Mount Bishop

Mount Bishop is a 319-metre granite peak and lookout in Wilsons Promontory National Park. The appeal is a proper summit walk through forest, then a ring of granite boulders at the top, with Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay and offshore islands spread across the west coast below. If you want a big view that takes some walking to earn, put it on your list. This is not a quick pullout: the route from Lilly Pilly Gully Carpark is 7.4 km return and takes about two and a half hours, before a long stop at the top. That is time on the trail, so allow longer for a Tidal River approach or a pause among the boulders.

Start at Lilly Pilly Gully Carpark and follow the track past the toilet block. The Mount Bishop route first uses the Lilly Pilly Gully Circuit, then branches onto the summit track. From Tidal River, you can walk in on Lilly Pilly Link Walk instead; that adds distance, so the 7.4 km figure applies to the carpark start. One walking guide places the summit-track turn about 1.4 km from the carpark.

The first part is easier going through heath, eucalypts and warm temperate rainforest. The path gets narrower and steeper as you climb, with uneven sections underfoot; the park grades it as a Grade 3 walk and recommends sturdy footwear. It is a steady uphill outing rather than a short stroll, so leave time to climb at your own pace and enjoy the changing forest on the way.

At the top, large granite boulders surround the peak. Look west toward Squeaky Beach and Whisky Bay, then keep scanning along the coast for offshore islands. The walk also gives views back toward Tidal River, Norman Bay and Mount Oberon. Parks Victoria suggests a later-day visit for sunset over the sea and islands, though the summit is exposed to wind. Bring a layer if you plan to linger.

For a summit photo, keep one of the granite boulders in the foreground and let the coast and islands run behind it; that makes the scale of the view easier to read. If you want Mount Bishop in the frame instead, the peak can be seen reflected in Tidal River from below.

The carpark has toilets, so use them before leaving the track. No drinking water or food service was confirmed for the route, so bring what you need for the walk. The walk is measured from Lilly Pilly Gully Carpark; starting from Tidal River via the link path makes it longer. Check current park conditions before setting out, since access information can change.