tidal river
What a wild ride it was traveling to Victoria! A 3am departure, 16 hours of driving, phone calls to the Victorian Health hotline, 2 COVID tests, isolation in the caravan and 2 negative test results later, we were finally ready to start our Victorian holiday dubbed 'Flocks, Docks and Gold Rush Frocks!
To set the scene, Victoria had just come out of lockdown number five a few weeks earlier but the Sydney outbreak was just beginning. We already had plans to wake super early to do the mammoth 10hr drive down the east coast of NSW and then into Victoria. To meet the conditions of our Victorian permit, we had to drive by a COVID clinic for safe measures as restrictions were changing as we were hitting the border. After an hour of driving along a narrow, wet and bendy road, we arrived into the Tidal River Campground at night (and boy was it dark) with splitting headaches after an emotional and stressful time of navigating our way through permits, COVID testing clinics, health websites and hotlines. We chose a random powered site, quickly set our Flamingo up and then crashed out for the night.
We woke to an early message with our negative test results, stepped outside the van and were bewildered to see our surroundings. We had absolutely no idea that we were camping at the base of Mount Oberon! 558 metres high with the most stunning granite. It was then when we took a breath out, looked at each other and laughed! The size of this mountain really put some perspective back into our trip.
We woke to an early message with our negative test results, stepped outside the van and were bewildered to see our surroundings. We had absolutely no idea that we were camping at the base of Mount Oberon! 558 metres high with the most stunning granite. It was then when we took a breath out, looked at each other and laughed! The size of this mountain really put some perspective back into our trip.
Wilson’s Promontory, known to First Nations People as Yiruk, is over 500 square kilometers in size and is surrounded by mesmerizing granite mountain ranges. Tidal River Campground is operated by Wilsons Promontory National Park. The national park fees are included in your booking but if you arrive after hours, you just need to pick your own site and then let the office know what site number you chose the next morning.
We camped on Site 104 which was a powered site at the end of 3rd Avenue. It was close to the amenities and a little bit of a walk to the beach. The amenities were clean and the showers were hot! Our site was also close to the on-site general store and cafe. Yep, you heard us right! This general store in the middle of nowhere has absolutely everything you could possibly need and want, including grocery items, ice, gas and camping gear. It is a little pricey but super convenient. Attached to the general store is also a cafe which sells takeaway food such as fish and chips, hamburgers, pies and coffees, as well as all day breakfasts, meat and bread. For those wanting an alcoholic bevvie, no alcohol is sold on site so be sure to bring your own. This was our first taste of needing to wear a mask in indoor settings as part of the Victorian COVID restrictions! And to now think, we were so naive not knowing that this will be something that we would have to do for months to come. There is also 4G and phone coverage at the campground. We had both Optus and Telstra phones.
We camped on Site 104 which was a powered site at the end of 3rd Avenue. It was close to the amenities and a little bit of a walk to the beach. The amenities were clean and the showers were hot! Our site was also close to the on-site general store and cafe. Yep, you heard us right! This general store in the middle of nowhere has absolutely everything you could possibly need and want, including grocery items, ice, gas and camping gear. It is a little pricey but super convenient. Attached to the general store is also a cafe which sells takeaway food such as fish and chips, hamburgers, pies and coffees, as well as all day breakfasts, meat and bread. For those wanting an alcoholic bevvie, no alcohol is sold on site so be sure to bring your own. This was our first taste of needing to wear a mask in indoor settings as part of the Victorian COVID restrictions! And to now think, we were so naive not knowing that this will be something that we would have to do for months to come. There is also 4G and phone coverage at the campground. We had both Optus and Telstra phones.
There are plentiful bush walks to choose from which have different difficulties and time durations. The Pillar Point Lookout was a great one to do with our warriors in tow. The Parks Victoria lady had a little chuckle when we asked for instructions to the most southern tip of the mainland. It’s a 9hr walk one way! So Tidal River Campground is as close as we will ever get!
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Boon Wurrung and Gunai Kurnai people. We respect their deep connection to land, sky and water. Sleeping at the base of Mt Oberon, waking up with the kookaburras, being serenaded by the rosellas each morning and visited by the wombats at night, we felt a spiritual connection to Country during our stay.
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Boon Wurrung and Gunai Kurnai people. We respect their deep connection to land, sky and water. Sleeping at the base of Mt Oberon, waking up with the kookaburras, being serenaded by the rosellas each morning and visited by the wombats at night, we felt a spiritual connection to Country during our stay.
This place took us by total surprise! We underestimated just how vast this place was and the amount of bush walks that you could do. Two nights just wasn't enough! We will be definitely staying here again! But onwards we went, heading to Phillip Island.
Peace + love,
Peace + love,