Hints for camp sites Little Waterloo Bay, Wilson's Prom

[David M]

This Saturday night, Feb 8th, I will be camping at Little Waterloo Bay and was told by Parks Vic it is by now fully booked with 60 permits issued. I have never been there but if it is anything like Sealers Cove there are barely any suitable (level with no tree branches likely to fall) tentsites, even with only a few people staying. So can anyone give me some hints about where I might get a suitable campsite when I get there? Thanks.

[walkon]

Hi David
Little Waterloo campsite is alot flatter than sealers and more open. You only really have to be careful there if its raining hard or forecast to as a number of sites there are in hollows. If you are coming across from refuge head up the beach just after the creek and the campsites run across the back of the dune till you get to the toilets. Or from the other way the trail comes down the hill and you go past the loo and the tent sites go right to the creek.
Next time your at sealers try standing on the big rocks around the campsite and you will see little hidden pads tucked away around the place.
Ive arrived late there a number of times and have gone past people going round in circles trying to find a spot to get a choice little hide away site.
Cheers Walkon

[Earwig]

The best campsites are between Sunday and Friday.

[David M]

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how I go. I can't see anything at all on Google satellite imagery...

[Earwig]

The camping area basically runs parrallel with the dune and up a low sanddune ridge beside the creek at the northern (creek) end. From memory the best spots are along that dune as the ground is higher, though dampness shouldn't be a problem this weekend. I've arrived after dark on a busy Saturday night and found a spot to camp without too much trouble. Great spot with a great beach along one of Victoria's best hiking tracks. I'd check with the park website that the weather/fire danger doesn't close the place down though as this weekend is supposed to be rather hot.

[David M]

I wrote a trip report and then I left the browser and it all disappeared so I am having to retype this...(Firefox on Android tablet).

Thanks for everyone's comments.

I have now completed the walk from Telegraph Saddle (Oberon Carpark) to Little Waterloo Bay. It was harder than expected because of the heat and the hills but would not generally be regarded as a hard walk due to the road forming part of the track followed by a well-made walking track. From the car park to the campsite is 12.3 km.

The campsite at Little Waterloo Bay was excellent and the beach was beautiful, as was the much larger Waterloo Bay beach you walk past to get to the campsite when walking in from the south. The campsite is 1.1km to the north of the northern end of Waterloo Bay beach.

I could not find the precise location of the campsite on any online map and it is not visible on Google satellite imagery so here are the coordinates from my GPS, at least where my tent was, S39°03'53.5" E146°25'48.5" This position is also quite close to the water supply and not too far from the toilet. It was also shaded in the afternoon.

There was a large eel that would turn up at meals time at the water supply because it would feed off the scraps when people washed their cooking and eating utensils.

The return walk on Sunday was in extreme heat. I became hyperthermic after walking too fast up the hill about 2 or 3km from the campsite and had to rest and cool off at the nearby creek for about an hour (the creek which runs under the boardwalk for abou 30m). Overheating is an unpleasant experience and has not happened to me before. I initially even vomitted water that I tried to drink. Thankfully my walking companions were very understanding and caring but they did not mind having a rest then anyway (I hope). Note also that most of the track is quite exposed to the sun.

Parks Victoria were driving along the service track picking up numerous people and/or their packs and taking them to the car park as many people were suffering from the heat and even in danger.

I learned also that I need to lighten my pack weight as I set out with 16kg including food and 1.8l of water. I took too much food and other gadgets which I did not use.

I did not see any snakes except when I stopped off at Squeaky Beach on the way home and one was laying across the track until it moved off. I did see a tick in the bushes however (no surprise I guess).

Overall it was a great walk and highly recommended.

[walkon]

Its amazing that it was so hot at the prom on the weekend, when melbourne had the week of 40 degrees the prom only had 1 real hot day. It was beautiful down there whilst everyone was suffering in melb. Sorry that you had such a hard time of it but the old saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Its good that you've got a ripper crew for suport.
Cheers walkon