Trial Bay Gaol campground
Arakoon National Park
Overview
Trial Bay Gaol campground is right by the beach and perfect for a family camping holiday. Bring your caravan, motorhome or tent for a weekend of swimming, fishing and fun.
| Number of campsites | 97 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
| Where | 63 Trial Bay Goal Road, Arakoon, NSW, 2431 - in Arakoon National Park |
| Facilities | Amenities block, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, boat ramp, cafe/kiosk, carpark, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power |
| Group bookings | Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry. |
| Please note |
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Trial Bay Gaol campground offers campsites for tents, caravans, campervans and camper trailers in an enviable position beside Front Beach.
Pack your snorkels, swimmers, fishing rod, walking shoes and surfboard, because you’ll have time to use all of these when you’re enjoying this delightful campground and picnic area. And if you’re too tired after a day exploring the park to cook up a feast, treat yourself to a meal at the Trial Bay Kiosk Restaurant. It's the ideal place for families to take a weekend break in the beautiful Arakoon National Park.
Thinking of going in winter? Make sure you take your binoculars - Arakoon is a great place to see whales making their annual migration north. And even better in spring as they make their way south hugging the coast and resting with their calves in Trial Bay, just off the campground.
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Map
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/trial-bay-gaol-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Arakoon National Park in the North Coast region
Arakoon National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Trial Bay Gaol campground.
Getting there and parking
Trial Bay Gaol campground is in the Trial Bay Gaol precinct of Arakoon National Park.
From South West Rocks:
- Follow Phillip Drive
- Turn left onto Cardwell Street
- Continue along Cardwell Street, following the signs to Trial Bay Gaol ruins and campground
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
- Parking is available next to your campsite or on the adjacent side of the asphalt road.
- There is a limit of 1 vehicle per site. Extra vehicles must park in the campground's natural-earth carparks.
- For walk-in campsites: there is no allocated parking next to your campsite. Campers must park their vehicle(s) in the carparks available.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Arakoon National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
The wildflowers will be out so it’s a great time to hike the park’s walking tracks. Keep an eye out for the glossy black cockatoos that feed on the seeds of ripe she-oak fruit during spring.
Summer
School's out and it's a great time for a family camping holiday – spend your days swimming, snorkelling, fishing and exploring the park's attractions.
Winter
Catch the whales on their journey north along the coast.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
20°C and 26°C
Highest recorded
41.7°C
Winter temperature
Average
12°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
4°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
343.7mm
Facilities
- There's a camp kitchen with hot plate, cook top, fridge/freezer, microwave and sink with hot water.
- A garbage/recycling station is available, as well as a Dump Ezy for caravans (key required).
- Campers may visit the Trial Bay Gaol and museum for an additional entrance fee
Amenities
- Laundry facilities are available
- PIN codes are required to access the amenities. PIN codes are provided in your booking confirmation email or during check-in at the office.
- Day-use amenities have cold showers and toilets and can be accessed without a PIN code
Toilets
Accessible toilets are available in 4 amenity blocks.
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
- Shelter areas are available
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (coin-operated)
Boat ramp
- There is a 4WD boat ramp off Cardwell Street, Arakoon (open all year round).
- There is also a concrete boat ramp at Laggers Point (closed 9pm to 7am during NSW and QLD school holidays and during major events).
Cafe/kiosk
- Trial Bay Kiosk Restaurant is a short walk from the campground.
Carpark
Drinking water
- Drinking water is available onsite. Taps are located throughout the park.
Showers
Accessible showers are available in 3 amenity blocks.
- Hot showers
- Cold showers
Electric power
- Power is available on powered campsites with most also including water and sullage
- Main, Beach Front and Terrace amenity blocks have lights and power points
- The Sea Front amenity blocks have lights only
- Little Bay amenity blocks (not in a campground) have no power
- Please note that power points are not to be used for recharging car batteries
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
- Wheelchairs can access most areas within the park, assistance to the beach is required.
- Most campsites are wheelchair accessible, with parking next to campsites.
- Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in four amenity blocks.
- Wheelchair accessible showers are available in three amenity blocks.
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
- Amplified music is not permitted
- Please do not tie ropes, clothing, towels, hammocks or camping and fishing equipment to the trees.
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Fires are prohibited at this campground, including cookers using wood or open flame. Please bring your own gas barbecue.
