Fodor's Expert Review Trial Bay Gaol

Trial Bay Gaol, a jail dating from the 1870s, occupies a dramatic position on the cliffs overlooking the seaside village of South West Rocks, 100 km (62 miles) north of Port Macquarie. The building, now partly in ruins, was used to teach useful skills to the prisoners who constructed it, but the project proved too expensive and was abandoned in 1903. During World War I the building served as an internment camp for some 500 Germans. It's free to walk around the outside of the ruins and visit the beach; the A$11 admission includes entry to a small museum. To get there, travel north through Kempsey and turn off to South West Rocks and follow the signs. The Trial Bay Kiosk Restaurant is a wonderful spot for lunch with a glass of wine while enjoying the stunning views across the bay—the fresh local seafood is always superb—but it's also open for breakfast (daily) and dinner on Friday and Saturday.