Trial Bay Gaol: A Twilight Detour Worth Every Minute

Sometimes the best travel moments are the unplanned ones. On my way to Port Macquarie for a four-day stay, I made a quick detour to Trial Bay Gaol and wow, am I glad I did. I scrambled up to the nearest high point, threw my drone in the air, and had just enough time to catch the last light of the day fading over the coast. Golden hour waits for no one, but this time it played nicely!

Trial Bay Gaol sits on a dramatic headland in Arakoon National Park, where crashing waves meet ancient sandstone walls in the most cinematic way possible. Built in the 1870s and used as an internment camp during World War I, this place has serious history layered into every stone. From the air, the old prison's octagonal layout looks almost elegant. Its hard to believe it was once home to hardship and heartbreak. The views across the bay toward the mountains are absolutely stunning, especially as the sky turns that impossible shade of pink and purple at dusk.

If you're ever making the drive along the NSW mid-north coast, do yourself a favour and add Trial Bay Gaol to the itinerary. Give yourself more time than I did. I was racing against the sunset. It's one of those places that reminds you just how ridiculously beautiful this country really is. Now, onward to Port Macquarie but here's some shots to remember it by.