Hat Head National Park & Arakoon State Conservation Area

Hat Head National Park boasts long, sweeping beaches, huge sand dunes and rugged headland scenery. It's a perfect spot for bushwalking, cycling, fishing, swimming, picnics or simply admiring the wonderful views. Smoky Cape, Hat Head or Kemps Corner offer great vistas of forests, swamps and ocean.  Arakoon State Conservation Area is also home to the fascinating Trial Bay Gaol (1886), which was built as a public works prison but was also used as a World War I internment camp. The gaol is surrounded by rocky foreshores and pleasant sandy beaches.

There are campgrounds in the park, or you can enjoy a couple of nights in wonderful isolation at Smoky Cape lighthouse keepers' cottages. The lighthouse itself is also worth a visit, and guided tours are available. 

Hat Head is located 24km from Kempsey and there are a number of access points. From the Pacific Highway, follow the signs to South West Rocks. For Arakoon, you also head to South West Rocks and the main visitor area at Arakoon is at Trial Bay Gaol, 4km east of there.