Wilsons Prom wildlife etiquette (especially wombats)

If an animal changes behaviour because of you — stops feeding, flees, approaches for food — you are too close or too loud. Use zoom lenses, not footsteps. Keep dogs out of the equation entirely (pets are not allowed).

Never put children on or beside wombats for photos. Cute is not tame. A startled wombat is still a solid animal with claws and momentum.

Group size multiplies pressure. One quiet couple is different from eight people encircling a grazing animal. Leave an escape path; do not corner wildlife against fences, water or cars.

Handouts train animals to approach people and roads. That raises bite risk, car strike risk and conflict with campers storing food poorly.

Human food is not appropriate wildlife nutrition. “But it looked hungry” is not a management plan. Secure food and rubbish so you are not training scavengers overnight.

Teach kids the rule in one sentence: we watch, we do not snack the animals.

Wildlife on roads at dusk and after dark is a genuine hazard around Tidal River and the entrance corridor. Drive slowly, scan edges, and prefer walking near camp after sunset if you are staying inside the park.

A delayed dinner is better than a dead wombat and a wrecked undercarriage. If you are day-tripping back to Melbourne, build exit time that does not force high speed at wildlife hour.

Cyclists and pedestrians: be visible; drivers are scanning for animals too. Shared roads near the hub need patience from everyone.

Warm months mean snakes on tracks — watch footing, wear solid shoes, give snakes space, and do not attempt heroic relocation. Most snake encounters end better when humans freeze, back away slowly, and leave the animal a path.

Emus and large birds deserve the same non-harassment rule as mammals. Do not chase for video. Do not feed bread.

If someone is bitten or seriously injured: emergency services via 000. This article is not first-aid training — know basic response before remote walks.

Wombats near Tidal River are not camp entertainment. Keep food locked down, keep kids from chasing, and keep the glow of phone torches from becoming a harassment tool.

On beach approaches, stay on formed tracks. Cutting through vegetation for a closer wallaby shot is still damage.

Quiet voices at dusk help everyone — humans sleeping and animals feeding.

You can plan for wildlife without turning the trip into a zoo itinerary: dusk walk near camp, patient sitting on trail edges, binoculars for birds in Lilly Pilly Gully.

The best wildlife moments are usually the ones where the animal never knew you were a problem. That is the standard to aim for.

Zoom and patience beat stalking. Continuous flash at dusk animals, circling for “one more angle,” and blocking escape paths are harassment even if your caption says “respect.”

Drones: park rules and permits apply — do not invent a hobby flight over wombats or beaches. Check Parks Victoria drone guidance before you pack a quadcopter as a “must shoot” tool.

Share the trail: if a wildlife moment is blocking a narrow path, rotate through, then move on so others can pass without creating a crowd ring.

Injured wildlife: do not attempt amateur rescue that puts you or the animal at greater risk. Note location and use official channels or emergency services for serious situations.

Aggressive approach after feeding history (yours or someone else’s): back away, secure food, and report persistent problems via Parks Victoria channels when appropriate.

Bite or serious injury: 000. This guide is not medical training.