Monument Hill Loop
South West Rocks
If you're visiting South West Rocks and and looking for a family-friendly hike with some great coastal views, try this walk in the Arakoon National Park. The Monument Hill Loop trail features a couple of interesting historical sights and between June and October there’s the added bonus that like us, you might see some whales!
Distance: 3km
Time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy - moderate, some hills
Highlights:
Spectacular coastal views across Trial Bay and the surrounding coastline. If you're walking late in the day, I'm told the sunsets from Laggers Point are spectacular. It’s one of the few places on Australia's east coast where you can see the sun set over water.
Interesting history along the path and at Trial Bay Gaol
Whales, kangaroos and other wildlife
Beaches and picnic areas
Trail Tips:
Autumn (March-May) and spring (September-November) provide the most comfortable walking conditions with mild temperatures and clear coastal views.
June-October is best for seeing humpback whales migrate along the coast.
The wind can be strong on the exposed coastal sections so pack an extra layer.
Summer can be quite hot with limited shade along parts of the track.
Early morning and late afternoon offer the best wildlife spotting
Amenities are available about halfway around the loop at the Little Bay picnic area.
Pack swimmers, sunscreen, water and insect spray. Good walking shoes will make it easier to navigate any rocky or muddy sections.
Getting to Trial Bay Gaol
South West Rocks is about 40 minutes east of Kempsey on the Pacific Highway. If you're coming from Sydney, it's about a four and a half hour drive north.
Once you hit town, follow the signs to Trial Bay Gaol. The Monument Hill Loop Walk starts from the car park there. As this is a loop walk, you could also set off from Little Bay Picnic Area.
The Trail
The Monument Hill walking track is suitable for most people with a reasonable level of fitness. It combines the Monument Hill track, part of the Bridle Trail and the Powder Magazine Track to form a loop trail.
The loop takes about 1-2 hours depending on how often you stop to swim, explore or take in the views.
From the car park, follow the signs to the start of the Monument Hill Track. This first part of the walk heads up through bushland with casuarinas, banksias and other natives lining the path.
Towards the top of the path is the German Monument which gives the track its name. The stone obelisk is dedicated to German internees who died at the nearby Trial Bay Gaol during World War I. You might see flannel flowers in this area. They were planted by the internees as they reminded them of edelweiss back home.
Leaving the monument, the track climbs to the top of the hill and along a ridge where you have sweeping views out to sea. This is where we spotted a few whales.
The trail then winds down to Little Bay Beach and picnic area where you might want to stop to swim or use the amenities. From the picnic area follow signs for the Bridle Trail and the Powder Magazine Track which branches off it to the right.
Little Bay Picnic Area
The Powder Magazine track takes you back toward the gaol which you’ll get glimpses of along the way. On this track, you’ll pass an old powder magazine, one of the few remaining examples of early Australian stonemasonry. Dating back to the 1880’s the structure once housed explosives used to construct a breakwater to create a safe harbour in Trail Bay.
To close the loop, follow the trail to the Trial Bay Gaol Access Road which leads back to the gaol and car park.
Wildlife
The Arakoon National Park is a wildlife haven and birdlife is particularly abundant here. Soaring above the cliffs you could spot eagles, falcons, ospreys and hawks and in the bushland and trees, fantails, wrens, honeyeaters, cockatoos and others.
If you’re walking in the early morning or late afternoon you’ll more than likely see Eastern grey kangaroos grazing in the open areas of Little Bay and around the gaol. Echidnas and wallabies are around too but are not often seen as they're pretty shy. Oh and look out for snakes in summer.
Out to sea, look out for those humpback whales, especially visible during the migration season, from June - October.
In the Area
South West Rocks is a popular holiday destination as you can tell by the numerous caravan and holiday parks in the area. If you have time to explore the area further, here are a few suggestons
Trail Bay Gaol -Built by hand over a 13-year period and completed in 1886, Trial Bay Gaol used first to house convicts and later, during World War I, as an internment camp for people of German descent. Guided tours allow visitors to explore the gaol’s ruins and hear the stories of its inmates.
Horseshoe Bay Beach is a sheltered beach, surrounded by pine trees and popular with families.
Smoky Cape Lighthouse is about 15 minutes drive away. The views from the base of the lighthouse are spectacular and down on the lawns watch for grazing kangaroos. A short (2km) trail sets off from here and winds down through she-oaks and rainforest to North Smoky Beach below.
Smokey Cape Lighthouse