South West Rocks 9536-3S Topographic Map 1:25,000

Detailed NSW Macleay Coast Topographic Mapping | South West Rocks, Smoky Cape Lighthouse, Trial Bay, Arakoon National Park, Hat Head National Park & Coastal Wetlands | Paper, Waterproof Tyvek® & Laminated

🏞️ Explore the Historic Coastline and Coastal Wilderness of South West Rocks

Discover the sweeping sandy beaches, rugged coastal headlands, historic maritime landmarks and protected natural environments of the New South Wales Mid North Coast with the South West Rocks 9536-3S Topographic Map, sourced from the official NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Series.

Covering South West Rocks, Trial Bay, Smoky Cape and adjoining coastal country, this detailed map provides valuable geographical information for coastal bushwalkers, environmental researchers, heritage enthusiasts, conservation managers, surveyors, coastal planners and emergency services.

The South West Rocks district occupies a spectacular landscape where the Macleay River coastal plain meets the Pacific Ocean, creating an intricate combination of rocky headlands, protected bays, sandy beaches, forested slopes and estuarine wetlands.

The map provides geographical coverage of South West Rocks, Arakoon, Trial Bay, Smoky Cape, Jerseyville, Saltwater Lagoon, Fish Rock and surrounding offshore islands.

South West Rocks and the Macleay Coast

The coastal town of South West Rocks is situated near the mouth of the Macleay River, approximately 35 kilometres northeast of Kempsey.

Its picturesque setting has made it one of the NSW Mid North Coast's best-known seaside destinations.

The township overlooks Horseshoe Bay, a sheltered sandy beach framed by rocky coastal landforms and popular foreshore areas.

Nearby Front Beach, Back Beach, North Smoky Beach and South Smoky Beach illustrate the varied orientation and exposure of beaches along this section of coastline.

The contrast between protected embayments and exposed ocean beaches provides excellent examples of wave action, sediment movement, coastal erosion and shoreline development.

The local road network connects South West Rocks with Arakoon, Jerseyville and the wider Macleay Valley, illustrating the relationship between coastal settlement, transport and natural landforms.

Trial Bay and Historic Trial Bay Gaol

One of the region's most significant landmarks is Trial Bay, a broad north-facing coastal embayment protected by surrounding headlands.

The bay has played an important role in the region's maritime history and provides a particularly interesting setting for studying coastal geography.

Situated above the shoreline is Trial Bay Gaol, a substantial nineteenth-century stone complex within Arakoon National Park.

The gaol was originally established to provide prison labour for the construction of a harbour breakwater. During the First World War, it was used as an internment camp.

Today, its surviving buildings and walls form one of the most recognisable historic sites on the Macleay Coast.

The surrounding park contains rocky foreshores, sheltered beaches, coastal woodland and walking tracks, making it valuable for both historical and environmental study.

Nearby Laggers Point, Monument Hill and Little Bay provide further opportunities to interpret the relationship between coastal relief, rocky landforms and historical settlement.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse and the Coastal Range

South of Trial Bay rises Smoky Cape, one of the defining geographical features of the region.

The headland is crowned by the historic Smoky Cape Lighthouse, completed in 1891 and designed by colonial architect James Barnet.

The lighthouse stands above a dramatic coastline of rocky slopes, forested ridges and exposed ocean headlands.

The surrounding Smoky Cape Range forms a prominent topographic feature, with Big Smoky reaching approximately 311 metres above sea level.

This steep elevation contrast between the coastal range and nearby beaches is particularly valuable for interpreting contour spacing, slopes, spurs and drainage patterns.

The lighthouse also provides important historical context for coastal navigation and the development of maritime infrastructure along eastern Australia.

Captain Cook Lookout, within the surrounding coastal landscape, offers another named reference point associated with the area's scenic and maritime heritage.

Arakoon and Hat Head National Parks

The South West Rocks district contains significant protected landscapes, including Arakoon National Park and Hat Head National Park.

Arakoon National Park protects the historic Trial Bay area together with coastal bushland, rocky headlands, beaches and recreational landscapes.

Hat Head National Park extends south along the Macleay Coast, conserving forested coastal hills, wetlands, dunes, rocky headlands and extensive sandy beaches.

These parks support a range of native vegetation, including coastal eucalypt forest, littoral vegetation, heathland and sheltered moist forest communities.

The surrounding habitats provide refuge for native birds, mammals, reptiles and other wildlife.

Coastal walking routes and viewpoints allow visitors to appreciate the landscape, although current access restrictions, park alerts and weather conditions must always be checked.

Fish Rock and the Offshore Islands

Offshore from Smoky Cape lies Fish Rock, a distinctive rocky island and important marine landmark.

