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Trial Bay Gaol
Attraction
Park alerts
Arakoon National Park
1 current alert · Checked 14 Oct 2026, 7:05 pm
- Elsewhere in the parkClosed areasUntil 30 Oct 2026
Area permanently closed - Mermaid Pools
Access to Mermaid Pools is permanently closed including for swimming. Sudden large swells and tides create major waves that wash over the rocks and pools.
Do not access this area. The severe conditions at this site have caused a number of significant injuries and deaths in the past.
Mermaid Pools have never been a designated visitor site due to the extreme nature of the surf and tides at this location. There is no approved public access walking track to Mermaid Pools.
For further information call the NPWS Verges Creek area office on 02 6561 6700.
About
Step back in time on a guided tour of Trial Bay Gaol, soaking up the history and the amazing coastal views that surround it in Arakoon National Park.
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. Feeling energetic? Try the nearby Powder Magazine walking track or Monument Hill walking track.
Know before you go
73 Trial Bay Gaol Road, Arakoon, NSW, 2431 · Arakoon National Park · North Coast
For a glimpse into Australian history, head to South West Rocks to explore the historic ruins of Trial Bay Gaol in Arakoon National Park. Make sure you see the view from the sentry’s lookout.
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Where you'll be
73 Trial Bay Gaol Road
Arakoon NSW 2431
Hours
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Daily: 09:00–16:30