Trial Bay Gaol campground, Arakoon National Park, South West Rocks NSW
198. Our new favourite Campground in Australia.
South West Rocks is a fantastic beachside town approx halfway between Brisbane and Sydney on the NSW coast.
We really enjoyed our time at the Trial Bay Gaol campground in the Arakoon National Park and were lucky that we were able to stay in the overflow area directly overlooking the ocean where we watched Whales and Dolphins swim by and turtles as the popped up right in front of us. Kangaroos also came right up to our Motorhome. The overflow is only available if the campground is full.
There are 3 toilet blocks and showers available, BBQ's and water also. There is also a great camp kitchen.
There is also a dump point and bins on site.
It is National Park so no pets are allowed. You can see why with so much wildlife wandering around the park here.
We had great coverage with both Telstra and Vodafone.
I saw all sorts of fish caught including Kingfish and more. It is also very popular for Spear fishing. You can take a walk also through the old Gaol.
Cost to stay is $31 for unpowered or $36 for a powered site.
Our stay here was 4-13th November 2018
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Indefinite Leave
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Drone footage from Diamond Head, Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks - New South Wales.
Drone footage taken by a DJI Phantom 3 Standard.
Whale Watching: South West Rocks, NSW Australia - Trial Bay Gaol and Smoky Cape Lighthouse
Long Weekend Road Trip:
• South West Rocks, NSW (Australia)
Day One:
• Saturday, 30th September 2017
Filming Locations:
• Seabreeze Hotel, South West Rocks
• Trial Bay Gaol (Jail), Arakoon National Park
• Smoky Cape Lighthouse, Hat Head National Park
Music:
• Broke For Free - Gold Lining
• Liam M - Medicine
• Zymek - Tomorrow
Filming Equipment:
• Canon G7X Mark II
• DJI Phantom 3 Professional Drone
Trial Bay Gaol Camping Area - Arakoon National Park -South West Rocks, NSW
Trial Bay Gaol camping. Unique. Full camping facility at Arakoon National Park, South West Rocks, NSW. Trial Bay Gaol onsite.
Detailed video of site, facilities, surroundings and gaol.
Gaol open to the public. Spectacular views. Restaurant. Caravans, 5th wheelers and camping options.
See gaol highlights at
Trial Bay Gaol (Jail), South West Rocks, NSW
Trial Bay Gaol (Jail), South West Rocks, NSW
Trial bay - a beautiful beach next to Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks, NSW
Trial bay - a beautiful beach next to Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks, NSW
Trial Bay Gaol Campground - South West Rocks - Arakoon National Park, NSW
The Trial Bay Gaol campground is situated on the headland at South West Rocks and is next to the ruins of the old Trial Bay Gaol. It's very much like a caravan park and therefore the costs are little higher than most National Park campsites. There is a restaurant at the rear of the camping area and a lovely calm bay at the side of the camping area. There is a large ammenity block with flushing toilets and hot showers. There are firepits for use however they are communal.
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO
and go to:
Escape from Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks NSW
Highlights of our trip to Trial Bay Gaol (Jail) at South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia. One of our stops on the A Big Peachey Adventure lap of Australia.
It’s safe to say Natalie has the photography game in this family! It’s something that I’ve wanted to learn too...
So when we went to Trial Bay Gaol and I went to start taking some photos/video, I thought rather than having just the stock-standard posing or taking photos of interest, it’d be cool to film some of our family interactions with the place ... but then the Dad Jokes got in the way
This was my first attempt at using iMovie. Rather than get overwhelmed by all of the features, I used a project template
Check out for more
Kangaroos at Trial Bay Gaol in South West Rocks (NSW, Australia)
A Roo in Gaol - South West Rocks Australia
A kangaroo wandering around an old POW gaol on NSW Australia
Australië - South West Rocks with Historic Trial Bay Gaol, (NSW)
De afsluitende rit van onze 3 weekse trip langs de oostkust. Rijdend over de Pacific HWY langs leuke plaatsjes zoals Urunga, Valle Beach, Nambucca, Macksville, besloten wij ter hoogte van Clybucca de tourist drive 12 te nemen naar South west Rock. Een goede keuze, een leuk stadje gelegen aan de monding van de Macleay River en Trail Bay met haar prachtige rotskusten en stranden. Daarbij de heerlijke Horseshoe Bay, ideaal om daar even te baden. Op het iets verder op aan de kust gelegen Laggers Point ligt een historische gevangenis, de Historic Trail Bay Gaol. Nu een ruïne annex museum over het gegeven dat deze gevangenis Duitse krijgsgevangenen uit de oorlog 1914 - 18 herbergde. De meeste van deze krijgsgevangenen keerden na deze oorlog niet meer naar Duitsland terug. Al met al een geslaagde afsluiting van onze 3 weekse toer. Daarna binnendoor langs de Macleay River naar Kempsey om daar de Pacific HWY op te pikken om er bij Taree af te slaan naar onze uitvalsbasis Harrington.
The final ride of our 3 week trip along the east coast. Driving across the Pacific HWY past nice places such as Urunga, Valle Beach, Nambucca, Macksville, we decided to take the tourist drive 12 to South West Rock near Clybucca. A good choice, a nice town located at the mouth of the Macleay River and Trail Bay with its beautiful rocky coasts and beaches. In addition, the delightful Horseshoe Bay, ideal for bathing. A little further up the coast from Laggers Point is a historic prison, the Historic Trail Bay Gaol. Now a ruin annex museum about the fact that this prison housed German prisoners of war from the 1914-18 war. Most of these prisoners of war did not return to Germany after this war. All in all a successful conclusion to our 3 week tour. Then we head in along the Macleay River to Kempsey to pick up the Pacific HWY to turn off at Taree to our base in Harrington.
