From Victoria’s pumping surf beaches and sacred peninsulas, to New South Wales’s unspoilt South Coast and charming country towns, prepare for epic hikes in nature, relaxing on the beach, swimming in salty oceans, and indulging in a plethora of stunning arts, culture, and food scenes along this touring route.

Wilsons Promontory

Known as ‘Wilsons Prom’ to locals, this region is considered to be one of Victoria’s most incredible and untouched national parks. Spanning a whopping 50,000 hectares, the land is an isolated labyrinth of natural magic, full of hidden spots. Home to the Gunaikurnai, Bunurong and Boon Wurrung peoples, Wilsons Prom is a visual feast of soothing rivers, jagged mountain outcrops, roaring surf, and lush forest valleys.

Mallacoota

Enjoy a day exploring Mallacoota’s many beaches, rock pools, cliffs and inlets, and have fun with the kids on the patrolled Betka Beach. For more accomplished and experienced swimmers, enjoy a spot of snorkelling on the rugged Quarry Beach. Nature enthusiasts can even enjoy a peaceful evening at Gipsy Point on the Genoa and Wallagaraugh rivers, where mobs of kangaroos can be found hopping into the sunset.

Merimbula

Only 90 minutes north, you’ll find the town of Merimbula on the Sapphire Coast. Here, surf and seafood reign supreme in this slow-paced seaside town. If you’re a fan of surfing, then the waves are sure to impress along Main Beach and Shore Point, while families can frolic safely in the gentle shallows at Spencer Park Beach. If you’re wanting to steer away from the ocean, make a detour into nature with a stroll along the Goodenia Rainforest walking track, and finish your day with a melt-in-your-mouth seafood degustation at Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf Restaurant.

Jervis Bay

This unique destination blends into the rest of the landscape: soft sand bars and azure waters that look straight off a postcard. Here, there’s a plethora of ways to unwind and immerse yourself in nature. A handful of pristine beaches call the bay home, and walking tracks weave through the Jervis Bay wilderness. Mingle with dolphins in the waters, discover the Booderee National Park and the Booderee Botanic Gardens, and even visit the Cape St George Lighthouse on the eastern edge of the bay to explore the stories of how this 19th-century lighthouse became legendary ruins.

To read about the rest of the journey, check out the Summer 2022–2023 edition of Caravanning Australia.

_{Image: Wilsons Promontory National Park (C) William Watt}