South West Rocks is not the kind of name that makes you want to go out of your way to visit a place. That’s probably just as those lucky travellers who have discovered this small, unpretentious community 52 miles (84 kilometres) north of busy Port Macquarie like it. Southwest Rocks is the kind of place you go to when you want to escape the crowds and just sit back and relax.
Before you start to think that South West Rocks is just a geographical location southwest of someplace else, you should know that it is actually the name of a thriving coastal community of over 4000. The town was first settled as a place to house low-security prisoners in the late 1800s. Their first job was to build a breakwater around the bay beneath the rocky cliffs on the southern end of the settlement. That may be how the town got its name.
The breakwater project was abandoned when the prison was closed in 1903 and it wasn’t until the First World War that the prison was repopulated with German and Austrian immigrants, many of whom were 2nd and 3rd generation Australians. Life was not hard for these detainees, who were never considered a real threat and they were among the first to take advantage of the beach at South West Rocks when they were allowed exercise and relaxation breaks during the day before being incarcerated at night.
Trial Bay Gaol still stands and is one of South West Rocks biggest tourist attractions. Today, it is a museum that houses photographs and memorabilia from those early years. An attractive structure built of pink and grey granite; it stands at the edge of a cliff and commands a wonderful ocean view. Except for the imposing walls that surround it, it is hard to imagine that it was a gaol.
One of South West Rocks’ most famous attractions lies about a mile offshore. Hailed as one of Australia’s top 10 diving spots and well-known to divers throughout the world, Fish Rock Cave is an incredible 125 metre (about a hundred yards) long cave that extends all the way through the middle of Green Island. It is an important habitat for grey nurse sharks and is also inhabited by an amazing variety of other sea life.
Back on land, you will be delighted by the relaxed atmosphere in “downtown” South West Rocks. As soon as you arrive in town, you begin to relax and unwind as you drive down its wide, tree-lined streets. No doubt, the first thing you will do is stop in for an alfresco lunch and cappuccino in one of the many cafes that line the main road.
Even if you thought you were just going to spend the day at South West Rocks, you will end up wanting to stay longer. The Tourist Park is one of the more popular South West Rocks accommodation options, but if you want something more private or luxurious, there are many great places you can stay. If you’re traveling during the height of the tourist season, be sure and book ahead, because South West Rocks is an increasingly popular holiday destination.
