To experience the best views across the whole of Wilsons Prom, then you really should take on the short but steep summit walk to Mount Oberon (Mt Oberon). This lofty lookout provides some truly jaw-dropping vistas across Wilsons Promontory National Park. Certainly, the 360-degree views from Mount Oberon summit will leave you nothing short of awestruck.
In this guide, we’ll look at where Mount Oberon is, as well as how to get there and where to start the Mount Oberon summit walk from. We’ll give a brief trail description before answering some FAQs and suggest some other great hikes to do in Wilsons Prom as well as where to stay. Lastly, we’ll finish with a suggested gear list and some bonus tips.
Read our Wilsons Prom: The Complete Guide To Hiking and Camping Guide
Table of Contents
Where Is Mount Oberon in Australia?
Mount Oberon is a mountainous peak within the beautiful Wilsons Promontory National Park (AKA Wilsons Prom). The summit of Mount Oberon stands at 558m high. It’s covered by the huge boulders of a granite dome, which are great for a little exploration to find that perfect vantage point.
You’ll find Wilsons Prom is southeast of Melbourne in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Prom occupies the southernmost part of mainland Australia, on a small peninsula that juts out into the Bass Straight. The national park falls within the Gippsland region of Victoria and is one of the most pristine and unspoiled areas of Australia, with a wealth of beautiful beaches and excellent coastal tracks as well as wildlife galore. The summit walk to Mount Oberon provides the most wonderful views across the entire park.
How to Get to Mount Oberon in Wilsons Prom
Wilsons Promontory National Park is a 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne. The distance is 200km. Although not impossible to visit as a day trip, the journey length plus the wealth of things to do at Wilsons Prom means you’ll likely want at least an overnight stay.
To drive there, take the M1 Monash Freeway to join the M420/A440 South Gippsland Freeway towards Meeniyan. Then, take the C444 Meeniyan–Promontory Road to enter Wilsons Prom. Entry is free. From the entrance, it’s around another 35km down to Mt Oberon.
From Sydney, you’ll be looking at a drive time of around 11 hours with a whopping distance of 995km. Dan and I travelled down to Wilsons Prom as part of a wider road trip. We stopped off at Kiama, Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay and Eden to name just a few notable places en route.
Whether coming from Sydney and NSW or Melbourne and wider Victoria, the best way for accessing Wilsons Prom is by car. No scary 4WD roads either, a 2WD is more than sufficient.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
On arrival at the national park, be sure to grab a map from the gatehouse as you drive through.
Where Does the Mount Oberon Summit Walk Begin?
The summit walk to Mount Oberon begins from the Telegraph Saddle Car Park. This car park is the classic starting point for Wilsons Prom’s spectacular Southern Circuit hike too, so it can fill quite quickly. If you’ve stayed the night at Tidal River, you’ll find Telegraph Saddle Car Park is just a 4km drive away. During peak season, there is a free bus between the two places.
Dan and I camped at Stockyards Campground and so had a slightly longer 31km drive (about 30 minutes) to get to Telegraph Saddle Car Park.
Mount Oberon Summit Walk Preview
- Type: Out & Back
- Distance: 7km
- Time: 2 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 340m
- Difficulty: Grade 3
- Trailhead: Telegraph Saddle Car Park
- Map: Wikiloc
Mount Oberon Summit Walk Wilsons Prom
The Mount Oberon walking track begins from Telegraph Saddle Car Park and quickly ascends along a gravel road, pretty much all the way to the summit. The road zig-zags its way up the mountainside, where views become more extensive the higher you climb. It’s a challenging walk in terms of effort, but simple in terms of anything technical. You’ll find well-placed benches to sit and rest at if you need. Or simply, to just enjoy the views from.
The final section of the summit walk to Mount Oberon eventually leaves the road and some steep steps are climbed to reach the summit.
Views From Mount Oberon Summit
Once you’ve cleared the steps, the boulder summit of Mount Oberon appears. As does the incredible views Mt Oberon offers over the rest of Wilsons Prom. Surely these are some of the best views in Victoria! The 360-degree views from the Mount Oberon summit look down over Tidal River and the surrounding bushland. The coast looks utterly sublime, with the long stretch of golden sand at Norman Beach taking centre stage. Its turquoise waters sparkle brightly in the sun. Beyond, you’ll spot Squeaky Beach, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay.
Find your spot to sit and admire these outstanding lookouts in one of the most beautiful places in Australia. Also, have a look for Big Drift whilst you’re up there, you’ll have a better perspective of just how unusual this giant inland dune is.
To return, retrace your steps back to Telegraph Saddle Car Park, taking your time on the stepped descent from Mount Oberon summit and back onto the road.
