River at dark and seeing everything was closed and a sign just said to set up were there were free space and come in the morning to sign up we just made our way to a camping spot. Found a nive spot, parked the car and started clearing the ground to put our tent down. Greg got the tent out emptied the bag and a camping chair came out........ no tent.. Seeing Greg had taken the wrong bag we therefore slept in the car :-p. Before that made and ate a veg salade and I also ate my prawns. Drank a few beers and as a car past it illuminated the surrounding plots of grass and we realised that there was a Wombat only 5m away and a massive Kangaroo (nearly 6 foot) only 10m away and we hadnt noticed a thing. Later we realised that we were staying within the Wombat's territory and we saw him everyday during the night, dusk and probably dawn if we had woken up at that time. Went to bed not too late as we wanted to wake up early to go off on a hikeNext day woke up early.... 11h30.. and by the time we had breakfeast and Greg finished his meditation we ended off only leaving around 14h..
Big tree in the middle of the path
. LOL. Drove up to a parking half way up a mountain (300m) and started off on a 10km approx hike down (and up) to Sealers Cove. It took us 4hrs (including a 1hr stop) to get there, up and down mountains, and didnt see much wildlife but did note the change in vegetation as we started through a sort a Mediterranean forest type and then engulfed into a subtropical rainforest environment with small shrubs and high trees and alot of humidity, and then back into just high tree and a lot of wind to finally cross marshland for about 2km (along a elevated pathwalk). On our way down we crossed a dozen hikers making their way back (they obviously woke up slightly earlier than we did) and when we got on the beach we were actually the only ones insight (there was a tent pitched further along the beach but didnt see anyone). the cove was a wide stretch of white sand bound by marshland and sea with mountains in the background (dont really know if i can call them mountains as the highest one is about 600m high but thats what hey call them here). What was particular about this place is that it had been mostly an overcast walk over to the Cove but once arrived it was sunny and as we watched the cloud movements they headed directly fro the cove from the East but split as they arrived at the mountain right behind and would go either way giving the Cove a much appreciated microclimate of sun. After drinking some cool beers at the beach - beers that I transported in a ice box with 3 kilos of ice we decided to head off and try to get back before dark
Bird friend (dont know name - didnt ask him)
. This was pretty complicated as it took us 4hrs to get there, though the signs said 3hrs, it was already past 19h and dusk starts to come down around 21h15 which gave us 2h15 to get back. Saw a few wallabies and wombats on the way back (seeing dusk was approaching they started coming out) which was good fun. Nevertheless we power hiked back stopping twice for water and to catch our breath and finally got back in 1h45 (we were pretty tired after this exploit and I was just totally drenched in sweat). Got into the car exhausted (20 odd km in one day especially the last 10km was alot for us), and went strait back to the campsite to eat. Got to the outdoor gas BBQ and cooked the Kangaroo steaks with some spring onions, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms whilst a Wombat eagerly and yet shyly eyed us from a few metres away. Got to bed not too late as we were tired and wanted to wake up early for another hike the next day.Woke up early, again around midday.. hehe.. Was the 24th of Dec and we had alot of road to get back to Melbourne (took us 7hrs on the way down due to the wind and the various stops - only 240km away actaully) so we decided to do a small hike along the see towards Obaron Bay. Walked half way and stopped at the point to look around and then continued off to the bay. the Vegetation had largely been burnt around but it was starting to grow back and the only clue of the fire were the white leafless trees along the way
Crossing wallabe
. As we walked towards the bay we were constantly harassed by flies and by the time we got to the beach after teh 6km hike I was just running around in circles trying to loose them, whilst Greg patiently allowed 20/30odd of them to hitchhike on his backpack. The ocean was translucide and as we arrived at the beach we were high up (50m or so) and could see strait down to the bottom of the sea and see beach and every rock or algae there. We at some nuts on the beach still being aggressed by the flies which I had just become accustomed to when a big man-eating fly (well just a fly the size of a moth with a fang 2cm long) started hassling us and you couldnt let this one land one you as apparently it is quite painful. After swatting the thing to death with my sandal, felt good and decided we were going to go have a swim. The water was cold, very cold (Antartica is practically strait infront from here) but nevertheless went in a caught a few good waves bodyboarding (with a bodyboard, just the body). Was pretty cold so got out and the moment I got out another man-eating fly came at me and just wouldnt leave me alone as I ran from side to side, up and down the beach and again had to swat it to death. Got dressed and hiked the 6km back, got in the car and head off to Melbourne.Got to Melbourne around 20h (made it in 4hrs compared to the original 7hrs) and went out to play and game of pool and drink a few beers and was joined by Cam and Rick (Two of Greg's childhood friends) as you do in the evening of the 24th of December (well apparently you do here). Got to midnight at the bar, said merry christmas to everyone and that was it. Got home later went to bed not too late again as we had to leave to go to Greg's parents place 250km north west of Melbourne for Christmas lunch.
