Wilsons Promontory

hello all,
After several weeks watching the weather forecast and avoiding long weekends I headed off to Wilsons Promontory. For those who don't know the area.......Wilsons Promontory is the most southern point of mainland Australia, a rugged landscape filled with huge granite boulders. 

Toora Wind Farm

 First stop was the Toora Wind Farm, this picture gives you some idea how big these things are........they sit on the top of the foothills adjacent to a lookout which gives spectacular views across Corner Inlet to Wilsons Promontory.

Across Corner Inlet

 The very helpful lady in the Foster Tourist  Information Office told me of a free? $12.00 campsite on the way, so I decided to have a look. It is called Shallow Inlet Camping Area, not to be confused with Shallow Inlet Caravan Park adjacent. It was a beautiful, well shaded, secluded camping area with resident Managers, TV reception, 3G mobile reception and good spotless long drop dunnies.
It was here I decided to wrestle the monster...............

Shallow Inlet

 Some time ago I purchased a OZ Trail shower tent, up until now I had gotten away with a quick nude up in secluded areas for a shower but this time I had people on both sides......no option but to break out the shower tent for the first time. We used one similar up in the Kimberley last June but I didn't have anything to do with erecting or packing it up.
Well, what an adventure this turned out to be..................the shower tent comes in a circular bag....all good so far.......unzip the bag and whamo...............it leaps out of the bag and pretty well self erects in about 2 seconds...........still all good so far. 

The Shower Tent AKA Rubics  Cube

Shower complete, modesty intact and the fun began...............after an hour wrestling this thing, standing up, lying on it, swearing at it, threatening it with incineration, I renamed it Rubic after Rubic's Cube..........folding this thing up to go back into the bag is next to impossible.
I highly recommend people buying one of these as it would keep those know all pesky teenagers out of your way for hours.................or as a extended party game for hours of entertainment. Several hours later I got it back into the bag, don't ask me how? as I have no idea and possibly won't be able to do it again.
I needed to head to Wilsons Promontory for therapy.

on the road to The Prom

Now, for those unfamiliar with the area, it pokes out into Bass Strait, is very exposed and subject to regular extreme weather, which is why I have been careful with my timing. Winds over 100KPH and torrential rain are not uncommon. In 2011 over 380 campers were stranded after torrential rain flooded the campground, caused landslides and washed away the bridge on the only road in. The campers ended up having to be helicoptered out leaving their cars, caravans and possessions behind until the road was repaired. 
This trip the weather was superb.

Norman Island

 Upon arriving at the Parks Vic Campground and forking over $54 for two nights unpowered camping I needed a drink.....
I can't understand how the DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment) or Dept. of Scorched Earth or Dept. of Soot and Embers and they are more well known as can justify these sort of prices is beyond me.............Pretty rude I think.

Whale Rock Tidal river

Wilsons Promontory really is a magnificent and special place with spectacular scenery, and well worth the visit.

Mt Oberon from Tidal River

Norman Beach Tidal River

Glennie Island Group off Norman Beach

Mt Oberon from Norman Beach

If visiting here I recommend you don't go to bed early, during the day you are surrounded by Pink Galah's, Silver Gulls, Pacific Gulls and Crimson Rosella's, by night Possums, Wombats and believe it or not a Hog Deer Stag with large antlers seemingly not too concerned by the people following them around with torches trying to get photos.

Tidal River

Tidal River meets the sea

Mt Oberon

 I cant believe how good the weather was for me.....day times 30-32C with warm nights and no wind for 3 days.............unheard of here! There is numerous horror stories of shredded annexes and tents and endless rainy days but the weather excelled.
And on the last night a great sunset.

sunset from camp

Squeeky Beach

 All said a good trip, it's home now and let the crowds have the long weekend to themselves. All going well between the long weekend and Easter I plan to do a run along the Great Ocean road to Mt Gambier and the Blue Lake and return inland.
Stay tuned.....bye for now.