After visiting the nearby Trial Bay Gaol, we stopped at Back Creek Bridge before driving further up the coast. Located in the town of South West Rocks, the footbridge crosses a creek (called South West Rocks Creek) to a track through the mangroves.
A large car park next to the creek has room for plenty of visitors. Opposite the bridge a café serves meals and drinks, so you can sit and relax while admiring the scenery. We bought a coffee, sat near the creek before walking over the footbridge.
The bridge has a raised section towards the far bank. This allows boats to pass underneath but is also popular for children to jump off into the deeper water. Younger children and their families were closer to the shore in the shallow protected lagoon area.
Lagoon and BridgeFootbridge Over South West Rocks Creek
Located in Urunga on the NSW mid-north coast, the Urunga Lagoon Footbridge is a 1km long walkway through mangroves to the Pacific Ocean. Commencing in 1988, construction continued in three stages, until final completion in 2010. This wheelchair friendly walk is a great way to experience the coast from a sheltered lagoon to mangrove swamps and the surf of the Pacific Ocean.
Getting There
Urunga is a 90 minutes drive north of Port Macquarie, or a 30 minute drive south from Coffs Harbour. The small carpark near the caravan park quickly becomes full, but we were luck and found a spot straight away.
Facilities
A toilet block and change rooms allow you to change before and after swimming. Showers also let you wash the sand and salt water off before you leave.
When we visited, a coffee van was selling refreshments and snacks, which was great as we bought some and relaxed before walking on the footbridge.
Urunga Lagoon Footbridge
At around 1,000m long and flat this is an easy walk, which also makes it popular. Families were having a great time, with kids jumping off into the water and swimming around. Remember to check the tides and water depth though, as the area is not patrolled by lifeguards.
Around 300m into the walk, a second path diverges to the right into the mangroves. Badly damaged, this section is closed while awaiting repairs.
Walking along the footbridge, we had a great view of the Urunga Lagoon and surrounding mangrove forest. Extending as far as the mouth of the Bellingen River, the footbridge finishes on a surf beach where you can see the Pacific Ocean.
What Did We Think?
This was a great place to sit and relax and then have a nice easy walk. We came here after visiting the Urunga Wetlands Boardwalk. This is a good order to do them, as there are no facilities at the wetlands and access to the water is not allowed. Doing them this way would let any kids have a swim, go to the toilet or buy some drinks and snacks.
Information BoardUrunga LagoonView toward the mangrove swampBellingen River entering the ocean
Now a heritage listed ruin, Trial Bay Gaol originally served as housing for a prisoner labour force to build a nearby breakwater. The breakwater was intended to provide a safe harbour for ships sailing up the eastern Australian coast. Construction of the gaol commenced in 1877, with work on the breakwater following in 1889 after delays caused by funding shortfalls.
Planning however underestimated the strength of local storms with the work constantly washed away. By 1903 only 20% of the breakwater had been completed, but with huge cost over-runs. Improvements in sea-going vessels and with an overland route established, the project was cancelled and the gaol closed.
The gaol found a renewed purpose with the commencement of World War One, when it was used as an internment camp. High ranking Germans and prominent German businessmen were housed here until July 1918 when they were moved to Holsworthy Interment camp.
Following its second closure, all moveable fittings were sold. It then fell into disrepair and became the runs we see today.
Getting There
Located in the Arakoon National Park and managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service Trial Bay Gaol is roughly an hour’s drive north of Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-north coast. We drove from Port Macquarie and made it a day trip in the area, including nearby South West Rocks.
Walking through the ruins shows how bleak living here would have been. The cells are small and would have been cold in winter and hot in summer. The roofless buildings and hollow interiors have a haunting atmosphere and were great fun to walk through.
Watch out for the resident kangaroos, there were around ten there when we visited. One even had a joey in its pouch.
Views over the coastline are spectacular especially from the guard towers on the walls.
Once we had finished with the gaol, we drove through the nearby camping ground for a close-up look of the coast. The area is very popular with campers many of them were on the water fishing in boats.
What Did We Think?
We really enjoyed our visit here because of the ruins and spectacular views. Its also easy to get to with many other great things to see nearby.
Entrance to the GaolMain Gaol BuildingCourtyardArchway to the gaol cellsInside the GaolOne of the gaol cellsRusted barred windowKangaroo with a joey in her pouchShoreline at Trial BayShoreline at Trial Bay
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
