Wilson's Prom North loop over cup weekend

[DanJWill]

Thanks for the pics Hallu, and the north track report 3flp.

I didn't end up making it North due to my hiking party changing at the last minute so instead my old man and I went south to do the south-east loop from Oberon Bay to Little Waterloo Bay via the lighthouse.
Not quite the wilderness track I'd set out to hike for but a brilliant walk nonetheless, I haven't been to the Prom since I was a kid so I was stunned to discover the beauty of the coastline and beaches.
I can see evidence of all the work that has gone on to restore what the fires and floods had taken out, a lot of tracks closed but still plenty of good hiking.
I'll be back for sure but heading North.

Little Oberon Bay

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South East

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Little Waterloo Bay

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Lighthouse

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[Flo-w]

Thanks for the information provided here! Very helpful in my trip preparation.

I thought I sign up and post an update of my 3.5-day walk of the northern Prom (4 April - 7 April 2013):

Barry Creek has plenty of water, especially at Lower Barry Creek Camp. The trail there is fairly easy to follow from Five Mile Road.
Chinaman Swamp is completely dry, not a drop of water. The bush is quite thick though but navigation is OK for most parts thanks to the new pink tape.
All beaches in the north had dog (or dingo?) foot prints.
High tide route to Tin Mine Cove is easy to walk thanks to recutting.
Tin Mine Cove has good water. Somebody felt the need to have a fire in front of the no-fire-sign...
The track over to Three Mile Beach is easy to follow and easy on the western side thanks to recutting.
Track to Johnny Souey can be hard to follow and scrub is rough.
Johnny Souey Cove has some water but not very nice since it comes out of a lake.
Track over to Five Mile Beach is easy to follow but can be difficult down to the beach.
Five Mile Beach has only little good water from a small side steam flowing into the lake just up from the opening to the sea.

We saw four snakes (1 brown, 3 black possibly with red belly) and a "stick lizard".

A GPS with good map was helpful. I wouldn't go without map and compass backup, I can see how people can get lost. Those trails have the "magical" ability to disappear when looked at from the side or when further than 3 meters away. I measured a total length of 63km, 5km more than the official length of the track.

Cheers and go with the flow.

[dplanet]

Can't wait to go back there. Thanks for your updates.

[Gippsmick]

Has anyone followed the coast line around the northern tip from Tin Mine Cove to Lighthouse Point? I'd be interested to know what the terrain is like.

[peregrinator]

Has anyone followed the coast line around the northern tip from Tin Mine Cove to Lighthouse Point? I'd be interested to know what the terrain is like.

There was an article in Wild magazine, No. 104, 2007 which describes a circumnavigation of the promontory. There are a few sentences about the section you refer to. It would also be worth reading the two letters in No.105 which look at broader issues about the walk.

[Gippsmick]

Thanks Peregrinator. Luckily I had both of those issues on the shelf. Come to think of it, I remember reading that. I should have looked harder before posting

[donktec]

Thanks for the pics and reports all, keeping this one in mind for a long weekend sometime!

[Gippsmick]

I completed the northern circuit last weekend, circumnavigating the rocks around the northern coast rather than cutting across from Lighthouse Point to Chinamans Long Beach. It was epic! Fantastic weather. The 5 Mile Road road-bash wasn't much joy but had to be done to access 5 Mile beach and onto Johnny Souey Cove. JS Cove was amazing. The beach walks pleasant. Three Mile beach passed fast and it was quick rock scramble around Whale Rock and Lighthouse Point. Progress up the northern beach was fast too but progress slowed right down from Biddies Cove. Traversing the rocks around to Tin Mine Cove took a full 5 hours or solid rock scrambling and climbing. A full body work out and tricky in sections with a pack. Don't even try this in the wet or with a high tide you are asking for trouble. The setting sun chased me into Tin Mine Cove. Just enough light to spare to get set up. At the moment the route across Chinamans Swamp to Lower Barry Creek is dry but the scrub is still thick and tricky to navigate through on the flats. I say route rather than track as there is no track. A rough footpad is present in spots but easy to loose. Recent marking by Parks help with nav at the moment but I wouldn't rely on these for navigation. Best to know your map and compass if your heading here. A great trip all round. Remote. Off track. Not as scenic as the southern end of the Prom but well worth the effort. I didn't see a sole for 3 days.

[north-north-west]

I didn't see a sole for 3 days.

You lost your boots/shoes? Must have made the going tough.

[Gippsmick]

My boots are fine. 3 days without seeing a soul.

[DanJWill]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown gippsmick. It's the first I've seen of the north loop in a while and with a lot of useful info.

Is it worth taking the pink tape if i head out there?