The surrounding waters are internationally recognised among divers for Fish Rock Cave and its marine biodiversity, including grey nurse sharks.

Other mapped offshore features include Green Island, Coral Island, Snake Island, Cockle Island, Pelican Island, Long Reach Island and Little Shark Island.

These islands and rocky outcrops illustrate the region's complex coastal geology and provide important habitat for marine and coastal wildlife.

The map is useful for understanding their geographical position relative to the mainland coastline.

However, this is a topographic map rather than a nautical chart. It must not be relied upon for vessel navigation, underwater depths, reef hazards or current maritime safety information.

Saltwater Lagoon and Coastal Wetlands

Inland from the beaches and headlands, the landscape transitions into low-lying coastal wetlands, estuarine channels, sandy flats and rural country.

Important waterways and wetland features include Saltwater Creek, Saltwater Lagoon, Freshwater Creek, South West Rocks Creek, Spencers Creek and Clybucca Creek.

The broader Macleay estuary supports extensive mangrove and saltmarsh habitats, which are important for water quality, shoreline protection and aquatic ecosystems.

Saltwater Lagoon, near South West Rocks, demonstrates the relationship between low coastal elevations, freshwater drainage and the influence of coastal sand barriers.

These environments are particularly valuable for studying wetland ecology, sediment deposition, estuarine processes and floodplain management.

Further west, the Clybucca and Lower Kinchela districts provide regional context for the transition from coastal wetlands to agricultural land.

Coastal Heritage, Conservation and Land Management

The South West Rocks landscape holds deep cultural significance for the Dunghutti people, whose enduring connections with the coastal waterways, forests and surrounding Country form an essential part of the region's history.

The district's later history includes fishing, maritime transport, agriculture, tourism and the development of coastal settlements.

Today, the area is particularly important for coastal conservation, heritage protection, environmental monitoring and visitor management.

The contrast between the forested Smoky Cape Range and the low-lying coastal plain creates significant differences in elevation, vegetation, water movement and access.

For professional users, detailed topographic information is useful for preliminary coastal hazard assessment, drainage investigations, land-use planning, conservation management and emergency operations.

At 1:25,000 scale (1cm = 250 metres), the map provides contours, waterways, roads, tracks, buildings, vegetation, geographical names and coordinate references.

Whether you're exploring Trial Bay, investigating coastal ecosystems, researching Smoky Cape Lighthouse or undertaking environmental fieldwork, the South West Rocks topographic map provides an excellent geographical reference.

Professionally printed by Mapworld and available in standard paper, waterproof and tearproof DuPont™ Tyvek®, and laminated finishes.

🗺️ Map Content & Features

The South West Rocks topographic map includes:

• Contours & Elevation – Detailed terrain information showing the Smoky Cape Range, forested coastal slopes, rocky headlands, low-lying wetlands, dunes and coastal plains.

• Rivers & Waterways – Saltwater Creek, Saltwater Lagoon, Freshwater Creek, South West Rocks Creek, Spencers Creek and surrounding tidal drainage systems.

• Roads & Tracks – Township streets, access roads to Trial Bay and Smoky Cape, recorded national park walking tracks and coastal management routes.

• Buildings & Infrastructure – South West Rocks township, Trial Bay Gaol, Smoky Cape Lighthouse, selected public facilities, roads and geographical reference points.

• Vegetation & Landforms – Coastal eucalypt forest, beaches, headlands, wetlands, saltmarsh, dunes, rocky outcrops and protected natural habitats.

• Place Names & Landmarks – South West Rocks, Smoky Cape, Trial Bay, Arakoon, Jerseyville, Horseshoe Bay, Fish Rock, Little Bay and surrounding features.

• Grid References – Coordinates and map grid information for geographical interpretation, GPS reference, surveying and professional fieldwork.

🧭 Format & Material Options

To suit a range of field and display needs, this map is available in multiple durable and practical formats:

🧾 Standard Paper (Folded or Flat)

• Traditional, lightweight and economical option for everyday use, archival storage and indoor reference.

• Ideal for framing under glass, classrooms, desktop planning and geographical study.

• Paper maps are supplied folded by default, unless flat delivery is specifically requested in the order notes at checkout.

• Flat maps are particularly suitable for framing, display and professional reference.

💧 Waterproof / Tearproof Tyvek®

• Made from 100% polyethylene fibres, Tyvek® has the appearance of paper but is water-resistant, tear-resistant and flexible.

• Ideal for backpackers, bushwalkers, rangers, field researchers and search-and-rescue teams.

• Can be folded or rolled repeatedly without damage, making it particularly useful for regular outdoor navigation.

• Withstands rain, mud, snow and UV exposure, providing a durable solution for demanding field conditions.

