South Gippsland: Mikes 8 Leftfield Attractions
Often called Prom Country, the southern mainland area around Wilsons Promontory has lots to offer visitors. Here are some of my favourites.
Walkerville South Beach
This is a popular beach tucked into a corner of Waratah Bay. It has pretty stretches of sand, rocks to climb on, rock pools, stone arches and small, safe surf, all against the canvas of the purple hills of Wilsons Prom. It's easy to see why it was the inspiration for Alison Lester's famous book Magic Beach. It really is a kids' adventure playground.
The beach is also home to historic lime kilns. Lime was used as mortar and much of Melbourne was built using lime from Walkerville. Up to 80 men were employed mining lime, drying it in the kilns and bagging it. The bags were loaded onto trams and hauled along a 350-metre pier to be shipped away. The kilns finally closed in 1926.
Cape Liptrap
For me, Cape Liptrap is one of my favourite places on earth. If you stand at the lighthouse and stare out across Bass Strait, you feel like you're at the end of the world. Waves generated by storms way to the south-west in the Southern Ocean crash against the ancient rocks at the base of the cliffs. There's a surf break to the east, a hang gliding launch pad (check YouTube), and spectacular snorkelling.
One day I went for a snorkel there alone. It's pretty remote, there was no one around, and it's quite a climb down the cliff. When I snorkel, I get lost in a kind of meditation, playing in the kelp, flipping between rocks in the current, chasing fish and being followed by Sweep. I snorkelled between two rocks into an open-top cavern to find half a dozen Eagle Rays dozing, and one about to make its exit. Because I was blocking the entrance in 1.5 metres of water, we had a moment face to face, eyeing each other off. I wasn't sure if Eagle Rays have stingers (they do), so I dived down and the ray swam over my back. Not wanting to disturb the others, I quietly backed out of there.
Lyerbird Art Council
With a lifelong passion for live music beating through his veins, in 1999 Ian Bevington decided to bring great live performances to South Gippsland. Like-minded friends, family and complete strangers banded together to form the Lyrebird Arts Council, and they've been surprisingly good at attracting excellent acts to the region ever since.
They operate two venues: the Meeniyan Town Hall, a beautiful historic 1930s building seating up to 250 guests, and Mossvale Park (photo below), a lush botanic-style garden with acres of European trees, perfect for concerts and festivals. Most events are BYO drinks and nibbles. It's a wonderful step back in time to an era before everything was commercialised. Past acts have included Beth Orton, Sarah Blasko, Martha Wainwright, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly, and they continue to attract wonderful performers from Australia and around the world. Check their website for current membership details and upcoming shows.
Waratah Hills Vineyard
The hills behind Waratah Bay are known for pinot, and Waratah Hills is one of the region's most loved stops, mainland Australia's southernmost vineyard, just a stone's throw from Wilsons Prom. The vines were first established in the mid-90s with the help of revered producer Phillip Jones of Bass Phillip, and the vineyard has grown beautifully ever since.
The old tractor shed is now home to a wonderful cellar door and the Harvest Kitchen, serving a full lunch menu, cheese and charcuterie boards, and freshly baked goods made with local produce. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am–5pm, with bookings appreciated for lunch. Wine tastings, their signature Waratah Hills Gin, and a relaxed courtyard and lawn make this a very easy place to linger.
Big Drift Wilson’s Promontory
You've probably heard that Wilsons Promontory is the most beautiful place in Victoria — maybe even Australia. But many visitors drive straight past one of its best kept secrets. The Big Drift is an extraordinary series of vast inland sand dunes — completely disconnected from any beach — sitting right inside the national park. It's like stumbling into a desert, an otherworldly landscape unlike anything else in the region.
The walk starts at the Stockyard Campsite, just inside the park entrance on the right — keep your eyes peeled as it's easy to miss. From there it's a gentle 2km wander through bushland before you hit the dunes. The final climb up the steep sandy face is a bit of a workout, but the reward at the top is something else — an endless rolling sea of golden sand dunes stretching out before you, with views back over the Prom and the ocean beyond. The dunes are constantly shifting and changing with the wind, which means no two visits are ever quite the same.
For the best experience, go at sunrise or sunset when the sand turns rose gold and the shadows run long. On a hot or windy day, give it a miss — there's no shade once you're up there. Sunny winter days are perfect. And if you're feeling adventurous, sandboarding down the dunes is absolutely a thing.
Tip: take a mental note or mark your GPS when you enter the dunes, it's surprisingly easy to get turned around once you're in there.
Gurney's Cider
Perched on a hill at 343 Fish Creek-Foster Road with sublime views out over the Prom, Gurney's is one of South Gippsland's most special spots. The Gurnett family emigrated from Somerset, England — cider country, and when they couldn't find a dry cider they liked in Australia, they decided to make their own. They planted thousands of heritage apple trees from France, England, America and Ireland across their 70-acre farm, and the rest is delicious history.
Voted Best Cidery in Australia, their award-winning cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday, 12–5pm. Try a tasting paddle of their hand-crafted ciders, enjoy a cheese plate, and if you're keen for something a little more adventurous, book in for the underground cellar tour — it's a highlight. You can even access the property directly from the Great Southern Rail Trail.
Great Southern Rail Trail
One of Victoria's great multi-use trails, the Great Southern Rail Trail stretches an impressive 130km across South Gippsland, linking 14 towns from Nyora all the way through to Port Welshpool, Port Albert and Yarram, and it's just two hours south of Melbourne. The trail winds through farmland, temperate rainforest and pristine seascapes, with sweeping views of Wilsons Prom and Waratah Bay along the way. Suitable for all abilities, it's a wonderful way to discover the region at your own pace.
The best way to tackle it? On an e-bike with Great Southern Ride, based right here in Meeniyan. They hire out comfortable, easy-to-use electric bikes perfect for all experience levels, family-friendly, pet-friendly, and genuinely fun. Choose from a range of self-guided packages:
- Half-Day Ride — 40km, 4 hours
- Full-Day Ride — 68km, 7 hours
- Gurney's Cidery Ride — 60km, 7 hours (now there's a plan!)
- Shuttle to Trail Heads — 50km one-way, includes e-bike hire and transport
91 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan | 0468 477 043
Coral Reefs Surrounding Wilsons Promontory
Scientists have been using robots to study the sea floor to as deep as 95 metres.
“Beautiful corals, stunning sponge gardens, vast numbers of fish and "needles of rock" that soar towards the surface of the water…….. The footage it captured, in water as deep as 95 metres, has revealed marine communities which scientists say rival and in some cases eclipse the beauty of the world-famous Great Barrier Reef.” The article says.
You can see the robot footage and read The Age article here.
Mike October 2016
Updated April 2026