Looming large off the tip of Wilsons Promontory—mainland Australia’s southernmost point—this massive skull-shaped rock is reminiscent of a movie villain’s lair. Sheer granite cliffs on all sides make it nearly impossible to access, but intrepid travelers can view its mysterious mass and enormous cave from the water on a day cruise.
Cleft Island sits in the middle of Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park on the rugged southern coast of Victoria. Sightseeing cruises along “the Prom,” as the peninsula is known locally, offer the closest view of the rock one can get without expert-level diving skills. It is a true island, surrounded by water on all sides, with one face yawning in a giant chasm large enough to fit a school bus inside. A handful of determined early explorers allegedly scaled the cliffs to set foot inside the cave, but these days it’s mostly occupied by nesting cormorants.
Cleft Island sits three miles (5 km) south of Tidal River—the main visitor information area when visiting Wilsons Promontory. This recreation area is about 2.5 hours from Melbourne and is best reached by car or on an organized day trip. The most common way to view the island is on a sightseeing cruise departing from Port Welshpool or Port Albert.
The rock is best viewed on clear, calm days. Most cruises depart in the morning for the best ocean conditions.
This rugged peninsula off the Victorian coast is as far south as you can go on mainland Australia and a popular day trip for Melbournians. Bushwalking trails span diverse landscapes, from sandy shorelines to temperate rain forests and imposing granite cliffs. Swim in seclusion at Norman Beach or Fairy Cove, take in panoramic coastal views from atop Mount Bishop, or climb the sand dunes at Darby Point. For longer adventures, camp out among eucalyptus groves at the Stockyard Campground.