Die letzte Fahrt unserer 3-wöchigen Reise entlang der Ostküste. Wir fuhren über den Pacific Highway an schönen Orten wie Urunga, Valle Beach, Nambucca und Macksville vorbei und beschlossen, die Touristenfahrt 12 nach South West Rock in der Nähe von Clybucca zu nehmen. Eine gute Wahl, eine schöne Stadt an der Mündung des Macleay River und Trail Bay mit seinen wunderschönen felsigen Küsten und Stränden. Darüber hinaus lädt die reizvolle Horseshoe Bay zum Baden ein. Etwas weiter die Küste hinauf von Laggers Point befindet sich ein historisches Gefängnis, das Historic Trail Bay Gaol. Jetzt ein Ruinenanbau-Museum darüber, dass in diesem Gefängnis deutsche Kriegsgefangene aus den Jahren 1914-18 untergebracht waren. Die meisten dieser Kriegsgefangenen kehrten nach diesem Krieg nicht nach Deutschland zurück. Alles in allem ein gelungener Abschluss unserer 3-wöchigen Tour. Dann fahren wir den Macleay River entlang nach Kempsey, um den Pacific HWY zu nehmen und in Taree zu unserer Basis in Harrington abzubiegen.
Trial Bay Gaol at South West Rocks in the Arakoon National Park
South West Rocks: Trial Bay Gaol is an excellent piece of Macleay Valley history. The prisoners were brought to Trial Bay to build a breakwall that would provide shelter for ships travelling up and down the New South Wales coast. The breakwall didn’t last long. A large storm smashed it.
If you get a chance to visit the jail, turn right as you walk into the prison, and watch the short introductory documentary. The film is presented by the late Mike Hayes. He was a former ABC presenter, documentary maker, Sydney Morning Herald writer and musician.
During his time at the ABC in the Northern Territory, he became the first person to break the news of Cyclone Tracy hitting Darwin.
After working in Canberra and Darwin, he settled in the Macleay Valley and was writing a column called ‘Prickle Farm.’ He died days short of his 59th birthday.
#SouthWestRocks #TrialBayGaol
Trial Bay Gaol & Coastal Cities
This video is about Trial Bay Gaol & Coastal Cities. Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Southwest Rocks, wildlife, hiking, camping, caravan, grey nomad, historic jail, history, Slim Dusty, The Pub with No Beer, Tamworth.
Laggers Point, Trial Bay Gaol Beach, South West Rocks - New South Wales, Australia
Taken from the guard's tower lookout, Trial Bay Gaol (historic site), Arakoon - Views of Laggers Point, Trial Bay Gaol Beach, South West Rocks, Stuarts Point Beach in the distance
Laggers Point, Trial Bay, Arakoon to South West Rocks - New South Wales, Australia
Ep. 12 - South West Rocks, Trial Bay Gaol and Dorrigo National Park
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We were recommended to visit South West Rocks by Luke whom we met on our travels (also living the bus life). It was beautiful, delicious fish and chips too! Relaxed atmosphere, plenty of other travellers and more wonderful dog friendly beaches and walks.
Trial Bay Gaol which is in South West Rocks, was an interesting visit. Scott talks about the history of the place and we take a tour inside the ruins.
We weave our way up the coast stopping in at little bays here and there, and then head inland a little bit to Dorrigo National Park which Luke also recommended us. Awesome rainforest, bush turkeys everywhere and waterfalls to feast your eyes on. Unfortunately we had a bit of trouble with the drone... which you can see for yourself ;)
Music:
Audiobinger - Walking on Clouds
Audiobinger - I'm a Savage
Audiobinger - China Town
Perfect Muse - Lucky Number
Trial Bay Gaol - near Kempsey NSW, Australia
On Boxing Day 2018 we toured Trial Bay Jail on the Mid North Coast of N.S.W. In this remote and desolate headland a gaol housed convicts from all over N.S.W. right up till 1918. It was more than a day's horse ride to the nearest town and doctor. Many would have died undertaking the journey. Convicts were often transported by sea from Sydney to Trial Bay and to the dreaded Port Macquarie.
From 1915 till 1918 it became an internment camp for Germans living in Australia. This ended when WW1 ended.
For more information see:
SOUTH WEST ROCKS NSW.. MUST SEE ON AUSTRALIAN EAST COAST #SOUTHWESTROCKS #TRIALBAY #HATHEAD
South West Rocks, NSW.... Heaven on Earth!!!
TRIAL BAY GAOL
HAT HEAD
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This is EVE AND ARTIE'S AMAZING AUSSIE ADVENTURE
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A Visit To & Walk Around Trial Bay Gaol
A companion video to Hat Head Revisited, this video is of our(neighbour, Carl and myself) visit to the old Trial Bay Gaol site near South West Rocks in the MacLeay Valley area of Northern NSW Coast. Carl and I visited here on 19th September, a Wednesday. Comments are welcome below and click on the Thumbs-Up icon if you like this video. Music in the opening & closing sequences is Grass composed & performed by Silent Partner, sourced from YouTube Music Library.
Link to: Hat Head Revisited -
South West Rocks NSW 2019
This summer we're travelling around the east coast of Australia. Follow along as we visit these magical places.
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