Destinations > Arakoon State Conservation Area, NSW

Like most areas managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Arakoon is rich with nature. The walking tracks pass through a diverse range of native flowers and trees, many of them identified and explained via interpretive plaques erected by the park's staff. But what is sure to catch your attention is the wealth of bird life. Regular visitors to our camp included kookaburras, a magnificent great egret, dozens of tiny finches and every day we were treated to the aerial display of a pair of brahminy kites cruising along the shoreline.

Just about every aspect of a good holiday is on tap at Arakoon. You can sit back and relax, wet a line on the beach, examine some of Australia's colourful history or flog your 4WD out on the beach. Whatever takes your fancy seems to be within minutes of the comfortable campground. As you pack up to leave Arakoon, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking around for the choicest campsite to book for your next visit.

DOING TIME
The main and dominating feature at Arakoon is the old Trial Bay Gaol. Built as a public works prison in the late 1890s, it was constructed from exceptionally hard local granite and served as an internment centre for enemy aliens during the First World War. Internees who passed away during the war years were buried on a hill overlooking the jail and fellow internees erected a memorial to them. The short walk up to the monument is rewarded with stunning views over the jail and Trial Bay. The jail and monument also featured in a SBS TV movie about the lives of the German internees. The jail and museum is open for public inspection daily and should not be missed.

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TRIAL AND ERROR
After being wrecked in the deep bay in 1816, the convicts who stole the 'Trial' built another vessel from the remains and tried to escape. Aborigines told how the escapees capsised at sea and drowned. Meanwhile the captain of the 'Trial' and his fellow captives tried to walk to Newcastle. Reports suggest they were lost in the bush and never seen again. However, a woman and her baby who were convict stowaways on the vessel, were believed to have fallen in with Aborigines and have lived with them.

Trial Bay continued to be the bane of many a ship. Even as recently as 1972 three vessels became stranded on the beach after breaking their moorings while riding out some rough weather in the bay. The showboat 'Sydney Queen' and vehicular ferries 'Koondooloo' and 'Lurgurena' were being towed to Manila for scrap but never made it. Instead they became a real tourist attraction at Trial Bay for many years before finally rusting away.

Getting there
The Arakoon State Conservation Area is just east of South West Rocks, around 460km north of Sydney, and 30 minutes east from Kempsey. There are two turnoffs on the Pacific Highway to South West Rocks. From the south the turnoff is just before the bridge over the Macleay River at Kempsey. The second, for northbound travellers, is a couple of kilometres south of Clybucca, look for Plumbers Lane on your left.

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