Wilsons Prom Camp Planning Guide

Target Dates: Sept 28 – Oct 2 (2 Nights / 3 Days dependent on campsite permits)
Group: Sam (Dad), Finn, Eddie, Gus, Oscar, Sam (5 Teens aged 13–14)
Location: Wilsons Promontory National Park - Southern Prom Wilderness Area

📋 Major Headings & Checklist Overview

Permits & Bookings: Parks Victoria Southern Prom overnight permits required.
Itinerary & Routes: 3-day loop (Tidal River → Oberon Bay → Roaring Meg & South Point → Telegraph Saddle).
Navigation: Avenza offline GPS maps + Vicmap 1:50k paper map & compass instruction.
Water Management: Untreated stream/creek water treatment protocol (Boiling / Chem tabs / Sawyer filter).
Cooking & Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 ultralight gas stove. No open fires allowed.
Snake Safety & Gaiters: Heavy canvas gaiters + SMART tension-indicator compression bandages.
Pack Weight Management: Strict 8–10 kg pack weight cap for 13–14yo teens.
Training Plan: 12km loaded pack practice hike prior to trip.

⛺ 1. Route & Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Tidal River to Oberon Bay

Distance: ~7.6 km | Duration: 3 hours | Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Highlights: Coastal views over Norman Bay and Little Oberon Bay, sand walking, cliffside boardwalks.
Campsite: Oberon Bay (pit toilet, beach access, stream water available).

Day 2: Oberon Bay to Roaring Meg + South Point Day Trip

Distance: ~12.5 km (main track) + ~7.5 km return (South Point excursion)
Duration: 5–6 hours total
Highlights: Crossing coastal scrub inland to Telegraph Track, pitch camp at Roaring Meg, afternoon day pack hike to South Point (southernmost point of mainland Australia) or Wilsons Prom Lighthouse.
Campsite: Roaring Meg (pit toilet, sheltered bush camp, stream water).

Day 3: Roaring Meg to Telegraph Saddle / Tidal River

Distance: ~12 km | Duration: 3.5–4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate (gradual steady climb)
Highlights: Walking north up Telegraph Track surrounded by Prom tea-tree scrub and granite peaks.
Finish: Catch shuttle from Telegraph Saddle back to Tidal River car park.

Offline Mobile Maps: Download Avenza Maps with the official Parks Victoria Southern Prom Map installed. Keep phones in Flight Mode to preserve battery.
Paper Maps: Carry 2x waterproof 1:50,000 Vicmap / Parks Vic maps.
Compass Skills: Teach boys map orientation, taking a magnetic bearing, matching contour lines to real-world landforms. Appoint pair navigation leads each day.
Electronics: 1x 20,000 mAh rugged powerbank + multi-cables.

💧 3. Water Treatment & Tannin Considerations

Water Sources: Oberon Bay stream & Roaring Meg Creek.
Illness Risk: High if untreated. Ground/river water at Wilsons Prom contains tannins and potential pathogens (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, coliforms from native animals).
Treatment Protocol:
1. Strain water through cloth/filter paper to remove coarse sediment.
2. Boil for 1 minute OR use Chlorine Dioxide / Aquatabs.
3. (Optional) Filter through Sawyer Squeeze / Katadyn BeFree before chemical treatment for clarity.

🍳 4. Cooking & Food Strategy (No Milk)

Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 Hike Stove (~73g ultralight canister stove).
Fire Policy: STRICT NO FIRES ALLOWED. Gas stoves only.
Breakfast (No Fresh Milk):
- Instant quick oats cooked with boiling water + squeeze of honey + sultanas/cinnamon.
- Up&Go liquid breakfast packs.
- Pre-sliced fruit cake / banana bread & oat slices.
- Tortilla wraps with peanut butter/Nutella + honey.
Lunch: Salami / twiggy sticks, tuna & chicken foil pouches, flour tortillas, block cheddar cheese.
Dinner: Instant noodles + dehydrated peas & corn, Heinz baked beans/spaghetti snaps (130g cans), Continental/San Remo pasta sides, Back Country Cuisine ($14.99 freeze-dried packets).
Snacks: Salted peanuts, beef jerky/biltong, pretzels, Snickers/Mars bars, muesli bars.
Desserts: DIY Scroggin (peanuts, M&Ms, sultanas), instant pudding/custard powder (water-mix), hot chocolate biscuit cups, freeze-dried apple crumble.
Drinks (No Condensed Milk): Hot Milo / hot chocolate (water mix), 3-in-1 coffee sachets (adults), Up&Go, Hydralyte/Nuun electrolyte tabs for kids.

🐍 5. Safety, Gaiters & First Aid

Gaiters Recommendation: Australian Military Surplus Canvas Gaiters are highly recommended. Thick canvas offers top-tier snake bite protection against Lowland Copperheads, Tiger Snakes, and Brown Snakes on narrow Prom trails.
Snake Bite Kit: 2x SMART Pressure Immobilisation Bandages with tension indicators.
Sun & Insect Protection: SPF 50+ sunscreen, broad-brim hats, Picaridin insect repellent.
Emergency Comms: Rent or bring a Personal Location Beacon (PLB) or Garmin inReach due to zero mobile coverage in valleys.

🦘 6. Wildlife Security & Camp Rules

Wombat Protection: Wombats at Oberon Bay & Roaring Meg chew through tent walls and backpacks for food!
Food Storage: All food, snacks, and rubbish must be packed in sturdy dry-sacks and kept inside tents (never loose in vestibules).
Leave No Trace: Carry out all rubbish in sealed Ziploc bags.

🏋️ 7. Training & Pack Weight

Pack Weight Cap: 8–10 kg total per teen (approx 15-20% body weight).
Pre-trip Walk: Mandatory 12km test walk with loaded packs 2-3 weeks prior to departure to check boot fit, pack adjustment, and kid stamina.

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