Parking
There is no road access to either end. Reach Refuge Cove on foot from the Tidal River or Telegraph Saddle Southern Circuit start; book overnight camping and display the permit on your vehicle before departure.
Overview
About Refuge Cove to Little Waterloo Bay Walking Track
Why go
- Links two coastal camps on a named overnight route
- Optional Kersops Peak detour gives a coastal viewpoint
Heads up
- Grade 4 terrain is steep, rocky and uneven
- No road access; advance booking and a displayed permit are required
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Wilsons Promontory map
Full mapElevation10–143 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Wilsons Promontory alerts
- ClosureSouthern area closures and October deer-control restrictionsDo not enter the listed southern visitor areas during their closures, and plan around the October aerial deer-control operation.Official details
- InfoEntrance traffic management and delaysAllow extra travel time and follow traffic controls at the Wilsons Promontory National Park entrance.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Wilsons Promontory Tour Guide
Your drive to Refuge Cove to Little Waterloo Bay Walking Track, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Wilsons Promontory National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
More stories near here in the app
- Mount Oberon from Telegraph Saddle
- 22 audio storiesacross Wilsons Promontory’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Wedge-tailed Eagle, Koala, Bare-nosed Wombat, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 46 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Refuge Cove to Little Waterloo Bay Walking Track
The coastal linkThis is a 6.4 km (4.
This is a 6.4 km (4.0 mi) point-to-point leg from Refuge Cove Camping Area to Little Waterloo Bay Camping Area, usually a 2 to 2.5 hour one-way walk. It is one section of the Southern Circuit: the route climbs a rocky headland through stringybark forest, drops to North Waterloo Bay, then crosses another granite headland to reach the white-sand beach at Little Waterloo Bay.
The routeExpect a steep climb out of Refuge Cove and rocky, uneven footing on the headlands.
Expect a steep climb out of Refuge Cove and rocky, uneven footing on the headlands. A short detour reaches Kersops Peak before the main track descends to North Waterloo Bay. Follow the beach to its southern end, then take the through-track over the next granite headland to Little Waterloo Bay. The peak spur is optional and is not part of the 6.4 km through-route; it offers a break and a view along the coast.
Plan itThis is a remote overnight track section, not a drive-up day walk.
This is a remote overnight track section, not a drive-up day walk. Hikers need an advance booking and must display a permit at their vehicle before setting out; the Southern Circuit starts from Tidal River or Telegraph Saddle, and Refuge Cove is reached on foot. Both camp areas have toilets and untreated water; treat or boil the water before drinking. Dogs are not allowed in the park.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Wilsons Promontory
18 sightingsWedge-tailed EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
29 sightingsKoalaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
774 sightingsBare-nosed WombatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
291 sightingsEastern Grey KangarooMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
512 sightingsSwamp WallabyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
20 sightingsIndochinese Hog DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Wilsons Promontory. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
