How To Visit Squeaky Beach At Wilsons Prom

The mesmerising white sand and bright turquoise waters of Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom make this easily one of Victoria’s most beautiful beaches. The dreamy quartz sand, which does indeed squeak underfoot, easily measures up to some of Australia’s most outstanding beaches. But, unlike some of Australia’s most popular beaches, Squeaky Beach and its Wilson Prom neighbours – Whisky Bay, Picnic Bay and Norman Beach sit in what is, currently, a lesser-known part of Australia, and even Victoria. Certainly, Wilsons Promontory National Park is yet to receive the notoriety of other big players on the Australian tourist scene. That makes the beaches and coastal walks here some of the most picturesque and unspoiled.

To experience Squeaky Beach in Victoria, you can take a short walk from the beach car park, or opt for a longer, and highly recommended, coastal walk. Additionally, following this coastal trail joins Squeaky Beach with Whisky Bay, Picnic Bay and Norman Beach in Wilsons Prom. That’s three more drool-worthy beaches to see in Wilsons Prom, so you get the picture of how sublime this coastal walk really is.

In this guide, we’ll look at where Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom is as well as your options for visiting. We’ll discuss how to get to Squeaky Beach, Norman Beach and Whisky Bay in Wilsons Prom and where to stay. We’ll finish up by answering some FAQs, suggesting what to pack and providing some bonus tips.

For more information about hiking in Wilsons Prom, check out our guides on the Southern Circuit and Big Drift. Otherwise for an overview of how to spend the weekend at Wilsons Prom, check out our Wilsons Prom: The Complete Guide To Hiking and Camping guide.

Squeaky Beach is located on the western coast of Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria. Wilsons Prom, as the National Park is affectionately known, lies to the eastern heel of Victoria, Australia on a small peninsula. Wilsons Prom is part of the region of Gippsland, which covers the entire southeast area of Victoria.

Squeaky Beach and Wilsons Prom as a whole is a little slice of paradise at the bottom of Australia. Indeed, visiting the neighbouring beaches of Norman Beach, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay should also be high on your priority list when visiting Squeaky Beach.

How to Get to Squeaky Beach Wilsons Prom

Squeaky Beach is accessed via a short walk from the Squeaky Beach Car Park or via a tranquil coastal walk that also visits Wilsons Prom’s Norman Beach, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay.

Wilsons Prom Squeaky Beach Walk

The walk begins from Tidal River, crossing the footbridge and heading up over the headland. On the way up to the headland, you can stop off at the Tidal Overlook Viewpoint. We actually visited this as part of doing the Tidal Overlook Track. From the peak of the headland, you’ll enjoy sweeping views down over Squeaky Beach and back over Wilsons Prom’s Norman Beach.

Squeaky Beach Wilsons Prom, Victoria

From here, the trail down to Squeaky Beach on Wilsons Prom in Victoria begins. You’ll pass by some tree cover before entering the beach. At the Squeaky Beach entrance, you’ll be met by the huge boulders Squeaky Beach is also known for. Explore the granite boulders and walk across Squeaky Beach, enjoying this musical Wilsons Prom beach.

Whisky Bay Wilsons Prom

If you want to extend the walk, you can continue from the other side of Squeaky Beach towards Whisky Bay in Wilsons Prom. From the top end of Squeaky Beach, join the coastal walking track up across Leonard Point headland. This coastal path then descends down to Picnic Bay and then onto Whisky Bay, two more exceptional beaches in Wilsons Prom, Victoria.

Simply retrace your steps to return. Alternatively, you can use the roads to make a quicker return, and a loop walk back to Tidal River.

Norman Beach Wilsons Prom

Once back at Tidal River in Wilsons Prom, head to the calm waters at Norman Beach to enjoy a cool off in the sea or just relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of this slice of paradise in Victoria, Australia.

Squeaky Beach Car Park Access

Because we were short on time due to hiking other parts of Wilsons Prom, we took the short scrub walk from Squeaky Beach Car Park down to the beach. Despite not seeing the full coastal walk, the walk from the car park down to Squeaky Beach is still beautiful. It’s certainly easy to see why Squeaky Beach is one of the most iconic spots within Wilsons Prom.

As you enter the beach, you’ll see a spot of huge orange boulders ahead of you. The granite boulders reminded us of the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. The granite boulders are very much worth a little exploration before you head off to enjoy your time on Squeaky Beach.

Squeaky Beach Parking

Parking for Wilson Prom’s Squeaky Beach is located just north of Tidal River. If you find the Squeaky Beach Car Park to be full, you can also park at Lilly Pilly Gully Car Park and walk down the access road from there. It shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to walk.

