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Hike Number Two - Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse Walk 5- 7 January 2003.
After wetting our appetite for hiking last year on the Sealers Cove Walk at Wilson's Prom, my two son's aged 10 and six and I thought we would tackle a two nighter to the Lighthouse at Wilson's Prom this year.
We set off in the car at 7am and arrived at Tidal River by 10am. After morning tea at the kiosk we loaded our packs and caught the bus from the Norman Bay Car Park to the Telegraph Saddle Car Park.
We started down the telegraph track at 11am and were stopped dead in our tracks while a snake slithered across the track after 10 minutes of walking. The first 2.5 kms is straight down hill through typical aussie bushland and then flattens out at the bottom where the vegetation changes to a more coastal setting and some ti tree.
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Liam
(left) & Rhys (right) walking along the lighthouse track
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We stopped for a bite to eat and a drink at the Oberon Bay Track Junction which is approximately half way to Roaring Meg which was to be our base for the next 2 nights.
From the junction the track climbs up martins hill for the next three kms providing us with some fantastic views over Oberon Bay and back up to the Telegraph Saddle from where we had come. This section was tough walking for the boys (not to mention Dad who was carrying most of the gear).
The last part of the days walk was mostly down hill and we were all glad to reach Roaring Meg by 3.20 pm. We selected a great campsite only metres from the creek.
The sound of running water accompanied our dreams after eating a dinner of Pasta Alfredo and chocolate mousse (cooled in the creek).
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Ashley
and Rhys getting ready for dinner
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The next morning the boys woke me up early for breakfast and we headed off to the lighthouse with just a day pack with our lunch and drink bottles.
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| Our first glimpse of the lighthouse |
Over the next 2 hours we saw lots of wallabies and a couple of snakes and our first sighting of the lighthouse sitting on a rocky headland was breathtaking.After tacking our way up a 45 degree slope for the last 500m we were met at the top by the lighthouse keeper who was amazed that Liam (my 5 year old) had made it all the way under his own steam. We were rewarded with a personal tour of the lighthouse and Liam had to sign the register as the youngest person to make it to the lighthouse under his own steam.
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| Rhys felt so good when he arrived at the lighthouse he wanted to lift it by himself. | The view from the top of the lighthouse looking back over the guesthouses and toward Boat Harbour Hill |
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The
boys having successfully made it to the lighthouse
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After eating our lunch we headed back to Roaring Meg for a bit of R and R, a game of cards and another wonderful nights sleep.
We woke early again the next morning and after breakfast we packed up and made are way back up the telegraph track. We got back to the Telegraph Saddle car park in four hours, just in time for the bus to take us down to Tidal River for some fish and chips before heading for home.
Once again Wilson's Promontory had provided us with a fantastic experience that I am sure will stay in our memories for a long time.