South West Rocks

It was one of those particular days when we can not agree where to go next so we need to be alert not to miss any road signs that may lead to a good rest area or camp site. With 2 GPS systems in tow we still can not fully rely on technology because they most often than not,  led us to the wrong place. Driving more than an hour from Coffs Harbour, the editor turned left at a turn off to South West Rocks, about 15 kms off the Pacific Highway. The camp site we are heading to is in Arakoon State Conservation Area which is located 3 kms east of South West Rocks. The reserve is home to Trial Bay Gaol, a jail ruin surrounded by rocky foreshores and pleasant sandy beaches. This camp site is the best that we have been so far!



The local skippies welcomed us in numbers.

  Camp facilities are average and the site itself is well maintained but it is the whole town itself that really amazes me. The jail ruin is just metres away, there's a lighthouse not far and the beach and river view is perfect! Its a perfect tourist destination. For $28 (off-peak) a night for powered sites, I'd say it is great value. We should have stayed longer but the four-night experience in South West Rocks ROCKED!
 

View of the camp ground from the town's main beach.

 

We sat in the grass and enjoyed not just the view of the beach 
but also a pod of dolphins playing less than a stone's throw away.

The busy part of the beach.


Driving around town we looked for a tackle shop so we can finally fish! We tried doing it in the rocky part of the beach one day but we were unsuccessful and we even got soaked because the waves suddenly swelled. Anyway, the editor decided we just hire a tinny and fish in the river. He said it is cheaper to hire a boat since we don't have to buy baits and lures all the time because I always lose them. Well I say its always part of fishing.

This is where we fished.

Getting ready!!!

Do I look excited? Well I am very excited for my first catch.

My first catch was a flathead!

I caught a little bream.

The editor caught a flathead too.

Our 2nd day in South West Rocks was spent touring the jail ruins and the lighthouse. These two historical structures are very popular tourist attractions in NSW. Trial Bay Gaol opened in 1886 as a works prison and was utilised in World War 1 as a German internment camp. It was closed in 1918. The jail and museum entry is $7.50 per adult. Smoky Cape lighthouse which is 10-minute drive away is free entrance. But they have bed and breakfast there if you want to stay overnight. I posted several good pictures so you too can enjoy a tour of the lighthouse and jail ruins. Have a look.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

140 metre above sea level - it is the
highest lighthouse in NSW.



 

  

  

  

 




 

  

  

  

 

  



Coffs Harbour to Nambucca Heads

After Grafton, we drove 85 kms south to explore the coastal city of Coffs Harbour and nearby towns including Nambucca Heads which is 40 kms further south. Well actually we toured more of the nearby towns than Coffs Harbour itself. Touring NSW has been mostly along the coast because of the highway being near it. So this time we drove further inland to see explore the Waterfalls Way. While in Coffs Harbour, we camped in Bellingen showgrounds which is about 35 kms southwest of the city We stayed there for 3 days so enough to see some of the must-sees. 

This was our route when we visited Coff Harbour.

Coffs Harbour is located on the north coast of New South Wales about 540 km north of Sydney and 440 km south of Brisbane. The region has a wintertime population of over 70,000 people that swells to 100,000 in the holiday seasons. It is said that Coffs Harbour has the most liveable climate in Australia, and it is nestled between a high mountain backdrop and dozens of "unspoiled" beaches. But when we were there it was like being in Rocky again. It was stinking hot with strong winds.





The city's main industry is farming (mainly banana) thus the "Big Banana"

  

Driving around the city, we headed to the marina and saw several people walking up a hill so we decided to see what they were up to. They were in fact heading to Muttonbird Island which is just out to one side of the harbour. The island, which is effectively one big hill, is connected to the land via a breakwall alongside the International Marina. It was reasonably steep but is a short climb of about 500m paved walkway that runs across the island to the other side. It is home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters, also known as muttonbirds, the island is a protected Nature Reserve. Unfortunately, we did not see any birds when we got there but on top of the hill is a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, marina and the mountains.

The Coffs Harbour International Marina

Coffs Harbour Jetty is a popular spot to fish.

View of the Jetty from the breakwall.

 

View of the marina from the island

View of the Muttonbird Island from the breakwall.

Muttonbird Island

The birds depart to the Philippines and Indonesia from mid of April and May.

The Muttonbirds burrows.

From our campsite in Bellingen, we drove to Dorrigo to see some waterfalls along Waterfall Way. The Waterfall Way takes you through or close to several national parks including Dorrigo, New England, Oxley and Cathedral Rock and there are many thrilling lookout points along the way. The Dorrigo World Heritage National Park which gives the road its name include Ebor Falls, Mihi Falls, Dangar Falls and Wollomombi Falls to name a few.

Below are some of the good photos we captured from the national park, Ebor, Dangar and Newell Falls.

Dorrigo National Park Skywalk

Amazing view from the Skywalk.

Dangar Falls

It is small but picturesque.

Ebor Falls

Ebor lower falls from the lookout.

Ebor upper falls from the lookout.



The view is just amazing.



Newell Falls along the highway.



The next day, the editor suggested we do a reconnaisance mission to Nambucca Heads for they might have a nice camping site in town. So we drove 47.4 kms south and drive around town which is basically along the coast. It is a popular holiday town and visitors mark their stay by painting the Vee Wall which a a long breakwater wall. We took a walk along coast and took some photos for you to see.



  






This is the Vee Wall.

You can see murals, grafitti and mosaics - Some nice ones.