Trial Bay Gaol & South West Rocks Creek

After leaving the serenity of Port Macquarie, we headed up the coast, final destination, Coffs Harbour. We were recommended to visit South West Rocks on the trip up so we detoured through the lush green cattle country on a pleasant drive.

DRIVE: Port Macquarie to Coffs Harvour via South West Rocks (187km).

South West Rocks is indeed a beautiful spot and the Horseshoe Bay Holiday Park is beachside camping at its best. We had decided to just spend the day here and head up for 3 nights at Coffs so best make the most of it.

First, we stopped at Tasty Treats, a cute little cafe overlooking South West Rocks creek and ordered toasties for lunch.

After lunch we headed just a few km to Arakoon National Park and Trial Bay Gaol. Set on the peninsular, Trial Bay Gaol was established in the late 19th century as a Public Works Prison to house end of term prisoners brought to build the breakwater. In 1903 the project was abandoned and the prison closed until Wolrd War 1 when the prison was reopened as an internment camp for "Enemy Aliens" (Germans). Since the 1960's the Gaol has been actively conserved for history and forms part of the NSW National Park Estate.

The current custodians of the Gaol are the big Red Kangaroos who lurk in the dark shadows of the old stone walls for respite from the sun.

A couple of escapees got caught doing "a runner" from the Gaol and ended up interned, one of which was bound to the flogging machine for eating chocolate during Lent...

Its sticky, hot and humid so after our prison release, we headed back to South West Rocks Creek for a blissful cooling off where the beautiful crystal clear sandy waters meet the deeper aqua waters. The creek is an inlet from the sea and is absolutely the best bathing spot we have been to so far. After following the old wooded bridge crossing, we came to a nice jetty to access the creek. We dived straight in...not quite!, the tide was out and the shallows were less than a foot deep so we waddled in and just sat in the pristine waters. The temperature is perfect and the 360 degrees panoramic from the creek is picture perfect.

We rejoined the Pacific Highway to Coffs Harbour and arrived at our camping spot in the late afternoon.

CAMP: Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park / Coffs Harbour / 3N
We are on a powered site / 491 at the far end of the park so very peaceful but not too far from the big play pools.

Jen was in charge of backing the camper van into our spot today and nailed it first go so she was happy with that.Read more