Trial Bay Gaol, Prison ruins in Arakoon National Park, Australia
The sandstone walls of Trial Bay Gaol rise against the coastal landscape, featuring guard towers and cell blocks built with local materials in 1886.
Prison laborers constructed the facility over 13 years to build a breakwater between Sydney and Brisbane, though the maritime project never succeeded.
The structure transformed into an internment camp during World War I, housing German-descent residents under government supervision from 1915 to 1918.
The site opens daily for self-guided tours with entry fees, providing access to a museum that displays prisoner artifacts and historical photographs.
Visitors can climb to the guard tower lookout to observe passing whales during their annual migration between June and November along Trial Bay.
Location: New South Wales
Location: Kempsey Shire
Inception: 1877
Address: Cardwell Street, Arakoon, NSW 2431
GPS coordinates: -30.87718,153.07025
Latest update: May 19, 2025 12:24
Dorrigo National Park
63.1 km
Hat Head National Park
24.1 km
Smoky Cape Lighthouse
5.3 km
St Thomas' Anglican Church, Port Macquarie
63.6 km
North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
64.7 km
Willi Willi National Park
64.1 km
Bongil Bongil National Park
51.7 km
Dennis Bridge
63.7 km
Ferguson's Cottage
63.4 km
Hammond and Wheatley Commercial Emporium
50.2 km
Dunggir National Park
45.6 km
Macleay River railway bridge, Kempsey
32.7 km
Kempsey Post Office
31.3 km
Port Macquarie First Burying Ground
63.1 km
Yarriabini National Park
15 km
Pipers Creek Lime Kilns
46.1 km
Old Port Macquarie Courthouse
63.3 km
Port Macquarie Second Burying Ground
64 km
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Hall, Kempsey
31.1 km
Arakoon National Park
315 m
Slim Dusty Centre
35.5 km
Flynn's Beach Resort
64.8 km
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
25.6 km
Flynn's Beach
64.4 km
Bellingen Library
50.1 km
Horse trough
33.2 km
George Edmunds Reserve
50.3 km
North Smoky Beach
4.7 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes