Wilsons Prom Flood Update #3

Access open to Tidal River over Easter period –

Parks Victoria and VicRoads have announced that temporary access is available to Tidal River for the Easter period from Thursday 21 April until 18:00pm on Tuesday 26 April.

The area south of Darby River Bridge will be temporarily opened for day visitation into Tidal River and for those campers who had a pre-existing five-night camping booking reconfirmed by Parks Victoria.

Single lane access across Darby River bridge, along with limited parking spaces at Tidal River may cause some travel congestion. Travel by private vehicle into Tidal River is restricted to for those who have a booking to camp there with a shuttle bus service offered for day visitors.

VicRoads maintenance team has worked tirelessly to complete the necessary works to the Darby River Bridge and the road south of the bridge, to enable temporary access to the area for Easter.

Drivers are urged to take the utmost care at all times while driving in the area and obey any temporary restrictions that are in place including temporary traffic lights, reduced speed limits, narrowed road width and barriers in place around road damage. Travel times into Tidal River will be longer than usual due to these traffic management controls.

Limited camping for Easter at Wilsons Promontory

Limited camping will be provided at Tidal River as well as within the northern section of Wilsons Promontory National Park for the Easter weekend.

Due to the extensive flood damage incurred, only 220 sites will be available for camping at Tidal River and the priority for these sites will be given to existing booking holders. These visitors will be contacted directly by Parks Victoria.

Please refer to the Camping in Tidal River at Easter guide for more information.

In readiness for Easter, the Parks Victoria team has been working tirelessly to clean up Tidal River, which incurred a great deal of damage during the floods last month, however access has been limited due to major roadworks occurring at Darby River.

A limited visitor experience will be available in Tidal River at Easter with access only to Norman Bay beach and the South Norman beach track for walkers. Access beyond Tidal River including southern outstations will remain closed.

Parks Victoria has undertaken works in the northern section of the park to enable a bush camping experience at Stockyard Camp. This will allow visitors who had a camping booking for Easter to stay somewhere different and experience other areas of the park. The campsite has limited toilets and showers and visitors are advised to bring in their own water.

Please refer to the Camping in the north at Easter guide for more information.

Visitor facilities in Tidal River at Easter

The general store and visitor centre incurred a great deal of damage so they will not be open. Alternative arrangements are being organised to provide campers in Tidal River with access to purchase basic items such as bread, milk and ice.

Information and guided activities

Parks Victoria staff will be available across the weekend at Tidal River to offer information as well as conduct flood interpretive walking tours.

Guided interpretive walks in the north will be offered over the Easter weekend, as well as a regular shuttle bus service from the north into Tidal River taking northern-based campers and visitors into Tidal River.

Interpretive program and timetable information will be posted on Parks Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory webpage from 21 April 2011.

Short walks in the north

The following Short walks in the north park note provides information about a range of short walks and wildlife viewing opportunities available in the Prom’s northern wilderness and conservation zones.

Short walks the north (publication valid to 21 April 2011)

The Prom’s northern wilderness and conservation areas offer unique opportunities for day visitors and walkers. Many walks pass through areas burnt in the 2009 fires allowing visitors to view the wonder of regeneration.

Things to see and do in the north

The northern section of the park is now open and offers diverse short walks and wildlife viewing opportunities. Day visitor entry to the park is free.  Please exit the park before sunset.

Visitor information is available from the park entrance from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm daily.

All walk distances are one way unless indicated

1. Shallow Inlet (400 metres, 15 mins. Easy).  Start at the end of Hourigan Camp Lane off Millar Road behind Yanakie township. Walk through a sheltered gully of coastal tea-tree and swamp paperbark to the sandy tidal flats of Shallow Inlet, an important feeding ground for migratory wading birds. With the right tide conditions, it is possible to walk to the Inlet entrance.
2. Big Drift (2 km, 40 mins. Moderate). Starting at Stockyard Campsite near the park entrance, the gently undulating track follows the park boundary for 1.2 km to the sign-posted turnoff to Drift Track. Climb the northern flank of Big Drift to views over an expansive series of inland sand drifts to Cotters Beach and Shallow Inlet. It is easy to get lost in Big Drift. On windy days your tracks will be quickly erased. Be careful to mark your path to find the track out again. There is no access to Cotters Beach from Big Drift.
3. Cotters Lake (1.2 km, 30 mins. Easy).  Start at Cotters Lake car park and follow the management vehicle track past the gate to the recently flooded basin of Cotters Lake. Emus and kangaroos are often sighted in this area. No access to Cotters Beach due to flooding.

Short walks on Five Mile road

All walk distances are one way unless indicated.

After driving along winding roads through dense coastal vegetation, unsealed Five Mile Road opens out to provides panoramic views of the surrounding heathland and Vereker Range. A good place to view kangaroos, emus and wombats. Observe the speed limit and please drive carefully. A detailed information shelter is in the car park on Five Mile Road.

1. Millers Landing Nature Walk (2 km, 40 mins. Easy). Starting at Five Mile car park, turn left just after the management gate. This delightful walk meanders gently downhill through open banksia and stringybark woodland to Millers Landing.  Located on the southern coast of Corner Inlet, the Landing protects the southernmost stand of mangroves in the world.
2. Vereker Outlook (3 km, 1 hour. Moderate). Starting at Five Mile car park, the track climbs gently through open banksia woodland with a heathland understorey. Panoramic views are offered as the track climbs steeply through the tumble of granite boulders and stringybark forest.  Walk highlights include stunning views across Corner Inlet, open heathland and Cotters Beach.
3. Millers Landing Link Track (1 km, 20 mins. Easy).  Originally a vehicle track, this track links the Millers Landing Nature Walk (walk 5) to the Vereker Outlook track (walk 6) and can be commenced from either end.

Beyond Easter

VicRoads and Parks Victoria wishes to advise visitors that after the Easter period Tidal River will close again to enable more permanent road and bridge repairs as well as remaining works on Parks Victoria assets.

Camping will at Stockyard Camp in the north of the park will be available for general bookings from 26 April 2011.

For information, contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit http://parkweb.vic.gov.au

Prom Country Visitor Info: To make bookings for accommodation outside the park call 1800 630 704 or visit visitpromcountry.com.au

Roadside wildlife

While travelling by road in the park, you may see wombats, emus, kangaroos and other wildlife.

• Animals are unpredictable. To protect yourself, wildlife and your vehicle, slow down when passing animals on the road edge.
• Pull off the road before stopping to look at wildlife. Do not stop on bends or where double lines are marked.
• Report injured wildlife 1300 094 535.

Be prepared

• The nearest fuel supply is at Yanakie, Fish Creek and Foster townships.
• Beaches in the north of the park are generally unsuitable for children to swim.
• If fishing or walking along a rocky shoreline always keep an eye to the sea. Ocean swells or waves can crash along rocky shorelines catching people unawares.
• Camp fires are not permitted. Use a gas or fuel stove for cooking.
• Always check fire danger and weather forecasts. No fires (including gas or fuel stoves)may be lit on days of Total Fire Ban.
• We recommend all visitors have Ambulance
• Services membership or insurance that covers the cost of ambulance transport.
• Wilsons Promontory National Park will close on days of declared Code Red Fire Danger for the West & South Gippsland Total Fire Ban District. For more information refer to the Wilsons Promontory National Park Code Red Fire Danger Closure fact sheet or call 13 1963.

In an emergency

If you require emergency assistance phone 000 for Police, Fire or Ambulance Services. Mobile phone network coverage cannot be relied upon within the park. If out of range, dialling 112 on your mobile phone may still connect you to Police, Ambulance or Fire Services.