Squeaky Beach Accommodation

If you want to stay in Wilsons Promontory National Park, your accommodation options are mostly centred around the Tidal River township. Luckily, Tidal River is located right next door to Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom. 

Squeaky Beach Camping

For camping at Squeaky Beach and also closeby to Norman Beach and Whisky Bay, you can stay at the Tidal River Campground in Wilsons Prom. This Parks Victoria-run campground is the most popular and well-equipped campsite in Wilsons Prom. Tidal River Campground is also right on the seafront of Norman Beach, which is easily the perfect place to enjoy a sunset in Wilsons Prom.

Another campsite option is Stockyards Campground. This is actually where we stayed. Stockyards Campground is located at the entrance of Wilsons Promontory National Park. As you enter, you have to do a kind of u-turn once you pass the gatehouse to access it. All very straightforward though. Stockyards Campground is also the trailhead to The Big Drift Walk.

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 visit to Squeaky Beach.

You can discover more about camping at Wilsons Prom here.

How to Get to Wilsons Prom

Wilsons Promontory National Park is a 2.5 hour drive outside of 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.

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 Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay and Norman Beach in Wilsons Prom is by car. No scary 4WD roads either, a 2WD is more than sufficient. If we ever need to hire a car, we typically use RentalCars.com

If you’re travelling to Melbourne (or Sydney for that matter) from overseas, we recommend using Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flights. When flying abroad, we always get the ball rolling with a Skyscanner search.

Also, if you’re based in the UK or US, you should sign up to Jack’s Flight Club for the best flight deal alert service. By simply subscribing to the free weekly newsletter or buying premium membership, you could save lots of money with international travel.

On arrival at the national park, be sure to grab a map from the gatehouse as you drive through.

Squeaky Beach Weather

Dan and I visited Squeaky Beach, Norman Beach and Whisky Bay in Wilsons Prom during the winter. Incredibly, we found the weather to be very mild and, at times, rather warm. The sea temperature, on the other hand, was quite chilly. So, if it’s beautiful coastal walks only that you’re after, you could easily visit Squeaky Beach and Wilsons Prom any time of year. If you’re looking to take a quick dip in the sea, you’ll be better off visiting closer to summer. But, of course, summer brings more visitors, so be prepared for busier beaches and more footfall on the beautiful coastal trails here.

Despite the wall-to-wall sunshine we experienced, we were told this is not so typical of Wilsons Prom. So, you may want to make sure you check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.

You can check the weather forecast for Squeaky Beach and Wilsons Prom here.

FAQs

Below, we’ll answer a few commonly asked questions in regard to visiting Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom, Victoria.

Why Is Squeaky Beach Squeaky?

The rounded grains of quartz on the Squeaky Beach cause the sand to produce a squeaky sort of sound when they are compressed and rubbed together. Heat aids in the squeaky sound, but generally, you’ll hear the noise of Squeaky Beach whatever time of year you visit Wilsons Prom in Victoria.

How Long Is the Squeaky Beach Walk?

The Squeaky Beach Walk is around 4km. Starting from Tidal River or Norman Beach, it extends up over Pillar Point, passing through Squeaky Beach. The walk will be a few kilometres longer if you choose to add on the coastal trail to Wilsons Prom’s Whisky Bay. Which, by the way, you absolutely should.

Can You Swim at Squeaky Beach?

Despite the jaw-dropping beauty of the white sands of Squeaky Beach and the turquoise waters surrounding Wilsons Prom, it is not safe to swim at Squeaky Beach. The rips and waves can be sudden and dramatic. Add to this the lack of lifeguard presence and swimming equals a recipe for disaster. Best stick to a quick paddle and enjoy dragging your feet through the Squeaky Sand.

Don’t worry though, for swimming at Wilsons Prom, you can just return to Norman Beach. At Norman Beach, you’ll find some of Wilsons Prom’s most shallow waters with much more gently lapping waves.

What to Bring to Squeaky Beach

These are our five gear essentials for visiting Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom, Victoria! But, they’d work well for any hike in Wilsons Prom. For a more extensive hiking gear list, check out our 66 Travel Accessories That You Must Travel With. Alternatively, for a general summary of everything you’d need for a hiking trip in Australia, visit our Ultimate Packing Checklist.

• Merrell Moab Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots: these hiking boots are super comfortable and lightweight.
• The North Face Venture Jacket: a fantastic windproof/waterproof jacket.
• Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great backpack for hiking, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
• The North Face TKA Glacier Fleece Jacket: an excellent warmth:weight ratio fleece jacket that’ll help keep you warm.
• Columbia Convertible Trousers: a value for money pair of water-resistant convertible trousers.

You should also pack water, snacks and swimmers if you’re considering a dip at Norman Beach at the end of the Wilsons Prom coastal walk.

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