Front Beach is a sheltered 3.5 km crescent of golden sand wrapping around Trial Bay within Arakoon National Park on the Mid North Coast of NSW. Protected from the open ocean by the Arakoon peninsula, the bay's calm, clear waters make it ideal for family-friendly snorkeling, swimming, and paddling. The beach slopes gently, offering sandy shallows that extend well offshore, with rocky reefs near the headlands harbouring colourful fish. Backed by coastal heath and dramatic granite headlands (the only coastal granite outcrop between Bundaberg and Moruya), the beach offers stunning views of Smoky Cape and Little Smoky. The adjacent historic Trial Bay Gaol ruins add a fascinating cultural layer to your visit.
Front Beach (South West Rocks)
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.6 mSwell Period 7.3 sWind Speed 13 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Rip currents
Unpatrolled beach that can experience strong rip currents, particularly near the southern end and outflow areas. Swim with caution.
Moderate risk: No lifeguard patrol
Front Beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. The safest swimming areas are at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags.
Low risk: Limited mobile reception
Mobile phone coverage is limited in Arakoon National Park, making emergency calls difficult. Plan ahead.
Low risk: Uneven beach access
The concrete ramp at the northern end is steep, and crossing soft sand and grass is required to reach facilities.
Low risk: Tannin-stained water after rain
Heavy rainfall can wash tannin and mud into the bay, reducing visibility for snorkeling. Most common in the wet season.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From South West Rocks, turn onto Cardwell Street and continue along Trial Bay Gaol Access Road to reach the Trial Bay Gaol precinct. The beach is located within Arakoon National Park, just south of the Trial Bay Gaol campground.
Parking & facilities
Bitumen carpark at the Main Camp kitchen facility at Trial Bay Gaol, plus an asphalt carpark at Trial Bay Gaol kiosk (including 4 accessible spots). The walk from the kiosk carpark is about 100m with approximately 20 steps to the beach.
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No entry fee for the beach area, but a NSW national parks vehicle entry fee may apply. Check current park fees.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports