We had a long weekend and decided to have holidays somewhere around the coast of New South Wales. We bindfold Erica and she put her finger in the map and Southwest Rocks came up.

We never been to Southwest Rocks or hear about it and were curious to see what it look like. At least the beaches should be OK as they are anywhere in Australia.

After some 5 hours driving we arrived at Southwest Rocks and were amazed how beautiful the place was.

South West Rocks is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, near the mouth of the Macleay River. It is approximately 40 km from Kempsey.

Beautiful scenery, numerous beaches, and man-made attractions such as Trial Bay Gaol and Smoky Cape Lighthouse are popular tourist attractions. Because of the warm ocean in the area fed by the East Coast current which flows down from the tropical regions it is possible to swim all year round.

South West Rocks was founded in 1889 and established itself as a popular bathing resort with people of the Macleay Valley. South West Rocks got its name most likely from the captains of passing ships, who claimed it was safest to moor vessels near the rocks, south west of Laggers Point (the point on which Trial Bay Gaol is built).

On 13 May 1770, Captain James Cook observed smoke from a fire on a mountain which he named Smoky Cape. The headland in front of the mountain is now the location of Smoky Cape Lighthouse.