Distance: 19.8 Km | Duration: Hrs | Grade: Grade 4 | Rating: 5 | Style: TBA | Map
About the Walk
Overview
This walk starts at Telegraph Saddle, and heads South down Telegraph Track. Explore Half-way Hut (1.4 Km each way), before taking the trail to Oberon Bay and ends at Tidal River.
The Walk in Detail
This walk starts at Telegraph Saddle, and heads South down Telegraph Track – a management road that (almost) reaches the lighthouse on the Southern tip of the Prom.
After 2.4 Km, at the bottom of the descent, a bridge crosses McAlister Creek. This area was one of the many lush stream sides that were destroyed in the 2001 floods. It is now well on the way to recovery. At the 2.7 Km mark, there is another bridge crossing a different branch of the same creek. At the 5.4 Km mark, the road crosses Growler Creek. This is pleasant spot for morning tea!
After 6.1 Km, you arrive at ‘Telegraph Junction’, where the sandy management track to Oberon Bay joins to the right (West). Go a little further South and explore Half-way Hut (1.4 Km each way), before taking the trail to Oberon Bay. The Half-way Hut area has no particular intrinsic beauty, but the hut is an integral part of Prom history. It was built as a storage and shelter for the telegraph linesmen, who patrolled the line on horseback through virgin bush from the Lighthouse and up the isthmus to civilisation, there being no road South of Yanakie. There is a water tank and a toilet at the hut.
The Oberon Bay track meanders through a picturesque avenue of overhanging trees. A family of Yellow-tail Black Cockatoos live here, wallabies, and snakes are common (so keep your eyes open!)
After just under 3 Kms more, the track reaches an open grassy area which houses a toilet and a water tank for the Oberon Bay campsite. The campsite is about 150 metres along a foot track on the West side of the toilet. This grassy area, or the nearby beach, would be suitable lunch spots. However, if it is too early for lunch, defer until the North side of Growler Creek, where there is a sea view.
After inspecting the campsite, continue northwest past the information signs on a foot track which leads to Fraser’s Creek and Oberon Bay.
Head along the beach to its Northern end and Growler Creek. Growler Creek is tidal, so at high tide, you may decide to save your boots and get your feet wet.
An old track is still in evidence here – ignore it – take the lovely new track a little further upstream. There are great views here, on the way to Little Oberon Bay, where there is an amazing set of stairs constructed on a huge glacial tor, and onwards to Norman Beach.
After 15.3 Km, you arrive at Norman Beach, via a new boardwalk and footbridge – great views!
You can either follow your footprints up the beach, or take a somewhat more direct route to Tidal River. If you select the latter, go straight ahead, through a beautiful Paperbark forest (about 1.2 Km to the Tidal River Ring Road, cross the road, and you have a further 400 m to the ice cream shop, the Parks Office and the Commando Memorial)
Getting There
Walk Precautions
Additional Information
Tidal River
Yes
West & South Gippsland
2024