Generators
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Please contact the Trial Bay Gaol Visitor Centre office in advance to notify us if you intend to visit with a certified assistance animal.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Trial Bay Gaol campground is in Arakoon National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Abundant bird life
Birds are abundant in Arakoon National Park. 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-oaks produce fruit, glossy black cockatoos come in to feed on the ripe seeds. Despite its small size, Arakoon harbours several threatened species, including the osprey and glossy black cockatoo. You're also likely to spot wallabies and echidnas, and the nocturnal brush-tailed phascogales and sugar gliders. During September and October, you can often see humpback whales just offshore, on their return journey to Antarctica.
Fascinating heritage
Dating from 1886, Trial Bay Gaol is a unique example of a public works prison. It was also used as an internment camp in World War I and today the ruins continue to intrigue visitors. It'll take you about an hour to wander through the gaol and the museum. The region has high cultural and spiritual significance to the local Dunghutti people.
- Bridle trail Bridle Trail walking track is an easy short walk offering a glimpse of the historic heritage of Trial Bay Gaol in Arakoon National Park near Kempsey.
- Friends of Trial Bay Gaol The historic ruins of Trial Bay Gaol, in Arakoon National Park on the NSW Mid North Coast, are a significant heritage area. Friends of Trial Bay Gaol invite you to volunteer to help in the protection and promotion of this amazing piece of local history, especially during the annual Sculpture in the Gaol.
- Heritage detectives Help unlock mysteries of the past while exploring historic Trial Bay Gaol from top to bottom. Who were the prisoners and where did they came from? What crimes did they commit to deserve their punishment and what work they carry out in captivity?
- History mysteries Explore the old granite gaol at Trial Bay and help to unlock mysteries of the past on the History Mysteries school excursion. This is a Stage 2 (Years 3-4) excursion to Arakoon National Park, focusing on History.
- Monument Hill walking track Featuring stunning coastal views, the easy Monument Hill walk takes in the historic monument built for German gaol internees before finishing at Little Bay picnic area.
Ideal family getaway
Arakoon National Park is in a magnificent natural setting with a spectacular coastline. There are coastal walks with wonderful views and places to picnic and excellent beachside camping and cottage accommodation. If you’re looking for a place to swim and snorkel, head to sheltered Trial Bay and the kiosk is nearby if you’re looking for a relaxed lunch or dinner. The picnic area at Little Bay is popular with young families, offering barbecues and a large grassed area for games.
- Front Beach Front Beach offers family friendly options including swimming, paddling, liloing and picnicking in Arakoon National Park on the mid North Coast of NSW.
- Little Bay picnic area Little Bay, a popular beach picnic spot near South West Rocks on the north coast where you’ll find shaded tables and a kangaroo or two.
Scenic headlands
The Smoky Cape Adamellite which forms Little Smoky and the Arakoon peninsula is significant as the only coastal outcropping of granite between Bundaberg in Queensland and Moruya Heads in southern NSW. It was used to construct the prison. The naturally vegetated hillslopes of Arakoon form a scenic backdrop to Trial Bay and the popular holiday town of South West Rocks.
- 2-day Port Macquarie motorcycle adventure Enjoy superb scenery as you ride through Arakoon National Park and beyond on this guided adventure with Endeavour Motorcycle Tours, near Port Macquarie.
- Bridle trail Bridle Trail walking track is an easy short walk offering a glimpse of the historic heritage of Trial Bay Gaol in Arakoon National Park near Kempsey.
- Heritage detectives Help unlock mysteries of the past while exploring historic Trial Bay Gaol from top to bottom. Who were the prisoners and where did they came from? What crimes did they commit to deserve their punishment and what work they carry out in captivity?
- Mermaid Pools Mermaid Pools is closed to visitors because it's extremely unsafe for swimming. Many people have been seriously injured here. The pools are located near South West Rocks and Trial Bay in Arakoon National Park.
- Monument Hill walking track Featuring stunning coastal views, the easy Monument Hill walk takes in the historic monument built for German gaol internees before finishing at Little Bay picnic area.
Traditional lands of Dunghutti people
The region surrounding Arakoon National Park has high cultural and spiritual significance to the local Dunghutti people. There are numerous Aboriginal sites within the park of great spiritual and cultural significance, with dreaming stories and cultural learning part of them, still passed on today. These include middens, stone arrangements and spiritual sites. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich culture.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The humpback whale has the longest migratory path of any mammal, travelling over 5000km from its summer feeding grounds in Antarctica to its breeding grounds in the subtropics. Its playful antics, such as body-rolling, breaching and pectoral slapping, are a spectacular sight for whale watchers in NSW national parks.
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Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.
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Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.