Wilsons Promontory

The southernmost tip of mainland Australia, on Yiruk Wamoon — known to the Gunaikurnai as Yiruk and the Boonwurrung as Wamoon, with continuing connection held by the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai across six and a half thousand years. The shell middens along the west coast record it: one runs to 55 hectares.

Tidal River, three hours from Melbourne, is the visitor hub — campground, huts, the visitor centre and the Yiruk Wamoon Keeping Place. From there the day walks fan out: Mount Oberon for the granite climb and the panorama, Squeaky Beach for the noise underfoot, Lilly Pilly Gully for the rainforest pocket, the Prom Wildlife Walk for the wombats. The Southern Prom Circuit runs three to five days through warm-temperate rainforest to Sealers Cove, Waterloo Bay and the Wilsons Promontory Lightstation — the most southerly settlement on the mainland, walk-in only, with overnight stays in the keepers' cottages. Half of Victoria's bird species and a fifth of its plants are here. Book ahead in summer.