• Particularly suitable for coastal bushwalking, environmental surveys, national park fieldwork, heritage site inspections and emergency operations.

🛡️ Laminated (Encapsulated)

• Fully sealed between two sheets of 80-micron gloss laminate for a durable, protective finish.

• Dry-erase compatible – Write temporary notes, coordinates, routes or observations with a whiteboard marker and wipe clean.

• Compatible with Mark-It-Dots for highlighting important locations, survey sites, routes or operational zones.

• Ideal for repeated handling, field planning, vehicle dashboards, workshops, classrooms and incident control centres.

• Especially valuable for coastal management, conservation planning, environmental monitoring and emergency response.

📐 Map Specifications

🎯 Ideal For

• Coastal Bushwalkers & Nature Explorers – Detailed reference for beaches, coastal headlands, forested slopes and authorised walking routes.

• National Park & Conservation Managers – Mapping for Arakoon and Hat Head national parks, vegetation monitoring and protected-area planning.

• Environmental Scientists & Ecologists – Geographical information for coastal wetlands, native forests, marine-adjacent habitats and biodiversity studies.

• Coastal & Estuary Managers – Terrain reference for Saltwater Lagoon, coastal drainage, shoreline processes and wetland conservation.

• Heritage Researchers & Historians – Geographical context for Trial Bay Gaol, Smoky Cape Lighthouse and the history of maritime settlement.

• Surveyors & Civil Engineers – Terrain information for preliminary coastal infrastructure studies, drainage assessment and professional fieldwork.

• Emergency Services – Geographical reference for coastal search operations, bushfires, flooding, severe storms and emergency access.

• Tourism & Recreation Planners – Mapping for scenic coastal destinations and visitor facilities.

• Geography Students & Educators – Study coastal erosion, headlands, dunes, wetlands, maritime heritage and protected landscapes.

📍 Official NSW Mapping Source

This map forms part of the NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Series, providing authoritative geographical information about the natural and built environment of New South Wales.

The series includes elevation contours, waterways, roads, tracks, vegetation, buildings, geographical features, place names and coordinate references.

View the Official NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Viewer

For information about Trial Bay, heritage attractions, walking tracks, conservation management and park alerts, consult Arakoon National Park – NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

For coastal walking, beach access and protected landscapes, consult Hat Head National Park.

For historical information and visiting arrangements, consult Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

For local roads, environmental planning and community services, consult Kempsey Shire Council.

For current coastal and marine weather forecasts, consult the Bureau of Meteorology.

For flood warnings and emergency advice, consult NSW State Emergency Service. For bushfire information and fire danger ratings, consult NSW Rural Fire Service.

Important coastal and maritime guidance: The South West Rocks district includes exposed ocean beaches, rocky headlands, offshore reefs, tidal waterways, low-lying wetlands and forested coastal slopes. Strong surf, ocean currents, wave exposure, beach erosion and changing weather conditions may create significant hazards. Heavy rainfall can affect coastal drainage systems and low-level roads. Protected-area access, heritage sites and certain tracks may be subject to restrictions.

This is a topographic map, not an official nautical chart. Its offshore features must not be used as the primary basis for boating, diving navigation or determining underwater hazards and depths. Always consult current official nautical charts, maritime notices, marine forecasts and national park alerts.

🌏 Explore More with Mapworld

Discover our complete collection of NSW 1:25,000 Topographic Maps, providing detailed geographical coverage across New South Wales.

For practical advice on interpreting contours, coastal terrain, geographical features and grid references, explore How to Read a Topographic Map in Australia.

For additional geographical coverage to the north, the Wenonah Head 9536-4N Topographic Map extends across neighbouring Macleay coastal country and offshore environments.

For geographical coverage south of South West Rocks, the Korogoro Point 9535-4N Topographic Map provides complementary mapping of the Hat Head coastline and protected coastal landscapes.

For additional geographical coverage west of South West Rocks, the Clybucca 9436-2S Topographic Map extends across adjoining lower Macleay wetlands, rural country and drainage systems.

To the east, the map extends into the Pacific Ocean, without an adjoining NSW land-based topographic sheet. Use official nautical charts for marine navigation.

For wider geographical coverage of South West Rocks, Trial Bay, Smoky Cape, Arakoon, Hat Head National Park and the Macleay coastline, use the Official NSW Spatial Services Topographic Map Viewer to inspect surrounding map sheets.

Professionally printed by Mapworld, the South West Rocks 9536-3S Topographic Map combines authoritative NSW Spatial Services mapping with premium material options, making it an excellent geographical reference for coastal exploration, national park management, heritage research, environmental assessment, surveying, emergency services and geographical education.