Arakoon National Park

Arakoon National Park New South Wales
IUCN category II (national park)
The lookout from Trial Bay
Arakoon National Park
Nearest town or city	South West Rocks
Coordinates	30°52′38″S153°4′4″E / 30.87722°S 153.06778°E / -30.87722; 153.06778
Established	2013
Area	115 km2 (44.4 sq mi)
Managing authorities	NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Arakoon National Park
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

Little Bay Beach in Arakoon National Park

The Arakoon National Park is a 115-square-kilometre (44 sq mi) national park located on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, 464 kilometres (288 mi) north-east of Sydney and 83 kilometres (52 mi) from Port Macquarie. The closest town to the national park is South West Rocks. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

It is on the traditional lands of the Dunghutti people of whom it is of high cultural and spiritual significance. Within the park there are numerous sites of great spiritual and cultural significance and these include middens, stone arrangements and other spiritual sites. ^[4]

The national park also contains Trial Bay Gaol, a heritage-listed former public works prison and internment camp, built in 1886. ^[5]

It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Hat Head National Park.

Establishment

The beginnings of Arakoon National Park where when it was declared a reserve for public recreation in 1946, and then, in 1974, it became a state recreation area. ^[6] It was then designated as a national park in 2013. ^[7]

Origin of place name

It is believed that the name Arakoon comes from the Dhanggati language word for 'hardwood parrying spear' although, it is alternately suggested, that it means 'echo' in the same language. ^[8]

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales

Reference

1. "Arakoon National Park". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
2. "Arakoon National Park | NSW Holidays & Accommodation, Things to Do, Attractions and Events". www.visitnsw.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
3. "Arakoon State Conservation Area (Reserve)". NSW Place and Road Naming Proposals System. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
4. "Arakoon National Park | Traditional lands of Dunghutti people". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
5. "Trial Bay Gaol, Breakwater and Environs". www.hms.heritage.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
6. National Parks and Wildlife Service New South Wale (1 September 1987). "Arakoon State Recreation area: plan of management" (PDF). NSW Government. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
7. "Protected Planet | Arakoon". Protected Planet. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
8. "Arakoon (Village)". NSW Place and Road Naming Proposals System. Retrieved 14 July 2025.