Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory
| Tidal | |
| River | |
 Tidal River and the camp ground looking south
|
|
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| State | Victoria |
| Regions | Furneaux (IBRA), South Gippsland, Wilsons Promontory |
| Local government area | South Gippsland Shire |
| Part of | West Gippsland catchment |
| Town | Tidal River settlement |
| Source | Mount Latrobe, Wilson Range |
| - elevation | 367 m (1,204 ft) |
| - coordinates | 39°0′37″S 146°22′30″E / 39.01028°S 146.37500°E |
| Mouth | Norman Bay, then Bass Strait |
| - location | Tidal River settlement |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| - coordinates | 39°2′6″S 146°18′46″E / 39.03500°S 146.31278°ECoordinates: 39°2′6″S 146°18′46″E / 39.03500°S 146.31278°E |
| Length | 6 km (4 mi) |
| National park | Wilsons Promontory NP |
The Tidal River is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the Wilsons Promontory region of the Australian state of Victoria. A permanent camping ground that takes its name from the river, which flows past the camping ground to the north, is also called Tidal River.
The Tidal River rises below Mount Latrobe, part of the Wilson Range within the Wilsons Promontory National Park, and flows generally west by south before reaching its mouth within Norman Bay at the seasonal settlement of Tidal River, and emptying into Bass Strait. The river descends 367 metres (1,204 ft) over its 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) course.
The colour of the Tidal River ranges from a deep-yellow (in shallower areas) to a dark-purple and almost black (in its deeper depths). This discolouration is due to the large number of tea trees present in the area. The trees dye the river, making it appear like black tea (hence the name 'tea tree'). Even though the water is very clean and clear, it is impossible to see to the bottom in the deep areas. Few water creatures inhabit the river.
As its name suggests, Tidal River swells with the tide. When a high tide occurs at the same time as a large amount of precipitation, the river can flood the tracks and boardwalks surrounding the area. The river runs into Norman Beach, one of the 'safer' beaches of the promontory. Because of its proximity to the beach and the types of rocks in the area, the Tidal River bed is composed purely of fine sand. The sand can be walked on when the tide it is low. However, it is very squishy and squelchy, due to the fineness of the sand particles mixed with the surrounding dirt.
Tidal River settlement is the starting point of numerous short and not-so-short walks. Probably the most popular is the overnight hike, the Great Prom Walk, to South Point and the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on South East Point. South Point (the most southerly point of the Australian mainland) is mostly unremarkable of itself, and is easily overshadowed by South East Point, the site of the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse. The hike to the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse, with detour to South Point, is over 25 kilometres (16 mi). The return walk, via a different path (and no detour) is a little over 20 kilometres (12 mi).
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Wikipedia