Arakoon National Park -
Arakoon National Park
The idyllic Arakoon National Park on the NSW mid north coast is home to the historic Trial Bay Gaol and is a wonderful place for a daytrip to explore Australian history or for a family camping holiday. There are great picnic and camping spots by the tranquil Trial Bay, and the area is surrounded by rocky foreshores and sandy beaches.
Trial Bay Gaol, dating from the 19th century, was built to house prison labourers who were tasked with building a breakwater. Today the gaol is a picturesque ruin and a fascinating place to explore. There are excellent fishing spots around the park’s rocky headlands and the park’s sheltered beach is a great spot for swimming, snorkelling and paddling.
Don’t be surprised if you see dolphins frolicking in the calm waters and if you’re visiting around July or August, you might see whales on their annual migration.
Native vegetation
Wet eucalypt forests
Wet eucalypt forests grow in Arakoon's sheltered creeks and gullies. You'll also find dense stands of paperbarks along creek edges, where the soil has become waterlogged.
Heathlands
Exposed areas, such as the north and west faces of Monument Hill, provide a dramatic contrast to the wetter areas. They are covered in low stunted scrub, consisting of casuarina, banksia, geebung and dogwood species. The dagger hakea, with its unusual woody fruits and spiky leaves, also grows here. This vegetation has evolved to cope with extreme exposure to the salt and wind.
The rocky coastal fringe is dominated by pandanus palm, horsetail she-
Native animals
Mammals
Walking tracks around Monument Hill and Little Bay meander through various vegetation communities where swamp wallabies and echidnas are often seen. If you're camping at Arakoon, you might also see nocturnal brush-
During September and October you can often see humpback whales just offshore, on their return journey to Antarctica.
Birds
Birds are abundant in this area. In wetland areas, you might see black swans, egrets, herons and spoonbills. On the heath, there are fantails, wrens, honeyeaters and quails. Hawks, falcons, ospreys and eagles soar above the cliffs and forage along the beaches.
During the spring, when the she-
Landscape and Geology
The state conservation area stands on geological formations made up mainly of a type of granite known as Smokey Cape adamellite. This granite was quarried to build the gaol and the breakwater.
Trial Bay Gaol
Step back in time on a guided tour of Trial Bay Gaol, soaking up the history and the amazing coastal views that surround it.
The gaol opened in 1886, after 13 years of construction. It must have been a strange feeling building a prison in such a beautiful setting. The prison labourers were there to construct a breakwater to make Trial Bay a safe harbour between Sydney and Brisbane. Unfortunately the scheme failed, however you’ll still be able to see the remains of the breakwater from the guard tower lookout. During World War I the gaol became an internment camp for people of German descent who were feared to be enemy sympathisers.
Today, this picturesque historic ruin stands as a testament to those who lived and died here, with a museum and memorial for visitors to get a better idea of life in those days.
© State of New South Wales through the Office of Environment and Heritage
Click on the link for more information about Arakoon National Park and Trial Bay Gaol
Little Smoky Mountain from walking track
Trial Bay Gaol
Link to photos of Arakoon National Park on Dropbox