Darby Saddle to Darby River via Tounge Point, Wilsons Promontory
Darby Saddle to Darby River via Tounge Point, Wilsons Promontory
This a fabulous walk with outstanding views that can be taken in one go (with a car shuffle) or broken into parts.
Summary
This a fabulous walk with outstanding views that can be taken in one go (with a car shuffle) or broken into parts.
Description
This walk, with outstanding views, is an absolute delight. It can be taken in one go (with a car shuffle) or broken into parts, starting and returning from either Darby Saddle or Darby River..
The track from Darby Saddle provides spectacular coastal and forest scenery as it climbs uphill through stringybark and casuarina forest. At 2.1 km a side track (300 metres) leads up to Sparkes Lookout which offers views as far as the pyramid-shaped Rodondo Island in the south and Shallow Inlet in the north as well as Tongue Point. The short side detours off to Sparkes Lookout is well worth the effort.
From Tongue Point to Darby River you can experience some great views of Darby Swamp, Vereker Range, Darby and Cotters Beach that ends with a descent to Darby River carpark through windswept coastal vegetation. If you have time and energy, the detour off to Fairy Cove is a beauty.
Information on the Parks Victoria website: "After the turnoff, the main track climbs steeply to Lookout Rocks, a vantage point offering views across to Norman Island. From here the track descends steeply through low heathland where it joins the track from Darby River and continues to Tongue Point, a coastal headland jewelled with tumbled stacks and boulders of weathered granite. The track ends prior to the semi-attached island. For your safety don’t attempt to cross over to it."
A lot of the walk doesn't have a lot of shade, so probably best not to do on hot days and take lots of water.
Note: Google has estimated the walk to be 2.5 hours, but 4-4.5 hours is more realistic.
If you didn't want to do the whole walk or couldn't do a car shuffle, the walk from Darby River to Fairy Cove is about 5.6km return or the walk from Darby River to Tongue Point 8.8km return.
As in everywhere in Wilsons Promontory, no dogs allowed.
10250 Views
Points of Interest
1. Start from Wilsons Promontory Rd
There is a car park on the Prom road then you are immediately on your way!
2. Sparkes Lookout
At 2.1 km a side track (300 metres) leads up to Sparkes Lookout which offers views as far as the pyramid-shaped Rodondo Island in the south and Shallow Inlet in the north, and of course Tongue Point.
3. Northern Lookout Rocks
What a great view!
4. Grass trees
Always nice to see some grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) blowing on the breeze.
5. Boardwalk
There are a couple of Boardwalks that protect the landscape and make the walking a little easier in parts.
6. Back to Tidal River
That's Norman Bay in the distance, with My Oberon behind, and you can see a glimpse of Squeaky Beach.
7. To Norman Island.
The island is named after Captain William Henry Norman, who brought Sir Charles Hotham to Melbourne in Queen of the South in 1854.
8. Rocks by the sea
Weather permitting, its definitely worth clambering down the rocks to the water's edge.
9. Fairy Cove
A beautiful little cover to explore and swim, as we did on the warmish day we were there.
10. The drum
Its amazing the things you can find on secluded beaches. We wondered what this was, how old it was and from where it came. An old ship's boiler?
11. Back to Fairy Cove
Nice view back to Fairy Cove and Tongue Point.
13. Chain board track
The track here has seen better days, so watch your step as you descend.
Features
Nature trail
Lake, creek, river
