Southern Prom Extended Circuit

The Southern Prom Extended Circuit is a roughly 36.5-mile (59-kilometre) loop from Telegraph Saddle Car Park. It links Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove and Little Waterloo Bay with Wilsons Promontory Lightstation. From the Lightstation, walk back through Roaring Meg, take the South Point out-and-back, then continue inland past Halfway Hut to the saddle. Plan on five days and about 20 hours of walking, with time to camp and stop at the bays. Treat it as a backcountry trip with several nights away; you will carry food and arrange camps in advance. Choose it if you want the southern peninsula in one trip. The shorter classic loop leaves out the Lightstation and South Point.

From the car park, the route drops through forest toward Sealers Cove, then crosses Blackfish Creek and climbs a headland before dropping to Refuge Cove. Tide matters here: the water can get deep across the creek. Beyond Refuge, forested slopes lead to the long beach at Little Waterloo Bay. A short optional climb to Kersops Peak opens a view back across Waterloo Bay toward the Lightstation. If you stop for a photo, keep both the curve of the bay and the lighthouse peninsula in the frame; it shows how far south you are. From Little Waterloo's far end, the route climbs steadily, skirts high coastal cliffs, then stays in forest for a long stretch before the Lightstation.

The lighthouse sits on a rocky peninsula above Bass Strait. It was built in 1859 from granite quarried nearby. The cottages are self-catering, so bring all your meals. After the Lightstation, the route turns inland through Roaring Meg. Its campsite sits by a fern-lined creek. The South Point track branches from here; budget about 7.4 kilometres and two hours for the return to the mainland's southernmost point. Then head north through open heath and past Halfway Hut to close the loop at Telegraph Saddle. It's a bigger ending than stopping at the Lightstation, but the South Point branch adds miles to an already long final stage.

The park grades its Southern Hikes Level 4. Expect a demanding multi-day route with steep climbs, uneven ground, creek crossings and weather-dependent walking times. Book the overnight areas and carry/display the required permit. Camps and Lightstation accommodation are limited to two consecutive nights at each place; groups are capped at 12. Some camps have untreated creek or tank water, and supply isn't guaranteed, so plan to treat water and carry what you need. The Lightstation is self-catering. Mobile reception is unreliable, and fires are not permitted anywhere in the park. Telegraph Saddle is the start: on summer holiday periods, weekends from Melbourne Cup to Easter, and the Anzac long weekend, a free shuttle runs up from Tidal River and the overnight hikers' car park while the Saddle car park is closed to private vehicles. Pets aren't allowed.