Thursday 9th Oct

Thursday 9^th

Continuing south we had another good run the wind hadn’t got up so we didn’t have to punch into that and although we had a lot of rain over-night and had to pack David’s tent wet, we drove out of the inclement weather by the time we got to Southwest Rocks. Fuel on the outskirts of Grafton cost $1.62/lt for diesel.

Friday 10^th Oct 2014

Southwest Rocks situated a few kilometres south of the Macleay River mouth is another one of those discovered ideal holiday centres. Apparently what was once a sleepy little fishing haven is now a growing holiday centre and a picturesque spot it is at that. Once again the township is situated on a raised bluff, nothing as high as Yamba but raised enough to create great views out over the ocean from the pub that is in a prime position on one side of the road running parallel with the coast and on the other side of the road is a terraced caravan park set amongst giant Norfolk Pines and over looking the beautiful sandy and sheltered Horseshoe Bay. A variety of small shops form the CBD (couple of dozen) with the usual seaside village fare, couple of bakeries that sell coffee and takeaways as well as bread and cakes (and great vanilla slices), bottle shop, butchers, chemist, several boutiques, banking facilities, souvenirs and knicnacks and a tattoo parlour. No doubt there were others but that gives you an idea. A kilometre or so down the road is an IGA and a few shops and a couple more kls there is a reasonable Coles shopping centre.

We spent a couple of nights in the Top Tourist caravan park within walking distance of the town situated on a tidal water way, very peaceful, plenty of room and very good facilities.

Just south of SW Rocks on the southern side of Trial Bay is the old Trial Bay jail. Trial Bay was considered to be a suitable place to build a safe haven for sailing ships enroute between Brisbane and Sydney and it required a large breakwall causeway to be built out from the headland to protect the wharf and anchorage. Convict labour was used to build the causeway and the jail was built to house the convicts. Only a third of the causeway got built and most of that got washed away and by this time ships had improved and didn’t need to stop at Trial Bay. The prison closed and was stripped of everything. At the outbreak of WW1 hundreds of German settlers were rounded up, only the males, and interned in the prison. Two to a cell the cell doors weren’t locked at night but the main gate was secured and no one attempted to escape. As the prison had been stripped of everything all the interns had were the few comforts they brought with them in their suitcases. It’s an interesting place and worth the visit (not the fee).

Incidentally contrary to what I thought, the name Trial Bay has nothing to do with the legal system, it was named after a ship that sunk in the vicinity.

Seven or eight kilometres to the south of the jail a road winds its way up to the Smoky Head lighthouse so named by Captain Cook who observed smoke from fires lit by Aborigines. It’s a short but very steep climb from the car park up to the lighthouse itself but well worth the views. The light is un-manned but still working and from the base you can see the large prism rotating. There are a couple of picturesque lighthouse keeper cottages close by that are now holiday rentals. They look rather charming all painted brilliant white and command a fabulous view.