The best Victoria has to offer.
Victoria, aptly named the garden state boasts some of the most impressive and diverse hiking trails in Australia. There are challenging hikes, rewarding hikes, long hikes, short hikes, overnight hikes, swift hikes, and everything in-between.
In this series of blogs, we will delve into each state's beautiful landscapes and truly explore the best trails each one has to offer.
Let’s begin with one of the most southern, iconic, and popular hiking trails in Victoria, Wilsons Promontory – Eastern Circuit.
The Wilsons Promontory – Eastern Circuit is a 36.5km hike located in Wilsons Promontory National Park Victoria, a fantastic circuit hike that explores isolated beaches, dense rainforests and with an abundance of wildlife; you will want to put this hike at the top of your to-hike-list. Located approximately 157 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, the 125,000-acre national park is the southernmost national park in Australia, filled with rich Indigenous history. Indigenous Australians occupied the area at least 6,500 years ago, with the first European's to sight Wilsons Promontory is believed to be George Bass and Matthew Flinders in 1798.
The South Eastern Circuit descends its way from the slopes of Mount Oberon down to the Eastern shore of Wilsons Promontory National Park at Sealers Cover, where it crosses south above the historic waters of Bass Strait to the southernmost lighthouse on mainland Australia. This is inclusive of intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches, and sheltered coves interrupted by prominent headlands and plunging granite cliffs in the south, backed by coastal dunes and swamps. Also home too many marsupials, native birds and other fauna, with one of the most common marsupials found on the promontory is the wombat.
Next up for Victoria is the Werribee Gorge Circuit is a 9.3km hike located in Werribee Gorge State Park Victoria, with the hike taking approximately 3.5hrs to complete. The 575 hectare park protects native flora and fauna, offers spectacular views and has great opportunities for bushwalking and rock climbing. Weribbee Gorge has attracted the attention of geologists as one of the earliest known ancient glacial deposits, parts of which can be seen.
With its ruggedness and steep slopes, Werribee Gorge has remained in a relatively natural state, making it vitally important for the preservation of native flora and fauna in a landscape that has been cleared and farmed. The park is home to many species of trees such as Red Ironbark, Grey Box, Manna Gum, Varnish and Golden Wattle. Keep an eye out and see if you can spot all of them!
