Located on the New South Wales Mid North Coast approximately one hour north of Port Macqurie, South West Rocks is a picturesque beachside holiday destination near the mouth of the Macleay River. The perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, this sleepy little seaside getaway offers a winning combination of stunning beaches and national parks along with one of the best cave dives in the world just off the coast. All of this sits side by side with intriguing heritage from the colonial era including the Trial Bay Gaol built in 1886 and the Smoky Cape Lighthouse built in 1891. The perfect place to base yourself, South West Rocks is just a short drive from a number of other little coastal towns including Crescent Head, Kempsey and Gladstone – all worth a day trip as part of your visit.
When planning a visit to South West Rocks, there are plenty of options for places to stay regardless of your budget or preferred travel style. South West Rocks accommodation ranges from full-service hotels and affordable motels to holiday parks, lovingly restored guest houses, charming bed and breakfasts and beachside campgrounds where you can park your caravan or camper trailer or find a space to pitch your tent. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay where you can truly get away from it all the Hat Head National Park and Arakoon National Park both offer a place to camp. Book Hotels Now
History buffs will love the fascinating history and rich heritage of the South West Rocks area. Perched on clifftops overlooking the shimmering sea below, Trial Bay Gaol are the historic ruins of a WWI internment camp. Built over 13 years, the gaol opened in 1886 and housed German descendants living in Australia. Not far from the gaol is an excellent fishing spot at Little Bay Beach. Other South West Rocks attractions include one of Australia’s oldest lighthouses – Smoky Cape Lighthouse. Boasting spectacular views, the lighthouse is also the perfect spot to spy whales during their annual migration from May to November. Those with more active pursuits will enjoy the many walking tracks in Arakoon and Hat Head National Parks where natural beauty and wildlife abounds. However if aquatic attractions are what you fancy, Fish Rock Cave offers a thrill for scuba divers with a 125m cave that runs through a small island amazing marine life call home.
Located 454km north of Sydney, South West Rocks is approximately 5 hours’ drive time from Sydney and 5 and a half hours’ drive south of Brisbane. The drive north from Sydney is five hours and south from Brisbane 5h 40min. Interstate visitors can fly into Sydney or Brisbane and hire a car for the leisurely coastal drive to South West Rocks. Transport NSW also operates bus and train services from a number of key locations in and around Sydney and Kempsey.
