Walk to Arakoon and Trial Bay Gaol

Difficulty: Easy

The most popular walk in South West Rocks is the beach walk towards Arakoon and Trial Bay Gaol. An alternative is the well-developed and shady track parallel to Landsborough Street and Phillip Drive.

There are numerous options to shorten or extend a walk in this area but you need to consider the tides.

Park in the area near the Surf Lifesaving Club.

For a complete circuit of nine kilometres, walk past the playground and along the footpath with holiday apartments on the right and Saltwater Creek on the left. At the T-junction turn right and after 50 metres keep right on the footpath through Brighton Park.

After 700 metres, near the roundabout, turn left to follow the path. After walking three kilometres in total, you reach the 'Big 4 Sunshine Resort' with Cafe.

200 metres on, you pass Fishos Trail. beach access, on the left. After another 700 metres, you reach Caldwell Road. Turn left towards Trial Bay Gaol. After 400 metres you pass another beach access on the left. You can continue on the road to the historic Gaol where a National Parks shop with information and the museum is located. There is also a cafe and restaurant, named The Kiosk, on the grounds which you pass before reaching the Gaol.

From there you can walk down the hill through the camping area and return to South West Rocks along the beach. The total distance from the Surf Lifesaving Club to Trial Bay Gaol is 5 kilometres. The walk along the beach is approximately 4 kilometres.

Credit: Macleay Walking Trails by Christa Schwoebel and John Cruickshanks