Little Waterloo Bay at Wilsons Prom: how to book the hike-in permit, which nights sell out first and how to grab a cancellation for this white-sand bay.
About
Little Waterloo Bay is the postcard camp of the Prom's east coast: white sand, clear water, big granite boulders and steep slopes covered in forest and lilly pilly. It's the second night on Parks Victoria's standard three-day Southern Circuit, which starts and finishes at Telegraph Saddle with camps at Sealers Cove and Waterloo Bay.
It's also a junction. From here you can head north to Refuge Cove, inland back towards the Telegraph Track, or south along Waterloo Bay to the Lightstation. That flexibility is why it turns up in so many itineraries, from the classic three-day loop to five-day walks that take in the whole southern end of the park.
The sites
There's no published pitch count. Little Waterloo Bay is booked per person per night against a capped number of permits.
What Parks Victoria lists:
- Basic camping tables
- A composting toilet
- Creek water, untreated, so treat it before drinking
No showers, no power and no toilet paper. Pack out all your rubbish.
Hiking notes
- Winter flooding: Parks Victoria warns that low-lying parts of the campground can flood in winter, and that overnight hiker numbers may be restricted when that happens. If you're booking a cold-season trip, check the park's Change of Conditions notes before you go.
- Beach safety: the bay is unpatrolled and Parks Victoria flags strong currents and rough surf. Clear water doesn't mean calm water.
- No campfires, ever. Stoves are allowed except on Total Fire Ban days.
- Wasps: European wasps are listed as a hazard here, so keep sweet drinks covered.
- No fishing from the shore or in the marine national park waters.
How booking works
An overnight hiking permit is compulsory. Book online through Parks Victoria (or phone 13 19 63) before you start walking, and carry the permit with you.
- Priced and booked per person, per night
- No more than two consecutive nights here
- Group size capped at 12
- Your route is fixed once you set off
- Leave your plans with an emergency contact
Parks Victoria opens new dates four times a year at 10am AEST, over three days, with multi-day hikes on day three after Tidal River and roofed accommodation. The most recent release was 28 to 30 September 2026.
When it sells out
Because Little Waterloo Bay is night two of the most popular loop, it tends to sell out alongside Sealers Cove, which is night one. If either is full, the three-day loop doesn't work. The tight dates are the ones Parks Victoria calls out as peak: the summer school holidays (including Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Australia Day), plus Labour Day, Easter, Anzac Day and the King's Birthday in the first half of the year.
How to get a cancellation
When someone cancels, their permit drops straight back into the online booking system. Parks Victoria's refund tiers:
- 30 or more days before the first night: full refund
- 8 to 29 days before: half refund
- Under 8 days: no refund
Most cancellations land just ahead of those cut-offs. People can also move camping bookings to new dates at no charge until check-in, which shakes loose nights in the last week.
The catch with a loop is you usually need two consecutive nights at two different camps. Watch Little Waterloo Bay on Aussie Camp Alerts and you'll get an email as soon as a full night opens. The free plan gives one live watch with a 15-minute delay. To watch Sealers Cove and Little Waterloo Bay together, the Summer pass (A$29 once, 12 months) covers up to 10 watches with instant alerts by email, Telegram or web push.
Getting there
There's no short way in. Parks Victoria lists three ways to reach Little Waterloo Bay on foot: via the Telegraph Track, via Refuge Cove, or from the Lightstation.
- From Refuge Cove: 6.4 km, about two hours one way, Grade 4. The track climbs a rocky headland through stringybark forest (with a side trip to Kersops Peak), drops to North Waterloo Bay, follows the beach south and crosses a granite headland into Little Waterloo Bay.
- Towards the Lightstation: the Waterloo Bay to Lightstation hike is 9.8 km and about three hours one way, Grade 4, starting from the southern end of Waterloo Bay.
- Via Telegraph Saddle: the classic loop starts at Telegraph Saddle car park. In peak summer and on weekends between Melbourne Cup and Easter, take the free shuttle bus from Tidal River, as the car park is closed to private vehicles then.
Nearby alternatives