Mt Oberon Camping
Most visitors to Wilsons Prom will choose to stay at the Tidal River Campground. This Parks Victoria-run campground is the most popular and well-equipped campsite in the national park. Tidal River Campground is also right on the seafront of Norman Beach, which is a wonderful place to enjoy a sunset in Wilsons Prom. Tidal River is also just a short 4km away from Telegraph Saddle Car Park and the summit walk to Mount Oberon.
Dan and I actually stayed at Stockyards Campground as we’d visited the Big Drift for sunset the night before. Stockyards Campground is located at the entrance of Wilsons Promontory National Park. Staying here was wonderful and quiet, feeling fully immersed in nature but with all the luxuries of an amenities block.
If camping isn’t your thing, you could consider booking one of the Tidal River lodges. There’s an array of accommodation options so I’m sure you’ll find something to suit your trip to Wilsons Prom.
You can discover more about camping at Wilsons Prom here.
FAQs
Below, we’ll answer a few of the most frequently asked questions in regards to the Mount Oberon summit walk in Wilsons Prom.
How Long Is the Mt Oberon Walk?
The Mt Oberon summit walk takes about 2 hours with an elevation gain of around 340 metres.
Is the Mt Oberon Walk Hard?
There is very little technical difficulty on the Mount Oberon summit walk. Only as you ascend the final steps and perhaps scramble atop the boulders. The main stretch of the walk follows a gravel road which is easy to walk on. The steep ascent requires some basic fitness and is what will make the walk feel challenging at times.
How High Is Mount Oberon?
The height of Mt Oberon is 558 metres above sea level.
Can You Drive Around Wilsons Prom?
Yes, within reason. Although, you cannot drive to every attraction. In fact, you can only drive as far as Tidal River, which is the main hub of Wilsons Prom. Everything further south is accessed on foot. But, the beauty of Wilsons Prom is that many of the best beaches and coastal walks can only be accessed this way. The tranquillity that comes with fewer roads and car parks is what makes this national park so special.
Can You Drive Up Mount Oberon?
No. Although the majority of the walk to Mount Oberon summit follows a gravel road, you must leave your car at the Telegraph Saddle Car Park and walk.
Mount Bishop vs. Mount Oberon
The two main lookout peaks on Wilsons Prom are Mount Oberon and Mount Bishop. Dan and I only climbed Mt Oberon. But, we hear Mount Bishop offers some pretty extraordinary views too. Mount Bishop sits to the north of Tidal River, from where you will see the granite dome top of Mt Oberon if you look south.
At 319m high, Mount Bishop is slightly shorter than its neighbour, Mt Oberon. And, by all accounts, the walk is slightly more challenging. If you’ve time, why not walk both? But, if you can only walk one, Dan and I can highly recommend the Mount Oberon summit walk.
Other Things to Do in Wilsons Promontory
The Mount Oberon summit walk only touches on some of the amazing walks and attractions in Wilsons Prom. Below, we’ll detail some of the highlights we experienced during our weekend stay at ‘The Prom’.
- The Big Drift: explore the vast inland sand dune to the north of Wilsons Prom. Especially good at sunset.
- Southern Circuit: an outstanding 34km hike Dan and I decided to complete in a day.
- Squeaky Beach: an iconic beach in Wilsons Prom, where the sand really does squeak underfoot.
- Pillar Point Lookout: a wonderful headland lookout with fantastic views over Norman Beach, another fantastic beach that is safe for swimming.
- Little Oberon Bay: a quiet and picturesque coastal trail leads from Tidal River to Little Oberon Bay. If you’re lucky, you might spot a few wallabies enjoying this beach too.
Mt Oberon Walk Essentials
These are our five gear essentials for the Mount Oberon summit walk in Wilsons Prom, Victoria! But, they’d work well for any walk at Wilsons Prom. You should also pack water, snacks and warm clothing if you’re considering a sunrise or sunset walk to Mount Oberon summit in Wilsons Prom.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Bonus Tips
- Mount Oberon weather: the weather down on The Prom can be a little hit-and-miss, especially in winter. Check the weather before you go.
- Best time to visit: a Mount Oberon sunrise and sunset are particularly spectacular. Just remember some warm layers and a torch for walking in the dark.
- No dog zone: you’ll have to leave your furry friend at home for visiting Mt Oberon as no dogs are allowed within Wilsons Prom.
- Fuel: the last place to refuel before entering Wilsons Prom is Yanakie. So be sure to fill the tank there if you need to.
- Wildlife and driving: Wilsons Promontory National Park is a hive of wildlife activity. This is especially true at dawn and dusk and so please take care as you’re driving.
We hope you enjoyed this post on the Mount Oberon summit walk at Wilsons Prom, Victoria. Feel free to bookmark or share for future use.
We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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